A magical meter and friendly competition help one community dial back energy use

The Island Energy Dashboard gives residents a real-time look at how much electricity they’re sucking from the grid. When Puget...

Can Obama go back to political base(ics)?

An Obama 2012 rally in Chicago in April.Photo: Barack ObamaCross-posted from the Great Energy Challenge blog. President Obama made a smart...

Renewables in the U.S.: Growing fast, but not fast enough

Last month, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released the “2010 Renewable Energy Data Book” [PDF], which is a cornucopia...

Another coal ash spill — this time in Lake Michigan

The We Energy Oak Creek Power Plant.Photo: JonnyfixedgearHow many more coal ash spills need to happen before Americans are protected...

Are we all toast after 2017?

Cross-posted from Council on Foreign Relations. The annual International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Outlook (WEO) was published yesterday with...

The Farm Bill: The view from the grassroots

The odds that most of us laypeople will have any opportunity to influence this year’s Farm Bill process are looking...

Principled plate: Diners’ Guide helps make eating out ethical

Photo: Bravo123Restaurants know their customers worry over the source of an heirloom tomato, or the care with which their pork...

‘Use-by’ dates: A myth that needs busting

  Here’s a superbly kept secret: You know all those dates you see on food products that say “sell by,”...

Architect recycles a 747 jet into a house