• Last updated 1/17/11 by teej

After the Prius was released, there was a lot of outcry about why the advertised fuel economy was higher than that which people experienced.  And what about that little asterisk that says “EPA Estimated City MPG” after billboards tout 60 MPG?  And why are the numbers published for the 2008 models lower than those for the 2007 models?  Well, it all boils down to those EPA fuel economy tests.   The Old Methods for Testing EPA laboratory fuel economy testing began in the 1970s as an effort to help consumers compare vehicles based on fuel economy.  Estimates were... read more

• Last updated 6/18/08 by stins

Your outfit says “Dry Clean Only”?    Sometimes you can handwash these items- cool water, very gently (hand powered) agitation, and line drying is safe for many garments that masquerade as "dry clean only."  But for your most treasured (or expensive) items, there are more environmentally friendly options.    The most common method of dry cleaning uses the toxic solvent and probable carcinogen perchloroethylene, commonly referred to as “perc.”  The state of California has enacted a ban on perc, starting in 2023.  The first step, banning dry cleaners from buying machines... read more

• Last updated 6/4/08 by nitedreamer

  Especially as global warming increases the spread of mosquito-born illnesses, it's important to take steps to protect yourself from mosquito bites.   PREVENT YOUR HOME FROM BEING A MOSQUITO BREEDING GROUND:    Drain any areas of stagnant water, no matter how small- clogged gutteres, pet water or food dishes, saucers under plants, old tires, plastic linings to keep weeds away, garbage cans or lids, birdbaths, etc. Keep your grass short, as mosquitoes (and ticks) like to rest in tall grass, and these areas are also more likely to collect water. Consider... read more

• Last updated 9/28/08 by celticsolar

Hybrids Under the Hood [Original Source: HybridCenter.org subsequently modified by Green Huddlers]   A hybrid electric vehicle combines an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, merging the best features of combustion engine cars and electric vehicles. The combination allows the electric motor to help the conventional engine operate more efficiently, cutting down on combustible fuel use. Simultaneously providing long distance driving and fast refueling capability via the gasoline-fueled combustion engine. In the end, this hybridization gives you the ability... read more

• Last updated 5/17/11 by teej

http://www.swaptree.com/ A freecycle of sorts for media (books, cds, movies ect...)   A totally free service (except postage remember though it's cheaper then normal postage cause it's media postage) where you can list your old media and swap it for new (to you) media.   here's from their http://www.swaptree.com/WebFrmHowDoesThisWork.aspx   how does this work?          Is it really... read more

• Last updated 4/11/11 by vs23

Passover is the time to get the family together and celebrate Jewish traditions.  Why not make it a new tradition to do it in an eco friendy style?   The Quick And Dirty List For An Eco-Passover Matzo is a must.  Why not try some organic matzo? Sip on some organic and kosher wine. Green your seder with organic horseradish, organic parsley, homemade charoset, and a free range (organic) egg. Take some extra time to incorporate organic and local ingredients into the menu. Use reusable plates and cups if you can; but if you can't, use something... read more

• Last updated 5/13/08 by Lola

  For maximum nutrition and to eat more "environmentally," try to buy fruits and vegetables during their specific peak season.   This 'vegetannual' is an imaginary plant created by Barbara Kingsolver (from her book "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle") that "bears, over the course of one growing season, a cornucopia of all the different vegetable products that [one might] harvest" in a home garden.   You can 'read' this image from the bottom (May) all the way up to the latest harvestables like pumpkins (October).   It's a good start to understanding the seasonal nature of fruit... read more

• Last updated 7/2/08 by stins

We can listen to experts rattle off the merits of this product or that product till they’re blue in the face.  But what about the real people?  Here are the top five types of diapers and nappies being used right now by folks just like you.  The Huddle has spoken.   As of July 1, 2008...   1.  Cotton Babies bumGenius One-Size Cloth Diaper Average user rating: 5 stars   What people are saying: "I started using these when my son was around 2 months old. He is now 11 months old. They have grown with him well, with still more room to grow. They are highly adjustable. They are... read more

• Last updated 11/22/10 by Jeff Mcintire-Strasburg

  Vegan walking boots- particularly those intended to stand up to hard mountain use- get a lot of criticism. Many retailers still believe that leather is stronger, more durable, and generally makes better outdoor footwear. While that may have been true not so long ago, times have changed. ‘Cowdura’ and other synthetic materials are now being used in place of natural leather in plenty of boots. The reasons for replacing leather with more ethical alternatives are rarely moral and almost always practical.   A good fraction of rock climbing shoes are now made with... read more

• Last updated 9/6/11 by Jeremy Bloom

  By Bill McKibben Dear friends— Here’s the battle plan we promised—a few hours late, because it’s been a big job wrapping up phase one of this campaign. By now you know what you accomplished: 1,253 arrests, according to some journalists the biggest civil disobedience action since 1977, and the most sustained since the epic campaigns of the civil rights movement. That was enough to take a regional issue and make it a national and even global one (many thanks to our friends, who picketed American and Canadian embassies on every continent). Together... read more