By Alana Stroud

Take this quiz to see where your loyalties lie!

1) On a scale of one (not very) to ten (extremely), how green is your home?
A One. I’m only one person. How much difference could I make?
B Four. I recycle.
C Seven. I make my own clothes and reuse water. However, there’s always room for improvement!
D Ten. I compost all food waste, cook with natural gas, and use junk mail for the fireplace.

2) How do you feel about plastic bags?
A I love them! Use ’em all the time.
B I’ve really tried to cut back since I found out how bad they were for the environment.
C I use only canvas bags at the grocery store.
D I’ve blacklisted all my friends that continue to use plastic bags.

3) If you have a dog, how conscious are you of its waste when walking it?
A Dog poo is biodegradable, right?
B I try to remember to bring along pick-up baggies.
C I always pick up my dog’s waste.
D I clean up all waste, and read others their rights when they don’t pick up after their dogs!

4) What kind of car do you drive?
A A gas-guzzling muscle car or SUV.
B A newer compact or subcompact, like a Toyota Corolla or MINI Cooper.
C A hybrid or Smart Car.
D I don’t own a car. I walk, ride my bike, and use public transportation.

5) What best describes your bathroom habits?
A Water is there for me to use and enjoy.
B I take short showers and turn the water off when I brush my teeth.
C I use a washcloth and buy only organic body care products.
D I use my bathwater for the plants and have a low-flow toilet and showerhead.

6) What kind of electricity do you burn?
A I like to leave lights on around the house for a warm feeling.
B I try to turn off lights when I leave a room.
C I have contacted my local power company and switched to a plan that best accommodates my energy usage.
D I unplug all things not in use, have timers on my lights, line-dry all clothes, and use solar energy when possible.

7) When it comes to cleaning agents, what do you lean toward?
A I have a maid come in and do it for me.
B I use stuff from the supermarket.
C I buy eco-friendly products.
D I clean with baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar.

How do you spend your free time?
A I add to my collection of magazines, books, DVDs, and CDs, and watch a ton of TV.
B I rent movies, borrow books from the library, and download music.
C I participate in outdoor activities.
D I head up the local environmentalist group and picket outside of power plants.

9) How do you show your “green” at work?
A With my favorite pistachio green shirt.
B I carpool.
C I recycle all my paper and bring my own coffee mug and lunch.
D I organized recycling bins in the break rooms, double-side my copies, and police my coworkers’ printing habits.

10) Are you bringing up “green” kids?
A They get the latest and greatest of everything, no matter the cost (including to the environment).
B I teach them to recycle.
C I shop in secondhand stores for clothing and toys.
D They have earth-friendly toys, I buy all recycled school supplies, and they ride their bikes to school.

Answer Key
Mostly As: Being green doesn’t seem to mean a whole lot to you, but at least you’re honest! Perhaps you could start recycling, or even try to buy items in bulk. Every little bit helps!
Mostly Bs: You certainly get an E for effort! You try, and that’s more than some people can say. You might consider trying to be more energy efficient or purchase more environmentally friendly products.
Mostly Cs: Wow! You certainly have the Earth’s welfare at heart. Hopefully your enthusiasm for the environment will rub off on those around you.
Mostly Ds: You live and die by being eco-friendly. While your efforts are empowering, you might try to take it easy on those around you who don’t quite feel as strongly as you do. Keep up the good work!

By Kylie Gad

Weather-Smart Irrigation: The ET Manager from Rain Bird monitors real-time local weather conditions hourly through a wireless connection. The unit then calculates the information to determine if the existing irrigation cycle is necessary and adjusts watering levels accordingly. rainbird.com

Indoor Air Quality: Freshaire Choice Paint, now on sale exclusively at Home Depot, is the first paint available that contains zero harmful VOCs, which are compounds the EPA says contribute to indoor air pollution. Even better, the paint has no odor, making for a more enjoyable and healthier home improvement project. homedepot.com

Earth-Conscious Art: Eco-friendly Prang Soybean Crayons are made with natural, renewable soy oil instead of petroleum-based paraffin wax. This makes them completely nontoxic for kids, all without tapping the oil supply. prangpower.com

A Green Best Friend: Replace your pet’s nylon leash with a natural canvas or hemp one. Greenhouse gases are emitted during the production of nylon, and reducing the use of nylon products in your home is a simple way to help prevent this. urbanleashandtreat.com

Energy-Reducing Entertainment: By switching to an Energy Star-certified DVD player, you can save up to 30 kilowatt-hours of energy per year in your home. And don’t think that you’ll have a limited selection to choose from; the EPA’s Energy Star Web site currently lists 715 certified models from brands like Sony and Panasonic. energystar.gov

By Diana Bocco

As the world spins into the next decade, changes in the fuel industry are becoming increasingly evident. From the ecological conscience of society to the governmental concern about escalating prices and fuel shortage, the topic continues to be one of much debate. According to Sara Banaszak, a senior economist at the American Petroleum Institute (API) and executive member of the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE), the primary energy challenge for America is ensuring the availability of affordable, reliable energy, which in turn will help to secure economic prosperity and a variety of choices for American consumers.

“America’s oil and natural gas industry has been doing this for more than 100 years,” Banaszak says, “but in an increasingly globalizing world with tremendous growth occurring in areas such as Asia, we will need to increase energy efficiency, the use of advanced technologies, and the diversity of energy supplies.”

From an industrial standpoint, there are many technologies readily available in renewable energy, but their ability to compete economically with traditional fuel depends on many factors such as technology development, geographical region, and the scale or amount of the technology to be used.

“Using wind power to generate electricity can be economically competitive, but not necessarily in all locations,” Banaszak says, “and not necessarily for generating enough electricity to meet demand in a large East Coast city.”

Other fuel sources, such as ethanol derived from corn, have been explored as well over the years, although none has proven to be competitive enough as a replacement fuel. According to a study by the University of Minnesota, even if the entire 2005 U.S. corn crop had been converted to ethanol, it would have supplied only 12 percent of gasoline demand. Banaszak says that we nonetheless should be optimistic about future alternatives.

“We have solved previous energy challenges with new technologies,” she says, “and the United States is a leader in using the spirit of competition and market incentives to develop the new technologies needed.”

Ethanol is an alternative fuel with a long history of successful use by consumers. E10 (a mix of 10 percent ethanol with gasoline) has been readily available for years and is quite accessible in both price and production. E85, another type of ethanol fuel, faces some significant technological and economic hurdles. E85 requires specially built “flexible-fuel vehicles” (FFVs), not currently available to the general public. At the present time, only some fleet vehicles, such as buses and taxis, use E85. The EIA estimates that even by 2030, there will be no more than 10 percent of FFV vehicles roaming the streets.

“Expanded E85 use would require overcoming major technological and economic barriers,” says Banaszak. Even with those breakthroughs, significant problems remain for both ethanol and biodiesel. Gathering feedstock, processing it, dealing with waste products, and delivering the biofuels to markets at a cost comparable to gasoline has yet to be demonstrated on a commercial scale.

Increasing biofuels usage would also require policymakers to address secondary impacts on, among other things, food supplies and the environment. “Diverting large amounts of U.S. corn for ethanol could mean less for food and animal feed, and in turn cause prices to escalate,” says Banaszak.

State laws push local governments to create “boutique fuels” that could be used to reduce that state’s gas consumption by a small but steady percentage. In fact, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT05) mandates that by 2012, at least 7.5 billion gallons of biofuels per year will be used. In 2006, the industry exceeded a 4 billion-gallon requirement, using 5.4 billion gallons. Considering also the number of biofuels plants under construction or planned, EPACT has succeeded in spurring investment and market development of biofuels.

Alternative Fuels Currently Available
Biodiesel: vegetable oils

recycled restaurant grease
safe, biodegradable
requires engine modifications

Electricity: EV batteries
limited storage capacity
must be recharged often

Ethanol: corn and wheat fermentation
must be blended with gasoline
higher concentrations require special vehicle modifications that are too expensive

Hydrogen: Artificially produced hydrogen (H2)
still under development
will likely only work with commercial vehicles over the next few decades

Methanol: wood alcohol
added to gasoline to create cleaner burning fuel
contaminates groundwater

Natural Gas
domestically produced natural gas
cleanest-burning alternative fuel available
not many car models available that run on natural gas only

Propane
Propane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
a byproduct of natural-gas processing
used mostly in fleet vehicles (taxis, buses, police cars)

By Paige Perry
Photos courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Desert Foothills

The idea of going green has been the focus of lead stories on everything from Good Morning America to CNN, as well as paper publications like Vanity Fair magazine. Energy-efficient low-cost housing, however, has not been part of the green blitz—until now.

With Brad Pitt working on Global Green USA in New Orleans and Leonardo DiCaprio hosting the television show Eco-Town , more nonprofits are looking to jump on the green bandwagon and find ways to build energy- and cost-efficient housing. Habitat for Humanity Desert Foothills caught on quickly and is well on the way to incorporating these features.

Habitat for Humanity, based out of Atlanta, has affiliates all over the world, and each one is privately run. The Desert Foothills location has already built twelve homes in the Cave Creek area. They are currently working on the next twelve, all of which will be eco-friendly.

Volunteer coordinator Adrienne Hamilton is hoping that, by the end of the project, they will be 100 percent energy efficient and will be recycling 100 percent of their construction materials. Bashas grocery stores of Carefree got involved right away. Their management team came out and built recycling bins, which are used for plastics and lumber. Even the bins were made out of used lumber.

Desert Foothills Habitat for Humanity has partnered with many corporations nationwide and has purchased EnergyStar appliances for all the homes. AbbottTB has donated bins for recycling paper, which they empty weekly. Abbott makes a donation to Habitat for Humanity based on the amount of paper recycled. Newspaper donations can be made on the construction site, and are open to the public.

As anticipated, Habitat volunteers and the city have responded well to the Desert Foothills location. As Linda Raish, executive director for the Desert Foothills Habitat for Humanity, said, “I think we all understand that building green helps the families in the long term, as well as the short-term, to have the benefit of a safe, decent, affordable house.”

The homeowners for the twelve homes that will complete the Desert Foothills Habitat for Humanity project have already been selected. Habitat for Humanity advertises their new projects in churches, synagogues, and schools. Potential homeowners must be working full-time and go through an approval process. Once a homeowner is approved, they receive an interest-free loan, but retain “sweat equity.” Sweat equity consists of the time they spend helping to build their home (400 hours for a two-parent household, and 200 hours for a one-parent household), classes they must attend—which consist of “Opening the Door to Home Ownership” and “Financial Fitness Workshop,”—as well as informative programs that inform them of the benefits of their energy-efficient appliances and homes. In addition to the classes listed above, the residents of this particular Habitat for Humanity will take courses to educate them on their energy efficient homes. They will be made aware of how much they are saving by using energy-efficient appliances and having a home that was designed by environmentally friendly architects.

Most importantly, they will be able to rest easy knowing that they are homeowners in our beautiful community, and that they are key players in helping the Arizona desert go green.

By Erica Karras

Are hybrid vehicles here to stay? The answer depends on how you define hybrid vehicle .

By definition, a hybrid vehicle can utilize two sources of power instead of one to drive the vehicle. Using this basic definition, many believe that hybrid vehicles will eventually replace their conventional internal combustion-driven counterparts.

However, when people speak of hybrids today, they are usually referring to gasoline-electric hybrids. Since gasoline is made from oil, and oil is a finite resource, I would tend to have a more pessimistic prognosis on the future of these particular types of hybrids.

Don’t get me wrong—I love the associated benefits of fuel savings and low emissions. I also love that hybrids have helped open eyes to critical environmental issues, such as air pollution and global warming, and other socioeconomic issues, such as the politics of oil and national security. I simply think the increased benefits of pairing hybrids with renewable fuels would make a good thing even better. Future hybrids could easily be designed to run off any other alternative fuel. However, with high production costs and low consumer demand, it may be some time before these new-generation hybrids reach the mainstream market.

There are a surprising number of myths and misperceptions surrounding today’s hybrid vehicles, and many people are afraid to ask questions, fearing they may be embarrassed by how far behind the technology curve they are. It’s normal to have questions about hybrid technology; in fact, the answers could help illuminate a brighter, greener, and cleaner future for us all.

Do hybrids need to be plugged in?
No. Driving power is derived either from the gasoline engine or the electric motor. While hybrids can do nifty things like recharging their own batteries by capturing braking energy, the truth is that you still have to fill up the gas tank. Fortunately, due to increased fuel efficiency, fill-ups are less frequent. For example, Toyota advertises an amazing combined city/highway estimate of 55 miles per gallon for the Toyota Prius.

What are the top-selling hybrids?
The Toyota Prius continues to top hybrid sales, accounting for nearly half the new hybrid sales in 2006. Other top sellers include the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Honda Civic Hybrid.

Is there such a thing as “green luxury”?
Many luxury manufacturers are responding to an increasing demand for vehicles with low environmental impact and high levels of comfort. Lexus leads the luxury hybrid market with the new GS 450h sports sedan hybrid, the popular RX 400h hybrid SUV, and announcements for the release of a 2008 LS hybrid. Mercedes is currently planning the 2008 launch of its S-Class hybrid luxury sedan. Even a Porsche Cayenne hybrid is rumored to launch in 2008 or 2009. Luxury hybrid buyers should realize that the premium price paid for such “green luxury” will not likely be recouped at the gas pumps; however, the good news is they are helping the environment, even from their seat in the lap of luxury.

How much money can I save by owning a hybrid?
Hybrid vehicles cost more than their conventional cousins. Expect to pay several thousand dollars more for the ’07 Honda Civic Hybrid than for a comparable Honda Civic EX. Studies suggest that the savings from reduced gas consumption and available tax incentives may zero out the initial cost bump. This assumes, of course, that hybrid owners keep their vehicles for several years. The true cost of hybrid ownership is the source of some debate, so do your research and the math before you purchase.

What is a Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHEV)?
Today’s hybrids do not need to be plugged in, but researchers are exploring the feasibility of developing plug-in hybrids. The purpose of plugging in to an electrical socket would be to maximize the charge stored in the battery, allowing the vehicle to drive off the electric motor as much as possible. Continued research and development into battery technology will be necessary before PHEVs make their mainstream debut.

Where can I learn more about hybrid vehicles?
Surf automotive Web sites such as Edmunds or Intellichoice, or dedicated hybrid Web sites such as hybridcars.com and greenhybrid.com . Learn more by attending local auto shows and asking around. With over 200,000 units sold a year, chances are that a hybrid owner lives in your neighborhood. If you are interested in a specific hybrid vehicle, visit the manufacturer’s Web site or local dealership.

Where can I learn more about alternative fuels?
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center has comprehensive information on alternative fuels, alternative fuel vehicles, fueling stations, and state and federal hybrid incentives. Visit their site at eere.energy.gov/afdc/.

Lexus The 2008 Lexus LS 600h L hybrid will be an all-wheel-drive full hybrid, rendering it able to travel at low speeds under electric propulsion alone. It shares a similar hybrid technology to that found in the Lexus RX 400h Hybrid SUV.

Prius The new Prius Touring Edition sports 16-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, high-intensity discharge headlights, and a sport-tuned suspension. The Prius also gets front-seat-mounted side airbags and two-row side-curtain airbags as standard equipment.

Honda Hybrid Honda’s history of driver-focused design ensures that the 2007 Accord Hybrid will satisfy your inner need for speed with a 253-horsepower V-6 engine. The great news is that performance comes at no sacrifice to economy, because the gas engine is complemented by an integrated electric motor as part of the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) System.

By Alison Malone

What to know before you fill up your grocery basket.

Walk into any grocery store and you will be faced with a choice: organic or nonorganic foods? Today, the word organic pops up on produce, meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, and grain products, allowing many people to maintain a varied yet strictly organic diet. But while some studies show that this type of food is more beneficial to one’s health, others purport that conventionally farmed food is just as nutritious. So, what are the differences between organic and nonorganic foods, and how can you, the consumer, determine what is right for you and your family?

The principle behind organic foods is simple: they are produced using only natural, environmentally friendly farming practices and the humane treatment of livestock. The aim of these organic methods is to minimize pollution, retain soil fertility, and build sustainable, balanced ecosystems that will continue to deliver safe, clean food for years to come. In the United States, for example, organic farmers must meet a set of standards for their products to be labeled as certified organic. Upon successful inspection from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the farmers are permitted to use the organic seal or sticker on their products.

In organic farming, farmers use compost and manure instead of chemical fertilizers to strengthen soil and crops; in addition, natural food chains, traps, and mating disruption techniques are used rather than insecticides to minimize disease and pests in crops. In lieu of chemical herbicides, weed management uses more labor-intensive methods such as crop rotation, hand weeding, mulch distribution, and tilling, which helps cycle nutrients throughout the soil. The farmers also recycle plant and animal by-products.

In addition to fruits and vegetables, animal products may also be considered organic. In this case, the standard for animal treatment is high: animals are provided with a variety of outdoor spaces on which to roam and graze, along with a balanced diet of organic feed and clean living conditions to keep disease to a minimum. In the production of nonorganic animal products, animals are often given growth hormones, medications, antibiotics, or a combination of any or all. Some studies indicate that humans who ingest these animal products can build immunities to antibiotics, decreasing their chances of fighting off bacteria when they need it most.

Many studies show that organic foods contain more vitamins and minerals than conventionally produced foods; and while some state that fertilizers decrease crops’ ability to absorb nutrients in the soil, others purport that conventionally farmed crops are grown in more water than organic foods, diluting the nutrients in the process.

There are indications that, thanks to their lack of pesticides, organic foods contain more natural cancer-fighting flavonoids than conventionally farmed foods; these antioxidants and phytochemicals are said to protect plants from harmful elements, such as ultraviolet radiation. Many people battling cancer and other serious diseases adopt organic diets and find them beneficial to their health.

In terms of protecting the environment, some studies suggest that organic farming uses considerably fewer fossil fuels in its production, and that this method leads to fewer emissions of carbon dioxide, a harmful greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. As mentioned earlier, conventional farming tends to use more water than organic farming.

While many are steadfast in their beliefs that organic is the only way to go, many experts believe that organic and conventionally farmed foods contain relatively the same amount of nutrients. Some studies suggest that organic crops are more likely to become contaminated with bacteria and toxins or damaged by pests, and are therefore more hazardous to one’s health. Consumers should note that organic foods are more likely to be misshapen, are typically smaller than conventional foods and, because of the absence of preservatives and waxes, tend to deteriorate quicker than nonorganic foods. Finally, many can clearly taste the difference between organic and conventionally farmed foods, while others cannot—this is subjective and something that each person must determine for himself or herself.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determines the safety standards of food sold in the United States, but consumers frequently have concerns about what they are eating, particularly in the light of the recent devastating effects of tainted pet food and produce, and their subsequent recall. It follows that organic products should be purchased as prudently as conventionally produced food. Thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables, be selective with your purchases, and visit the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and FDA Web sites for recalls and news about food products and unfamiliar brands.

The number is increasing, but still only a fraction of farmers produce organic foods, and their crop yield is much less. Furthermore, as mentioned, practices are much more labor-intensive than are their nonorganic counterparts. In turn, farmers are forced to charge a heftier price for their products. Needless to say, this is a turnoff for dollar-conscious consumers.

Whether you and your family decide to try an organic diet or stick to conventionally farmed foods, it is always important to pay close attention to labels and think about what you put into your bodies. Choose fresh, local ingredients in season; handle food carefully to prevent contamination; and consider the impacts of your choices. The decisions we make now regarding our food sources will determine the state of the environment for future generations.

Visit fda.gov and usda.gov for information and guidelines regarding organic food products.