Posted on July 21, 2008 by chrisgraham
Earth Talk
From the editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: Should we expect to see “plug-in” hybrid cars anytime soon? I’ve been hearing they are on the horizon, but I wonder if that means in one year or 10.
- Bill A., Stratford, Conn.
Gasoline-electric hybrids now, like Toyota’s popular Prius, don’t need to plug in — you [...]
Filed under: Environment/Energy | Tagged: earth talk, plug-in cars | No Comments »
Posted on July 18, 2008 by chrisgraham
Earth Talk
From the editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: I heard that children are reaching puberty at earlier ages now, and that it may have to do with environmental toxins and even their TV viewing habits. Can you enlighten?
- Mark Abbot, via e-mail
To say that kids are growing up faster than ever these days may [...]
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Posted on July 17, 2008 by chrisgraham
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Congress is continuing its efforts to dampen market speculation as a factor in raising crude-oil prices to what some economists feel are unnatural highs.
U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., is sponsoring two pieces of legislation that would deal with the effects of speculation. S. 3134, proposed by Florida Republican Sen. Bill Nelson, [...]
Filed under: Environment/Energy | Tagged: jim webb | No Comments »
Posted on July 17, 2008 by chrisgraham
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
A public hearing scheduled for Oct. 14 will give Virginia residents a chance to weigh in on the request of Virginia Natural Gas to implement a conservation and ratemaking efficiency plan.
The $7.5 million plan is designed to assist VNG customers in lowering their energy bills. The company projects a savings to [...]
Filed under: Environment/Energy | Tagged: virginia natural gas | No Comments »
Posted on July 15, 2008 by chrisgraham
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Energy issues are on the minds of Democratic candidates Mark Warner and Sam Rasoul today.
The Warner Senate campaign announced today that it will begin broadcasting a television commercial this week highlighting the former Virginia governor’s proposals to address economic and national-security issues created by the ongoing energy crisis. The spot will [...]
Filed under: '08 Sixth District, '08 U.S. Senate, Environment/Energy | Tagged: sam rasoul, mark warner | No Comments »
Posted on July 14, 2008 by chrisgraham
Earth Talk
From the editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: I need to replace my old TV. Can you tell me which of the latest models is the greenest? I was told that the flat-screen/plasmas are real energy hogs. What do you recommend?
- Angela Montague, via e-mail
According to The Wall Street Journal’s Rebecca Smith, a 42-inch plasma TV [...]
Filed under: Environment/Energy | Tagged: earth talk | No Comments »
Posted on July 11, 2008 by chrisgraham
Earth Talk
From the editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: What’s going on with all the cases of autism cropping up and no one seems to know why? It stands to reason it must be something (or some things) environmental, yet every study allegedly turns up no conclusion? What are the possible causes?
- Jessica W., Austin, [...]
Filed under: Environment/Energy | Tagged: earth talk | No Comments »
Posted on July 7, 2008 by chrisgraham
Earth Talk
From the editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: What green-friendly lawn and garden pesticides are available today? I’m particularly interested in options that won’t harm my cats.
- Nancy Blanchard, via e-mail
Pesticides have greatly boosted agricultural yields over the last half century, so it is no wonder, given the commercial availability of many of these [...]
Filed under: Environment/Energy | Tagged: earth talk | No Comments »
Posted on July 3, 2008 by chrisgraham
Earth Talk
From the editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: How is it that hydrogen can replace oil to run our cars? There seems to be a lot of controversy over whether hydrogen can really be generated and stored in such a way to be practical?
- Stephane Kuziora, Thunder Bay, Ontario
The jury is still out on [...]
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Posted on July 2, 2008 by chrisgraham
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
I ran out of gas once - about 12 years ago. And let me tell you, it was no fun.
The number of us having this kind of no-fun has more than doubled this year, according to numbers from the Allstate Motor Club, which reports that the number of Virginians running out [...]
Filed under: Environment/Energy | Tagged: allstate motor club | No Comments »
Posted on June 30, 2008 by chrisgraham
Earth Talk
From the editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: What are the environmental pros and cons of corn-based plastic as an alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastic?
- Laura McInnes, Glasgow, Scotland
Polylactic acid (PLA), a plastic substitute made from fermented plant starch (usually corn), is quickly becoming a popular alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics. As more and [...]
Filed under: Environment/Energy | Tagged: earth talk, polyactic acid | No Comments »
Posted on June 27, 2008 by chrisgraham
Op-Ed by Sanford D. Horn
Raise your hands if you know Yemen sold 13,000 barrels of crude oil and products each and every day during 2007 to the United States. OK, just raise your hands if you heard of Yemen in the first place. Yemen? Yes, Yemen. “Oh, good one! And ‘Yemen,’ that actually sounds like [...]
Filed under: Environment/Energy | Tagged: anwr, sanford d. horn | 1 Comment »
Posted on June 23, 2008 by chrisgraham
Earth Talk
From the editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: In renovating a vacation cabin, I discovered carpenter ants working their way through the walls. Is there any way to responsibly get rid of the pests without using noxious chemicals that could potentially harm my family?
- Curran Clark, Lummi Island, Wash.
Carpenter ants may seem small and [...]
Filed under: Environment/Energy | Tagged: earth talk | No Comments »
Posted on June 20, 2008 by chrisgraham
Earth Talk
From the editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: Summer’s going to be a scorcher this year, and I’d like to know how I can keep cool indoors without just running my energy-hogging air conditioners all the time. Any tips?
- John McGovern, Cohasset, Mass.
According to Harvey Sachs of the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient [...]
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Posted on June 18, 2008 by chrisgraham
Op-Ed by Al Weed
Opinions Wanted! Click here to learn more
The Senate debate on the Lieberman-Warner bill to reduce carbon emissions was the first serious national recognition of the challenge of climate change. Al Gore’s Nobel Prize notwithstanding, until an effort to change our energy culture through public policy is made, the U.S. is not even [...]
Filed under: Environment/Energy | Tagged: global warming, cap and trade, al weed, public policy virginia | 1 Comment »
Posted on June 16, 2008 by chrisgraham
Earth Talk
From the editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard that there are plans to build a large repository for nuclear waste in Yucca Mountain in Nevada, but that plans have been slow and are very controversial. Where is our nuclear waste kept now, and what dangers does it pose?
- Miriam Clark, Reno, Nev.
Filed under: Environment/Energy | Tagged: earth talk, nuclear waste | No Comments »
Posted on June 13, 2008 by chrisgraham
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Dominion Virginia Power customers could see increases in their monthly bills in the range of $15 to $20 per month. U.S. Sen. Jim Webb wants to know why.
Webb, D-Va., has written the Virginia State Corporation Commission to inquire into the requested rate increase from Dominion. In a letter dated Wednesday, Webb [...]
Filed under: Environment/Energy | Tagged: dominion virginia power, jim webb, state corporation commission | No Comments »
Posted on June 13, 2008 by chrisgraham
Earth Talk
From the editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: I want to offer my employees a 401(k) plan that is socially and environmentally responsible. Are there such plans and, if so, where do I look?
- C.J. Hughes, Queens, N.Y.
Even though socially responsible investing (SRI) has been around for decades, only recently have some companies begun [...]
Filed under: Environment/Energy | Tagged: earth talk | No Comments »
Posted on June 11, 2008 by chrisgraham
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
The Waynesboro school system is among a growing number of school systems and city and county governments nationwide embracing a four-day work week. But the idea that has been floated in City Hall in Staunton is quickly becoming a “nonstory.”
“I’m not even sure I’m recommending it anymore,” city manager Steve Owen [...]
Filed under: Environment/Energy | Tagged: staunton, waynesboro | No Comments »
Posted on June 9, 2008 by chrisgraham
Earth Talk
From the editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that the DEET used in most mosquito repellents is toxic? If so, what problems does it cause? And what are some non-toxic alternatives for keeping mosquitoes at bay?
- Tom Pollack, Oakland, Calif.
Filed under: Environment/Energy | Tagged: deet, earth talk, mosquitoes | No Comments »
