The current economic downturn has a “green” lining: reduced consumption is cutting environmental impact almost across the board, scaling back carbon dioxide emissions and trash piles as people drive less, buy less, and pluck more goods out of neighborhood yard sales and on-line swap shops before they get redirected to the dump. These are good […]
Author Archive | Diane
After 40 Years, Protecting the Environment Becomes “Overnight Sensation”
I celebrated the very first Earth Day as a high school senior in 1970. As students across the U.S. buried polluting automobiles, decried oil spills that were fouling pristine beaches, and protested nuclear power plants, I thought it would be only a matter of months before Americans would come to their senses and adopt an ethic focused on […]
As Communities Ban Leaf Blowers, Homeowners Save Money by Raking
2.5kviewsCitizens in my town of Takoma Park, MD are asking the city council to ban gas-powered leaf blowers because they are so noisy and generate so much air pollution. If the council agrees, our community will join many others around the U.S. that believe it is cleaner and healthier to rake leaves rather than blow them into […]
Hanging out with Christie Brinkley is Fun!
In honor of its upcoming 70th anniversary, Glamour magazine is featuring 70 women whom they consider to be environmental leaders. I was honored to be included in the group, along with Laurie David, who produced “An Inconvenient Truth” for Al Gore, renowned organic chef Alice Waters, film star Alicia Silverstone, and top model Christie Brinkley. […]
Eco Door-knocking for Obama Worth the Effort in Virginia
With the presidential race getting down to the wire, I took to the streets of Alexandria, VA today to knock on doors and talk to undecided voters about the environmental differences between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain. It was easy to draw a distinction between the two candidates. Sen. McCain’s lifetime rating on […]
A Green — and Cheap — Halloween: Top Ten Tips
Here are the top ten tips for a “green” Halloween. They’ll save you money, too! 1. Reuse costumes. Tap into the treasures hidden in your closet or attic to pull together a fun, no-cost costume (it won’t take any longer than going to the mall, and will be a lot cheaper). Trade costumes with friends […]
Ask for It In “Green” At Best Buy and You’ll Get a Hybrid
When my computer’s hard drive crashed this week, every techie I talked to said it was too fried to be rebuilt. So I did some quick research and headed over to Best Buy for a replacement. In case you haven’t been there recently, there are MOUNTAINS of computers to choose from. The salesman was going […]
Forget Black and Orange. Can I Get That In “Green”?
As Halloween unofficially kicks off the holiday buying season, Big Green Purse is encouraging consumers to ask “Can I get it in ‘green’?” no matter what they’re looking for when they shop. The idea is to pressure the nation’s 1.6 million U.S. retailers more forcefully than ever before to offer the greenest products and services […]