Artificial turf, also called fake grass or synthetic lawn, has come a very long way from its tacky Astro Turf looks of the 1960s. An off-shoot of the carpet industry, it now is almost undistinguishable from real grass, thanks to technological advances. The artificial grass industry proudly sells its product as being eco-friendly since it doesn't need to be watered, mowed or fertilized. But is it really eco-friendly or is this claim another instance of greenwashing? If you have been thinking of having synthetic grass installed in your garden with that reassuring reason in mind, make sure you know all the facts before making a final decision.

For most Americans today, line drying clothes carries a strong, undesired stigma of poverty. Many homeowners associations and cities restrict (or even ban) the use of clotheslines in planned communities. Dryers, on the other hand, constitute the second biggest energy hog in our homes, after the refrigerator, and are found in 92% of US households. It hasn’t always been so, and several companies, including Levi’s and Right2Dry.org, are trying to raise awareness about this nonsense, all the way to the White House. Read on to see how a click of the mouse can help.

With warmer, sunnier days here to stay, it is a great time to get outdoors and have some fun in backyards and gardens. However, keeping up a desirable yard requires not only hard work but also consumes more water than you might think. In fact, more than half of the residential water used in a typical western city goes to outdoor landscape watering. And with droughts occurring around the country and restrictions on watering being imposed in many places, it is especially urgent that we start conserving water. By following these five tips, you can make sure your garden stays cool and eco-friendly while saving you some time.

With air conditioning, heating, electricity, and water use, the amount of carbon dioxide produced by a single household can be astonishing. As we Americans consume more food, energy, and water than the majority of people living on this earth, we also put out more carbon dioxide per person into the air than most of the developing world. Where do you think you stand and what would a carbon footprint calculator reveal about your CO2 consumption?