Grist | Topics | 67 Results

RESULTS		Results 1 – 25 of 67
Page:1 2 3
Headline	Author	Published	Section
Don't Have a Cow On small steps with big impacts	Umbra Fisk	24 Sep 2008	Ask Umbra
Dear Umbra, This year my family is not in the position to make any major CO2-reducing changes. We will not be purchasing a new car, a smaller house, or more efficient appliances. And honestly, with two small children living in a suburb, public transportation is not a realistic option. Still, we'd like to reduce our carbon footprint and help the environment. Would you be able to point out other meaningful, smaller changes ...
Topics: advice, air travel, Ask Umbra, carbon offsets, ecological footprint, green living, greenhouse-gas emissions, vegetarianism and veganism (all these topics)

Supreme Cork Justice On wine bottle stoppers	Umbra Fisk	17 Sep 2008	Ask Umbra
Dear Umbra, Here's a question I couldn't find an answer to in the Grist archives: What kind of plastic is being used for the corks in wine bottles? If I decide to put a bottle in the cellar for several years, will the plastic leach into the wine? Thanks for your help! Holli B. Portland, Ore. Dearest Holli, No need to fret: Wine bottles plugged by plastic stoppers or screw-tops can be stored upright, with the plastic separate ...
Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, booze, ecological footprint, green living, health, toxics (all these topics)

What is the carbon footprint of McCain's countless homes? McCain's carbon dioxide bill is about 10 times the average American's	Joseph Romm	22 Aug 2008	Gristmill
I'd estimate it's about 150 tons of carbon dioxide, some 10 times that of the average American. But someone should ask Senator McCain. After all, he says he wants to require all Americans to cut greenhouse gas emissions 60 percent to 70 percent by 2050. As probably the whole country knows by now, John McCain does not know how many homes he owns. But the number seems to be between seven and 12, depending on whether you count his Sedona ranch as one house or six. ...
Topics: ecological footprint, elections, green living, John McCain, politics, presidential race 08 (all these topics)

Rot 'n' Roll How to start composting		19 Aug 2008	From A to Green
Dig in to get the dirt on composting. Composting is a lot like sex. It's a healthy, natural process involving fertility, tumbling around, and -- when it's going right -- steaminess. On top of that, some people call it dirty. It's not our fault we're squeamish. Most Americans are praised from an early age for taking out the garbage -- not hoarding it and keeping scraps of it in our kitchens. Toss in the false mythology that composting is complic ...
Topics: advice, ecological footprint, food, From A to Green, gardening, green living (all these topics)

The worst job in America	Jason D Scorse	13 Aug 2008	Gristmill
Many posts on Grist detail the negative environmental impacts of factory farming and the meat and dairy industries overall. Bottom line: There is probably no personal act more effective at benefiting the environment than reducing meat consumption. But a true environmentalist must also take a hard look at the social dimensions of sustainability; again, the meat industry ranks as the worst form of abuse. As this radio show documents, slaughterhouses in America are pl ...
Topics: ecological footprint, green living, livestock, radio (all these topics)

Last Swill and Testament On diet soda	Umbra Fisk	11 Aug 2008	Ask Umbra
Dear Umbra, My name's Jon and I'm a diet pop addict. My diet right now is 70-80 percent local, organic, or both, but I just can't help myself when it comes to getting my fix. I drink several 20-ouncers a day of diet and just can't seem to stop. Is my habit hurting the earth? Common sense says that water from my stainless steel canteen is a whole lot better than chemicals from a plastic bottle, but my addict brain is grasping at stra ...
Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, ecological footprint, food, health, water conflicts (all these topics)

The Death of Environmentalist How to green your funeral		22 Jul 2008	From A to Green
Not dead yet? There's still hope for a green funeral. There's no getting around it: One day, we're all gonna die. And while most of us won't have much control over the circumstances of our deaths, there are things you can do before you go to ensure that your funeral and earthly remains are as light on the planet as you've tried to be in life. If you think about it, there are almost as many ways to green your funeral as the ...
Topics: ecological footprint, green living, health, toxics, waste (all these topics)

Check out the carbon Will eco-labeling contribute to consumer shopping confusion?	Ben Tuxworth	09 Jul 2008	Gristmill
Ben Tuxworth, communications director at Forum for the Future, writes a monthly column for Gristmill on sustainability in the U.K. and Europe. ----- British supermarket shoppers face increasingly bewildering claims about the ethical qualities of products. In one of retail giant Tesco's stores, shoppers can opt for goods branded with the Soil Association's organic standard, the Fairtrade Foundation's logo, the British Farm standard, or chain-of-custody marks from the ...
Topics: consumerism, ecological footprint, food, green living, shopping, United Kingdom (all these topics)

Question of the Century On driving versus flying	Umbra Fisk	09 Jul 2008	Ask Umbra
Dear Umbra, My husband asked me this one the other day and I didn't know the answer, so I thought I'd ask an expert. Which is the more environmentally friendly method of travel: 100 people driving their own cars (let's assume non-hybrid vehicles) to a city three hours away, or 100 people flying in a plane to the same city? Natalie W. North East, Pa. Dearest Natalie, Carpooling is one way to be efficient; here on Floor 2B ...
Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, cars, climate, ecological footprint, green living, greenhouse-gas emissions, travel (all these topics)

Act Your Page Should you add the latest green-living books to your library?	Holly Richmond	03 Jul 2008	Grist Feature
It's easy writing green, or so this year's deluge of eco-tippy books would indicate. But are any of the latest feel-good, change-a-light-bulb tomes decent? No doubt our own volume, Wake Up and Smell the Planet, is still No. 1 on your toilet tank -- but we thought we'd take a look at how the recent entries stack up, from the titillating to the downright doorstop-worthy. Going Green: A Wise ...
Topics: advice, books, consumerism, ecological footprint, green living, shopping (all these topics)

Unnecessary Evil On short-haul flights	Umbra Fisk	25 Jun 2008	Ask Umbra
Dear Umbra, I work in the touring music business, based in the U.K. but touring worldwide. I have noticed recently that the record companies are booking cheap flights for short distances, e.g., London-Manchester, about 200 miles. Over such short distances, there is no saving in time, due to travel to and from airport, checking in, etc. Trains would be quicker, but unfortunately in the U.K., trains are more expensive. I would like t ...
Topics: advice, air pollution, air travel, Ask Umbra, climate, ecological footprint, green living (all these topics)

Get Outta Here How to green your vacation		24 Jun 2008	From A to Green
Wherever you go, there you are ... still having an impact. Everyone needs to take a break from the stresses of life, and environmentalists are no exception. After all, vacations are a necessary part of any sustainable lifestyle. And while vacation time itself can be hard to come by, your getaway needn't be hard on the planet. There are plenty of ways to green your vacation, whatever your budget and whatever your destination. Whether it's a ...
Topics: advice, ecological footprint, From A to Green, green living, travel (all these topics)

Tree-free MP3 players and digital Science	biodiversivist	23 Jun 2008	Gristmill
I'm climbing up the audiobook learning curve and would like to share what I've learned. My first post on this topic can be found here. I was experimenting with the cheapest MP3 player I could find that would play free audiobooks from a library. Apple's iPods will not allow you to listen to free audiobooks. First lesson learned: Do not use the cheap players. I have purchased four of the low end products made by Coby, starting with the cheapest and moving up the line ...
Topics: tech, ecological footprint, books, magazines (all these topics)

Minimizing meat The great Mark Bittman on how to push meat off the center of the plate	Tom Philpott	13 Jun 2008	Gristmill
I'm no vegan. I believe that the only truly sustainable agriculture involves raising crops along with animals. I also adore the globe's cooking traditions, most of which involve integrating meat and/or dairy products with vegetables, grains, and spices.And yet, I'm appalled by this fact, from the USDA: In 2005, total meat consumption (red meat, poultry, and fish) amounted to 200 pounds per person, 22 pounds above the level in 1970. Two hundred pounds per year work ...
Topics: ecological footprint, health, food, vegetarianism and veganism (all these topics)

Take a Number On carbon calculators	Umbra Fisk	04 Jun 2008	Ask Umbra
Dearest Umbra, I recently heard an interesting interview on NPR, and the speaker was talking about how, to stop global warming, all humans would have to limit their carbon emissions to just one ton of carbon per person, per year. I've never weighed my carbon emissions, but I'm going to guess that I throw a lot more weight around than one ton. What would I have to do to slim my ton to one? I'm approaching my carbon tonnage like a diet ...
Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, climate, climate change mitigation, ecological footprint, green living, greenhouse-gas emissions (all these topics)

New Chapters A tired pregnant chick 'tests' six green baby books	Katharine Wroth	03 Jun 2008	The Bottom Line
A tired pregnant chick "tests" six green baby books By Katharine Wroth 03 Jun 2008 Which baby book covers the gamut of green issues? Back in the old days, I used to do active product testing for Grist. Things like lotions and paper towels and CFLs -- stuff that really got the heart pounding. But that was before a 30-pound orb attached itself to my front, slowing me down significantly. Yep, you heard it here first: I'm pregnant. Seven and a half months pregnant, as it ha ...
Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, bikes, consumerism, ecological footprint, vegetarianism and veganism (all these topics)

Ten-Speed Demon? On the impacts of biking	Umbra Fisk	02 Jun 2008	Ask Umbra
Dear Umbra, A couple of your recent columns have been about this novel idea of biking as the end-all in green transportation, but how green is biking, especially when you go out to buy a new one? If you switch to biking as the main source of transportation, you will be rewarded with the fantastic extra energy only exercise can bring, but won't you need to consume more calories? And if you eat more meat as a result of all the won ...
Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, bikes, consumerism, ecological footprint, vegetarianism and veganism (all these topics)

Muddy footprints What a ranking of cities can tell us -- and what it can't	Eric de Place	30 May 2008	Gristmill
There's a big carbon footprint report out yesterday from Brookings. It ranks cities [PDF] according to their per capita carbon emissions. Sort of, anyway. Before I pick on it a little, I guess I should mention that Pacific Northwest cities do exceptionally well. Out of the 100 cities in the analysis, Portland ranks 3rd, Boise is 5th, and Seattle 6th. There's very little difference between them. That's wonderful and all, but the analysis only covers about 50 pe ...
Topics: climate, ecological footprint, greenhouse-gas emissions, placemaking, public transportation, Seattle (all these topics)

Every Pinch a Lady On biking in a skirt	Umbra Fisk	28 May 2008	Ask Umbra
Dear Umbra, I was really energized by your column on cargo bicycles. I still own a car, but I drive it less and less, mostly to haul stuff and to travel when I want to wear a nice dress. So, a cargo bike solves the hauling problem. The other problem is that my skirt gets caught in the bicycle chain. Many decades ago, bicycles came with chain guards and even skirt guards to keep the flapping hem out of the machinery. I have seen pi ...
Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, bikes, ecological footprint (all these topics)

Summer festivals tune into sustainability July 4th, Memorial Day weekends offer green jams	Sarah van Schagen	09 May 2008	Gristmill
Missed the Coachella Express but still on board for a summerful of sustainable-ish music fests? Check out Rothbury, dubbed the "party with a purpose." The festival, which has attracted an impressive lineup including Dave Matthews Band, Widespread Panic, John Mayer, Snoop Dogg, and Modest Mouse, will be held Fourth of July weekend in Rothbury, Mich. According to their website, Rothbury's goal is to "harness the unique energy of the live music commun ...
Topics: art, ecological footprint, green living, holiday, music (all these topics)

Cities	David Roberts	07 May 2008	Gristmill
Why don't candidates who claim to be interested in climate change talk about cities more? That's where the rubber is hitting the road: Officials in King County and other places are rethinking the way their communities grow and operate, all with an eye toward reducing their overall carbon footprint. After decades of policies that encouraged people to move out to the suburbs in pursuit of larger homes and bigger backyards, some policy makers are now pushing aggressive ...
Topics: ecological footprint, local politics, placemaking, politics, urban planning (all these topics)

Altar-native Energy How to green your wedding		29 Apr 2008	From A to Green
No one wants to scrimp on matters of the heart. And not a lot of lovebirds want to pass up the chance to throw a meaning-laden bash with friends, family, and bubbly that ends in a sex-crazed vacation. Who could say no to that? But when it comes to weddings, there are greener ways to get hitched. Today, earth-friendlier versions of conventional weddings are blooming everywhere -- from "Days of Our Lives" to the pages of Modern ...
Topics: advice, ecological footprint, From A to Green, green living, local food (all these topics)

More Pollan blogging: morals vs. values Everyday choices depend more on culture, infrastructure, economics, and values	Adam Stein	23 Apr 2008	Gristmill
I see Maywa beat me to the 'I really like Michael Pollan, but ... ' post. I too was disappointed with Pollan's answer to the question of 'Why Bother?' As in, why bother taking personal steps to reduce one's contribution to climate change? I will say this, though: the article did sharpen my thinking about why I think we should bother. One of the things I've always admired about Pollan's writing is his knack for delivering sly polemic that hangs equally on scientific arg ...
Topics: climate, climate change mitigation, ecological footprint, economy, green living (all these topics)

Virtual water, part 2 Interactive poster from German designer	Maywa Montenegro	22 Apr 2008	Gristmill
German designer Timm Kekeritz took the 'virtual water' data that Sarah posted about from Waterfootprint.org and created this cool interactive poster. We featured Timm's work in the February issue of Seed (not online, but Treehugger wrote about it), which prompted me to order a giant paper version of the double-sided poster. With one side devoted to 'footprints of nations' and the other side showing the water 'inside' products, this enormous and graphically riveting ...
Topics: art, ecological footprint, green living, water crisis (all these topics)

Virtual water is the new carbon footprint Calculate how much water your lifestyle requires	Sarah van Schagen	21 Apr 2008	Gristmill
Remember when calculating your carbon footprint was all the rage? Ah, those were the days ... but the carbon crisis is so yesterday's news. The Next Big Thing is the water crisis, and as such, I present a little website called Waterfootprint.org.Use it to calculate your individual water footprint -- or see how much H2O the stuff you're consuming (from apples to cotton tees to red wine) is sucking up.
Topics: ecological footprint, green living, water crisis, websites (all these topics)

Page:1 2 3		Results 1 – 25 of 67

Stories About: ecological footprint