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| Headline |
Author |
Published |
Section |
Soy Story
On the environmental impacts of soy |
Umbra Fisk |
18 Nov 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I'm interested in learning more about the treatment and genetic modification of soy and how prevalent this is. I think a lot of folks choose products such as soy milk because they think they are making a better choice for the earth, as well as themselves. I think this is an overlapping issue and qualifies for your help. Perhaps a slant toward educating us on the state of soy farming and production would be an acc ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, food and agriculture, GMOs, toxics (all these topics) |
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A Mandate for All Seasons
On the health/environment dividing line |
Umbra Fisk |
15 Nov 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Yowza. A few weeks back, in response to a question from a reader named Cassandra about the relative merits of soy milk, I asked your opinion on the dividing line between health and environmental concerns. Cassandra wanted to know if she could continue eating soy, which she considered an environmentally sound choice, without increasing her risk of breast cancer. The health/environment line is always ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, health (all these topics) |
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Flarey Bird
On birds bursting into flames |
Umbra Fisk |
11 Nov 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I saw the following on the CNN website. Can this possibly be true? I see birds hit, land on, peck at, and poop on power lines all the time, but I've never seen one burst into flames. LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Weather forecasters predicted little relief Monday for firefighters battling wildfires that have scorched thousands of acres and forced hundreds of people to leave their homes in California. Firefighte ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, wildlife (all these topics) |
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What the Deck?
On protecting decks |
Umbra Fisk |
25 Oct 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Chip, You may remember me; we met most recently at Jenny's parents' house for dinner when you all were here in New Jersey. Anyway, the reason I'm writing you is because I'm looking for some advice. Do you have any recommendations on environmentally conscious ways to protect household decks? Lori and I just bought a house and we need to finish the deck, but we are hesitant to use a bunch of chemicals that will just seep into the gr ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, toxics (all these topics) |
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Mind the Tap
On lead pipes and drinking water |
Umbra Fisk |
18 Oct 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I live in New York City, which is reputed to have some of the best drinking water in the U.S. But I also happen to live in an old building that probably has lead pipes, so I buy Poland Spring water in five-gallon jugs each month. I'd prefer to drink tap water, but I don't know how to find out whether my building's water is polluted or not. How do I go about this? If it does have lead (etc.), what are the most aff ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, toxics, water pollution (all these topics) |
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A Bit of the Old Ultraviolet
On UV ratings |
Umbra Fisk |
14 Oct 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Our radio station provides daily information regarding ultraviolet ratings. I am curious about what these ratings actually represent, and why they change so dramatically. For example, for the past few years, most ratings have been between three and seven. Now we are getting ratings of 10. I doubt the ratings are directly related to Dobson units, which measure the amount of atmospheric ozone present, because they ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, climate, climate science, education, ozone (all these topics) |
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PLU Perfect
On the mysteries of produce code numbers |
Umbra Fisk |
11 Oct 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I recently learned that the UPC numbers on produce indicate whether the item is conventionally grown (beginning with a 4), organically grown (beginning with a 9), or genetically modified (beginning with an 8). I like to buy organic, locally grown produce at my local health food store whenever possible, but recently at a large grocery story I noticed some tomatoes with a UPC number that began with a 3. What ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, food, food and agriculture, GMOs, green living, organic food (all these topics) |
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Soy Meets Girl
On the eco-relevance of health concerns |
Umbra Fisk |
07 Oct 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, As a practicing vegan for quite some time now, I take pride in my knowledge of nutrition and my ability to enrich my body through a varied diet with all the essentials. For the past five years or so, I have heavily relied on soy products for protein and other nutrients. Recently, however, I have heard that soy products increase estrogen levels, which in turn increase the risk of cancer (specifically brea ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, food and agriculture, health (all these topics) |
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Everybody Must Get Hemp
On hemp fabric |
Umbra Fisk |
04 Oct 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, You didn't mention hemp as a fabric alternative. Jordan Marquette, Mich. Dearest Jordan, No, I didn't. Thank you for writing such a concise letter; it stood out among the 4 million other hemp letters and cut straight to the point. I apologize for the omission. Hemp is currently a narrowly available fabric with a prohibitively high cost and a limited fashion palette. That said, it holds a lot of promise as a high-yield ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, fashion, food and agriculture, green living (all these topics) |
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The Brush-Off
On our 'throw it away' culture |
Umbra Fisk |
30 Sep 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| On our "throw it away" culture By Umbra Fisk 30 Sep 2004 Dear Umbra, I hope I am not the only person who is disgusted with and frustrated by the current "throw it away" philosophy that so many large companies are pushing. Everything from window cleaner to facial wipes is being sold in single-use packages. Why? Don't these companies and consumers realize that, for one thing, landfill capacity is becoming an endangered species? Then there is the toilet brush w ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, waste (all these topics) |
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Ay, There's the Stub
On recycling pencil stubs |
Umbra Fisk |
27 Sep 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I'm looking for a place that accepts pencil stubs (one to two inches long) to recycle into new pencils. I've found recycled pencils online -- made from denim, plastic, recovered wood, and paper currency. But what can I do with my stubs? Phoenix Covington, Ky. Dearest Phoenix, All the waste-reduction tips tell you to stop using wooden pencils, but that doesn't help with the ones you already have. Plus wooden pen ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, recycling, waste (all these topics) |
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Idle Thoughts
On whether to leave the engine running |
Umbra Fisk |
23 Sep 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I have a question that has been nagging me for a while, and I would really like to have it answered once and for all. You see, I deliver pizzas for a living right now, and so I make many frequent stops and starts at people's houses during a shift. I always turn off my engine whenever I make a delivery or am waiting at the store for the next order to come up, because I believe in doing my part to keep our ... |
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| Topics: advice, air pollution, Ask Umbra, cars, greenhouse-gas emissions, placemaking (all these topics) |
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The Rank and Vile
On choosing the least evil gasoline company |
Umbra Fisk |
20 Sep 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Every week I scan the gasoline signs looking for the cheapest deal, while knowing that what I pay in rock-bottom prices may come at the expense of environmental integrity and social justice. I'd like to choose my brand of gas with more conscience. Would you help? I'd love to see a ranking or rating system of the major gasoline brands. It could let us know which ones are meaningfully pursuing r ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, business, energy, oil, placemaking (all these topics) |
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She's Got Sol and She's Super Bad
On finding solar-power stats |
Umbra Fisk |
16 Sep 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Are there any statistics that show what percentage of solar power is generated state by state, and which states are more solar-friendly? Also, do power companies give out any figures on how much energy they buy back from home solar producers? Thanks from Los Angeles, Calif. Dearest Los Angeles, Life is great. As your researcher, I get paid to find previously obscure (to me) gems like today's f ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy, energy at home, solar voltaic power (all these topics) |
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Solar Perplexus
On installing solar panels |
Umbra Fisk |
13 Sep 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, My husband and I have decided to install a solar electric system. We live in the high desert and enjoy sun 360 or more days a year. We have been surfing to find information and are increasingly befuddled. Nanosys will have new technology out, but I don't know when. Should we wait a year or two for new, less expensive technology or go with existing solar panels? Kathy Joshua Tree, Calif. Dearest Kathy, How exciti ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy, energy at home, solar voltaic power, tech (all these topics) |
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My Left Footprint
On ecological footprints |
Umbra Fisk |
09 Sep 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I just took the Ecological Footprint Quiz, feeling rather confident that I've been doing my part to minimize my personal impact on environmental despoliation. But my results weren't reassuring. My ecological footprint is nine acres, which is much better than the U.S. national average of 24 acres per person, but still twice what the planet could sustain. In short, the quiz tells me, if everyone lived like me, we woul ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, ecological footprint, green living (all these topics) |
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Maple Encyclical
On organic syrup |
Umbra Fisk |
30 Aug 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I saw at the store there is "organic" maple syrup. Is there really a difference between organic and non-organic maple syrup? Do conventional farms spray the trees with massive amounts of pesticides? I don't have much money (poor college student) so I was just trying to buy organic for things like apples and milk, which I've heard should only be bought in organic form. Brianna Farmington Hills, Mich. Dearest Briann ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, food and agriculture, organic food, United States (all these topics) |
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Energy Asterisk
On Energy Star labels |
Umbra Fisk |
23 Aug 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, When I see the Energy Star rating on an appliance, can I trust that some government or consumer group is monitoring the ratings, or is that just a commercial ploy? Who profits from the Energy Star thing? Not Starry-Eyed Bridgewater, N.J. Dearest Not Starry-Eyed, A green screen. Photo: EnergyStar.gov. Energy Star is a project of our very own U.S. EPA, with assistance from the Department of Energy. Products that meet Ener ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, Department of Energy, energy, energy efficiency, green living, US EPA (all these topics) |
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Grow With the Flow
On hydroponic farming |
Umbra Fisk |
16 Aug 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, What are the advantages of hydroponics, and if it is so good, why isn't it used more? Luke Mitchellville, Iowa Dearest Luke, Plants take up most of their nutrients through their roots, despite all we learned in elementary school about leaves making food from the sun. Soil is a complex conglomeration of minerals, nutrients, bugs, and fungi that deliver nutrients to plants via the root system. Farmers and gardeners lab ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, food and agriculture, sustainable ag (all these topics) |
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Food-Altering Substance
On genetically modified foods |
Umbra Fisk |
09 Aug 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Is most of the genetically modified food that makes its way into our grocery aisles really that harmful? It seems to me that the process of genetic modification is not that far from hybridizing and other tinkering processes that we've come to accept. Judi Boston, Mass. Dearest Judi, We don't know, and that's the problem. The field is rife with dogma. Companies that genetically modify food crops claim sa ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, food and agriculture, GMOs (all these topics) |
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Ms. Big Stuff
On the most effective personal eco-actions |
Umbra Fisk |
05 Aug 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, A lot of the questions people ask you ultimately involve pretty negligible results. When you are talking about the balance sheet of the world, does it really matter if I use a more or less environmentally responsible solution to wash my fruit? I'm wondering what three major concrete changes you'd recommend that people make, which might be more difficult to implement than using lower-energy lightbulbs b ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living (all these topics) |
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Bottle Racket
On plastic water bottles |
Umbra Fisk |
02 Aug 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Several readers have sent in questions about the dangers of chemical leaching from plastic bottles. A composite version: Dear Umbra, I've read some conflicting things about the risks associated with reusing plastic water bottles. For instance, the generally trustworthy folks at the urban-legends site snopes.com have criticized a widely circulated email that claims regular water bottles are not safe for refilling because the plastic ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, green living, recycling, toxics (all these topics) |
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Fan Attic
On whole-house fans and their righteousness |
Umbra Fisk |
29 Jul 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, We just moved to the steamy climate of Washington, D.C., from the other Washington. Faced with our first experience using air-conditioning to cool our home, we've got some questions about efficiency. The house we're renting has a central AC unit that we can control with a thermostat. It also has a roof ventilation system that circulates air under the roof using a fairly noisy and probably pretty old and ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy, energy at home, energy efficiency, green living (all these topics) |
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To Air Is Human
On opening windows versus running the AC |
Umbra Fisk |
26 Jul 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, My friend and I have been having a debate that I hope you can help us settle. What is the rule of thumb when turning off the air and opening the windows? I live in Texas and in the spring we have one or two days in a row that are cool enough for open windows followed by four that are not. Should I open the windows when it is nice only to have to close them again and turn the air on in a day or two? ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy, energy at home, energy efficiency, green living (all these topics) |
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Swamp Thing
On swamp coolers and their coolness |
Umbra Fisk |
22 Jul 2004 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I recently visited Moab, Utah, and found that many people there use "swamp coolers" rather than conventional air-conditioning systems. Moab is in a near-desert environment and has frequent water-shortage problems. I'm wondering whether this swamp-cooler method of air-conditioning is really greener than the systems most of the rest of us use, and whether it is depleting the already low water supply in ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy efficiency, green living (all these topics) |
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