Are Pay-As-You-Throw trash programs fair?

As of 2006, the last time the EPA took down stats, about 7,095 communities were participating in Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) programs. PAYT programs are unit pricing or variable-rate pricing programs for trash disposal. Basically, residents are charged for the collection of their solid waste, i.e. what ends up in their trash can instead of a flat rate. For one thing this creates an economic incentive to recycle and so far programs like this result in communities that recycle more and trash less.

However, one common argument I’ve heard is, “Are these programs really fair?” In my opinion they are, because if we...

Asus Laptop First to Earn Carbon Footprint Certificate

The Asus N51V laptop has become the first notebook computer in the world to receive both an Environmental Product Declaration and a carbon footprint certificate, both of which are part of the EPEAT (Electronics Products Environmental Assessment Tool) program.

This means that ASUS implemented something called Life Cycle Inventory, which looks and materials, manufacturing, using, transportation, and disposal. It also means that Asus discloses both the direct and indirect emission data...

X Prize Contenders at SEMA 2009

A dozen of the contenders for the Progressive Automotive X Prize were on hand in the “Making Green Cool Zone” at SEMA 2009 in Las Vegas. I’ll keep the text short — you know by now that this is a competition to create a buildable, drivable car that gets 100 MPGe with a $10 million purse — so you can peruse the cars below.

Fight Off Three Home Toxins

There are so many toxins out there nowadays - from auto emissions to mercury in the water to pesticides in city parks and more. You can’t stop your exposure to all things toxic, but what you can do is limit your home exposure. Following are three home toxins that are easy to wage war on…

Carbon monoxide (CO): An odorless but highly toxic gas that can come from all sorts of...

Eco-rate Your Green Home Products

There’s a newer green consumer site in town. Ok, not THAT new. Eco-rate launched last May and aims to make green living a little easier with reviews of green home products that weigh “The environmental and economic costs of product ownership, providing a unique platform for meaningful product comparison.” Eco-rate offers this little click-friendly house you see below. Simply click on a room, and get information on technology and products...

Wellness Water Filters - Clean and Enhanced Home Water

Wellness Enterprises makes water filters for the home kitchen, bathroom, and even products for on the go. Of course we talk about water all the time here, and I usually go with drinking tap. However, since not everyone is down with tap water, and some people do actually need a filter to make their water safe to drink, a wellness filter might be a good choice.

All in all the company...

Reduce the lead in your home water supply

There could be lead in your water supply and that’s not a good thing. Lead can cause delays in physical and mental development plus deficits in attention span and learning abilities in children. Adults may experience increased in blood pressure and kidney problems when exposed to lead.

The stories you hear about lead in your hot water are true. If you’re used to filling up pots with hot water from the...