Summer Budget Travel Tips from Gadling

This or That?

CFLs or LEDs?

Read More

Fear the Halloween Candy

Fair trade chocolate from naturalcandystore.com

When you're a kid, Halloween is your chance to get a ton of candy, for free, which you then eat until you get sick. And when you're an adult, it's a reason to buy all the candy you'd normally never let in the house ... which you then eat until you get sick.

Here's the truly scary part: it's not just overeating that makes you sick, it's the stuff in most commercially produced candy bars that will make you turn green, even if you're only reading the label!

I was checking out Fitsugar, and was reminded that most candy contains high fructose corn syrup and food coloring. Bad, but if you're only indulging once or twice a year, not going to kill you. But then there are the hydrogenated oils, which are so bad they even cause miscarriages!

Continue reading Fear the Halloween Candy

Eco-Beat, 10/20

Is Mel Gibson becoming a tree hugger? Will you join Joe Biden's Middle Class Task Force? Are all those solar panels heating up the planet? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.


Mel Gibson, credit: Jewel Samad, Getty ImagesMel Gibson Stars in a New Eco-Thriller
Conspiracy theorists, start your engines. "The Edge of Darkness" features Mel as a detective who's investigating the mysterious death of his own activist daughter. It's a tale that weaves cover-ups, nuclear espionage and even James Lovelock's Gaia Theory.

The Yes Men, credit: Amazon.comUS Chamber of Commerce Changes Course, Not
The Yes Men struck again yesterday, issuing a fake press release and even holding a fake press conference at the real National Press Club, posing as the US Chamber of Commerce. Their fake message: The COC backs climate legislation. They fooled a few networks.

caulk man, credit: Mtsofan, FlickrWhat the Heck is the Middle Class Task Force?
Terrible as the name may be, it's actually a good thing for the environment and our nation's energy consumption. The MCTF (I can't stand to write it out again) is Joe Biden's incentives plan to basically weatherize/retrofit a nation's worth of inefficient homes.

Magpie chandelier, credit: Anthropologie.comSasha and Malia Get a Recycled Chandelier
Trying to keep up with the First Family? President Obama bought his daughters a eco-chic chandelier to help them deck out their bedroom in the White House. Upsides: It's made from found objects and looks awesome. Downsides: It costs $4,800. Yikes!

solar panel closeup, credit: TaranRampersad, FlickrDo Solar Panels Intensify Global Warming
It sounds heretical, right? Not only do PV panels release greenhouse gases through their production, but there's new hype surrounding the idea that -- because most panels are blue or black -- they absorb tons of heat. Treehugger's Pablo breaks down the myth.
Green in a Flash:

Starbucks: What Were You Thinking With That Via Packaging?

Starbucks.com

An Open Letter to Starbucks:

Dear Starbucks,

We have our love-hate relationship. Sure, the pumpkin spice latte is hard to resist. But your inability to put compostable -- or even recyclable -- cups in stores until 2012* makes me see red. If I can buy compostable hot cups at the supermarket, then you can order them in bulk with your logo printed on them!

Even giving you credit for the "cup summit" in May, when you brought together recycling experts to talk about The Cup, it's despicable for you, the largest specialty coffee company in the world to be so bad, and so late to the game, at managing your waste stream.

Besides the cup issue, many of your stores don't even offer recycling. Just last month, you launched a pilot recycling program in Manhattan with Global Green USA's Coalition for Resource Recovery. That's definitely the right thing to do, but you don't deserve praise for it. More like, "Hello, it's 2009! It's about time you dealt with recycling the literally billions of cups your customers produce each year. WTH took you so long?"

Continue reading Starbucks: What Were You Thinking With That Via Packaging?

Ed Begley, Jr. Talks to GreenDaily About Going Green for Cheap

wolf

Photo: Kevin Winter, Getty Images

If you're a "Living With Ed" die hard, you already know that Ed's green living show was picked up by Planet Green for another exciting and environmentally-friendly season. With the premiere already locked and loaded for October 21st at 9PM EST (that's tomorrow!), I was lucky enough to catch up with Ed for a few minutes to chat about the upcoming season, as well as Ed's green living philosophy.

GD: I heard a rumor that you guys are undergoing some major home renovations. Can you tell us whether or not you'll achieve your dream of living completely off the grid this year?

EB: No, I still can't do it. There's a good side of the problem; there's a lot of shading on my roof. I can never get fully off the grid unless I built a second story because of the shade from my neighbors' houses. But the shade actually keeps the heat off the roof, so that's good.

I've got our energy bill down to about 300 or 400 bucks a year. Now that we have three people in the house and I'm putting about 10,000 miles on my electric car doing speeches, the demand is higher than what it used to be. Even on the grid, the power I've got at my house is completely renewable. For only three cents extra per kilowatt hour, I buy power that comes completely from renewable sources through the LA power grid.

Continue reading Ed Begley, Jr. Talks to GreenDaily About Going Green for Cheap

Eco-Beat, 10/19

Are being famous and looking hot really the best qualifications for becoming an environmental guru? Are you participating in this year's annual turkey slaughter? What's more important: Football or the environment? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.


Gwyneth Paltrow, credit: Pascal de SegretainFive Hot Green Celebrities
What do Gwyneth Paltrow, Alicia Silverstone, Rachel McAdams, Julia Stiles and Tricia Helfer have in common? They've all got their own eco-living websites ... and they're movie stars. Grist takes a stab at determining which, if any, of these websites are worth your time.

turkey farm, credit: Martin Pettitt, FlickrAre You Adopting a Turkey This Year?
Corey Feldman, Alicia Silverstone and Kevin Nealon are juts a few celebs who are promoting the Farm Sanctuary's Adopt-A-Turkey program. If there's a scarier thought than the slaughter of 45M turkeys each year, it's a world overrun with turkeys. They can be mean!

arnold schwarzenegger, credit: Ethan Miller, Getty ImagesFootball Vs. the Environment
Arnold Schwarzenegger says he plans to sign an environmental exemption bill to block eco-lawsuits and clear the way for the construction of a new NFL stadium in LA. Despite protests, the state senate approved the bill in hopes of attracting a team and creating jobs.

Smart cdi, credit: Andreas Rentz, Getty ImagesWanna Get 80.61 MPG?
If you wanna duplicate Mick Linford's MPG Marathon winning mileage, you'll have to go to the UK and buy a fuel-sipping Smart cdi. If you wanna practice his techniques with your own set of wheels, watch his Top 10 Smart Eco Driving Tips.

dog poop flag, credit: Ozon9999, Duke and Sarge, FlickrDo You Flag Poo?
Dog poo is a topic heated debate on the hike and bike trails where I live. In Europe, people have gone to even greater lengths to shame dog owners into bagging the poop. Clean water activists are putting little flags (hopefully biodegradable) on each pile they find!
Green in a Flash:

Saving Seeds for the Future

Getty Images/AFP Stringer

Some people put away money for a rainy day. Other people bank a different kind of green to save for the future. They collect seeds!

Seed banks are a way to preserve seeds and plants (despite the name, many seed banks collect plants and grow the seeds, too) in the event of a disaster, like a war or some kind of climate catastrophe. The idea is to protect biodiversity, as well as food sources, so that we don't accidentally completely wipe out a really useful plant by over-harvesting it, or destroying the habitat where it grows.

The Millennium Seed Bank, which is associated with 250-year-old Kew Gardens, announced last week that they have samples of 10 percent of the world's seeds in their vault. Their goal is to collect 25 percent of the world's seeds by 2020!

Continue reading Saving Seeds for the Future

Eco-Beat, 10/16

Which celebrities are preaching the green gospel to Copenhagen delegates? Are you unknowingly enjoying the heat of burning bunnies right now? Will your next car harness the power of pee? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.


Sting, credit: Ian Gavan, Getty ImagesTop 5 Celebrities Pushing for Change at Copenhagen
ICYDK, yesterday was Blog Action Day, where over 9,000 bloggers around the world rallied together to bring awareness to the climate change talks in Copenhagen. As glorious as it was, the efforts of these five green celebs may have outshone even the blogosphere.

white rabbit, credit: S.Das, FlickrBunnyheit 451
Stockholm's parks dept. culls thousands of bunnies each year that munch up the landscape and, well, multiply like rabbits. Controversially, the carcasses are then used as bioenergy to fuel a heating plant. Is this a clever way to recycle, or an egregious abuse of animal rights?

orange slices, credit: Darwin Bell, FlickrA Cleaning Product Safe Enough to Eat, But Don't
Wanna detoxify the space under your sink where all your cleaning supplies live? You might want to start with a cleaning solution that's made from ingredients you'd find at a local fruit stand. Green Terpene is made from the oil of domestically grown oranges.

kid raking leaves, credit: Frotzed2, FlickrGreen Tips For Getting Your House Ready for Fall
Need a green and easy ways to fix those drafty windows? What about that layer of freshly fallen leaves? Now's your last chance to get your house ready for winter before that butt-freezing cold weather actually gets here. Check out CasaSugar's Fall tips.

Mazda Cx-7, credit: green.autoblog.comSurprise, You're in a Urine-Powered Vehicle
Mazda is rolling out a new diesel CX-7 that uses a urine-infused liquid to cut down on tailpipe emissions. The blue liquid, called AdBlue, contains about 33% urea and somehow traps the sooty NOx emissions which diesels are infamous for. Will they bring it to the US?
Green in a Flash:

Get Green For Snow!


No, no, I'm not talking about some crazy global warming version of yellow snow. I mean it's time to start thinking about eco-friendly ways to enjoy outdoor winter activities!

This is on my mind for a couple of reasons: a big freak storm in San Francisco this week reportedly dropped a foot of snow on the Sierras, which was thrilling for all of my shredding-starved friends. Then I got my favorite eco-newsletter, Smart 2 Be Green, which was all about green winter vacations and Eco-Snowboarding. Finally, someone named Jesse Huffman left very a detailed comment on my surfing post this week, telling us about Protect Our Winters, a non-profit group dedicated toward collective action by the "winter sports community" to reverse climate change.

It was like a sign from the pagan gods of snow and ice saying, "Do a post about Eco-friendly winter stuff!" Who am I to refuse a pagan god?

Continue reading Get Green For Snow!

Eco-Beat, 10/15

Why is Brad Pitt flippin' his lids? Is there ever a justification for paying $300 for a fan? Is Michelle Obama launching a super secret sneak attack on Big Food? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.


Brad Pitt, credit: Rafa Rivas, Getty ImagesBrad Pitt Launches Cap and Donate
Over the last year or so, Brad has become the hat industry's greatest non-bald ally (aside from Aretha). His collection of head gear has grown so large that he's decide to narrow it down a bit, sending a few of his old favorites to various charities to auction off.

Michael Pollan, credit: Stephen Lovekin, Getty ImagesEat Like Michael Pollan
Food expert Michael Pollan has put together a list of rules to live (and eat) by for the NY Times. One of them is: "Don't eat egg salad from a vending machine." What about egg salad from one of these vending machines, Michael?

Dyson bladeless fan, credit: Dyson.comDyson's Blade-less Air Multiplier
You may have seen Dyson's awesomely futuristic, technologically-advanced ... cooling fan. While it's hard to argue that a bladeless fan will stem climate change, it will certainly blow some minds (mine included). It could also save a ton of electricity.

Michelle Obama, credit: Eric Feferberg, Getty ImagesMichelle Obama Poised to Take on "Big Food?"
First, it was a harmless little veggie garden. Then, an thinly-veiled attempt to brainwash American children with gardening knowledge on Sesame Street. Now, there are whispers that the First Lady is holding "secret meetings" with her team and the USDA.

orange cooking pot, credit: Greencookingpots.comDesigner Green Cookware on the Cheap
Looking for some stylish, Le Creuset-style cookware for the new home but don't want to miss a mortgage payment for it? GreenCookingPots is offering up some fabulous Teflon-free, enamel-coated, cast iron sets that will inspire jealousy but won't break the bank.
Green in a Flash:

Blog Action Day: What Condition Our Climate Change Condition is in

Icy Hot from Shopping.com

So, scientists (and politicians) have been studying climate change for decades now and what do we actually know about it, (other than the planet's ice caps seem to be doomed)? What is the current status of our planet's current status? And what can we expect in the near future?

Ask climate scientists what the effects of climate change will amount to in the next couple of decades and you'll likely get a variety of predictions ranging from a temporary cool down to the record smashing heat waves. So, what gives? Why does it feel like these predictions are about as reliable as your local TV weatherman's?

I'm no scientist -- that's for sure -- and that's exactly why I want short simple answers to the most basic questions at the root of climate change.

Continue reading Blog Action Day: What Condition Our Climate Change Condition is in

Blog Action Day: Climate Change

Today is "Blog Action Day", an annual event held every October 15th, where blogs around the world all talk about the same topic. This year the topic is Climate Change, and can I just say, I'm so excited to see everyone writing about this!

Sometimes I feel like I'm harping on this topic again and again and again, but hey, it's real, important and relevant to every single one of us. From the way the weather is changing around the world, to the causes of these changes, to the things you can do right now to reduce your carbon footprint and slow down the changes, all of us need to have a voice in the climate change discussion.

Since I've already written a lot of posts on the topic, today I'd like to go back and share my 10 favorite posts I've written on climate change:

Continue reading Blog Action Day: Climate Change

Eco-Beat, 10/14

Do Adrian Grenier, Mark Whalberg, and Ashton Kutcher really qualify as "ordinary" guys? Can Jessica Biel's and Pete Wentz's personal trainers get them in shape for a grueling 6km run/walk by April? Does PETA understand that vegetarians are susceptible to the swine flu? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.


Adrian Grenier, credit: Stephen Lovekin, Getty ImagesAdrian Grenier Supports the GQ Gentlemen's Fund
Contrary to what you might expect, the Gentlemen's Fund isn't designed to send beautiful women to bikini modeling school (it's GQ not Maxim). The GF is about "ordinary superstars men doing extraordinary things.: Adrian is leading the fund's ocean conservation efforts.

Pete Wentz and Jessica Biel, credit: Emmanuel Dunand, Getty ImagesJessica Biel and Pete Wentz Run For Clean Water
LiveEarth, yes, that Live Earth, is sponsoring The Run For Water, a 6km run/walk (roughly the distance that women and children walk to access water in the developing world) that will be going on in cities across the planet on April 18th. Jessica Biel and Pete Wentz are in.

banned peta advertisment, credit: screenshotPETA's Confused About What Causes Swine Flu
A broad consensus of the scientific community has accepted the idea that the H1N1 "swine flu" is spread through microscopic pathogens called viruses. PETA, on the other hand, apparently thinks that it's spread by eating meat. At least, that's what their ad suggested.

carbon offset kiosk, credit: Justin Sullivan, Getty ImagesAre Carbon Offsets Counterproductive?
Is the act of buying "offsets" simply an expensive way to feel better about our eco-sins, while not making any real positive impact? In a word: No. Not unless you consider the fact that you're funding new renewable energy projects and rainforest conservation counter-productive.

biker in Copenhagen, credit: Daviddennisphotos.com, FlickrCan Cyclists and Drivers Coexist?
As journalist Gary Mason studies Copenhagen's bike-friendly transportation system, he's discovered the secret: Make life easier for cyclists, even at the expense of drivers. They actually take space away from drivers and give it to cyclists. Could this ever happen in the US?
Green in a Flash:

Surfing Big Green Waves

C. Lincon/Lucky Cat Photography

Surfers are one of the greenest and most environmentally-active groups of athletes. It probably has something to do with all of the time they spend hanging out in the water, on their self-propelled boards, waiting for waves and contemplating the environment around them. Looking out for sharks really sharpens your awareness of your surroundings!

Surfrider Foundation is the best known of the surfing environmental groups. Their strategic initiatives (yes, these surfers have strategic initiatives, so much for stereotypes) includes clean water, beach access, beach preservation and protecting special places. They celebrated their 25th anniversary this year with several events, including a beach clean-up followed by a concert, sponsored by Barefoot wines.

A lot of people still think of surfing as male sport, but Smart Girls Who Surf would like to remind us that women are awesome on the board, too. They are a small natural skincare company in California that make environmentally friendly sun protection, soaps, lotions and conditioners. They also sponsor an inspiring team of young women surfers, including world-traveler Liz Clark.

Continue reading Surfing Big Green Waves

Eco-Beat, 10/13

Why is Matt Damon on parade? Wanna share your green tips with Alicia Silverstone? What if vending machines offered farm-fresh produce instead of Skittles and Hot Fries? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.


Matt Damon, credit: Jason Merritt, Getty ImagesMatt Damon Parades for Clean Water
OK, he didn't actually go on a literal parade, but I'm sure he would if he thought it would bring clean water to Africa. Matt did, however, write this article for "Parade" to raise awareness for clean water efforts. Says Damon, "$25 will give someone clean water for life."

Alicia Silverstone, credit: Bryan Bedder, Getty ImagesWanna Network with Alicia Silverstone?
Alicia's new website will not only offer up her "groovy finds" in the way of fashion, skincare and general greenness -- you'll actually get to share some of your expert advice with Alicia on TheKindLife.com's social networking "interactive extension."

acai berries, credit: Breno Peck, FilckrAre Superfoods Really All They're Cooked Up to Be?
So you've heard about the amazing properties of so-called "superfoods" like açai and goji, but what are the true costs of shipping these miracle foods thousands of miles from remote forests to your kitchen? Check out Treehugger's assessment.

vending machine, credit: Salim Fadhley, FlickrFarm-Fresh Vending Machines
Get ready to take everything you know about vending machines and toss it out the window. A German company has teamed up with farmers to offer locally produced eggs, cheese, butter, sausage, etc. in vending machines. Prices stay low by cutting out the middleman. Awesome.

Warner Bros tower, credit: Jainaj, FlickrWarner Bros Studios Go Green
If you've ever toyed around with the idea of making a movie, you can begin to imagine the mind-numbing logistics that go into even a "low-budget" flick. Warner Bros is enlisting everyone at the studio to attack its footprint, from the producers to the actors.
Green in a Flash:

Karina Smirnoff Goes Naked for PETA

Karina Smirnoff's Ad for PETA/PETA.com

I have to admit that I'm a huge "Dancing With the Stars" fan, especially of professional dancer Karina Smirnoff, with her fiery temper and sassy/skimpy costumes. She's an amazing dancer, and she doesn't put up with any nonsense. Karina is no chump.

Plus she was engaged to super hottie DWTS pro Maks Chmerkovskiy -- but I'm getting off topic. We're here to talk about Karina being naked. For PETA.

Lots of stars have done naked PETA ads, with varying degrees of smolder vs. chastity. Karina's ad, as you would expect, is smoking hot. And the accompanying video? It's so hot and sexy that they had to digitally blur out "certain areas" because she's obviously not wearing any flesh-colored leotard. That's all Karina's skin up there, and she has no problem showing it. She's so cool.

Continue reading Karina Smirnoff Goes Naked for PETA

Green Daily Video

Green Daily Series

Tip of the Day

Resist the stacks of napkins given from fast-food joints and eateries.

Celebrity and Entertainment
Celebrities (715)
Movies, TV and Books (343)
News and Politics
Activism (640)
Climate Change (582)
News (1494)
Plants and Wildlife (396)
Polit-eco (579)
Home, Health and Fashion
Fashion (487)
Fitness (117)
Food (991)
Health (634)
Home (1527)
Kids and Parenting (442)
Natural Body Care (205)
Gadgets, Tech and Transportation
Alternative Energy (651)
Cars and Transportation (818)
Gadgets and Tech (585)
Travel and Vacation (219)
Tips and Advice
Green on Campus (74)
Reference/Green 101 (93)
Shopping Guide (495)
This or That (58)
Tip of the Day (288)
Tips (439)

Green Daily bloggers (30 days)

#BloggerPostsCmts
1Cat Lincoln220
2Josh Loposer210
3Kristen Seymour10

Most Commented On (7 days)

Sites We Love