By Christina Gillham
Aug. 4, 2008 issue

Years of suburban development and unsustainable gardening practices have led to vanishing wildlife populations. The National Wildlife Federation has stepped up its efforts to promote its Backyard Wildlife Habitat program, which certifies homeowners who provide friendly environments for small mammals, birds, butterflies and reptiles.

The program asks residents to raise native plants and trees, which provide animals with food and shelter, and to put out water in the form of a birdbath or small pan for birds to drink and bathe in. Homeowners should also practice sustainable gardening by reducing lawn size, removing invasive plants and keeping rain barrels to collect water that can be used in lieu of the hose. (See nwf.org/ backyard for more details.)

David Mizejewski, a naturalist at the NWF, says that the certification, which costs $15, does not have to apply to your entire property. “The idea is to create a movement to get gardeners to adopt some of these principles,” he says. And, listing your home as a certified “wildlife habitat” can’t hurt its value.

By Paul Tolme 

Growing concern about climate change has fueled a boom in sales of carbon offsets, which allow consumers to support clean-energy or reforestation projects that, at least in theory, remove as many greenhouse gases from the atmosphere as the donor contributes. While some cheer this growing market, others question whether consumers get what they pay for. Carbon offsets are unregulated in the United States. “The majority of offset retailers have good intentions, but it’s still a market where you have to do your homework,” says Katherine Hamilton of Ecosystem Marketplace.

Smart shoppers should look for offsets certified and audited by third-party organizations. These include the Gold Standard; Environmental Resources Trust; the Voluntary Carbon Standard, and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance. Buyers should also consult carbon-offset buyers’ guides published by the Tufts Climate Initiative (tufts.edu/ tie/tci/), Clean Air–Cool Planet (cleanair-coolplanet.org) and the Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org).

By Miyoko Ohtake 

The problem with reusable grocery bags is that they often get left in the car or piled up at home. New ultracompact versions, small enough to stash in a purse or clip to a key chain, are helping to solve that problem.

- The Flip & Tumble folds like a pair of socks into a three-inch ball in less then five seconds. The secret is the patent-pending, sewn-in, spandex pouch ($12; flipandtumble.com).

- The no-nonsense, 16- by 14-inch nylon ChicoBag folds into its three- by four-inch integrated pouch and can hook onto anything with its carabinerlike clip. Even better, it’s machine washable ($5; chicobag.com).

Not so long ago, ecofriendly cleaning products were expensive, didn’t work as well as regular cleaners and were available only in health-food stores. No longer. That’s good news for the environment and for anyone who’s ever gotten a headache from scrubbing the bathroom with traditional cleaners. “People who clean houses for a living have twice the rate of asthma,” says Alexandra Scranton, director of science and research at Women’s Voices for the Earth.

Even Clorox has gotten the message. In January, it launched an ecofriendly line called Green Works, which includes toilet-bowl, glass and all-purpose surface cleaners. Made with lemon oil, citric acid and coconut-derived surfactants, Green Works carries the EPA’s Design for the Environment logo. Last month the Sierra Club put its logo on the products, too, having vetted the ingredients, production process and even the source of the ingredients ($2.99 to $3.39 wherever Clorox is sold).

Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pa.: Climb to the top of three large treehouses (one is handicapped-accessible) and look out over some of the garden’s 1,050 acres. Through Nov. 23. Price: $16 for adults, $6 for kids over 4 (longwood gardens.org).

Oregon Zoo, Portland, Ore.: Go back millions of years with an outdoor exhibit of 14 dinosaur species that roar, snarl and move; open May 17 through Labor Day. Walk through a rain forest and dig for “fossils.” Price: $4 plus regular zoo admission—$9.75 for adults, $6.75 for kids 3 and up (www.oregonzoo.org).

Illustration: Chris Gash for Newsweek

By Joan Raymond

Joe Minott says he sometimes feels like a bit player in a remake of the B-movie classic “Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster.” On hot, sunny days, when a blanket of smog—a noxious mix of ground-level ozone and other pollutants—darkens the skyline near his Philadelphia home, Minott is loath to venture out. He suffers from an autoimmune disorder called sarcoidosis that affects his lungs. And when pollution is high, his ability to breathe is laid low. “No one wants to be stuck inside because it hurts to breathe the air outside,” says Minott, 53, executive director of the Clean Air Council, a Philadelphia-based environmental group. “We have to do a better job of cleaning up the air.”

Minott may soon be breathing a little bit easier. In March, the Environmental Protection Agency lowered the limit for the acceptable concentrations of ground-level ozone from 84 to 75 parts per billion. That’s still higher than the level of 60 to 70 parts per billion recommended by the EPA’s independent scientific advisory panel. “Based on the science and how best to protect health, we wanted a lower standard, period,” says Janice E. Nolen, assistant vice president of national policy and advocacy for the American Lung Association. “But this is a small step in the right direction.”

When it comes to health, ground-level ozone is a major threat. “The thing about ozone is that once you breathe it in, you can feel something is wrong almost right away,” says Dr. Herbert Wiedemann, chairman of the Respiratory Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. The gas is formed when sunlight and heat cause a chemical reaction between volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are emitted as gases from such items as dry-cleaned clothing, paints, aerosols and nitrogen oxide—pollutants that come mostly from coal-powered industrial plants and motor vehicles. Epidemiologic studies show that long-term exposure causes premature aging of the lungs and decreases in lung capacity and function. Though children, the elderly and those with heart disease or respiratory problems like asthma and emphysema are at particular risk, about 20 percent of otherwise healthy adults are unusually sensitive to ozone’s effects, experiencing symptoms like coughing, wheezing and pain when they breathe deeply in highly polluted areas.

Short of fleeing civilization, there are a number of things you can do to protect yourself and improve air quality, both outdoors and inside your home. The first step: check the Air Quality Index (airnow.gov). The site gives daily readings by state and region for ozone levels and particulate matter (a mix of soot and other pollutants). To see specific pollutants for your state or to drill down to a specific county, go to the interactive map at epa.gov/ air/data/geosel.html. See if your state and county get passing grades for ozone levels and particle pollution at the American Lung Association State of the Air: 2007 report (lungaction.org/reports/stateofthe air2007.html). For more information about outdoor air quality, go to the National Library of Medicine (sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/ outdoorairpollution.html). For more tips on how to protect yourself on high-ozone days (and expect more ozone alerts due to the EPA’s new standards) check out lungusa.org, epa.gov and cleanair.org.

When driving, avoid jack-rabbit starts and long idling. Choose air-friendly alternatives for home improvement, such as using a rake instead of a gas-powered leaf blower, trading in your gas-guzzling lawnmower for a manual model or planting shrubs to reduce the size of your yard. For more tips, go to sparetheair.com.

Don’t forget about indoor air quality, since it can be worse than outdoor air. First, don’t allow smoking in your home. VOCs can be a big problem indoors. Cut down on VOCs by cleaning up dust (which is a VOC magnet) and using low-VOC or water-based paints, nonaerosol pumps and sprays, and eco-friendly cleaning products. Simple strategies like keeping air conditioners and furnaces maintained; vacuuming rather than sweeping; running ceiling and attic fans, and opening windows to improve circulation and ventilation can help, too. Keep humidity in check to prevent mold growth. For more ideas, go to airqualitytips.com and healthhouse.org. Make sure you have a working carbon-monoxide detector (see lungdiseases.about.com/od/buyersguides/tp/ top_ codetectors.htm for a buyer’s guide). And consider radon testing (see epa.gov/ radon/pubs/citguide.html for more info).

The best advice: “Get off the couch, get involved and let officials know you want cleaner air,” says Minott. For ideas, check out cleanair-coolplanet.org/action or ww2.earthday.net. That way we can all breathe easier.

March 10, 2008 issue

If spring’s impending arrival has got you wondering what to do about your overgrown yard, you might consider hiring a gardening coach. Gardening coaches provide one-on-one consultations to first-time gardeners, as well as those with a little more experience looking for a second opinion. They’ll help you get a handle on that chaotic overgrowth, as well as identify your flora, make design suggestions or show you how to fertilize properly. “We try to teach people how to do it themselves, not do it for them,” says Susan Harris, a Takoma Park, Md., gardening coach. And, compared with the cost of a full-time landscaper, they are relatively cheap, charging as little as $25 an hour. To find a gardening coach near you, log on to thegardeningcoach.com, a worldwide directory. If there isn’t one for your area, check with your local garden center, nursery or garden club and ask if someone is available to serve as a consultant or coach. Then put on your garden gloves and get ready to face the spring.

By Linda Stern 

Greenwashing isn’t about salad prep. It’s what companies do when they plaster their products with meaningless but inspiring labels like EARTH-FRIENDLY and ECO-SAFE. Sounds good, looks pretty, but how do you know whether you’re really getting an environmentally sound product?

You don’t, according to the Federal Trade Commission, which is reviewing the guidance it gives consumers on green pitches. “There’s a heightened potential for deception” with green claims like carbon offsets when you can’t monitor the actual effect, says FTC chair Deborah Platt Majoras.

Ignore the fluff and look for specifics, suggests the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank. The words “organic” and “recycled” are regulated by the government and have legal meaning, as do the Energy Star designations given to appliances, electronics and other products by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy Department. You can look for independent certification by groups such as Green Seal (greenseal.org), EcoLogo (ecologo.org), the Greenguard Environmental Institute (greenguard.org) and the Forest Stewardship Council (fscus.org).

The more details you get, the better, says the FTC. Instead of going for the box that says “less waste,” buy one that says “20 percent less material.” If a product has those three little green chasing arrows, check to see if the box offers more info, like whether it’s recyclable or recycled, whether the symbol refers to the product or the package and what percentage is actually made of recycled materials. Be aware of what the environmental marketing company Terra Choice calls “hidden trade-offs”: products that claim one environmental virtue, like energy efficiency, but deliver another sin, like hazardous contents. Finally, don’t get smitten with the word “biodegradable.” Most of that stuff ends up in landfills anyway, and still takes a long time to go away.

The odd ingredients appearing on the labels of ecofriendly fitness apparel—from corn to soy and coconuts—may cause consumers to wonder whether they should wear or eat their shirt. What can these products do for the environment? The Base3 Long Sleeve Zip, a thermal top made for cold-weather exercise, contains 92 percent Ingeo, a corn-based fiber. Supporters say it can be composted when worn out, though corn farming’s intensive water use takes away a kernel of sweetness ($98; nau.com). Marmot’s Midweight Long Sleeve Zip for women contains Cocona, a fiber made from coconut shells. The fabric traps odors, and it uses a waste product of the coconut-growing industry ($49.95; marmot .com). Recent media reports have questioned whether the Vitasea fabric from Lululemon Athletica (lululemon .com) really contains seaweed, but the company stands by its products. Before buying any newfangled shirt, remember: the most ecofriendly garments are the ones you already own.

Aug. 13, 2007 issue - Water use soars in the summertime, and drought-affected regions have been tightening their faucets in an effort to conserve water. While some towns have gone so far as to restrict lawn watering and public fountains, better technology and a new EPA labeling system called WaterSense make it easier to be miserly with your H2O at home. Some room-by-room tips:

Bathroom: In the past 10 months, 35 models of high-performance, high-efficiency toilets that use less than 1.3 gallons per flush, compared with the standard 1.6gpf, have earned the EPA's WaterSense seal of approval. Unlike many of their low-flow predecessors, these new models, which sell for $200 to $550, guarantee a clean flush (for more information, see epa.gov/watersense). If you bought your toilet pre-1994, it probably uses 3.5gpf or more, and you could be eligible for a rebate from your local water utility if you switch to a more efficient model.

And pick up an aerator (from $2 at hardware stores), a gadget that screws into your faucet and either introduces a steady supply of bubbles or separates the water into thin streams that can save you more than a gallon a minute. Finally, check out water-efficient showerheads at your local hardware store or at niagaraconservation.com.

Silvia Otte
Book It: A sunflower field in Gascony, the setting for the Hours’ literary tour ‘Madame Bovary’s France’...

By Anna Kuchment
Oct. 22, 2007 issue

Last summer Bill Busse, a retired architect from Palo Alto, Calif., took a trip down the Mississippi River and through the pages of his favorite childhood stories. In the Mark Twain Mississippi River Tour (from $5,495; literarytraveler.com), Busse, his wife, Barbara, and a dozen other travelers stayed aboard a 1920s paddlewheel steamboat, heard lectures about Mark Twain and his work and visited Twain’s hometown of Hannibal, Mo. The highlight: walking through the cave where Twain set some of Tom Sawyer’s and Becky Thatcher’s exploits in “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.” “I’m not sure that people realize this was a real place,” says Busse. “It just grabbed me.”

Though trips like Mark Twain’s Mississippi appeal to all age groups, their popularity has grown as baby boomers approach their empty-nest years. “Baby boomers are a very well-read group and they travel quite a bit,” says Cathy Keefe, spokeswoman for the Travel Industry Association. A 2006 TIA survey showed that 56 percent of adults were interested in enrichment, or educational, trips. “As kids, we ask, ‘Why, why, why?’ but then we get busy with our lives and put those questions away,” says Ann Kirkland, founder of Classical Pursuits (classical pursuits.com) in Toronto. “But there comes a time when we have a little more space for reflection and we go back to those questions.”

Literary tours range from laid-back sightseeing excursions to more intellectually rigorous experiences that involve reading lists and seminars. On the more laid-back end is British Tours Ltd.’s private one-day Jane Austen trip from London ($970 for four people; british tours.com). Travelers visit her home at Chawton, where she wrote “Emma” and “Mansfield Park”; Bath, which figured prominently in many of her works, and the cathedral city of Winchester, where she is buried. On the more rigorous end is The Hours, a New York City-based company that mixes sumptuous tours of Tuscany and southern France with book discussions lead by a literature professor. Henry James’s Tuscany ($1,160 per person for six nights; thehours nyc.com) is set on an estate in the hamlet of Monterongriffoli, Italy, and includes cooking classes and truffle hunts. Madame Bovary’s France, planned for next fall, will be set in Gascony and will include visits to cheese and olive farms.

More independent-minded travelers can plan their