What Can You Do Right Now?

Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only - not the street or sidewalk.

 

Use the microwave to cook small meals. (It uses less power than an oven.)

 

Purchase "Green Power" for your home's electricity. (Contact your power supplier to see where and if it is available.)

 

Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher; wash only full loads.

 

Cut back on air conditioning and heating use if you can.

 

Turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room.

 

More Tips »

 

Green Articles

12/02/2008

Scientists: Longer allergy season may be linked to climate change
Allergists are looking at the possibility that global warming produces bigger, nastier ragweed plants that pump more pollen into the atmosphere. Bottom line: If true, you'll be sneezing more often, for more days out of the year. And that could be the least of our worries.

12/01/2008

Houston sees record-low days of dangerous smog
For the third consecutive year, the Houston area has seen a drop in days with harmful levels of smog brought by the heavy industry, weather and traffic-choked highways around the nation's fourth-largest city.

* 11/26/2008

Design: Will the Obamas turn the White House green?
Change is nothing new for the White House, which is redecorated every four to eight years. Several interior decorators who agreed to sketch design schemes for the Obama White House focused on environmentally friendly materials, modern furnishings and high-tech flourishes.

11/24/2008

Can installing radiant barriers cut energy costs?
Radiant barriers are designed to shield a home from the rays of the sun. Some claim they can save an average of 30 percent on energy bills, but there is no guarantee, according to Kent Patterson of Energy Attic.

11/20/2008

Wal-Mart buying wind power for Texas stores
The retailing behemoth said in a press release Thursday it will buy 226 million kilowatt hours of wind power each year – enough to supply 15 percent of the electricity it needs for 360 Texas stores.

* 11/14/2008

UN: Clouds of pollution threaten glaciers, health
A dirty brown haze sometimes more than a mile thick is darkening skies not only over vast areas of Asia, but also in the Middle East, southern Africa and the Amazon Basin, changing weather patterns around the world and threatening health and food supplies, the U.N. reported Thursday.

* 10/29/2008

How and when to plant trees
Many homeowners think spring when they think about planting trees. But gardening experts consider fall the best time to add trees to the landscape. Trees planted now get a head start on establishing roots before summer returns.

* 10/24/2008

2 greenhouse gases on the rise worry scientists
Carbon dioxide isn't the only greenhouse gas that worries climate scientists. Airborne levels of two other potent gases - one from ancient plants, the other from flat-panel screen technology - are on the rise, too. And that's got scientists concerned about accelerated global warming.

* 10/22/2008

Bathrooms awash in green options
It's smart and smart-looking to think green in the bathroom. With the wide choices, eco-conscious homebuyers should insist on products' and materials' sustainability, says LEED-certified architect Gary Gene Olp, president of GGO Architects of Dallas. There's more to a green bathroom than the latest product.

* 10/17/2008

Government declares beluga whale endangered
The federal government on Friday placed the beluga whales in Alaska's Cook Inlet under the protection of the Endangered Species Act, concluding that a decade-long recovery program has failed to ensure their survival.

* 10/16/2008

EPA faulted on waterway pollution from sprawl
The Environmental Protection Agency is failing to stem the pollution washing into waterways from cities and suburbs, the National Academy of Sciences reported Wednesday.

* Study: Bottled water has contaminants too
Tests on leading brands of bottled water turned up a variety of contaminants often found in tap water, according to a study released Wednesday by an environmental advocacy group.

* 10/15/2008

FDA will look into scientist's possible conflict
Federal health officials said Tuesday they will look into a possible conflict of interest involving a prominent toxicologist who is heading up a review of a sensitive safety issue.

* McCain and Obama's energy proposals
Here's a look at some of the positions of the presidential candidates on energy and global warming.

* 10/08/2008

Studies show oceans contribute to warming
Scientists at Oregon State University are studying air bubbles trapped in ancient ice chunks to get a better knowledge of climate change. Their research suggests that future global warming may be worse than we previously thought.

* Court wrestles with case on Navy sonar, whales
The Supreme Court heard arguments in a dispute between the Bush administration and environmental advocates over court rulings that restrict sonar in naval training exercises off the coast of Southern California.

* Seattle coffee shop runs on solar power
One Seattle coffee shop is adding a little sunshine to its drinks. The Red Cup Espresso doesn't just produce coffee. The roof of the shop is green. Solar panels soak up the precious little sunlight on a rainy day and so baristas can make a mocha with it.

* Starbucks accused of wasting millions of gallons of water
A U.K. newspaper is reporting that coffee-giant Starbucks wastes about 6 million gallons of water each day because stores are told to keep water running in their sinks.

* 10/06/2008

Electric car fueling stations planned
A California company is planning to build a network of charging stations on four Hawaii islands to fuel electric-powered cars.

* Scientists say 1 in 4 mammals faces extinction
While the new report estimated that one-in-four mammals is threatened with extinction, the actual numbers listed were 1,141 out of 5,487 species. That comes out to 20.8 percent, closer to one in five.

* 10/02/2008

Houston joins Los Angeles in 'severe' smog category
The eight-county Houston region, whose smog problem used to be classified as "moderate," now joins Los Angeles as the only two places in the nation with a severe smog problem, according to the EPA.

* 09/24/2008

Government: Gas mileage rise in 2008 vehicles
The average fuel efficiency of new cars and trucks rose only slightly in 2008, but the government said Friday that increased sales of smaller vehicles due to high gas prices could push the numbers higher.

* 09/18/2008

Scientists to use satellites to count kangaroo rats
Scientists will examine images taken from the same satellite used by Israeli defense forces to find the circular patches of earth denuded by the rats as they gather food around their burrows. From that they plan to get the first-ever accurate population count of the rodents, a bellwether for the health of a parched plains environment.

* FDA to review genetically engineered farm animals
The government said it will start considering proposals to sell genetically engineered animals as food, a move that could lead to faster growing fish, cattle that can resist mad cow disease, or perhaps heart-healthier eggs laid by a new breed of chicken.

* 09/17/2008

Offshore drilling up to Senate after House passage
The House late Tuesday approved on a 236-189 vote legislation that would open waters 50 miles off the Pacific and Atlantic coasts to oil and natural gas development - if the adjacent states agree to go along. The legislation now goes to the Senate.

* Hurricane Ike further damages Texas' fragile coastal ecosystem
Hurricane Ike caused massive damage to Texas' coastal ecosystem that could take a generation to heal. As scientists and land managers start to assess the storm's impacts on beaches, dunes and marshes, they are seeing signs of present damage and future worries.

* Federal study says grizzlies thriving in Montana
The majestic grizzly bear, once king of the Western wilderness but threatened with extinction for a third of a century, has roared back in Montana.

* 09/16/2008

Arctic sea ice melt comes close, but misses record
Crucial Arctic sea ice this summer shrank to its second lowest level on record, continuing an alarming trend, scientists said Tuesday.

* 09/12/2008

Palin's climate remarks conflict with past views
Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's assertion that she believes humans play a role in climate change - made in her first major interview since joining the Republican ticket - is at odds with her previous statements. Palin said she didn't disagree with scientists that the problem can be attributed to "man's activities."

* 09/11/2008

Go Green: Power Meters
Using less electricity can help both your wallet and the environment. News 4's robin smith goes green with one way to reduce your energy use.

* Wind: The other untapped offshore energy source
Offshore wind has taken a back seat to offshore drilling for oil and natural gas in the current energy debate. But those wind-driven turbines probably will be operating long before oil platforms appear off Atlantic Coast states.

* 09/05/2008

Feds warn climate change could harm giant sequoias
Federal researchers are warning that warming temperatures could soon cause California's giant sequoia trees to die off more quickly unless forest managers plan with an eye toward climate change and the impact of a longer, harsher wildfire season.

* EPA restricts lawnmower emissions
Lawnmowers will be getting a bit greener under new rules issued by the Environmental Protection Agency.

09/04/2008

First Missouri restaurant to go green
It's the first green restaurant in the state of Missouri. News 4's Robin Smith takes you on a tour, to find out why this restaurant is a leader in protecting the environment.

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* Environmentalists can't corral Palin
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, McCain's vice presidential running mate, has had frequent run-ins with environmentalists.

* 09/03/2008

19-square-mile ice sheet breaks loose in Canada
A chunk of ice shelf nearly the size of Manhattan has broken away from Ellesmere Island in Canada's northern Arctic, another dramatic indication of how warmer temperatures are changing the polar frontier, scientists said Wednesday.

* 09/02/2008

Is companion planting a way to garden more organically?
Companion planting, which means growing certain plants near specific vegetables to repel destructive insects or attract beneficial ones, has great appeal to those who don't use chemicals.

* 08/27/2008

US colleges moving to retire cafeteria trays
An increasing number of colleges and universities are doing away with their cafeteria trays. They're hoping to save energy and water.

* 08/25/2008

Chemical trains leave residents uneasy
11 News tried to get a list of the chemicals the rail cars are carrying through Houston, but the Federal Rail Administration said that list is not available to the media or the general public.

* 08/21/2008

Study: Seismic has little effect on Gulf whales
Powerful acoustic devices used by oil companies searching for new sources of hydrocarbons in the Gulf of Mexico have had no discernible effect on endangered sperm whales living in those waters, according to a federally funded study.

* 08/18/2008

Motorists turn to carpool sites as gas prices rise
The number of daily visitors to eRideShare has jumped about threefold since February. A rival site, Carpoolworld.com, had about 4,400 new U.S. registrations in both June and July, compared with some 800 in February.

* 08/11/2008

New whale Web site let's you keep track of humpbacks
This week, researchers at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Auke Bay launched a Web site devoted to local humpbacks. Researchers are looking for help from the whale-watching public.

* Bush to relax protected species rules
The Bush administration wants federal agencies to decide for themselves whether highways, dams, mines and other construction projects might harm endangered animals and plants.

* Calif. lawmakers weigh chemical ban in baby items
Responding to growing consumer anxiety, California lawmakers are considering enacting what could be the first statewide restrictions on a chemical found in plastic baby bottles and infant formula cans.

* Researchers work to turn car's exhaust into power
Researchers are competing to meet a challenge from the U.S. Department of Energy: Improve fuel economy 10 percent by converting wasted exhaust heat into energy that can help power the vehicle.

08/07/2008

Go Green: Lower utility bills

* Day before Games, Beijing's pollution problem up in the air
China promised to clean the air in Beijing when it won the right to host the Summer Olympics, and the country's top leaders say the goal is being met.

* 08/06/2008

Eco-friendly products for babies
Going green isn't just for granola types. More parents are thinking eco-friendly when it comes to products and gear for their little ones.

* Dell: Operations are now carbon-neutral
Computers are far from being truly clean machines, but Dell Inc. and other PC makers are trying to make their own business operations greener.

* 08/05/2008

Report: 125,000 gorillas found in African zone
Wildlife researchers said Tuesday that they've discovered 125,000 western lowland gorillas deep in the forests of the Republic of Congo, calling it a major increase in the animal's estimated population.

* 07/30/2008

Neighborhoods risk losing recycling
In a letter to residents, the city of Houston said that 43 neighborhoods have less than 10 percent of the households putting their recycling curbside. If those numbers don't pick up, the recycling trucks are going to stop coming through.

* 07/29/2008

Two Texas beaches earn high marks for reporting pollution problems
The Natural Resources Defense Council reviewed three years of bacteria tests and health practices at 3,516 beaches and beach segments nationwide.

* Tips on handling pesticides safely - if you must use them
In an ideal world, pesticides would never be needed in the garden. In the real world, occasionally they are needed. That doesn't mean you need harsh chemicals.

* 07/28/2008

Houston ranks No. 1 in nation for green power purchasing
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Houston is now the nation’s No. 1 municipal purchaser of green power.

* Gulf 'dead zone' not quite record
Scientists say the Gulf of Mexico's oxygen-starved "dead zone" is a bit smaller than predicted, because Hurricane Dolly stirred up the water.

* 07/29/2008

Samples indicate water quality improved at Texas beaches in 2007
Water quality at Texas beaches improved in 2007 based on samples collected during peak vacation season, Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson said Monday.

* 07/24/2008

Campground restrooms becoming ecologically correct
When nature calls, campers at Michigan's Grand Haven State Park can now go "green" at a new, environmentally friendly toilet-shower building that is the first of its kind in the state park system.

* Green vehicles save Houston big bucks
The City of Houston's fleet of hybrid vehicles is paying off twofold with lower fuel costs as well as cleaner air. Forty percent of the city’s non-emergency vehicles are either Toyota Priuses or Ford Escapes.

* 07/23/2008

Scientists link more extreme weather to climate change
If it seems Mother Nature is a bit angry these days, you're right. Scientists say extreme weather events have become much more common over the last decade thanks to global warming.

* 07/21/2008

Hundreds of baby penguins found dead in Brazil
Hundreds of baby penguins swept from the icy shores of Antarctica and Patagonia are washing up dead on Rio de Janeiro's tropical beaches, rescuers and penguin experts said Friday.

* Judge restores protection for Rockies wolves
A federal judge has restored endangered species protections for gray wolves in the Northern Rockies, derailing plans by three states to hold public wolf hunts this fall.

* 07/17/2008

Horticulture industry strives to be more green

Many gardeners feel frustrated they cannot recycle the plastic pots, flats and trays used when planting. But that may not be such a problem in the future, reports the Chicago Tribune. The horticulture industry is making efforts to be more green.

* Gore sets energy goal for next president to heed
The Nobel Prize-winning former vice president said fellow Democrat Barack Obama and Republican rival John McCain are "way ahead" of most politicians in the fight against global climate change.

* Automakers offer hybrids for NYC taxi fleet
Three major auto manufacturers are promising to reserve 300 new hybrid vehicles each month exclusively for the city as it replaces its entire fleet of yellow cabs.

* 07/15/2008

EPA experts detail global warming's health risks
Government scientists detailed a rising death toll from heat waves, wildfires, disease and smog caused by global warming in an analysis the White House buried so it could avoid regulating greenhouse gases.

* E-bikes help commuters save big on gas
A growing number of Houston commuters are swapping their cars for electronic bikes. E-bikes are battery powered and can be plugged into any household outlet.

* 07/14/2008

8 ways to green your kitchen
So all those gourmet cooking shows have inspired you to spend more time in the kitchen. But between energy use, water use and food/packaging disposal, there’s lots of opportunity to help or hurt the environment in the process.

* Bush trumps Congress; Moves first on drilling
Putting pressure on congressional Democrats to back more exploration for oil, President Bush on Monday lifted an executive ban on offshore drilling that his stood since his father was president.

* 07/11/2008

Window coatings can channel energy
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a system that turns windows into a solar collector, letting people see clearly while collecting energy.

* EPA: Smog could get worse with global warming
Global warming could worsen smog and stretch what typically is a summer pollution problem into the spring and fall, government scientists predicted Thursday.

* 07/10/2008

Toyota making U.S. manufacturing changes
Toyota Motor Corp. will start producing the hybrid Prius in the U.S. for the first time as the Japanese automaker adjusts its U.S. manufacturing operations to meet customer demands for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles.

* 07/09/2008

Bush: 'Significant progress' on climate change
President Bush hailed the move by G-8 leaders to coalesce behind a strategy for a global climate-change accord, saying Wednesday "significant progress" was made.

* Let old clothes fill thrift stores, not landfills
About seven percent of our landfills are packed with old clothing, bedding and shoes. Now, in the City of Norfolk, you can recycle clothing.

VIDEO

* 07/08/2008

Hypermilers driven to maximize gas mileage
Hypermilers cite several reasons for maximizing mileage, including protecting the environment, saving money, having fun while driving, and even decreasing American dependence on foreign oil.

* Carbon-offset programs let travelers contribute
In recent years, dozens of companies have emerged to help offset the effect of carbon emissions by planting trees, funding conservation measures at power plants, or paying for alternative energy production such as wind power.

* G-8 endorses halving global emissions by 2050
World leaders on Tuesday endorsed halving world emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050, edging forward in the battle against global warming but stopping short of tough, nearer-term targets.

* NOAA report: U.S. coral reefs in severe decline
Almost half the coral reef ecosystems in United States territory are in poor or fair condition, mostly because of rising ocean temperatures, according to a government report released Monday.

* 07/07/2008

Study: Orangutan populations declining sharply
Orangutan numbers have declined sharply on the only two islands where they still live in the wild and they could become the first great ape species to go extinct if urgent action isn't taken, a new study says.

* Standoff continues on global warming, other issues
President Bush encountered resistance on his climate-change policy as he and other world leaders sought to strike a balance between framing a deal on global warming while coping with inflation and slumping economic growth.

07/04/2008

Senator proposes lower national speed limit
An influential Republican senator suggested Thursday that Congress might want to consider reimposing a national speed limit to save gasoline and possibly ease fuel prices.

* 07/03/2008

Is offshore drilling environmentally safe as proponents claim?
Speaking to Houston oil executives, Republican presumptive nominee for president John McCain called for more drilling in the Gulf, claiming drilling was environmentally safe, even in the face of major storms. Those statements were not necessarily accurate.

* How cheap is it to drive green?
Going green with a hybrid vehicle that gets 40 to 50 miles per gallon may sound great. But after you factor in the cost of the car, maintenance and insurance, are hybrids really saving you money?

* 07/02/2008

Wal-Mart branches out into locally grown produce
Wal-Mart stores in Arizona now stock Grand Canyon sweet onions while aisles in New York display state-grown eggplant, as the world's largest retailer says it's become the nation's largest buyer of locally grown fruits and vegetables.

* 07/01/2008

Scientists say ailing penguins signal sea problems
Penguins may be the tuxedo-clad version of a canary in the coal mine, with generally ailing populations from a combination of global warming, ocean oil pollution, depleted fisheries, and tourism and development.

* Auditing home energy use could save you
With gas and grocery prices going up, almost everyone is looking for a way to save money. Getting your house an electricity audit may help.

* 06/30/2008

8 ways to green your Independence Day
The Fourth of July: summer’s most famous holiday. Fireworks, barbecues and a day off to enjoy the sunshine. But can you make America’s birthday Earth Day as well? Here’s eight steps for an eco-friendly Fourth.

* 'It's hybrid hysteria' for buyers seeking the hard-to-find Prius
With fuel prices hovering around $4 a gallon, scores of people are snatching up every Prius they can find and driving up prices at some area Toyota dealerships by as much as $5,000 over window sticker.

* New breed of CFLs focus on bulbs' aesthetics
Switching to efficient bulbs saves energy, but it also can create a design challenge. Swirly compact fluorescents stick out visually, don't work with traditional clip-on shades and can cast different colors of light than their incandescent counterparts.

* 06/26/2008

Lighten up to get better gas mileage
Airlines are reducing weight to save on fuel, but you can do it to your vehicle as well.

* 06/25/2008

Report: Global energy demand to grow 51% by 2030
Despite persistently high oil prices, global energy demand will grow by 50 percent over the next two decades with continued heavy reliance on environmentally troublesome fossil fuels, especially coal and oil, the government predicted Wednesday.

* 06/24/2008

NASA warming scientist: 'This is the last chance'
Exactly 20 years after warning America about global warming, a top NASA scientist said the situation has gotten so bad that the world's only hope is drastic action.

* McCain calls for energy efficient government
Republican John McCain said Tuesday the federal government should practice the energy efficiency he preaches, pledging as president to switch official vehicles to green technologies and do the same for office buildings.

* 06/23/2008

High gasoline prices changing lawn-mowing habits
Sales of manual — or push reel — mowers with the cartwheeling blades are on the rise this year.

06/22/2008

Schools pull plug on wasted energy
Across the state, public school districts are passing plans to reduce energy consumption. It’s an effort to comply with a state law passed in 2007 to help the state reduce the amount of power placed on the energy grid, especially during peak demand periods.

* 06/23/2008

Opposition mounts to clean air change affecting parks
Critics fear the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will adopt a rule in the waning days of the Bush administration that will make it easier to build coal-fired power plants near national parks.

* McCain offers $300 million for new auto battery
The presumed Republican nominee on Monday proposed a $300 million government prize to whoever can develop an automobile battery that far surpasses existing technology.

* 06/19/2008

New lighting tech beats fluorescents, maker says
Organic light-emitting diodes, a technology that is being hailed as the future of home lighting, have surpassed fluorescent lights in energy efficiency, according a New Jersey company.

* 06/18/2008

Bush to Congress: Embrace energy exploration now
With gasoline topping $4 a gallon, President Bush urged Congress on Wednesday to lift its long-standing ban on offshore oil and gas drilling, saying the United States needs to increase its energy production.

* 06/17/2008

Want a lower electric bill? Start shopping
Plenty of residents complain they are seeing triple digits on their thermometers and electric bills. The surging heat and the price surge on the bills that come with the summer are hitting some residents particularly hard.