Yesterday, I posted about how investment in a network of local economies rather than one big central economy by the Obama Administration could provide not only a more sustainable paradigm but one that is more socially and economically stable. Think of the Internet. Instead of all our requests traveling through one gigantic central server, information […]
Consumerism and Materialism
Not carbon offset but carbon penitence
Tomorrow I fly from New York City to Salt Lake City, Utah, leaving in my wake a big long contrail and a lot of carbon dioxide–both of which contribute to global warming. It’ll be the second flight I’ve taken in more than two years. What’s popular, when it comes to flying, is buying carbon offsets. […]
House paint that’s better for me and, so, better for the environment
If it’s better for the planet, chances are it’s better for us too. That goes for everything from not using plastic water bottles to riding bikes instead of driving in cars. That’s why living environmentally is not about being deprived but about being healthier. This weekend, I needed to paint the bathroom, so I thought […]
How to cut out home heating oil–Japanese style
This is a guest post by my friend Sean Sakamoto, who blogs at www.idratherbe.tv/injapan. “It’s so weird that you heat your whole house,” my wife said one winter. She’s Japanese, and when we first got married, here in the United States, we got a lot of mileage out of the “I can’t believe you people […]
Another way not to use a throwaway coffee cup
As you may know, I generally carry an ultra-cool reusable cup–otherwise known as a glass jar–for use when I get coffee. For the longest time, if I forgot my jar, rather than use a paper or plastic cup, I would just forgo the coffee (even though I don’t keep to the No Impact rules so […]
Save a chimp as a sustainable Christmas gift
First off, Annie Leonard of Story of Stuff and I will be doing a live radio interview on KPFA’s environmental radio show Terra Verde today (Friday). You can listen at 4:00 PM EST by clicking here (I’ll post the link to the recording later). Onwards… As long as we’ve been talking a little about a […]
Could global warming wake us up to a better life?
First off, after my recent post about Christmas with no presents, somebody sent me a link to a great site that helps facilitate giving gifts to charity as Christmas presents. You might find it helpful: Redefine Christmas. Onwards… Here is a little bit from the epilogue of my book. Just thought you might enjoy a […]
Take out tubs, individual action and changing minds
Yesterday I posted about the trash I’d generated through eating takeout when I got too busy to cook for myself. Someone commented that eating takeout–in itself–is no problem. Cooking at scale may save energy. The problem is the plastic or cardboard containers that get generated. Commenters left two suggestions behind for ways to get take-out […]