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There’s BPA in cash register receipts?

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Feb. 12   1 Comment  

Laboratory tests found high levels of BPA on 40 percent of thermal paper receipts sampled from major U.S. businesses and services, including McDonald’s, Chevron, CVS, KFC, Whole Foods, WalMart, Safeway and the U.S. Postal Service, among others. BPA in paper receipts also contaminates paper recycling and is showing up in napkins, toilet paper and other common papers with recycled content. (Thinkstock)

Bad news bears

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How green is the state of our union?

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Feb. 12   1 Comment  

Obama's State of the Union address was, in the words of one prominent green leader, "a strong defense of the importance of clean energy to America’s long-term economic prosperity." (White House photo)

All-in-all, not a bad year

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A simple, straightforward, cheap guide to buying cables and wires

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Feb. 9   Leave a Comment  

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Don’t pay more … or anything sometimes

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How much energy is used by cable TV boxes?

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Feb. 1   1 Comment  

Set-top boxes in the U.S. consume 27 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, equivalent to the annual output of six coal-fired power plants. Part of the reason is that they typically operate at nearly full power even during the two-thirds of the time when they are not in use. (Thinkstock)

Short answer: A lot

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Fact: Carbon emissions are making our oceans acidic

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Feb. 1   Leave a Comment  

Ocean acidification is likely to affect the ability of some shellfish to produce and maintain their shells. This process will not only wreak havoc on the shellfish we eat, but also on smaller marine organisms that are key components of the lower end of the marine food chain. (Thinkstock)

Goodbye coral. Goodbye shellfish.

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Water usage in the bathroom

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Jan. 24   1 Comment  

Some 60 percent of our household indoor water usage happens in the bathroom. Toilets are the biggest water hogs, with older models using as much as eight gallons per flush. A shower, even with a low-flow shower head, can use up to 40 gallons of water, and a bath can use up to 50-60 gallons. (Thinkstock)

It’s more than you thought!

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Analysis: Cutting down forests for biomass fuel

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Jan. 24   Leave a Comment  

In theory, burning any kind of plant material for energy is a carbon-neutral endeavor, but chopping down forests for ethanol is unwise because they cannot be regrown quickly. And tree plantations don't provide the clean water, storm buffers, wildlife habitat and other ecosystem services that natural forests do. Pictured: A wood biomass plant. (Thinkstock)

This will trouble you…

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Megaupload.com shutdown by the federal government

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Jan. 19   1 Comment  

megaupload-logo

No SOPA needed

Filed Under: Computers, National News Tagged With: , , ,

How to cut emissions in Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states

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Jan. 16   Leave a Comment  

Ten Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states have, in the face of federal inaction, agreed on a region-wide greenhouse gas emissions limit, enforced through the sale of pollution permits to large fossil fuel power plants there. Money raised is invested in local businesses throughout the region that promote energy efficiency and renewable energy sources Pictured: The Big Allis Power Plant, Queens, New York City. (Thinkstock)

Federal action lacking

Filed Under: Earth and Environment

Healthy, green friendly mouthwashes

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Jan. 16   2 Comments  

Many mainstream mouthwashes contain ingredients that you wouldn't want to swallow or rinse down the drain. Fortunately, there are many natural alternatives available now, including recipes for making your own. (Thinkstock)

Is yours doing more harm than good?

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Thinner, more sensitive glass to hit the touch screen market

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Jan. 11   Leave a Comment  

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The makers of Gorilla Glass debut a new product.

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Global warming and water shortages

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Jan. 8   3 Comments  

One out of three counties across the contiguous U.S., says a recent study commissioned by the Natural Resources Defense Council, should brace for water shortages by mid-century as a result of human induced climate change. (Media credit/Comstock)

Water supplies would be hit especially hard

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Is Echinacea effective at preventing or treating colds?

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Dec. 30, 2011   2 Comments  

Echinacea has gained popularity in recent years as a remedy for the common cold. But because it is not regulated as a medical drug by the FDA -- and given the variation between dosages and formulations available to consumers -- it is difficult to get definitive answers as to its effectiveness. (iStock)

Maybe?

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About home energy audits

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Dec. 30, 2011   Leave a Comment  

EarthTalkEnergyAudits

Do-it-yourself or hire out?

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LG Nitro HD: Like having a plasma screen hooked up to a laptop that all fits in your hand

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Dec. 22, 2011   1 Comment  

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Amazing screen and 4G — a tasty combo

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New standards for light bulb efficiency

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Dec. 22, 2011   2 Comments  

EarthTalkBulbPhase-Out

Bye bye incandescents

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Two earth-size planets discovered

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Dec. 21, 2011   5 Comments  

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A fun week to be a space geek!

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A new study reveals new properties of the earth’s magnetic field

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Dec. 20, 2011   1 Comment  

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Scientists found that Iron Oxide can conduct electricity

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Report: Asthma rates on the rise

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Dec. 17, 2011   Leave a Comment  

Asthma rates have doubled since the 1980s, in spite of air quality in U.S. cities having increased over the same time period. This has led some experts to conclude that other factors -- including Vitamin D deficiency, obesity, overuse of acetaminophen (i.e. Tylenol) and spray mist from glass cleaners and air fresheners -- are now playing a role. (Thinkstock)

New factors contributing

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Why should I recycle?

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Dec. 17, 2011   Leave a Comment  

Recycling and re-use have many environmental benefits, including reducing the amount of waste we bury in already overcrowded landfills and burn in polluting incinerators, like the one pictured here. (Thinkstock)

Do you really need an explanation?

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