sunflower
Environment

I thought that putting ethanol in our gas tanks was going help fight climate change, but lately I’ve heard reports to the contrary. Can you enlighten?

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: I thought that putting ethanol in our gas tanks was going help fight climate change, but lately I’ve heard reports to the contrary. Can you enlighten?       –– Bill B., Hershey, PA Ethanol and similar “biofuels” made from corn and other crops seem like a […]

sunflower
Environment

To what extent is Antarctica really melting and what impact might it have on coastlines around the world?

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: To what extent is Antarctica really melting and what impact might it have on coastlines around the world?     — Andrea Hutchinson, Cary, NC The Antarctic continent, roughly the size of the United States and Mexico combined, is composed of rock covered by glaciers some 16,000 […]

sunflower
Environment

Is it true that fuel cell cars aren’t really any greener than conventional gas-powered internal combustion cars?

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that fuel cell cars aren’t really any greener than conventional gas-powered internal combustion cars? — Michelle Adamo, Portland, OR A decade ago cars powered by fuel cells seemed like the future of green automotive travel, but many analysts now think otherwise. These futuristic cars […]

gas station
Environment

What are “dirty fuels” and why are they so called?

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: What are “dirty fuels” and why are they so called?— Bill Green, Seattle, WA The term “dirty fuels” refers to fuels derived from tar sands, oil shale or liquid coal. Just like their more conventional fossil fuel counterparts such as petroleum and coal, they can be turned […]

nuclear power plant
Environment

I thought Japan’s 2011 Fukushima nuclear plant meltdown would have sealed nuclear power’s fate, but I keep hearing otherwise. Can you enlighten?

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: I thought Japan’s 2011 Fukushima nuclear plant meltdown would have sealed nuclear power’s fate, but I keep hearing otherwise. Can you enlighten?  — Jacob Allen, New York, NY The 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster did cause many nations to reconsider their nuclear committments, though many European countries—Switzerland, Belgium, […]

sunflower
Environment

Barack Obama's Climate Change Initiative

Dear EarthTalk: What is the gist of President Obama’s new plan to tackle global warming and how does the green community feel about what the White House is proposing?  — Bill Kemp, Seattle WA In what’s being billed as the greatest environmental initiative of his presidency, Barack Obama announced on June 25, 2013 that his […]

sunflower
Environment

Greening Package Delivery Fleets

Dear EarthTalk: Now that hot weather is coming, I want to upgrade my home’s A/C. Which are the most energy-saving models and should I go central air or window units?   — Jackie Smith, Cary, NC According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), energy consumption for home air conditioning units accounts […]