Ballpark Estimate: $3,000 to $7,000 (including installation) With the rising costs of gas and oil, you may find your heating bills escalating out of control. (In fact, some homeowners in the northern part of the United States spend as much as half of their annual energy bills just on heating and cooling.) But if your boiler is 15 years old or more, you may not have to simply … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $90 to $600 (jeans/top); $50 to $350 (casual dress) The last time you shopped for clothes, what color did you buy? If the answer is green, then you are on the cutting edge when it comes to style. In fact, you may even be part of an important, and growing, trend, that has nothing to do with actual color and everything to do with buying environmentally … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: Men's: $45 to $160+; Women's: $65 to $865 If you think you have to sacrifice style if you want to wear eco-friendly shoes, think again. The latest crop of socially-responsible footwear is designed to fit even people with fashion-forward tastes, so you can look good and feel good, too, about the choices you make. Shoes That Are Good for the Planet The … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $25,000 to $30,000 for a typical event Some couples who are planning to say “I Do,” aren’t just referring to building a life together, but also to caring for the environment in the process, too. That’s because eco-friendly weddings are growing in popularity, as more people realize the effect that their actions make on the planet and are selecting socially … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $80 million to $100 million The traditional concept of farming may soon be taking a new twist. Up until now, most people have envisioned farms as outdoor sprawling fields located in the country, but in the future, the picture may be replaced with a citified version of three dimensional “farms” that will be located right on busy city streets inside tall … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $15,000 to $55,000 A cool breeze on a hot summer day always feels great, but when that breeze is also running your dishwasher, computer, and TV set, it’ll feel even more refreshing. More and more people these days are harnessing the wind’s energy and using it to generate electricity for their homes. In fact, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) says … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $9,000 to $40,000+ Ever get the feeling that if you went outdoors and looked at your electric meter, the numbers would be spinning right before your eyes? Electric rates may not be rising as fast as oil or gas rates, but wouldn’t it be nice if we could heat our homes and run our appliances for free? That’s asking a little too much, of course, but there are … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $1,000 to $3,600 (higher and lower alternatives exist) Since death is a natural part of the cycle of life, it seems fitting that some people are seeking a natural way of celebrating the end. They are foregoing most of the hype and high expense that is typically associated with an elaborate burial ceremony and turning instead to eco-friendly funerals, which … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $200 to $1,200+ What color is your wedding dress? If the answer is “green,” then you are on the cutting edge when it comes to combining your love of style with caring for the environment at the same time. Of course green most likely doesn’t refer to the actual hue of the dress, but rather your choice of fabric and how eco-friendly it is. A New … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $10 and $40 an item Most parents want the best for their babies, even if it means spending a little more to ensure their comfort and safety. This is especially true when it comes to buying organic baby clothes. Using only clothing made of soft, chemical-free fabrics can help protect sensitive baby skin. And organic baby clothes can be better for the … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $5.50 to $29 per ton of CO2 Protecting the environment has become big business in the 21st century. Everywhere you look, there are eco-friendly products and services that promise to save the planet and make you feel good about being part of the global effort. Carbon offset providers are a small but rapidly growing worldwide industry. Today, there are … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $300 for an energy evaluation, plus up to 15% of your home’s value What if your mortgage lender offered to help you finance some simple improvements to your new, or existing, home that would improve its overall efficiency and at the same time reduce your energy bill so that even with the additional mortgage expense, you still came out ahead each month? If … [Read more...]