Climate Culture

Sexy green Adrian Grenier to host new eco-show

Mmm … [Entourage star and über-hottie Adrian] Grenier has recently inked a deal with the Discovery Channel to star in a 13-episode series tentatively titled The Green Life, in which he’ll travel the country — presumably by patchouli-powered hybrid bus or something equally irritating — and dole out advice about how regular folks can remodel […]

Umbra on choosing a college

Dear Umbra, I am a high school junior this school year. I am currently researching what college to attend. One major decision in your school choice should be choosing a college that is strong in the field of your study. I am interested in college majors that will translate into green jobs. I know about […]

Advice for navigating the wild world of products with eco-claims

Laundry detergent made from flowers! Cars that don’t pollute! Potato chips fried in organic oils! These days, everything seems to be marketed with an eco-spin — even products that are notoriously bad for people and the planet. So are companies truly seeing the green light, or are they just greenwashing? Photo: iStockphoto If green is […]

Umbra on paper plates

Dear Umbra, Maybe you can help settle this dispute between my husband and me. He likes to use paper plates for quick/short meals like toast in the morning, cheese and crackers in the evening, etc. He claims that he’s saving energy by not having to wash a dish. (We have a new energy-efficient dishwasher and […]

Wow

It’s getting difficult to tell the reality from the parody. Are Your Feet Green? New Eco-friendly Lifestyle Community Launches with Organic Sock Giveway Promotion encourages consumers to take small steps in adopting Greener lifestyle We’re down to socks now?

Put your economic stimulus stipend to green use

Photo: iStockphoto Psyched about the $300-$600 you may be receiving but worried about what it really means for the state of our economy how you’ll be able to spend it all? Never fear: I’ve crunched some numbers and put together this list of 10 ways to spend your gov-given green. 1 down payment on a […]

An interview with Rory Freedman, coauthor of vegan manifesto Skinny Bitch

It would be impossible to make it through an entire lunch with Rory Freedman without realizing this simple truth: The bitch loves food. Excuse my language — or actually, don’t. Freedman wouldn’t say it any other way. Rory Freedman (left), with coauthor Kim Barnouin. Photo: Tim VanOrden After all, she and former model Kim Barnouin […]

From Cool to Cooler

If this is thong, I don’t want to be right Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen is all wet … in a sandal ad that’s raising awareness about water use. She’s H2O-so-hot, that dress might evaporate right off her. What a waste. Photo: Ipanema Gisele Bündchen Out of the mouths of bags Couldn’t have said it better […]

The best climate strategies don’t start in your backyard

In my line of work, one sometimes hears strange things. These include allegations that leaf blowers or pet manure should be high-priority targets for reducing climate emissions. I'm in a myth-busting mood today, so I am happy to report that leaf blowers don't really rate.

In the U.S., the emissions from all leaf blowers, both residential and commercial, for all of 2008 will be roughly equivalent to the emissions from driving that occurred between the arrival of the new year and 11:00 a.m. on January 1.

Add to that the entire year's worth of snowblowers, and you can equal the driving emissions up until 1:30 p.m. on the first.

Add in all lawn mowers, both residential and commercial, including the big riding and tractor-type units. Add in rototillers and other turf maintenance equipment. Add chainsaws, chippers, stump grinders, and shredders. Now add trimmers, edgers, brush cutters, and any other garden tool you can think of. The combined emissions from all of that racket-making equipment, for the entire year, is roughly equal to the driving that occurred before afternoon rush hour on January 6.

Of course, that's not really the whole story.

How fake trend pieces are born

Culture reporter wants to write something on green, but needs something new, a counterintuitive trend piece that can get some attention. PR shill pitches reporter on fake trend: blue is the new green! Perfect. Reporter calls actual green journalist. Actual green journalist points out that trend is fake. Even better! Now you’ve got a trend […]