From Fashionista Meteorologists to Green Racetracks - It's Eco-Smart News Clips!

Be Smart. Buy Smart. Know Your Choices!

The Office of Environmental Education's Informed Consumer Initiative seeks to highlight some of the issues surrounding our consumer choices. The information and resources provided are not meant to advocate for any particular choice, but rather to let folks know what choices are out there and the costs and benefits associated with them.

Topics covered include: Food, Lawn & Garden, Energy, Water, Waste, Household Products, Personal Products, Product Distribution, Green Development, Farm News, Recreation and Global Climate. On our Web site, current new articles relevant to North Carolina are posted so that you can continue to be an Informed Consumer!

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Consumer News Articles Posted in the Last Few Weeks Include:

Global Climate
. Bill Moves Ahead On Global Warming
. Earth's Tropical Waistline Grows Wider
. 2007 Set to Be Sixth Warmest Year On Record
. Meteorologists Shape Fashion Trends
. WWF Says Warming Puts Amazon At Risk
. An Interview With State Climatologist Ryan Boyles
. Simple Numbers to Shape Climate Talks
. This Year Among Warmest On Record
. 2007 Melts Arctic Ice Records
. Bali Forum Backs Climate 'Road Map'

Energy
. First NC Ethanol Plant Breaks Ground In Hoke County
. Stanly Considered For New Poultry-Litter Power Plant
. Red Tape Stalls Effort to Sell Ethanol
. Think' Solar: Arby's to Use Renewable Energy
. Jewish Holiday Shines Light On the Environment
. Discount Triggers Hot Sales of Energy-Saving Light Bulbs
. Winter-Proof to Save Planet, Purse
. Goals for Fuel-Efficiency Advance
. 'Green' Gifts From Watt-Killer to Zipcar
. Rockefeller Chriwstmas Tree Gets Green Makeover
. Google Plans Renewable Energy Push
. Biodiesel Bus Rolls Onto WHS Campus
. Greensboro Company Gets 1,052 Orders for Hybrid Buses
. Ethanol Craze Worsens Gulf 'Dead Zone'
. Pioneers Blaze Trail for LEDs
. Seal Up Your Home for Winter Weather
. Senate Approves Fuel Economy Increase For Cars, SUVs
. Company Turns to Sun for Power
. Geothermal Systems Get the EPA's Praise
. Congress Approves Sweeping Energy Bill

Food
. Bacteria Stays a Step Ahead of Meat Processors
. Proposed Ban on Genetically-Modified Corn in Europe
. GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership
. Report: Drought Cuts $573 Million From Agriculture Economy
. Salmon Farming May Hurt Wild Fish

Waste
. Ashtrays Help Keep Litter Off the Streets
. Plastic Grocery Bags Rarely Recycled
. NC Officials Wish Residents An Eco-Friendly Holiday

Personal
. The Dirt On Antibacterial Soaps
. Minnesota to Ban Mercury in Beauty Products

House
>> Greener Computing
. Toxins In the Home: Indoor Air Can Be Polluted Too
. Sears, Kmart to Remove Products With Polyvinyl Chloride

Water
. La Nina Suggests NC to Endure Lingering Drought Through Winter
. New Generation of Toilets Do the Job
. Durham Leaders Tap New Ideas for Providing Water
. Communities Under Pressure to Find Ways to Continue to Conserve Water
. Barrels Ready to Catch Water
. Rainwater Collection Gaining In Popularity

GrEEn Development
. Gaston Green Efforts Pay Off
. Group Working to Build 'Green' Racetrack
. 'Green-Collar' Work Could Add Jobs Locally
. County Plants Seeds for 'Green Business'
. Grandfather Goes Green
. $9.8 Million Visitor Center Opens Along Blue Ridge Parkway
. Experiment in Green Building Goes Undercover In NC Home

Lawn & Garden
. Solar Greenhouse Provides Plants, Savings

RecrEEation
. Book Tells About 'Saving Magic Places'
. Trail Guide Gets An Update

General
. Eco-Friendly Product Claims Often Misleading