Archive:
EcoConsumer Columns from the Seattle Times
The following EcoConsumer articles were featured in the Seattle Times between 2005-2007. See the main EcoConsumer Columns page for the most recent articles.
2008 EcoConsumer Columns
Nov. 29, 2008
Easy ways to make the holidays green and jolly (PDF, 92 K)
Whether your holiday decorating style leans toward the traditional, the contemporary or the downright quirky, follow these tips for low-cost, eco-friendly decorating.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
Nov. 15, 2008
Protecting yourself from plastic hazards (PDF, 30 K)
"Better living through chemistry!" That chemical–company slogan from 50 years ago has largely come true. But "better living" can have hidden costs.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
Nov. 8, 2008
It's getting easier to feel good about your furniture (PDF, 38 K)
Just like every picture tells a story, so does every piece of furniture.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
Oct. 18, 2008
A green Halloween is very eek-o chic (PDF, 29 K)
How do you turn a black-and-orange holiday into a green one?
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
Oct. 4, 2008
Despite new lead laws, consumers still need to be vigilant (PDF, 63 K)
After using lead for more than 6,000 years, humans are finally learning how to prevent it from poisoning us.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
Sep. 20, 2008
Winterizing your home brings warm rewards (PDF, 94 K)
Winterizing our homes can seem like such thankless drudgery that most of us either do the bare minimum or neglect it completely.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
Sep. 6, 2008
Dry cleaning is getting greener, but some efforts are spotty (PDF, 62 K)
Though still largely dependent on a hazardous chemical, the dry-cleaning industry has worked hard to clean up its act.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
Aug. 23, 2008
Going back-to-school shopping? Be kind to your wallet and the planet (PDF, 67 K)
The never-ending parental juggling act gets even trickier at back-to-school time, especially if you want to go green and spend lean.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
Aug. 16, 2008
Saying "I do" to a green wedding (PDF, 142 K)
For a sterling example of the contradictions of modern environmentalism, look no further than the green-wedding movement.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
July 19, 2008
It takes a less-is-more attitude to embrace smaller houses (PDF, 66 K)
In these troubled economic times, the savings from buying and living in a smaller home loom large.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
July 12, 2008
Waging the water-bottle battle (PDF, 112 K)
When we drink water, what's the real message in the bottle?
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
June 29, 2008
Cloth vs. paper vs. dryers: How to be clean and green when you wipe your hands (PDF, 79 K)
Sometimes the most mundane environmental choices are the most perplexing.
Note: This article was published in "Footprint," a quarterly environmental section.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
June 28, 2008
Cleaning the basement or garage can make a big green difference (PDF, 89 K)
Few household chores provide the visceral satisfaction of cleaning and organizing the basement or garage.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
June 7, 2008
Harnessing the green power of windows (PDF, 94 K)
Follow these tips to take full advantage of the green potential in your windows.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
May 17, 2008
Living green in the living room (PDF, 76 K)
The road to green living runs directly through your living room.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
May 3, 2008
Make a green statement with your next bouquet (PDF, 47 K)
Whether you're sending a Mother's Day bouquet across the country, or just adding some color and fragrance to your home, follow this guide to make your cut flowers as green as nature intended.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
April 20, 2008
Good mileage, safety often don't ride together (PDF, 96 K)
When your green tendencies collide with reality, you've got an eco-dilemma on your hands.
Note: This article was published in "Footprint," a quarterly environmental section.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
April 12, 2008
Questions to ask before buying a supposedly “green” product (PDF, 225 K)
How many "green" products will it take to stop global warming? If you answered, “as few as possible,” you‘re on the right track.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
April 5, 2008
Sweet dreams: a green makeover for the bedroom (PDF, 59 K)
With these tips, you can do a quick bedroom eco-makeover without spending a pillowcase full of cash.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
March 15, 2008
Wake up to coffee’s impact (PDF, 64 K)
Every sip you take of coffee or tea has global consequences.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
March 8, 2008
Don’t overlook the bathroom as you turn the home green (PDF, 57 K)
It may be one of the smallest rooms in your home, but the bathroom offers myriad ways to reduce your environmental impact.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
Feb. 23, 2008
How to find the best carbon offsets (PDF, 85 K)
Once considered a gimmick, carbon offsets have moved to the front lines in the fight against global warming.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
Feb. 2, 2008
Easy steps toward a greener kitchen (PDF, 67 K)
You can make your kitchen significantly greener and more healthful just by taking simple steps over a weekend at a total cost of under $100.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
January 19, 2008
Tame your paper monster (PDF, 32 K)
Paper spreads in our homes like a plague, taking over desktops, tables and drawers.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
January 5, 2008
See Spot go green (PDF, 58 K)
You don’t have to walk on two legs to go green.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
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2007 EcoConsumer Columns
December 22, 2007
Recycling the holiday flotsam and jetsam. (PDF, 67 K)
Recycling has become a fixture of the Seattle holiday season, like the Christmas ships, the “Nutcracker” and the rain.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
December 8, 2007
Ways to cut back on holiday excess. (PDF, 47 K)
At least once during the holiday season most of us think, “You know, the Grinch had a point.”
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
November 24, 2007
Buy local, and community may reap benefits. (PDF, 51 K)
As organic products increasingly travel thousands of miles to our tables, the “buy local” movement has picked up steam.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
November 3, 2007
Getting the lead out of toys. (PDF, 110 K)
This year’s unprecedented toy recalls give new meaning to the term “educational toys”.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
October 27, 2007
Area businesses showing green leadership. (PDF, 35 K)
No matter how much we do individually to go green, we can always use a little help.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
October 13, 2007
Avalanche of calls sends a mattress message. (PDF, 30 K)
EcoConsumer responds to a few readers’ questions and comments.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
September 29, 2007
Opinions on tankless water heaters run hot and cold. (PDF, 53 K)
Compared with other “green” purchases, the stakes get a little higher when you buy a tankless water heater.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
September 15, 2007
We‘re going great guns for green homes. (PDF, 32 K)
Built Green homes now make up more than 20 percent of new residential construction in King County.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
September 8, 2007
Thinking of sending a mattress to a landfill? Sleep on it. (PDF, 41 K)
In just one day at a local landfill, more than 300 old mattresses and box springs arrive for burial.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
August 25, 2007
Bringing a little green to your deck. (PDF, 55 K)
Many of us remember when preparing for the school year simply meant picking up a few new pencils and folders at the drugstore.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
August 22, 2007
Green but stylish choices for back–to–school shopping. (PDF, 127 K)
Many of us remember when preparing for the school year simply meant picking up a few new pencils and folders at the drugstore.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
August 11, 2007
Coated pots and pans can present health hazards. (PDF, 35 K)
The good news is that most cookware will not put you at risk during normal use.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
July 28, 2007
How to stay cool and comfy when Seattle heats up. (PDF, 43 K)
Here are my top 10 EcoConsumer tips for keeping your home cool while conserving energy and saving money.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
July 14, 2007
Is food waste next on our recycle chain? (PDF, 39 K)
Food scraps and food-soiled paper make up more than 30 percent of residential solid waste in King County.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
July 14, 2007
Willises "green up" best, by putting basics to work (PDF, 42 K)
The hard part about being the judge for the "Green Me Up" reality TV show was that I had to pick a winner.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
July 7, 2007
Seattle families "green up" for a national TV audience (PDF, 205 K)
Where else but Seattle would "going green" make you a celebrity?
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
July 7, 2007
And the winner is…all of us, and our planet (PDF, 70 K)
When I was asked to be the judge for "Green Me Up," my first question was whether this was one of those mean and nasty reality TV shows.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
July 1, 2007
Does your makeup need a nontoxic makeover? (PDF, 39 K)
When your personal-care products could cause cancer, that‘s a little too personal.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
June 30, 2007
Eco–friendly answers to your consumer questions (PDF, 61 K)
Tom Watson answers a few readers‘ questions regarding earlier columns.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
June 16, 2007
The big picture (PDF, 50 K)
How those fancy new TV sets affect the environment.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
June 2, 2007
Where can we put all those plastics? (PDF, 47 K)
Plastics and recycling have a complicated relationship.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
May 19, 2007
The hazards in our plastic. (PDF, 47 K)
You don't have to be a card-carrying environmentalist to wonder about all the chemicals we're exposed to every day.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
May 5, 2007
The environmental side effects of old medicine. (PDF, 58 K)
How many bottles or vials of medication do you have in your home?
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
Arpil 21, 2007
Green resources you (and the Earth) can really use (PDF, 38 K)
If information alone could save the planet, we'd be sitting pretty right now.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
Arpil 7, 2007
Recharge, recycle, resolve to reduce battery discards (PDF, 105 K)
In a perfect "green" world, all batteries would be rechargeable.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
March 3, 2007
Now you're out of excuses - time to switch to CFL bulbs (PDF, 38 K)
Let's look at three major reasons people have not yet chosen to light up their lives with compact fluorescents.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
February 3, 2007
I vant to suck your energy (PDF, 41 K)
Slay perpetually plugged-in "power vampires" with one simple yank of the cord.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
January 6, 2007
It's a good year for eco-resolutions (PDF, 24 K)
With these green New Year's resolutions, you can make a statement as an EcoConsumer with your wallet and by making your voice heard.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
2006 EcoConsumer Columns
December 9, 2006
How to reduce food waste during this season of indulgence (PDF, 38 K)
During the holidays alone, the average household of four could save $100 to $150 by reducing food waste.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
November 4, 2006
Disposables or cloth? Environment weighs heavily on diaper decisions (PDF, 63 K)
The environmental movement has finally begun to have an impact on a very different kind of movement.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
October 7, 2006
There's something fishy about some air fresheners (PDF, 48 K)
If you define fresh air as unpolluted outdoor air, the ideal indoor "air freshener" is an open window
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
September 20, 2006
Autumn leaves are a windfall for your garden (PDF, 54 K)
You need to get those leaves off the lawn, so why not save money in the process?
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
September 2, 2006
The benefits of green carpeting, in any color (PDF, 57 K)
Here are a few things to know when considering "green" carpeting.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
August 12, 2006
Old bricks add a new layer of interest to your landscape (PDF, 42 K)
Make a creative environmental statement this summer – one brick at a time.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
July 8, 2006
Throw a green party, and throw less away (PDF, 55 K)
It used to be that the only time anyone would throw a green party was on St. Patrick's Day.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
July 5, 2006
Compost that your plants and the planet will love (PDF, 55 K)
Tips for buying compost and other products to give your garden soil a boost.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
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May 28, 2006
A call for recycling (PDF, 33 K)
Reduce the environmental impacts of your cell phone.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
May 14, 2006
Fair and square (PDF, 33 K)
How to know if a product meets fair trade guidelines.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
April 23, 2006
Get green, save green (PDF, 33 K)
Our planet, your wallet win with 5 easy ways to save.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
April 22, 2006
A "go-green" painting primer (PDF, 33 K)
Paint is the most visible thing in your home. But you should also think about what you don't see.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
April 2, 2006
Refill, don't replace (PDF, 39 K)
You can save up to 50 percent – and help reduce waste and conserve resources – by purchasing refilled or remanufactured printer cartridges.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
March 5, 2006
Even with our clouds, solar water heaters are a viable option (PDF, 42 K)
Think of it as your revenge on those endless gloomy Northwest winter days.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
Feb. 12, 2006
Clean with conscience (PDF, 35 K)
Becoming more eco-friendly with your household cleaning is one of the easiest ways to reduce toxics in your home.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
Jan. 8, 2006
If you're going to burn wood, burn it cleanly (PDF, 38 K)
When it comes to the environment, firewood has a split personality.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
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2005 EcoConsumer Columns
Dec. 11, 2005
Trim your waste (PDF, 32 K)
You'd think the holidays would be the worst time to be an EcoConsumer... But it's actually the best time.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
Nov. 13, 2005
Be fix-it friendly (PDF, 27 K)
Getting things fixed was once a way of life in America. In today's fast-paced, shopping-obsessed society, that's a distant memory.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
Oct. 9, 2005
Save energy (and money) around the house (PDF, 35 K)
Let's take a closer look at the costs and potential pitfalls of four common strategies to save energy.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
Sept. 4, 2005
Eco-clothes help you make a statement (PDF, 25 K)
As you ponder your fall and winter clothing choices, remember this: Leaves will soon turn brown, but clothing is turning green.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
July 31, 2005
Commercial car washes use less water than home (PDF, 32 K)
Home and charity car-washers need to keep soapy water out of storm drains.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
July 10, 2005
When gadgets go to the graveyard (PDF, 34 K)
It's a problem as close as your computer, your cellphone, your TV or the iPod hanging out of your teenager's ears.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
May 29, 2005
Don't be a drip (PDF, 24 K)
Rain barrels and front-loading washing machines make a splash.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
April 17, 2005
Essential/excess? (PDF, 20 K)
Transport packaging makes up bulk of waste.
Reprinted with permission from The Seattle Times.
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