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Support nonprofit, independent environmental journalism.
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 Stories About: advice AND Ask Umbra AND energy AND green living AND oil
| Headline |
Author |
Published |
Section |
Whence It Came
On biodegradable products |
Umbra Fisk |
11 Jul 2007 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dearest Umbra, With biodegradable corn-plastic products like clothes hangers, credit cards, and trash bags, we are led to believe there are good alternatives to plastic that can be thrown out guilt-free. But doesn't all trash get put in landfills that are then hermetically sealed to prevent the bad contaminants from leaching out, but hold in the things that would have been composting otherwise? I thought that was the reason to co ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy, green living, oil, recycling, shopping (all these topics) |
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One Word
On oil and plastic |
Umbra Fisk |
14 Mar 2007 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, How much oil is used to make a pound (or some other comparable measure) of typical plastics? Melody Evans Paris, Ill. Dearest Melody, Ah, Paris. Is it as lovely in the springtime as they say? Yes, Ben, plastics ... Photo: The Graduate (1967)/MGM Your question is a good and tricky one. Let's start with a look at how plastic is made. Manufacturers take simple hydrocarbons from whatever source material they're using -- commonly crud ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy, green living, oil (all these topics) |
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Naturally: Gas
On home heating |
Umbra Fisk |
18 Dec 2003 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Can you shed some light (or some warmth) on the most environmentally sound ways to heat one's home this winter? Natural gas over coal and oil for its lower carbon (and particulate) content? What about fireplaces: good or bad? Would burning gas logs be a good alternative to burning real wood? Thanks for your help! Janet Washington, D.C. Dearest Janet, What we cold eco-folks are looking for is a heat source that is clean to prod ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, coal, energy, energy at home, energy efficiency, green living, natural gas, oil (all these topics) |
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Sin Diesel
On diesel engines |
Umbra Fisk |
15 Aug 2002 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Longtime reader; first-time writer. Love the column. My partner and I recently bought a small station wagon to replace our 4WD pick-up and '83 sedan. After some debate, we chose a turbo-diesel engine that boasts about 45 miles per gallon instead of a gas engine, which gets about 30 MPG. Our thinking led us to choose the higher fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions of the diesel engine, although the gas engine produces fewer par ... |
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| Topics: advice, air pollution, Ask Umbra, cars, energy, green living, oil, placemaking, toxics (all these topics) |
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