Powered by Max Banner Ads  EarthTalk ® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: I understand that Congress passed legislation not too long ago that protected a few million acres of wilderness areas, parks and wild rivers, in part to help offset climate change. How does conserving land prevent global warming? – M. Oakes, Charlottesville, NC Photo courtesy Thinkstock. ... 

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Instances of people with thyroid problems seems to be on the rise. Is there an environmental connection? — Dora Light, Waukesha, WI Photo courtesy Getty Images The nonprofit group Beyond Pesticides warns that some 60 percent of pesticides used today have been shown to affect the thyroid gland’s production of T3 and T4 hormones.... 

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard of the slow food movement, but what is “slow money” all about? — Phil Nimkoff, New York, NY Credit: Tammy Green, courtesy Flickr Woody Tasch, socially conscious investing pioneer, founder of the Slow Money movement, and author of the book, Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money: Investing as if Food, Farms... 

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that gas furnaces cost less to run and burn cleaner than their oil counterparts? If I make the switch, how long should I expect it to take for me to pay back my initial investment? And are there any greener options I should consider? – Veronica Austin, Boston, MA Credit: iStock/Thinkstock Only eight percent of U.S.... 

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: What are the environmental implications of the road ahead as laid out by President Obama in his recent State of the Union? – Marilyn Pike, Bethesda, MD Credit: Pete Souza/White House photo. Obama's State of the Union address was, in the words of one prominent green leader, "a strong defense of the importance of clean... 

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Recycling can be a somewhat time-consuming task; so can you please provide some benefits of taking the time to separate my trash? -- Joseph Jiminez, Houston, TX Credit: iStock/Thinkstock Recycling and re-use have many environmental benefits, including reducing the amount of waste we bury in already overcrowded landfills and burn in polluting... 

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: What do I need to know about the new U.S. energy efficiency standards for light bulbs that take effect in January 2012? Will certain bulbs be unavailable? And am I supposed to switch out my older inefficient bulbs with newer efficient ones? – Melissa McCarthy, Aptos, CA Credit: iStock/Thinkstock January 2012 marks the beginning... 

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: ​There are a number of companies out there now doing “energy audits” for the home, after which they try to sell you attic insulation and other products and services. Is this just a scam or would it be wise for me to look into this? – Bill Richards., New York, NY Credit: USDA Companies offering energy audits are generally... 

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: How is it that global warming could negatively impact water supplies in the U.S.? – Penny Wilcox, Austin, TX Credit: Comstock One out of three counties across the contiguous U.S., says a recent study commissioned by the Natural Resources Defense Council, should brace for water shortages by mid-century as a result of human induced... 

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Are there healthy, green-friendly mouthwashes? I’ve heard that some contain formaldehyde and other nasty substances. – Marina Sandberg, Albany, NY Credit: Lite Productions/Thinkstock Many mainstream mouthwashes contain ingredients that you wouldn't want to swallow or rinse down the drain. Fortunately, there are many natural...