Earth Talk: Smart growth

Earth Talk Submit questions: earthtalk@emagazine.com   Dear EarthTalk: What is “smart growth” and how does it benefit the environment? And what are the downsides, if any? - Frank Quinn, Missoula, Mont. Originating in the early 1970s when city planners began renovating crumbling inner cities in...

Green detailing

  Earth Talk www.emagazine.com Dear EarthTalk: I recently got my car detailed at a local place and then gasped at the chemical fumes when I got inside. Are there green detailers out there, or products that I could use myself to keep my vehicle clean and my family out of harm’s way? - David Berkowitz,...

Earth Talk | A new Ice Age?

Dear EarthTalk: It has been said that global warming will bring a new ice age. Is this true or only fiction? |- Nitisha Jain, Delhi, India While no one can be sure what and how severe the effects of global warming will be, it is entirely possible that one outcome of our profligate use of fossil fuels could...

Earth Talk | Butt, seriously

Dear EarthTalk: Has anyone ever studied the environmental impact of discarded cigarettes? I’m constantly appalled at the number of drivers I see pitching their butts out their car windows? - Ned Jordan, via e-mail It’s true that littered cigarette butts are a public nuisance, and not just for aesthetic...

Earth Talk | How does geothermal work?

Dear EarthTalk: How are heating, cooling and electricity produced by geothermal energy? I don’t understand how it works. - Delano Stewart, Wyandanch, N.Y. The term “geothermal” is derived from the Greek words for Earth (geo) and heat (therme). In essence geothermal energy is power harnessed...

Earth Talk | Facts on rain forests

Dear EarthTalk: Do you have current facts and figures about how much rainforest is being destroyed each day around the world, and for what purpose(s)? - Teri, via e-mail Pinning down exact numbers is nearly impossible, but most experts agree that we are losing upwards of 80,000 acres of tropical rainforest...

Earth Talk | The gophers

Dear EarthTalk: What would you recommend as a non-toxic/non-lethal way to keep squirrels, gophers and groundhogs away? - Faye Gillette, Coarsegold, Calif. Keeping unwanted critters away can be tricky business, and options are somewhat limited. For starters, make sure exterior garbage, recycling and compost...

Earth Talk | Greening hair salons

Dear EarthTalk: As I understand it, hair salons are pretty toxic enterprises on many counts. Are there any efforts underway to green up that industry? - Paula Howe, San Francisco, Calif. Hair salons have long been criticized for the pollution they generate. Traditional hair dyes and many shampoos contain...

Earth Talk | Rainwater

Dear EarthTalk How can I make good use of the rainwater that runs down my roof and into my gutters? - Brian Smith, Nashua, N.H. For most of us, the rain that falls on our roof runs off into the ground or the sewer system. But if you’re motivated to save a little water and re-distribute it on your lawns or...

Earth Talk | Energy-efficient appliances

Dear EarthTalk: I am considering upgrading some older appliances in my home. Where can I find information on which models are the most energy efficient? - Jonathan Duda, Olivebridge, N.Y. There has never been a better time to upgrade some of those older creaky appliances that are gobbling up much more energy...

Earth Talk | Green nonprofits and the economy

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that environmental nonprofits have been hit hard by the economic downturn, and has this had an impact on their effectiveness? - Bridget W., Bainbridge Island, Wash. Nonprofits of every stripe have been suffering from the economic downturn. In a recent survey of 800 U.S.-based...

Earth Talk | Is hunting good or bad for the environment?

Dear EarthTalk: Hunting seems to be a real controversy among environmental advocates. Can you set the record straight: Is hunting good or bad for the environment? - Bill Davis, New York, N.Y.Like so many hot button issues, the answer to this question depends upon who you ask. On the one hand, some say,...

Earth Talk | How much does it all cost?

Dear EarthTalk: I’d like to know the relative electricity cost of utility scale solar and wind plants versus rooftop residential solar. In other words, how can I know whether to subsidize my utility’s alternative energy plant or renovate my own home? - Randy Wilson, Flagstaff, Ariz. Making such a...

Earth Talk | Rooftop gardens

Dear EarthTalk: I’m sure there are many good environmental reasons to build a rooftop garden. Can you enlighten? And also I’d like to know how to go about creating one and whether or not some municipalities might offer incentives to do so. - Linda, via e-mail Indeed there are many good reasons to build a...

Earth Talk | Oil spills

Dear EarthTalk: I haven’t heard much of late about big oil spills like the infamous Exxon Valdez. Has the industry cleaned up its act, or do the media just not report them? - Olivia G., via e-mail In the wake of 1989’s massive Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska’s Prince William Sound, when 11 million...

Earth Talk | Getting involved

Dear EarthTalk: Where can I locate directories of environmental groups, businesses and jobs so that I can get involved in making a difference? - Jeanette, Carle Place, N.Y. The most comprehensive directory of environmental groups—from small to large and local to international—is provided for free online...

Earth Talk | Cosmetics testing

Dear EarthTalk: Is the “Draize Test” using live animals still used to test cosmetics? - Jim M., Bridgeport, Conn. The Draize Test was devised back in 1944 by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) toxicologist John H. Draize to evaluate the risks of normal short-term exposure to new cosmetics...

Earth Talk | Teaching kids to be green

Dear EarthTalk: What are some things that children and families can do to be greener (and to provide life lessons for the kids in the process)? - Cynthia Mosher, via e-mail There are many ways to be green around the family that are sure to rub off on the littler ones in your midst—if they don’t beat you...