December is upon us, which means the year is quickly coming to an end. While earlier holidays are probably still top priority, thoughts of New Year’s Eve are likely in the back of your mind. You’ve spent the year trying to live more consciously, doing your best to lower your impact on...

Winter is on its way. Temperatures are dropping. No matter how hard you curl your toes on those long, cold, and frosty winter nights, they won’t get any warmer! Electric blankets are a convenient, cost effective way to stay warm during the winter months. But do you need to be concerned...

As the end of the year rolls towards us, the American government recently narrowly avoided another shutdown. The economy is still shaky, and people are spooked. Prevailing wisdom is that we are too broke to dream big about the future of our nation. But is that the whole story? Annie Leonard...

Dear EarthTalk: Are the plastic tiers on food steamers safe for food and for re-heating? Some indicate they are made from #7 plastic. I am very interested in buying a steamer, but not if they are unsafe. What’s the best way to go? – Jim Lichlyter, Jr., Valley Center, KS While you may...

Here is a list of 50 Common Eco-Crimes Committed By College Students from “Best Colleges Online.”  Boiling unnecessary water: Overfilling your teakettle or boiling without a lid wastes energy and takes more time to get going. Buying new books: Instead of buying new books,...

My husband and I watch the show “Pawn Stars” on the History Channel. I first liked the show because I loved to hear about the history behind many of the items. However, my mind began to focus more on the personal story behind the piece than the history of it. Many times the pawn shop...

Depending on where you live, this time of year it can be a real challenge to buy locally grown or raised food. But it’s important, especially as we approach our most foodcentric holidays. Homegrown or neaby-grown food can have an environmental impact even greater than what the big meal...

I usually let divine inspiration guide me when I sit down to write. Today, the message was coming at me loud and clear- from a news story to speaking with a friend to connecting to my 7-month-old daughter: Be grateful for the blessings in your life and make them a priority. What do I mean by...

  What are the scariest attractions at Disneyland? It may not be the roller-coasters, if an environmental group’s accusations are well-founded. The Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation filed an injunction last week that would require the Anaheim, Calfornia park to post warning...

Have you noticed how at ease your kids are with a cell phone in their hands? Isn’t it nice that they can wander about the house and garden, surfing the Internet on their laptops? And aren’t game consoles so much better now that you haven’t got all those wires wandering all...