BACK | INDEX

GREEN THOUGHTS
Compiled by Sally Gilhooley

For Halloween, reusable cloth or canvas trick or treat bags make eco-friendly alternatives to paper or plastic. Americans use more than 380 million plastic bags and more than 10 million paper bags each year. Plastic bag litter kills thousands of marine mammals and breaks down slowly continuing to pollute soil and water. Their production requires millions of gallons of fossil fuels and making paper bags consumes more than 14 million trees annually in the U.S. See About.com.environment

The New York State Assembly has addressed the bag problem by passing legislation aimed at reducing the environmental damage caused by single-use carryout bags. Up to one trillion of these bags are consumed worldwide each year, with billions ending up as litter. The bill places responsibilities on the manufacturer and the stores who use the bags. Manufacturers must provide stores educational materials encouraging the reduction, reuse and recycling of plastic bags and stores must offer reusable bags to customers and a bin for recycling plastic ones. - NYS Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation

MIT researchers have demonstrated how ordinary spark-ignition automobile engines can move into a spark-free operation that is more fuel-efficient and just as clean. The capability could appear in production models within a few years improving fuel economy in millions of new cars. The change could cut oil demand by a million barrels a day in the U.S. which now consumes more than 20 million barrels of oil a day. -www.ScienceDaily.com

Wee Generation is a program dedicated to ensuring a healthy nest for children at home and in the world at large. Find easy tips for going green, natural parenting, eco-friendly ideas and a sweepstakes for you and your children. - weegeneration.com

Solar ovens, originally designed by solar engineers for use in sun rich but fuel poor countries to improve the quality of life and nutrition for some 2.4 billion people who lack cooking fuel, are gaining popularity among U.S. consumers. Learn the facts at www.solarovens.org

© 2007 NETWORKING® MAGAZINE 2020 GUIDE TO GOING GREEN

BACK | INDEX