Episodes

You don’t have control over your electricity service, and yet almost everything you do requires electricity. Even people whose homes or workplaces are run by self-generated wind or solar power are vulnerable, because every other system we rely upon runs on electricity: water, information technology, transportation, fuel delivery, manufacturing, telecom, banking, etc. Thirty years ago, people said that the U.S. had a “gold plated” electrical grid, now many of those same experts say it is “third w...

When we think about tracking the carbon footprint of a company or a region, we typically take into consideration things like energy use, transportation and manufacturing. But today’s guest, Adam Smargon, is a doctoral candidate at the University of Delaware’s Center for Energy and Environmental Policy, and his dissertation addresses another source of carbon emissions –artificially carbonated beverages. In April 2011, Mr. Smargon had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, the chairp...

Oil was undoubtedly the fuel of the 20th century economy, but by all accounts, clean technology will be the fuel of the 21st century economy. Thanks to the leadership of a new nonprofit organization, CleanTECH San Diego (www.cleantechsandiego.org), ‘America’s Finest City’ is poised to be a global economic leader by institutionalizing collaboration between business, government and research facilities. CleanTECH San Diego is streamlining the process by which clean tech companies grow, hire, and in...

During Earth Week 2011, I visited the OSU campus, and toured the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) where the world’s fastest electric vehicle (top speed 320 mph) is housed. The only thing more impressive than getting to see the “Buckeye Bullet” in person was meeting the Director of CAR, Dr. Giorgio Rizzoni. While the Buckeye Bullet is fueled by lithium ion batteries, the world class research facility run by Dr. Rizzoni is fueled by his unparalleled brilliance and enthusiasm for advanced elect...

Uprisings for the Earth: Reconnecting Culture with Nature delves into a new kinship with nature while acknowledging the treasures of urban life and the unique stake each person has in resolving critical and timely challenges. Whether you are an agent for social, environmental or political change, newly awakened to environmental threats, or a lover of natural history and literature, consider this book required reading for its inspiration, innovation and hope for the Earth and future generations. ...

Eric Herm’s new book examines commercial agriculture’s strain on our natural resources, delicate ecosystems, and the farmer. As a fourth-generation farmer, Eric Herm deals with the harsh economic realities and complicated legislation facing farmers, as well as the undeniable health impact of GMO crops and excessive chemicals on all living creatures. “Son of a Farmer, Child of the Earth” provides ample resources of natural, healthy alternatives that will inspire the transformation of farmers from...

In light of the tragedy unfolding in Japan, it is absolutely prudent to take a good, hard look at existing and future nuclear power plants in the United States. The Obama administration is still committed to backing loans for construction of nuclear facilities in the U.S., even as everyday Americans wonder if the facilities are safe. Today we’ll be joined by Angie Howard is president of Howard – Johnson Associates, a consulting practice specializing in strategic energy and utility issues, and 20...

Generation X and Y parents are environmentally conscious, and want to put their money where their values are when they make consumer purchases. Today, we’ll be joined by the CEO’s of three toy manufacturers who produce top quality toys that tread lightly on the Earth’s resources. Robert von Goeben, CEO of Green Toys, Inc. will discuss his toy line made from recycled milk jugs. Serah Chae, President of Hosung NY, maker of miYim and My Natural eco-plush toys and accessories for infants and toddler...

A lot of us want to live a greener lifestyle, but we’re not sure where to start. By taking a simple quiz on PracticallyGreen.com, you can find out exactly how green you are living today, and receive personalized advice about ways to become even more eco-friendly. PracticallyGreen.com was founded by Susan Hunt Stevens after she discovered that her son was suffering from severe food and environmental allergies. She researched solutions for her own family, and even got a graduate degree in sustaina...

The new book, Changing Planet, Changing Health: How the Climate Crisis Threatens Our Health and What We Can Do about It, by Harvard health and disease expert Paul R. Epstein, MD, and award-winning science journalist Dan Ferber, reveals the complex links between global warming and cholera, malaria, Lyme disease, asthma, and other threats such as crumbling ecosystems and lost services. They also examine abrupt climate change, which could cause catastrophic droughts, crop failures, large-scale migr...

In light of the tragedy unfolding in Japan, it is absolutely prudent to take a good, hard look at existing and future nuclear power plants in the United States. The Obama administration is still committed to backing loans for construction of nuclear facilities in the U.S., even as everyday Americans wonder if the facilities are safe. Today we’ll be joined by Angie Howard is president of Howard – Johnson Associates, a consulting practice specializing in strategic energy and utility issues, and 20...

Today we’ll be joined by Deborah Eden Tull, author of The Natural Kitchen: Your Guide to the Sustainable Food Revolution. In our convenience-obsessed, oil-addicted world, Deborah Eden Tull shows how greening our kitchens can empower each of us to create a personal, healthy, sustainable world. An acknowledged expert and well-known sustainability coach in Los Angeles, Tull, 36, is the real deal who draws from years of insight as an organic farmer and cook, including seven years at a Zen monastery ...

Social media has opened up new ways to engage kids in environmental education. Today we'll talk about how the best organizations are using new media to take going green to new levels in American schools.

Today’s guest is Lisa Hymas, senior editor at Grist.org, the nation’s leading environmental news site. She coined the acronym GINK, which stands for green inclinations, no kids, to describe a small but growing group of people who are both environmentally conscious and childfree by choice. The childfree choice often raises disapproving eyebrows in our society, even among environmentalists, but the green benefits are clear. According to a 2009 study by statisticians at Oregon State University, hav...

Uprisings for the Earth: Reconnecting Culture with Nature delves into a new kinship with nature while acknowledging the treasures of urban life and the unique stake each person has in resolving critical and timely challenges. Whether you are an agent for social, environmental or political change, newly awakened to environmental threats, or a lover of natural history and literature, consider this book required reading for its inspiration, innovation and hope for the Earth and future generations. ...

There are only a handful of environmentalists who are household names, and Captain Jacques Cousteau ranks among the top. His groundbreaking work to bring the mysteries of the ocean to the television screen made millions of people around the world more thoughtful about their impact on the delicate balance of marine life. However, it was the man behind the camera who may ultimately be responsible for the greatest ripple effect of Jacques’ work – his son, Philippe Cousteau JR. In honor of their fat...

There are only a handful of environmentalists who are household names, and Captain Jacques Cousteau ranks among the top. His groundbreaking work to bring the mysteries of the ocean to the television screen made millions of people around the world more thoughtful about their impact on the delicate balance of marine life. However, it was the man behind the camera who may ultimately be responsible for the greatest ripple effect of Jacques’ work – his son, Philippe Cousteau JR. In honor of their fat...

Charles Orgbon is one of those kids who makes you think, “I should probably get his autograph now. He’s going to be famous someday.” At 15 years old, Charles is the President and CEO of Greening Forward (www.greeningforward.org), and not only is his organization growing their membership, they are hiring! Greening Forward has entered the Pepsi Refresh Project contest to win $50,000 so they can host environmental leadership conferences in multiple cities across the U.S., with the goal of training ...

In the fall of 2010, Groundwork Denver (www.groundworkdenver.org) initiated Take Charge: Student Energy Education and Action, through which high school and college students around the state will become Student Energy Ambassadors to educate their own communities about energy efficiency, renewable energy and green jobs. Over the next two years, twenty-four communities throughout the entire State of Colorado will institute the Take Charge! If you are interested in bringing a similar program to your...

Eric Herm’s new book examines commercial agriculture’s strain on our natural resources, delicate ecosystems, and the farmer. As a fourth-generation farmer, Eric Herm deals with the harsh economic realities and complicated legislation facing farmers, as well as the undeniable health impact of GMO crops and excessive chemicals on all living creatures. “Son of a Farmer, Child of the Earth” provides ample resources of natural, healthy alternatives that will inspire the transformation of farmers from...

The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) provides knowledge to trusted professionals who, with their credibility, amplify messages to national audiences to solve everyday environmental problems. NEEF has a program for students called Planet Connect (www.planet-connect.org), which is giving out grants to high school students to perform local projects to protect wildlife. They are also sponsoring a video contest called, “Show Us Your Ocean Connection,” and the prizes are amazing! In ...

Otis Rolley has already made history. At 29, Rolley was the youngest director of a large city-planning department in America. He shepherded the city’s first Comprehensive Master Plan ever adopted by both the Baltimore Planning Commission and City Council. And now, he’s attempting a new historical first – to become the Mayor of Baltimore in his initial run for political office. With a background in city planning and transit, Mr. Rolley may be poised to enact the plans he crafted if he is elected....

Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) is not messing around when they ask people not to litter in the Lone Star state! In 2010, more than 840 litter cleanup events were held across the state, featuring more than 74,100 volunteers. All told, 6,219 miles of highway were cleared of litter and debris, totaling a little more than eight million pounds of trash! But that’s only one of many outstanding programs run by KTB, and today, we’ll talk with their Executive Director, Cathie Gail. We’ll discuss their educat...

The generation of Americans that will soon be called upon to address some of humanity’s greatest environmental challenges—those currently in our schools—have a limited understanding of environmental issues, our civic system and/or how to develop and implement balanced solutions to natural resource challenges. The problem is not a shortage of environmental information. There is plenty of information with media saturation of environmental stories at an all time high. The problem is that we have no...