How quickly we use energy is one of our biggest impacts on our world. The slower we consume energy, the better. Measuring how slowly and wisely we use energy reveals how much progress we’ve made on the pathway to sustainable energy. But even before we know exactly how fast we’re consuming energy, we can be […]

In a trend accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, ordering food to-go has become increasingly typical of the American experience. A post-pandemic survey by US Foods found that a majority of Americans prefers ordering takeout to eating in a dining establishment. Since the packaging and ancillary items that accompany our orders often end up in the […]

In our last column, we talked about sustainable movement and the fact that bicycling is the most energy-efficient, human-powered means of transportation. But what if you want to go a longer distance with a little help? You might find an electric bicycle or e-bike even more fun. Small motors and batteries can easily be added […]

If you own a home, currently you face the usual autumn yardwork: collecting and disposing of leaves, sawing fallen tree limbs, trimming bushes, and so on. How to save time and — if using power tools — limit air and noise pollution? One option is to “leave the leaves,” which saves time, fertilizes the soil […]

As described in our last column, much of the clothing now available in stores is cheaply produced, and we often buy it frequently to keep up with quickly evolving styles. This fast-fashion trend wastes our money while needlessly draining resources, increasing environmental pollution, and straining landfills. Slow fashion is a more sustainable approach to dressing […]

More than half of the garbage we’re currently burying in landfills or burning — all food scraps, paper, cardboard, yard trimmings and wood, we can sustainably compost instead. You are, therefore, making progress in your household on the pathway to sustainability when you collect compostable materials, actually compost them, and keep all organic waste out […]