Green Leaf Report

Jon Mooallem writes an excellent article about the politics of deposit laws, returnable bottles and the loophole of water bottles.  Deposit laws - charging and then refunding a nickel or dime for returned soda and beer bottles - are a good start to make the recycling of our trash more economic.  Grocers, bottling companies and the drink manufacturers […]

There are too many arguments about the efficiencies of solar panels: good enough, not good enough…We fall into analysis paralysis, and keep using the older, polluting energy sources. Texas Instruments was innovative in the ’80s with solar strips on calculators- now let’s put those little solar strips on all consumer devices! I just love this […]

I’ve seen several articles recently about solar panels made from plastics.  While I agree a lighter weight solar panel option can open greater possibilities for the technology, I’m uncomfortable with the idea of solar panels made through any association with the petroleum industry.  Doesn’t this seem like a contradiction of basic principals: reduce our dependency […]

Yesterday I attended a Green Home and Garden Show. It was a little surreal to see the growing marketplace for green products and services first-hand. I debated with a gentleman over why he thought waterless urinals weren’t as good as very low water urinals (ask me if I’ll ever use a urinal in any ladies […]

Nicolas Sarkozy was elected today to be the new French president. He is described as leading the right, and is unpopular with the poor and the immigrants due to his proposed policies on reforming the French social welfare system. It all seems so familiar- the conservative new government leader, supported by business, not supported by […]