Climate and energy have entered mainstream dialog. They're being discussed on op-ed pages and cable news, by ordinary people around the water cooler (do they still have those?), outside of environmental and policy-wonk circles. Hell, Rory's grandparents bought her a Prius on Gilmore Girls. Or so I hear. This is all to the good: these are extraordinarily important issues, and every concerned citizen should be at least minimally educated about them. Problem is, there are lots of folks out there with a vested interest in confusing people and derailing these discussions. They are armed with misleading factoids and bogus rhetorical …

The happiest nations are not the high-consuming ones, survey says A new Happy Planet Index supports the cliché that money can't buy happiness. The New Economics Foundation, a British think tank, looked at 178 countries' consumption levels, life expectancy, and happiness, and concluded that people can live long, happy lives without sucking up large quantities of the planet's resources. In its ranking of happiest nations, the South Pacific island of Vanuatu earned the top slot. Vanuatu, population 209,000, runs its economy mainly on small-scale agriculture and tourism; its GDP has been ranked 207th out of 233. Latin American countries dominate …

Dear Umbra, Summertime grilling is in full swing at our house, but I am wondering what the ecological cost is of all that aluminum foil we're using in place of our regular pots and pans. Sure makes for great clean up, but it is not recyclable as aluminum cans are. Sandra Liebe Paris, Ill. Dearest Sandra, I hate to be the one to point this out, but it's a little rude to say you're barbecuing all the time and not invite me. I'm used to it (sniff), but another advice columnist might take umbrage. Tastes like summer! Photo: iStockphoto. The …

View unto others A group called Inconvenient Christians (best! name! ever!) is offering "committed, Bible-believing" peeps free tix to Al Gore's movie. In return, Truth-seekers agree to post mini-reviews on the group's site -- and to shut up about The Da Vinci Code already. Weather or not China to scientists: Stop carrying out fraudulent research. If you don't, we will publicly shame you. Seriously. Except for you, guy who says we can keep the Olympics dry by shooting rain clouds. You're OK. Photo: Jorge Villalobos. Now that's wind power While the U.S. Postal Service brags that America is the awesomest, …

Just change your dang light bulbs already If efficient, low-energy lighting were installed all around the world, global energy costs could be cut by nearly a tenth, says the International Energy Agency. The technology is widely available, would curb light pollution, and, according to a new IEA report, could keep up to 16 billion tons of carbon out of the atmosphere over the next quarter century. Today, artificial lighting accounts for nearly 20 percent of the world's electricity consumption, and "[w]ithout rapid action, the amount of energy used for lighting will be 80 percent higher in 2030," says IEA Executive …

Dear Umbra, I promise that I searched the archives before emailing you, so hopefully you haven't already answered this question. I'm wondering about the best way to dispose of old clothes and shoes -- the tired, well-loved, and much-worn items that thrift shops really don't want. I wear my clothes until the bitter end, and then I just don't know what to do with them. Old T-shirts make great rags, but then what? Carrie Doring Seattle, Wash. Dearest Carrie, I'm holding you up as an example of proper Umbra-writing etiquette. You searched the archives. Thank you. I feel very sad …

We're not saying there's a god But if there were, do you think He might fell a tree on the lawn of a flawed figurehead? Perhaps flood a few of the iconic institutions run by that person's cabal? You know ... if there were. Heads up It's almost time for the Running of the Nudes! But the annual Pamplona flabfest is missing one key element of any self-respecting animal rights-cum-boob event: a good rhyme scheme. Photo: PETA. I'm with stupid Just as news breaks that the Smart Car is officially U.S.-bound, car dealers in Detroit are offering Hummer buyers a …

Yesterday, Inhabitat started a weekly series for the summer called Green Building 101. The series is focused mainly on LEED-H, the (developing) green standards for homes. It also mentions LEED-ND, the (developing) green standards for neighborhoods, which I'm super jazzed about. The series will walk through the basics of building or renovating a home for maximum eco-friendliness. Should be cool. Check out the first installment, about choosing an eco-friendly site.

What could be more American than reaching for something new? The U.S. is, after all, a nation founded on the rejection of tradition and a profound belief in invention. This urge has given us more than two centuries of powerful technology, but has also made Americans the world's most voracious consumers. The propensity to buy, discard, and buy again is no accident, explains Giles Slade in the engaging Made to Break, which chronicles the history and consequences of Americans' obsession with the next new thing. The new models always suck better. Photo: iStockphoto. "Deliberate obsolescence in all its forms -- …

Dear Umbra, Is there such a thing as "green movers"? I want to transport furniture from L.A. to Seattle and wonder if any movers use biodiesel vehicles or something like that. Andy Luk Seattle, Wash. Dearest Andy, You know, we're moving too. What a coincidence! Crate expectations. Photo: iStockphoto. But we're not moving far -- just a few blocks -- and have tailored a green moving system all our own. Firstly, we're using only old feedbags, hand-knit sacks, and fruit boxes to pack our stuff. We're wrapping the computers in used Kleenex and old socks (everyone's written their names on …