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Since the program began in 1995, Americans have saved $1.2 billion on their energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 22 billion pounds, EPA said. The guidelines for an Energy Star home include efficient heating and lighting, insulation systems and high performance windows. An independent home energy rater conducts on-site to make sure the home meets the EPA’s requirements. More than 6,500 builders across the United States build homes that qualify for the Energy Star program.

The EPA also released a list of the top 20 cities for Energy Star homes. The Houston area topped the list with 144, 420 homes built, followed by the Dallas, Las Vegas and Phoenix regions.

Researchers from the University of Rochester’s Medical Center for Reproductive Epidemiology said the chemicals, which are widely used to make soft plastics, may negatively interact with testosterone, the hormone which is important to producing the masculine brain.

The study focused on 145 preschool children and found boys born to women with higher levels of the chemicals in their prenatal urine were less likely to play with trucks or play fight, which are toys and games typically associated with boys.

“Our results need to be confirmed, but are intriguing on several fronts,” researchers said in a statement, according to UPI news. “Not only are they consistent with our prior findings that link phthalates to altered male genital development, but they also are compatible with current knowledge about how hormones mold sex differences in the brain and thus behavior. We have more work to do, but the implications are potentially profound.”

The study’s findings were published in the International Journal of Andrology, UPI reports.

Concerns about serious health problems from exposure to phthalates have led to bans on the chemicals in teethers, play bath items, soft books, dolls, plastic figures, and other children’s products. Recent research also has found many people are exposed to phthalates through food and food packaging.

The ultimate in hypermiling (maximizing your fuel efficiency), I Drive Green is a three part program that employs the cutting edge of communications technology to coach you through the process of becoming a greener driver.

New students will attend an introductory workshop where they use a simulator with a three-screen surround display to learn techniques for efficient driving. Then they have two road sessions with an instructor on hand to give tips and feedback. The skills they learn are guaranteed to help use less fuel, and drive faster.

After students have a grasp of the basic techniques motor away with a device called the EcoGyser. Like a naviagation system, the EcoGyser uses GPS to closely monitor driving habits. After every outing drivers download the information and receive a color-coded map showing them exactly what they did right, and where they could improve (like slamming on the brakes or jerky acceleration).

All the information from the EcoGyser can be shared with the IDG community via social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook.

The IDG workshops are free, as is the monitoring service with the purchase of an EcoGyser for $140. The program will be unveiled at Specialty Equipment Market Association on November 3rd.

All of Wal-mart’s products will be subjected to a sustainability index. This rating system will quantify the item’s environmental footprint, taking into account the entire life cycle from raw materials, through manufacturing, to disposal. Not only will the index inform Wal-mart’s purchasing decisions, the indexes will be posted in stores so that customers can make greener choices as well.

Given the company’s track record of environmental malfeasance, the new initiative was greeted with some skepticism. Wal-mart has vowed to work in conjunction with environmental groups to ensure the accuracy of the index, but critics say that creating the index is going to be a difficult process.

Many of Wal-marts products are made overseas, and data will be gathered by sending out a 15 item questionnaire to all of Wal-mart’s suppliers. If the responses are not accurate, then the index will not be accurate either.

Wal-mart has already established a Sustainability Index Consortium composed of nonprofits, universities, and businesses to address the challenges ahead. If Wal-mart is successful in creating a creditable and transparent indexing system, it could set the standard for retailers in the future.

Just as wind turbines harness the power of the skies for the electricity grid, so wave turbines can harness the power of the ocean. Water currents turn a propeller that generates electricity which is conveyed to the mainland through underwater cables. Scientists are also investigating ways that the electrical current could be used to make and store hydrogen underwater for use in automobile fuel cells.

Florida’s Gulf Stream contains some of the strongest currents in the world and could potentially generate up to one third of Florida’s power. However there are still many unanswered questions as to the ecological impact of wave turbines, and the cost.

Sue Skemp, executive director at Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Ocean Energy Technology, says “This area is so new, we’re still finding out what needs to be done. It’s not like an established industry, like the aerospace industry or the automotive industry or others, where you have models which you could base cost on.”

The state of Florida has already allocated almost $14 million for research and development. If the studies yield positive results, it will take another 5 to 10 years to build the system and see results.

This groundbreaking legislation was created to aid Florida’s honey industry, which has been taking blows due to an inundation of “honey imposters” that entered the market around three years ago. Although Florida is the first to demand a honey standard, 28 states may be following in the Sunshine State.

From a consumer standpoint, Florida’s honey standard will provide a product that is properly labeled since adulterated honey-like products can no longer be sold under the guise honey. Honey lovers can also expect more varietals unique to Florida such palmetto and orange blossom.

One of the greatest myths surrounding trash disposal is that we are running out of room to dispose of our rubbish. According to a report by the Property and Environment Research Center, while landfills aren’t the ideal method of trash disposal, there is no shortage of room. A landfill of ten square miles is estimated more than capable of holding all of the United State’s solid waste for the next century.

Another myth is that packaging is 100% bad for the environment. The slimmer, lighter packaging that has been adopted (30% less volume in soda bottles for example) makes packaging as efficient as before and cuts down on landfill space required. Packaging is significant because it enables commercial production, which reduces the overall amount of waste. It prevents breakage and waste, food contamination and waste, and greatly reduces the reports of food poisoning. When raw meat is commercially packaged, 1000 lbs. of meat uses less than 20 lbs. of packaging, and produces many pounds of useful byproducts like dog food. The average American household produces less waste than the average Mexican household, and the reason is efficient packaging.

One last myth about trash disposal and recycling is that recycling only conserves resources. However, recycling is still a manufacturing process. This means that not only does it consume resources such as fuel and raw materials (the percentage of the product that does not come from recycled materials); it also produces wastes and other byproducts. Developing more efficient means of recycling can reduce this concern. Trash disposal and recycling are right to be a priority for responsible consumers, especially in the United States where there are more resources than ever to reduce the amount of waste.

On a very basic scale, the electricity will stay where it belongs, in the wires. If there is a large storm and some of the wires are damaged and fall, there is certainly the risk of electrocution but the chances are quite not as great as the chances of damage to your home by falling tree branches. Large electric generators and power centers do tend to crackle a lot, and they are aesthetically unappealing which could also play a part in your decision.

The major concern of most with electricity is the magnetic field it generates. Electromagnetic radiation is a believed carcinogen that has been shown to cause embryological changes in chickens when exposed, according to a study by the US Navy. While plenty of families have lived near large-scale power supplies for years without any apparent side effects from the radiation, there are others who claim that their children developed cancers due to their proximity to the magnetic fields.

Realistically, we are never very far from a power supply. A lot of our supply is delivered to us via underground wires. The magnetic fields of these wires, much closer to us than any transformer, are canceled out by a slight twisting of the core. And even without the wires, there are always forms of radiation around us; from our cell phones to the sun.

For leaf composting to work, there has to be green material in the bags with the leaves, so that the nitrogen in the green matter can begin the composting process. Your lawn once again supplies the fix. Instead of raking up whole leaves, simply mow over them the next time your grass needs to be cut. Then scoop the cut up leaves and grass clippings together into black plastic trash bags. Compress the leaves and grass by stepping on them, then pour a gallon of water into each bag. Tie off the bags, poke some holes in them, and drag them into a barn or out of the way corner of your yard.

During the next few months, simply wander out to the bags and turn them over every now and then (every few weeks should do). When winter comes and the ground freezes, you can ignore the bags and leave them be until spring.

When the time comes to fertilize your yard in the warmer weather, cut open the bags. You’ll find about one gallon of black earthy compost in each bag that will make your flower beds bright and healthy. If the leaves haven’t broken down completely, add a shovel full of dirt from your yard and a few cups of water, reclose the bag and flip it again. In two weeks the leaves will have finished composting, and you can sprinkle it on your lawn, flower beds, and any other place you want greener, healthier plants.

Instead, a company called Better Place and competing groups are planning to offer pay-per-mile plans similar to cell phone minutes. While a family would purchase the car, Better Place would own the battery and offer charging stations to keep the vehicle running. Better Place would also do upkeep, exchanging the battery in order to extend the driving range.

Better Place says that their system would be cheaper than using gasoline. Berkeley researchers determined that the per-mile cost of making and charging batteries, plus the cost of building a charging system, could be a similar or cheaper price depending on whether or not gas prices rise.

Although the charging systems could cost upwards of $320 billion to build, health-related savings due to less vehicle pollution could be $210 billion, according to economist Thomas Becker.

If you want natural gas, you will need a professional to install the gas line and the plumbing. Natural gas is lighter than air, so any trace amounts left in your appliance once it’s in off mode will simply dissipate over time. However, a leaky valve is no trivial matter, and if you suspect you have a gas leak you should open a window immediately, leave the house, and call a professional to come and check the plumbing. Natural gas is prized for its efficiency and its convenience, often set up with electronic ignition to power a flame sconce or other appliance on and off at the touch of a switch.

Propane is not fed to your appliance via a line but rather a cylindrical tank, which must be replaced periodically when it runs low or empty. Propane is heavier than air, so an appliance that is fueled by propane should never be located in a shallow area of your yard or home, where the fuel could collect. Propane is widely used for its convenience (low maintenance installation) but it does have the unfortunate tendency to create soot as a byproduct when burning.

Whichever fuel you choose, professional installation and proper ventilation are the best safety measures to take. An automatic shut off valve will also make obsolete the chances of you forgetting to power off your appliance. As with any open flame, gas-fueled appliances should never be left unattended when in use.

An old home remedy is to sprinkle salt on the slugs directly, which destroys the layer of mucus they need to survive and eventually kills them. While this certainly works, it doesn’t get rid of slugs you can’t see. Besides, the salt that ends up in the soil instead of on the slug is not good for the fertility of your garden.

There are commercial slug repellents that are quite effective, although they can be toxic to birds, other wildlife, and the earthworms that are an important part of your garden’s healthy ecosystem. There are some plants that act as natural slug repellants that you can plant as a border around your garden. Some of these plants include lavender, thyme, sage, geranium, and mint. You can also surround your garden with a border of used coffee grounds, or seaweed if you live in a coastal area.

However well the border methods keep slugs out, they also keep the ones you already have in, so you will need to bait those slugs to get rid of them. Simply placing a plain wooden board in the soil will attract slugs, so that you can turn the board over during the day and either pick the slugs out by hand or salt them.

Beer is also a favorite slug attractant. Place a shallow dish of beer in your garden’s soil so that the lip of the dish is even with the top of the soil. The slugs will be attracted to the beer and drown. This method also works for baby slugs, although you should use milk instead of beer. A dish of each on either side of your garden should do the trick after a few rotations.

For example, SPF 30 implies that you can remain outdoors in direct sun 30 times longer without burning than you could without it. This rule is very ambiguous and should not be taken for gospel, as everyone’s skin sensitivity is different. With the depletion of the ozone layer, dermatologists are recommending that everyone wear a minimum of SPF 15 every day, whether you are going to be in direct sun or not.

You should definitely increase the amount of SPF you are using if you plan on being on a plane, where the sun’s rays are even stronger. Persons visiting or residing in Australia should wear at least an SPF 30 daily, on all exposed body parts.

SPF works by reflecting, scattering, or absorbing excess UVA rays so that your skin does not take the full force of the sun. There are many compounds that are used to do this, the most popular being zinc oxide. SPF should be applied at least 10 minutes prior to sun exposure to be effective.

At 30,000 feet off the ground winds are ten times as forceful as they are at 40 feet off the ground. Wind energy producers are now designing wind kites with turbines that would hover at airplane altitude, transmitting electricity back to the ground through long cables.

A team of researchers at Stanford University conducted a survey of high-altitude winds and found more than enough power to meet all of our energy needs. Stanford University professor and climate scientist Ken Caldeira reported that, “just one percent of the power from high-altitude winds would be enough to continuously power all of civilization.”

Two companies, Sky WindPower and Kite Gen, are already experimenting with high altitude kites. They estimate that, with a sizeable array, energy costs could be reduced by two thirds.