So much for saving the planet. A recent survey reveals that over the past few years, Americans have become less likely to say they care a great deal about the current and future state of the environment. Similarly, we’re also less likely today to purchase all-natural or organic products, bother trying to use less water, and reuse things we already own—not when we can buy new stuff and toss the old items in the trash.
The Associated Press reports that the Phillips LED light bulb that won the government’s L Prize—a $10 million contest to replace the traditional incandescent bulb—will go on sale as of Earth Day with a full retail price of $60. Yes, that’s $60 per bulb, not $60 for an entire house full of bulbs.
The recent rally was a chance to see which shares would likely lead the next major market advance.
At a small conference on a little island, some big thinkers propose ways to fix everything from energy to education.
Could dog poop help communities meet their energy needs? Should the government give signing bonuses to unemployed people who accept job offers?
Here’s some math on the costs of staying cool this summer: A decent window A/C unit costs roughly 14¢ an hour on your utility bill. A larger central-air system will cost you about 36¢ an hour to run. The energy needed to keep a typical ceiling fan humming, meanwhile, adds up to 1¢ for every [...]
One-third of homeowners who have paid for energy-efficiency upgrades—switching to CFL lightbulbs, installing Energy Star appliances, etc.—say they haven’t seen the decrease in energy bills that they expected.
Also, plenty of stuff it’s best to avoid, including bad bosses, toxic spouses, diet soda, and voting for “American Idol.”
Turns out a stinky incense stick is useful for reasons other than masking the smell of marijuana.
In a national competition organized by the Environmental Protection Agency, buildings around the country were challenged to decrease energy use over the course of a year. The winning building was a dorm at UNC-Chapel Hill, which reduced energy use by 35.7% and saved more than $250,000 on energy costs.
“Take a 3,000-square-foot house on a summer day — only about 3 percent of the cooling power from the central air conditioning is going for people cooling.”
