Here are some questions asked by GreenAnswers members regarding the federal government and how it deals with policies regarding our environment. What are the priorities for the EPA in 2010? Obviously the EPA must continue a wide array of programs and regulations, but one of the main focuses it has stressed for the new decade is finding a viable candidate to replace foreign oil in the energy market place. The EPA has instituted a number of initiatives, research programs and other regulations to encourage the development of alternative energy facilities like wind turbines and tidal energy ... Read more »

As governments around the world move closer to taking much-needed action on the climate, it's no surprise that those who don't want to see action have stepped up efforts to discredit the science behind global warming.  Sometimes the group of fossil fuel-friendly media pundits, bloggers, and even industry-paid scientists who try to cast doubt on global warming are referred to as "global warming skeptics."  In this post however, I use the term "denialist" instead of "skeptic" because, in my opinion, it is much more accurate.  Skepticism is an essential part of the scientific ... Read more »

The US economy's dependence on oil as a fuel source is always a hot topic in environmental circles, so it's not surprising that the past week has seen many interesting and thought-provoking questions about oil from GreenAnswers members.  For this blog post, I've rounded up some of the recent oil-related questions, to examine the environmental and economic impacts of our reliance on this fuel. Why is oil such a good source of energy? This question from jacobson is a great way to start out, as it gets right to the heart of why our economy has become so dependent on oil for generating ... Read more »

What is a bald eagle's favorite food? We'll start with this question from RolfG about what may be the most charismatic of all bird in the US.  Bald eagles are primarily adapted to feed on fish, and at the right time of year in certain eagle populations 90% of a bald eagle's food intake may be fish.  So fish would probably qualify as the favorite food of the bald eagle, but these birds normally feed on a variety of other things as well.  Bald eagles will take the opportunity to eat ducks, geese and other waterfowl - but they usually only attempt to catch sick or wounded ... Read more »

Plants are some of the most amazing organisms on our planet. They are found in all corners of the globe, from the cold plains of the Tundra to the dry, barren deserts; plants have adapted themselves to our planet quite exquisitely. However, as the Earth’s climate continues to change, many plants are forced to adapt once more to their changing weather patterns. How much light do plants need to grow? This question may sound simple, but it is very complex. Of the thousands upon thousands of plant species there are, each needs its own unique amount of sunlight for optimal growth; however, ... Read more »

Recently there have been a number of questions regarding over fishing and sustainable practices regarding harvesting resources from the sea. We as humans have always relied on the sea for a number of food sources from fish to seaweed, and unless we change our current practices to better reflect natural ecological models, we can expect to see the seas collapse under the pressure we have been putting on them. Who is affected by overfishing? A very board question, but still an important one to ask. Benz points out that everyone is affected by overfishing through a concept known as the Tragedy ... Read more »

Among the many new energy industries developing to replace our reliance on fossil fuels, biofuels can be among the most confusing and controversial.  Though some see biofuels as a viable alternative to burning coal and oil, other environmentalists argue that biofuels have a large environmental footprint of their own.  Each of the many different biofuels now on the market has its own environmental impact, and some are undoubtedly more sustainable than other to produce.  In this blog post I look at some recent GreenAnswers questions about biofuels, and look at the pros and ... Read more »

Pollution of the air and water has long been one of the most important concerns of environmentalists around the world, from the Chinese city of Beijing to the banks of the Potomac River in the eastern US.  In the questions compiled for this blog post, GreenAnswers members raise important issues encountered when dealing with air and water pollution.  Are West Virginia's waterways contaminated because of all the coal production? From mining coal to burning it for electricity generation or industry, the coal industry is one of the most polluting industries in the US.  With ... Read more »

How best to help the climate by reducing carbon footprints is always a hot topic on GreenAnswers; in this post, I've collected some of the most notable questions about the subject from the last week.  GreenAnswers members are clearly concerned about all aspects of addressing global warming and carbon pollution - from living low-carbon lifestyles to changing our economy so it takes less pollution to run.  The questions below cover the full spectrum, touching on everything from recycling to coal plants.1. What do carbon footprint labels on foods reveal? ... Read more »