Monthly Archives: January 2010

Scientists link flame retardants and reduced human fertility

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Laura B.

Read the full story in Environmental Health News. Women exposed to high levels of flame retardants take substantially longer to get pregnant, indicating for the first time that the widespread chemicals may affect human fertility, according to a study published … Continue reading →

Posted in Environmental Health, Flame Retardant Chemicals, Research | Leave a comment

Compact Fluorescent Lights Dumping Mercury Directly into Landfills

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Laura B.

Read the full story at NaturalNews.com. Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs have become all the rage over the past several years, touted by many as the preferable “green” way to light a home, save energy, and promote environmental responsibility. While … Continue reading →

Posted in Lighting, Mercury | Leave a comment

SmartPlanet is not going green

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Laura B.

Read the full story at Grist. SmartPlanet is a newish venture from CBS Interactive. It promises to cover many of the topics that Grist readers (and staffers) care about. But there’s no mention of “green” on its About page, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Green Lifestyle, Sustainability | Leave a comment

More states require 'green' cleaning products

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Laura B.

Read the full story in the Wisconsin State Journal. More states are requiring schools and government buildings to use environmentally friendly cleaning products, raising debate about their costs and benefits. After a burst of legislation last year, 10 states including … Continue reading →

Posted in Green Products, Regulation, Schools | Leave a comment

Michigan schools to get free help in reducing energy bills

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Laura B.

Via The Mudpuppy. Energy Works Michigan, a program of the nonprofit Recycle Ann Arbor and The Ecology Center, is administering a state-funded Michigan Renewable Schools Program. Energy Works offers two programs for K-12 schools: the Renewable Energy Program and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding Opportunities, Great Lakes Region, Renewable Energy, Schools | Leave a comment

Seeking To Cement A Green Future

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Laura B.

Read the full story in ES&T. At first glance, cement, drywall, and bricks do not appear to be compelling targets for reinvention by green technology start-up firms. These old-fashioned building products, made from all-natural sources, have been used successfully for … Continue reading →

Posted in Green Building, Research | Leave a comment

How eco-friendly is Apple's tablet?

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Laura B.

Read the full story from CNET (via Reuters). Regardless of whether we see a gorgeous tablet from Apple on Wednesday, there is a clear trend toward using electronic devices to read what has traditionally been printed media. From an environmental … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing/Consumer electronics, E-Waste | Leave a comment

NY: Home-brewed biodiesel poses risks

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Laura B.

Read the full story in the Times Herald-Record. The idea of homeowners secretly brewing diesel fuel from used cooking oil might seem like material for a movie about a post-cataclysmic, dystopian future. But the discovery of a large cache of … Continue reading →

Posted in Biofuels | Leave a comment

NREL breaks down walls for biofuels

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Laura B.

Read the full story in DOE Pulse. Researchers at DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and ethanol producers are racing to come up with ways to make ethanol from cellulosic biomass that are cheaper and easier to produce than current … Continue reading →

Posted in Biofuels, Research | Leave a comment

Rise of ethanol affects prairie birds

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Laura B.

Read the full story at INFORUM. A new report says government incentives for corn-based ethanol are motivating farmers to convert grasslands to cornfields, resulting in declining grassland bird populations in the Prairie Pothole Region, including Minnesota, North Dakota and South … Continue reading →

Posted in Biofuels, Research, Wildlife | Leave a comment