What Can You Do Right Now?

Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only - not the street or sidewalk.

 

Use the microwave to cook small meals. (It uses less power than an oven.)

 

Purchase "Green Power" for your home's electricity. (Contact your power supplier to see where and if it is available.)

 

Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher; wash only full loads.

 

Cut back on air conditioning and heating use if you can.

 

Turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room.

 

More Tips »

 

Green Articles

* 10/06/2008

Electric car fueling stations planned
A California company is planning to build a network of charging stations on four Hawaii islands to fuel electric-powered cars.

* Scientists say 1 in 4 mammals faces extinction
While the new report estimated that one-in-four mammals is threatened with extinction, the actual numbers listed were 1,141 out of 5,487 species. That comes out to 20.8 percent, closer to one in five.

* Austin single-stream recycling begins this week
Austin officially kicks off its new single-stream recycling program this week. Some customers already have the large, 90-gallon carts that will replace the smaller bins. The city will pick them up every other week.

* AP investigation: Hurricane Ike environmental toll apparent
Hurricane Ike's winds and massive waves destroyed oil platforms, tossed storage tanks and punctured pipelines. The environmental damage only now is becoming apparent: At least a half million gallons of crude oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico and the marshes, bayous and bays of Louisiana and Texas, according to an analysis of federal data by The Associated Press.

* 10/03/2008

Drought conditions cause strain in Central Texas
The month of September tied for the third driest on record in Austin. It is already having an impact on everything from lake levels to fall foliage.

* 10/02/2008

More women ditching cars, riding bikes
Soaring gas prices are fueling a surge in bike sales worldwide, and women are a big part of this trend. From Seattle to Beijing, commuter and urban style bike sales are way up.

* Houston joins Los Angeles in 'severe' smog category
The eight-county Houston region, whose smog problem used to be classified as "moderate," now joins Los Angeles as the only two places in the nation with a severe smog problem, according to the EPA.

* 10/01/2008

Commuter rail pushed until spring 2009
Capital Metro commuter rail was delayed Wednesday when officials decided to hold off opening the rail system until March 2009. The trains were supposed to start carrying passengers this fall.

* Study: Global warming means stronger hurricanes
Whether you believe global warming is caused by human activity or is a natural process, experts say, global sea surface temperatures are rising. And even if that increases hurricane strength by a little bit, the damage those hurricanes would cause would increase exponentially.

* 09/30/2008

Dell switches to eco-friendly LEDs for laptop screens
Dell Inc. is switching to mercury-free light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, to illuminate laptop screens starting in mid-December, a move that will make the computers softer on the environment and easier to recycle.

* 09/24/2008

GM unveils cars which run on hydrogen, electricity
GM showed off its 09 models at Texas Motor Speedway Tuesday, along with a few concept cars, designed to run with little or no gas at all. It's the struggling car company's next best hope at a petroleum-free future.

* Builders using antique materials to give homes character
Custom builder Allen Nixon uses hundred-year-old wood beams reclaimed from Ohio barns in the new Park Cities and Preston Hollow homes he builds. Using the old beams in breakfast nooks, family rooms, kitchens and master bedrooms adds to the homes' character, he says.

* Government: Gas mileage rise in 2008 vehicles
The average fuel efficiency of new cars and trucks rose only slightly in 2008, but the government said Friday that increased sales of smaller vehicles due to high gas prices could push the numbers higher.

* 09/22/2008

City: Homeowners would pay now, save later with energy ordinance
If the recommendations are approved by council, it is estimated that property owners would spend more than $124 million for efficiency upgrades, but would save $555 million on their utility bills.

* 09/19/2008

Catch monarch migration in the Texas Hill Country
Migrating monarch butterflies usually arrive in Texas in late September and early October, with peak migration in mid-October. Unless the butterflies rest in a greenbelt or garden near you, Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge near Austin is a fairly reliable place to watch the migration of thousands of winged migrants.
Photos: Monarch migration

* 09/18/2008

Scientists to use satellites to count kangaroo rats
Scientists will examine images taken from the same satellite used by Israeli defense forces to find the circular patches of earth denuded by the rats as they gather food around their burrows. From that they plan to get the first-ever accurate population count of the rodents, a bellwether for the health of a parched plains environment.

* FDA to review genetically engineered farm animals
The government said it will start considering proposals to sell genetically engineered animals as food, a move that could lead to faster growing fish, cattle that can resist mad cow disease, or perhaps heart-healthier eggs laid by a new breed of chicken.

* 09/17/2008

Offshore drilling up to Senate after House passage
The House late Tuesday approved on a 236-189 vote legislation that would open waters 50 miles off the Pacific and Atlantic coasts to oil and natural gas development - if the adjacent states agree to go along. The legislation now goes to the Senate.

* Hurricane Ike further damages Texas' fragile coastal ecosystem
Hurricane Ike caused massive damage to Texas' coastal ecosystem that could take a generation to heal. As scientists and land managers start to assess the storm's impacts on beaches, dunes and marshes, they are seeing signs of present damage and future worries.

* Federal study says grizzlies thriving in Montana
The majestic grizzly bear, once king of the Western wilderness but threatened with extinction for a third of a century, has roared back in Montana.

* 09/16/2008

Arctic sea ice melt comes close, but misses record
Crucial Arctic sea ice this summer shrank to its second lowest level on record, continuing an alarming trend, scientists said Tuesday.

* 09/12/2008

Drugs affect more drinking water
Testing prompted by an Associated Press story that revealed trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in drinking water supplies has shown that more Americans are affected by the problem than previously thought - at least 46 million.

* Palin's climate remarks conflict with past views
Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's assertion that she believes humans play a role in climate change - made in her first major interview since joining the Republican ticket - is at odds with her previous statements. Palin said she didn't disagree with scientists that the problem can be attributed to "man's activities."

* 09/11/2008

Wind: The other untapped offshore energy source
Offshore wind has taken a back seat to offshore drilling for oil and natural gas in the current energy debate. But those wind-driven turbines probably will be operating long before oil platforms appear off Atlantic Coast states.

* 09/08/2008

North Austin development designed to be pedestrian-friendly
A new urban living community is being built in North Austin at the intersection of Lamar and Airport boulevards. The idea behind it is for residents to be able to drive less.
• Photos: Midtown Commons

* Hundreds help to clean trash from Lake Travis
Volunteers picked up extra trash because the water level is about 20 feet below its normal level for this time of year. In addition to cans, bottles and cigarette butts, helpers found a toilet and a horse saddle.

* 09/05/2008

Mexico looking to reduce pollution along the border
Government officials, community groups and tribal members are all gathered on the Texas-Mexico border.  Their goal:  to reduce pollution in the region.

* Feds warn climate change could harm giant sequoias
Federal researchers are warning that warming temperatures could soon cause California's giant sequoia trees to die off more quickly unless forest managers plan with an eye toward climate change and the impact of a longer, harsher wildfire season.

* EPA restricts lawnmower emissions
Lawnmowers will be getting a bit greener under new rules issued by the Environmental Protection Agency.

* 09/04/2008

Environmentalists can't corral Palin
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, McCain's vice presidential running mate, has had frequent run-ins with environmentalists.

* 09/03/2008

19-square-mile ice sheet breaks loose in Canada
A chunk of ice shelf nearly the size of Manhattan has broken away from Ellesmere Island in Canada's northern Arctic, another dramatic indication of how warmer temperatures are changing the polar frontier, scientists said Wednesday.

* 09/02/2008

Is companion planting a way to garden more organically?
Companion planting, which means growing certain plants near specific vegetables to repel destructive insects or attract beneficial ones, has great appeal to those who don't use chemicals.

* 08/29/2008

Austin council approves contract with biomass plant
The energy contract is for 20 years and would pave the way for the Nacogdoches Power Company to build a biomass plant and sell renewable power to Austin Energy.

* 08/28/2008

Paperless books save students big bucks
Ever heard of a paperless book?  It might sound strange, but some college students are already using them.

* 08/27/2008

US colleges moving to retire cafeteria trays
An increasing number of colleges and universities are doing away with their cafeteria trays. They're hoping to save energy and water.

* Automakers make tweaks to eke out better mileage
With gasoline still hovering between $3 and $4 per gallon, many manufacturers are making far more than the usual tweaks to cars and trucks between model years to squeeze out an additional one or two miles per gallon to attract customers.

* Toyota dealerships reaping benefits of going green
Pat Lobb Toyota and Scion in McKinney is the first new-car dealership in the U.S. to be certified as a green building.

* 08/26/2008

Group plans to cool down Dallas by planting trees
Blazing heat, choking pollution and skyrocketing electric bills. What's one way to combat all these problems at once? Plant trees. Trouble is, compared to other large cities, the Dallas area doesn't have nearly enough.

* 08/22/2008

Single stream recycling starting soon in Austin
Recycling is soon going to get a whole lot easier for residents in the city of Austin thanks to a new program called Single Stream Recycling that uses larger containers and greatly expands the number of items that can be recycled.
• Photos: Program tested in neighborhood

* 08/21/2008

Study: Seismic has little effect on Gulf whales
Powerful acoustic devices used by oil companies searching for new sources of hydrocarbons in the Gulf of Mexico have had no discernible effect on endangered sperm whales living in those waters, according to a federally funded study.

* Wildlife lover's pest control business humanely resolves animal-human conflicts
Bonnie Bradshaw started 911 Wildlife two years ago to help people deal with intrusive animals. The nonprofit coalition of wildlife specialists operates a year-round hot line for people with wildlife problems to contact an expert for ideas about getting rid of the animal.

* 08/20/2008

Austin man's energy bill: $0, thanks to solar panels
On Wednesday it became official:  a Central Austin man’s next energy bill will be zero, thanks to the solar panels on his home.

* 08/18/2008

Veteran vegetable gardener shares clever homemade solutions
In Japan, they call it kaizen. It's the process of making continuous small improvements. Here it's spoken by consultants streamlining manufacturing practices, but for Carl Rupprecht, kaizen describes the approach he takes with his backyard vegetable garden.

* Motorists turn to carpool sites as gas prices rise
The number of daily visitors to eRideShare has jumped about threefold since February. A rival site, Carpoolworld.com, had about 4,400 new U.S. registrations in both June and July, compared with some 800 in February.

* Watering schedule expands across Central Texas
All of Central Texas is experiencing some type of drought. Cedar Park is aligning itself with the City of Austin and the LCRA in a new initiative to have people across the cities follow a simple watering schedule.

* Solar house customer sees big savings
In less than 10 days, an Austin homeowner should be breaking even or even getting a credit on his electric bill.  And he says the City of Austin spent thousands to help him.

* 08/12/2008

Ore. researcher hopes dye attracts bees to fields
Oregon State University researchers hope that a fluorescent dye can attract more native bumblebees to farm fields to replace declining honeybees and boost the numbers of an insect essential to agriculture.

* Climbing bike lane installed along busy South Austin road
The bicycle climbing lane is a concept already used widely in other bike-friendly cities. City officials say the lane is critical for cyclists' safety -- they need space to stay out of motorists' way while climbing the hill.

* 08/11/2008

New whale Web site let's you keep track of humpbacks
This week, researchers at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Auke Bay launched a Web site devoted to local humpbacks. Researchers are looking for help from the whale-watching public.

* Bush to relax protected species rules
The Bush administration wants federal agencies to decide for themselves whether highways, dams, mines and other construction projects might harm endangered animals and plants.

* Calif. lawmakers weigh chemical ban in baby items
Responding to growing consumer anxiety, California lawmakers are considering enacting what could be the first statewide restrictions on a chemical found in plastic baby bottles and infant formula cans.

* Researchers work to turn car's exhaust into power
Researchers are competing to meet a challenge from the U.S. Department of Energy: Improve fuel economy 10 percent by converting wasted exhaust heat into energy that can help power the vehicle.

* 08/07/2008

More businesses turning to green technologies, incentives
Anywhere you go in Austin, you see the future of a cleaner city -- whether it's the landscaping at city hall, which has a water garden created entirely out of the condensations from the building's air conditioning units, to AMD Technologies' massive roof complex, which doubles as a rainwater harvesting system.

* Federal officials reject Gov. Perry's request to trim ethanol mandate
Perry declared himself “greatly disappointed” with the federal government’s decision, which was consistent with previous statements about the limited negative consequences of its ethanol policy.

* Sunny side yard perfect for urban gardener
This is the second story in a series about urban vegetable gardens.
When Melanie Grimes wanted to grow more vegetables, she had to address a tough issue that many gardeners face: too much shade. After careful planning and design, she captured unused space in her side yard by raising a retaining wall and leveling the steeply graded ground.

* Day before Games, Beijing's pollution problem up in the air
China promised to clean the air in Beijing when it won the right to host the Summer Olympics, and the country's top leaders say the goal is being met.

* 08/06/2008

Austin's conservation a part of candidates' energy plans
As the presidential candidates spar over the best solutions to America's energy problems, their ideas have already gotten mileage in Austin. Austin Energy offers incentives for home improvements to encourage conservation.

* Dell: Operations are now carbon-neutral
Computers are far from being truly clean machines, but Dell Inc. and other PC makers are trying to make their own business operations greener.

* Eco-friendly products for babies
Going green isn't just for granola types. More parents are thinking eco-friendly when it comes to products and gear for their little ones.

* Hand-me-downs: Kids' clothes get 'recycled'
After one child breaks in this year's back-to-school outfits, it's likely that someone else – a younger sibling, a cousin, a kid whose mom is an avid second-hand shopper – will wear them again at a later date. It's one of the most successful forms of recycling.

* Spurred by bills, Texans search for ways to cut electricity use
Suffering through the hottest summer in years, Texans weary of high electric bills are looking for ways to conserve energy and make their homes more efficient.

* 08/05/2008

Report: 125,000 gorillas found in African zone
Wildlife researchers said Tuesday that they've discovered 125,000 western lowland gorillas deep in the forests of the Republic of Congo, calling it a major increase in the animal's estimated population.

* 08/04/2008

List of foods ranked by their pesticide loads
The Environmental Working Group tested these foods and ranked them from highest pesticide load to lowest.

* 07/30/2008

Austin unveils water conservation campaign
"Asleep at the Wheel" Frontman Ray Benson voiced a series of television commercials and recorded radio jingles urging residents to conserve water.

* 07/31/2008

T. Boone Pickens' energy plan strikes chord with both political parties
In the space of a month, T. Boone Pickens' image has grown more public-spirited, as lawmakers from both parties warm to the ideas of the nation's energy oracle, picking bits of his speeches that seem to fit their message.

* 07/30/2008

Dallas businessman plans to sell all-electric vehicles
Can the land of the pickup and the SUV come to love what looks like an oversized golf cart? Soon, Dennis Wheeler will open Dallas' first business devoted exclusively to selling all-electric vehicles.

* Texas teens get environmental education as Student Conservation Association workers
Twenty-one teenagers from 12 Dallas area high schools are spending their summers improving local parks and nature preserves.

* 07/29/2008

Williamson County Landfill to recycle roofing shingles
Approximately 100 tons of roofing shingles go into the Williamson County Landfill every day, according to landfill managers. A new shingle recycling machine is expected to greatly reduce that number.

* Austin to add more hybrids to city fleet
The City of Austin is buying 20 additional new hybrid Ford Escape SUVs to add to its fleet. The city put in its order to meet a government fleet deadline.

* Two Texas beaches earn high marks for reporting pollution problems
The Natural Resources Defense Council reviewed three years of bacteria tests and health practices at 3,516 beaches and beach segments nationwide.

* Tips on handling pesticides safely - if you must use them
In an ideal world, pesticides would never be needed in the garden. In the real world, occasionally they are needed. That doesn't mean you need harsh chemicals.

* 07/28/2008

'Green' apartments open for older Austin residents
The City View at the Park apartments received a 4-star green building rating and is said to be a national model for energy efficiency. The development was built for residents 55 and older.

* Gulf 'dead zone' not quite record
Scientists say the Gulf of Mexico's oxygen-starved "dead zone" is a bit smaller than predicted, because Hurricane Dolly stirred up the water.

* 07/29/2008

Samples indicate water quality improved at Texas beaches in 2007
Water quality at Texas beaches improved in 2007 based on samples collected during peak vacation season, Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson said Monday.

* 07/28/2008

Houston ranks No. 1 in nation for green power purchasing
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Houston is now the nation’s No. 1 municipal purchaser of green power.

* 07/25/2008

Austin considers $600 million streetcar plan
The Austin City Council is considering a $600 million streetcar proposal that would connect major destinations in the heart of the city. The proposal is in is early stages, but the city is looking to Portland, Oregon as a model.

* Austin considering $2.3 billion biomass contract
Austin's municipal power company is considering a $2.3 billion, 20-year deal to build and draw electricity from a biomass plant in East Texas.

* 07/24/2008

Campground restrooms becoming ecologically correct
When nature calls, campers at Michigan's Grand Haven State Park can now go "green" at a new, environmentally friendly toilet-shower building that is the first of its kind in the state park system.

* Green vehicles save Houston big bucks
The City of Houston's fleet of hybrid vehicles is paying off twofold with lower fuel costs as well as cleaner air. Forty percent of the city’s non-emergency vehicles are either Toyota Priuses or Ford Escapes.

* 07/23/2008

Scientists link more extreme weather to climate change
If it seems Mother Nature is a bit angry these days, you're right. Scientists say extreme weather events have become much more common over the last decade thanks to global warming.

* Scientist: Gulf 'dead zone' bigger than ever
A “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico off the Texas-Louisiana coast this year is likely to be the biggest ever and last longer than ever before, with marine life affected for hundreds of miles, a scientist warned.

* 07/22/2008

EPA postpones decision on ethanol requirements in Texas
The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday put off a decision on Texas' request to temporarily waive ethanol requirements for gasoline.

* 07/21/2008

Companies offer CFL recycling solutions
There is little doubt that compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) use less energy and last longer than traditional bulbs, but they do come with a major drawback -- they contain small amounts of mercury and should not be thrown away in the trash.

* Hundreds of baby penguins found dead in Brazil
Hundreds of baby penguins swept from the icy shores of Antarctica and Patagonia are washing up dead on Rio de Janeiro's tropical beaches, rescuers and penguin experts said Friday.

* Judge restores protection for Rockies wolves
A federal judge has restored endangered species protections for gray wolves in the Northern Rockies, derailing plans by three states to hold public wolf hunts this fall.

* Perry draws environmentalist support on ethanol stand
Gov. Rick Perry's quest to curb the nation's ethanol appetite is gaining him allies in unlikely circles, including liberal environmental groups and companies that benefit from biofuel subsidies.

* Austin City Hall certified as wildlife habitat
The National Wildlife Federation Monday certified Austin City Hall as a wildlife habitat during a special ceremony. City Councilmember Lee Leffingwell says it's all because of the way the building's landscaping is designed.

* 07/18/2008

Planet Make-Over aims to motivate action against global warming
An exciting initiative is about to be launched in Austin that is aimed at changing the world. Planet Make-Over plans to combine entertainment and the Internet to motivate citizens worldwide to help reverse global warming.

* Proper watering is more than turning on the faucet
Proper watering in summer is vital to keeping your landscape healthy. But it has additional benefits, too, including saving you money. The goal is to water only when your plants need it, and to water thoroughly at the root level.

* 07/17/2008

Horticulture industry strives to be more green

Many gardeners feel frustrated they cannot recycle the plastic pots, flats and trays used when planting. But that may not be such a problem in the future, reports the Chicago Tribune. The horticulture industry is making efforts to be more green.

* Global warming experts recommend drastic measures to save species
Calls for new conservation tactics, such as assisted migration, are being made by an international team of conservation scientists. The team includes Camille Parmesan, professor at The University of Texas. Their policy ideas are being published July 18 in the journal Science.

* Gore sets energy goal for next president to heed
The Nobel Prize-winning former vice president said fellow Democrat Barack Obama and Republican rival John McCain are "way ahead" of most politicians in the fight against global climate change.

* Texas approves massive new wind power project
The Texas Public Utility Commission Thursday approved $4.93 billion in new power transmission lines to bring cheap wind power from West Texas to consumers in north and central areas of the state.

* Automakers offer hybrids for NYC taxi fleet
Three major auto manufacturers are promising to reserve 300 new hybrid vehicles each month exclusively for the city as it replaces its entire fleet of yellow cabs.

* 07/16/2008

New CFL recycling option launched
A waste management company that provides service in Central Texas launched a new mail-in effort Wednesday to encourage people to use compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and recycle them to prevent to