EarthTalk

Dear EarthTalk: I want to convince my high school to go green. What would it cost for a school to switch to all recycled paper products and all energy-efficient lighting? -- Danel Berman, via e-mail

Dear EarthTalk: With all the talk of desalinization of ocean water for drinking, what do we know about the impacts this might have on climate, ocean salinity and other natural processes? -- Fred Kuepper, via e-mail

Dear EarthTalk: I caught the tail end of a discussion about "ecopsychology" recently on the radio, something about the negative impacts of people not communing with nature enough, spending too much time watching TV, sitting at computers, etc... Can you enlighten? -- Bridget W., Seattle, WA

Dear EarthTalk: What are these "ocean deserts" I've been hearing about? Also didn't I read that there was a huge mass of plastic bottles floating around somewhere on the ocean surface?
-- Wally Mattson, Eugene, OR

Dear EarthTalk: Is using nitrogen to inflate my car's tires really better for the environment than using air? And if so, how? -- Roger Mawdsley, Abbotsville, BC

Dear EarthTalk: How can I measure -- and then improve -- my overall "carbon footprint?" What are the major areas of one's daily life that one measures? -- Andy Fusco, Passaic, NJ

With global warming dominating so many headlines today, it's no surprise that many of us are looking to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases our activities produce.

Dear EarthTalk: What's the deal nowadays with aerosol spray cans? I thought that the ozone-depleting chemicals used in them were eliminated back in the 1970s. Is this true? If so, what is now used as a propellant? Are aerosols still bad for the ozone layer? -- Sheila, Abilene, TX

Dear EarthTalk: I am considering solar panels for my roof to provide heat for my hot water and possibly to do more than that. Are there some kinds of solar panels that are better than others? How do I find a knowledgeable installer? --Elise, Watertown, MA

Dear EarthTalk: How often do I really need to change my car's oil? Conventional wisdom has always put it at every 3,000 miles to prevent engine wear, but isn't changing oil that frequently wasteful and unnecessary? Also, what is the "greenest" and longest-lasting oil I should use?
-- Vic Roberts, Lincoln, MA