Climate Technology
All Stories
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Feel the Heat
Study says human activity raises risk of heat waves; lawsuits possible Human activity is raising the risk of another heat wave like the one that ravaged Europe in the summer of 2003, says a new study in the journal Nature — and the link may open the way for lawsuits against polluters. Using computer models, […]
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Roll Out the Green Carpet
As sales of green building products go up, prices come down Construction companies are increasingly turning to green products, and saving greenbacks in the process. It’s still widely believed that eco-friendly products are more costly than their not-so-eco-friendly counterparts, but that state of affairs is changing. Carpet made of recycled plastic and floor boards composed […]
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Hyper Activism
Software company Hyperion offers employees money for fuel-efficient cars California software company Hyperion is getting quite a bit of positive press for offering its employees $5,000 toward the purchase of a fuel-efficient car, and we’re happy to jump on the bandwagon. The grant is available to any of Hyperion’s 2,600 employees who have worked at […]
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Coming Clean
Green start-ups attracting substantial venture capital Investor interest in eco-friendly start-ups has taken a leap with the entry of two big venture-capital players into the field. Two California public pension funds — the largest and third-largest in the U.S. — recently announced plans to invest a combined $950 million in the clean-technology field in coming […]
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An interview with Nell Newman, creator of Newman’s Own Organics
We have Thanksgiving to thank for the beloved Fig Newman. It was Nell Newman, daughter of actor Paul Newman, who actually created the eponymous product, but she had the opportunity only after convincing her father to take his food company, Newman’s Own, in an organic direction with a triumphant organic meal she whipped up for […]
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My Chemical Romance
Green chemistry gets rolling A change is gradually taking hold in the world of chemistry. Increasingly, chemists regard the toxicity and environmental effects of a chemical as fundamental to the process of creating it, rather than afterthoughts. “Green chemistry,” which puts this kind of holistic thinking into practice, is a growing industry. Its roots trace […]
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Umbra on Wal-Mart
Dear Umbra, Why is Wal-Mart evil? This is really a request for more information. I have often heard that the company has a weak environmental track record, treats its employees poorly, and generally is Satan incarnate. However, when challenged on this position, I have no data. My opponents argue that shopping in bulk reduces packaging. […]
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Starbucks tokens
Next year, coffee mega-super-behemoth Starbucks will begin stocking its stores with partially recycled coffee cups -- 10 percent recycled, to be precise. Ten percent is no great shakes, of course, but even if this is a largely symbolic gesture, perhaps enviros should consider for once hailing the symbolism rather than immediately bashing the company for not doing more. Just a suggestion.
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The Rat Pack
EPA laxity leaves kids at risk from rat poison, enviros charge The U.S. EPA seems more concerned with protecting rat-poison manufacturers than protecting kids, two enviro groups are charging. Last week, the Natural Resources Defense Council and West Harlem Environmental Action filed suit against the EPA, criticizing the agency for harming children by revoking safety […]
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Power in Lumbers
Small tree-harvesting operations gang up to get certified Many small to mid-sized forestry operations are run by folks who value the health of their trees and try their best to be good stewards of the land they own. However, getting official recognition of this fact — in the form of being certified green by the […]
