It’s not a stretch to say that civilization depends on pollinators. More than a third of global food production relies on animal pollinators. Birds, bees, butterflies, beetles, bats, and other small mammals all contribute to the pollination of not just food crops, but flowers and other plants with commercial and ecological value. Honeybees alone pollinate 90 species of commercially grown […]
As concerns about climate change increase, many people are turning to electric vehicles — and that includes electric bikes. Enthusiasts praise e-bikes as an environmentally friendly form of transportation. They’re quiet, easy on roadways, and relatively energy efficient. No gasoline. No polluting exhaust. Popularity With e-bikes, riders can pedal power their transportation as with a regular bike and get assistance […]
There is momentum around sustainability in society but millions of companies and billions of people are not engaged with the ideas and taking action. Many simply don’t know where to start. We talk about inspiring change in organizations with Susan Hunt Stevens, co-founder and CEO of WeSpire, which develops tools, services, and informational campaigns that help companies improve their sustainability […]
No matter how old you are, autumn has a back-to-school feeling about it. And if you really are settling in to a new school year – whether as a university student or a parent of a younger child – the beginning of the school year is a great time to make changes on campus. To honor 52 years of action […]
Animals are key to our restoration of the planet, explain Kate Wall and Mark Hofberg of the International Fund for Animal Welfare in a report titled Thriving Together: The Critical Role of Animals in Achieving the SDGs. The world’s progress toward a sustainable society has been charted by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 goals […]
Today’s inspiration is another quote from Helen Keller’s 1933 article, “Nature’s Storehouse of Health.” She wrote, “I have always the feeling that nature has the power to renew and refresh our minds, our bodies, and our spirits.” Take some time to appreciate nature and enjoy the benefits of spending time outdoors this week. Even if you can’t leave the city, […]
A standard cup of tea requires one-eighth as much water as a cup of coffee, but tea is no eco-beverage. In fact, the carbon footprints of tea and coffee production are almost identical. But producing tea contributes less to its footprint than how you drink it. Brewing a truly sustainable cuppa might be impossible, but a little education about your […]
Nothing destroys my resolve to live a natural, chemical-free life like a giant angry pimple. When I have clear skin, it’s all flowers and rainbows, paraben-free this, phthalate-free that. But when acne strikes, I’ve been known to go totally nuclear. Kill it with fire! Get the acid! The longer the ingredient list, the better! If it burns when you put […]
Although it’s important to change your habits to cut your carbon dioxide footprint, you can also use your money to reduce CO2. This Earth911 quiz asks you about two financial instruments that let you pay for the sequestration of CO2 directly or buy clean energy: carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates (RECs). Test your knowledge of how these financial tools […]
Duke Energy recently announced that it wants to use EV batteries from Ford F-150 Lightning pickup trucks (F-150s) to help power the grid by utilizing “vehicle-to-grid” technology. This pilot program in North Carolina will partner with people leasing F-150s. It will gather data for possibly creating a permanent program. Tapping in to EV Bidirectional Charging Capabilities Some electric vehicles are […]