Green Options

Editor’s note: Biking is a very green form of transportation; new bicycles, though, can be expensive. This week, Lighter Footstep’s Chris Baskind has some pointers for buying a used bike. This post was originally published on August 30, 2007.

Other than walking, there’s no more Earth-friendly mode of transportation than a bicycle.

Bikes have an incredibly low manufacturing footprint in comparison to a motorized vehicle. They’re cheap to operate, don’t pollute the [...]

Editor’s note: Football season is almost here, so Lighter Footstep’s Chris Baskind shares some tips for greening your tailgate party before the big game. Originally published on August 24, 2007.

Labor Day Weekend is just around the corner — and with it, the football and tailgating season in the United States.

It’s an annual ritual: head out to the game, break out the barbecue, and enjoy an afternoon with friends and family. [...]

Editor’s note: This week, Lighter Footstep editor Chris Baskind shifts gears a bit to give attention to a big event next month: Blog Action Day. Of course, we’ll be participating, too (though it’s not much of stretch here!) This post was originally published on August 19, 2007.

On October 15th, many of your favorite blogs will go green.

We’re talking about sites which aren’t usually focused on environmental issues, including many of [...]

Editor’s note: Interested in being as green at work as you are at home? Lighter Footstep’s Chris Baskind provides some great tips for practicing environmental stewardship in the office. This post was originally published earlier today (August 16, 2007).

In business, going green is more than a marketing slogan: it’s the new way of doing things. It’s an edge — a method by which you can improve your company’s bottom line [...]

Editor’s note: This week, Lighter Footstep’s Chris Baskind takes a look at an unusual development in alternative energy: burning expired drugs. This post was originally published on August 6, 2007.

Imagine this sticker above your light switch: Powered by Prozac.

No, it’s not likely that your local power plant will be swapping coal for old Celebrex tablets anytime soon. But a little free energy is the happy byproduct of drug disposal by Milwaukee-based [...]

Editor’s note: This week, Lighter Footstep’s Chris Baskind takes a look at something most of us use every day: soap. This post was originally published on July 31, 2007.

For more information on products that may contain sodium laureth sulfate, see Jennifer’s post on "natural" beauty products.

Well, they smell good, at least.

But take a look at the label of your favorite hand soap, shampoo, or body wash. The first listed [...]

Editor’s note: Household paint can be a toxic substance that keeps on giving off VOCs long after it’s dried. This week, Lighter Footstep editor Chris Baskind points us to a healthier, greener alternative to common paints: milk paint. This post was originally published on July 17, 2007.

By now, a lot of people have heard about the hazards of VOCs — Volatile Organic Compounds. In this case, “organic” doesn’t [...]

Editor’s Note: This week’s post from Lighter Footstep reveals how to stay cool when it’s oh-so-hot. Five Unusual Ways to Stay Cool, by Chris Baskind orginially appeared on July 13, 2007.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the heat is on.

There’s no doubt summer is here — and with it, the perpetual quest to stay cool. For those of us interested in sustainability, the thought of huge summer cooling bills (and all the greenhouse [...]

Editor's note: This week, Lighter Footstep editor Chris Baskind takes a rather controversial position in light of all the attention paid to climate change: perhaps there are issues that are more threatening. We don't know if you'll agree with Chris' position, but we're happy to publish it — and add to the discussion! This post was originally published on July 6, 2007. On Saturday, over a hundred artists and some [...]

Editor's note: This week, Lighter Footstep editor Chris Baskind shares some ways to cool off your kitchen this summer… and keep those electric bills down! This post was originally published on July 3, 2007.  Can't stand the heat? Don't get out of the kitchen this summer — cook smarter! Summer is here — at least in the Northern Hemisphere — and with it, high cooling bills.It's not just your pocketbook [...]