Sunday, March 14, 2010

Green Tip of the Day

Pack away winter clothes safely

Use cedar instead of moth balls when packing away clothes for the season. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, napthalene, the most common active ingredient … Continued



The Green Life blog

Leslie Ellis
Changing seasons, changing menus

Kudos to the Woodbridge Pub in Detroit, which has opted to use local, seasonal offerings on its menu. Buying food locally and in season has several … Continued

Climategate Panel

Climate gate panelThe Detroit News and WJR Radio brought together leaders from the fields of climatology, energy politics, and the auto industry to debate whether the so-called Climategate scandal has undermined auto regulations.

Click here to read what was discussed and view video excerpts.

Eco-Dilemmas

Paper or plastic? Cloth or disposable diapers? Should you pay the price for organic food? Take a look at these and other tough choices for environmentally conscious consumers.

U-M joining in solar cell effort

Ann Arbor -- The University of Michigan has joined with the South Korean government, a South Korean university and a New Jersey company for a four-year effort to improve the efficiency of solar cell films. - 03/12/2010

Funds for rail linking Detroit, Ann Arbor at risk

A congresswoman from Detroit has questioned why after years of planning there isn't "even the genesis" of a commuter rail system linking Detroit and Ann Arbor. - 03/11/2010

Science and art exhibit presses global-warming awareness

The schooner Noorderlicht heads for a trip to Greenland as part of the art and climate change project.

Kids will cotton to "Cape Farewell: Art & Climate Change" the minute they're startled by the immense crashing that erupts every 20 minutes. "Cape Farewell" is part of the ongoing "Artology" collaboration between the Cranbrook Academy of Art and Cranbrook Institute of Science, where the show is hung. - 03/11/2010

State gets grant to buy sensitive U.P. wetlands

Lac La Belle -- Michigan has been awarded a $1.7 million federal grant to buy and protect sensitive wetlands in the Upper Peninsula. - 03/11/2010

China, India give qualified nod to climate deal

Amsterdam -- China joined India on Tuesday in giving qualified approval to the Copenhagen climate accord calling for voluntary limits on greenhouse gas emissions. - 03/10/2010

Detroit's desolate middle makes downsizing tough

George Shirlee, 83, says he remembers a time when pedestrians jammed the sidewalks near his 17th Street home, which he has lived in since 1962. Today, only three houses remain standing on his block in Detroit's Briggs neighborhood.

Mayor Dave Bing is committed to downsizing Detroit, but experts say his emerging plan must confront a difficult challenge: The most vibrant areas of the city also are farthest from downtown. - 03/09/2010

MSU student's Oscar dress design is winner

Granz

No silkworms died in the making of Suzy Amis Cameron's Oscars dress, designed by a 21-year-old Michigan State University student with sustainability in mind. - 03/07/2010

Mayor Bing: First leg of Woodward light rail 'going to happen'

Detroit -- Area leaders are on board the planned Woodward Avenue light rail train that will stretch from the riverfront to New Center. - 03/05/2010

Today's Focus

Michigan out of cash to clean up toxic sites

Detroit's Carter Color Coat/Fisher Body 21 site was abandoned in the 1990s. Toxic materials have been removed from the property, but it is still considered a health threat.

Regulars who fish this area of the Au Sable River -- just west of here -- call it Two-Foot Bend. It's a special place along a river that is known for its special places. - 03/04/2010

Tossing out convention

More Michigan farmers dig organic methods

Maria Jimenez, left, and Paula Lopez bag apples at Almar Orchards in Flushing in January. Almar Orchards eliminated synthetic sprays and now uses natural techniques to control pests and fertilize plants in its growing operations.

After using conventional farming techniques for years, Jim Koan of Almar Orchards in Flushing wanted to try growing his apples and animals in a more natural way. - 03/04/2010

Community group releases its downsized vision of Detroit

Detroit -- A report released Wednesday by a community group proposes a framework for how Mayor Dave Bing and others should downsize the city. - 03/04/2010

Superfund status sought for St. Clair Shores site

St. Clair Shores -- Some people would be upset at the idea of their neighborhood being labeled a Superfund site, but Bruce Terwilliger isn't one of them. - 03/04/2010

Gratiot County site added to Superfund cleanup list

Federal officials have added a Gratiot County site to the Superfund list of complex and uncontrolled hazardous waste contamination areas. - 03/04/2010

Cleanup efforts hit 'triple whammy'

Given Michigan's economy, it's not surprising elected officials aren't clamoring to introduce a bond proposal that continues funding a program for cleaning up abandoned contaminated sites. - 03/04/2010

Bills offered in Congress to protect Great Lakes

Traverse City -- Members of Congress are proposing to pump nearly $4 billion of federal money into Great Lakes environmental programs over the next five years. - 03/04/2010

Energy Calculator

Walking or biking vs. driving

Figure out the effect on the Earth, your wallet and your waistline if you chose to walk or bike to a destination. This calculator estimates calories burned, amount of gas and CO2 not used, and fuel cost savings.

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