Viewing Tag: Community

It’s getting hot in here: The role of Urban Heat Islands

by Julie Cook

February 11th, 2008 in Community, Environment, News & Info

What is an Urban Heat Island? And why should you care? Depends on who you ask.

An Urban Heat Island (UHI) is a metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than its surroundings. The buildings, concrete, asphalt, and human and industrial activity of urban areas have caused cities to maintain higher temperatures than their surrounding countryside. The air in a UHI can be as much as 20°F higher than rural areas surrounding the city. Read more…

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New web community for greener living

by Julie Cook

February 11th, 2008 in Community, Environment

People band together online to date, discuss politics, or lose weight. Now a U.S. website called Greenopolis has created a community whose members help each other live in a more earth friendly manner. After registering on Greenopolis, which is still in beta, visitors complete an online survey that analyzes their daily activities to determine how ‘green’ their lifestyle is. Based on the survey findings, users receive a colored badge, which shows other members just how much of a friend to the earth they really are. Orange badge holders need to clean up their environmental act, and solid green badge holders are on the right track. Read more…

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Ready to save the world? Have a PB&J

by Julie Cook

February 11th, 2008 in Community, Global warming, News & Info, Pollution

Here’s a new take on an old favorite. You can use that handy snack — a PB&J sandwich — to save the world. Grandiose? Maybe. But take a listen to what the PB&J Campaign is saying: “You don’t have to change your whole diet to change the world. Just start with a sandwich.” Read more…

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Green, greener, greenest: what’s your candidate?

by Julie Cook

February 11th, 2008 in Community, Environment, News & Info

Health care, taxes, war, gas prices, immigration. It’s hard to stay informed about where upcoming presidential candidates fall on hot-button issues. Voters who are juggling a busy lifestyle often times rely on friends and media to help shape their opinions about voting leaders into office. Grist.org reports your candidate’s green stance on a plate as compared with his or her competition. Read more…

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