East Alton News and Announcements

EarthTalk: Stimulus package rewards for businesses greening up

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve been following reports about President Obama’s stimulus package and what it may mean for creating green jobs. Beyond that, are there programs in place to...

Ice Skating Rinks for Madison County Illinois - Maps and Directions

Cut your own Christmas Tree from tree farms in Illinois

East Alton Holiday Shopping Guide - Black Friday deals and East Alton Malls and Outlets

Swine flu information, symptoms and resources for Madison County

An Invitation to our East Alton Community: BLOG ON!

Madison County Apple Picking Orchards and Apple Farms for Madison County

Madison County Pumpkin Patch Farms and Pumpkin Picking Guide - Madison County

Find Illinois Corn Mazes - Get lost in a Illinois haunted Halloween corn maze this season!

AmericanTowns PR Tool: Getting publicity for your East Alton organization has never been easier

Weekend Activities in and around East Alton

Eat Local! Great Resources in the East Alton area

Refinance Your Mortgage Locally, as Mortgage Rates Drop to 5% Level

Digging into 'shovel-ready projects' in the East Alton area

Giving To East Alton Non-Profits: It Does Good…And It Feels Good

Make a difference in East Alton! Find the perfect local volunteer opportunity

Illinois e-News Summaries week of 2/09/2009

The (Even Greater) Outdoors: Get Out There!

Browse This Week's Classified Ads For East Alton

Don’t let dining out in the East Alton area do you in!

EarthTalk: Harvesting rainwater for household use

Dear EarthTalk How can I make good use of the rainwater that runs down my roof and into my gutters? -- B.S.For most of us, the rain that falls on our roof runs off into the...

EarthTalk: Simple improvements for greening the home

Dear EarthTalk: What are some simple low cost improvements I can do to my home to make it greener? -- S.L.According to consumer advocate Remar Sutton, there are many ways to save...

EarthTalk: Bike riding and traffic pollution

Dear EarthTalk: I ride my bike to work along busy urban streets. Should I be worried about inhaling pollutants from vehicle emissions and other sources?  -- J.K.The short...

EarthTalk: Vertical Farming

Dear EarthTalk: What is “vertical farming” and how is it better for the environment? – J.S. “Vertical farming” is a term coined by Columbia University professor of...

EarthTalk: Fashion's footprint

Dear EarthTalk: Can you enlighten on the environmental impact of the fashion industry? As I understand it, the industry overall is no friend to the environment.  --...

EarthTalk: more affordable energy-efficient cars

Dear EarthTalk: Celebrities and billionaires are shelling out big bucks for cutting edge green-friendly cars like the Tesla Roadster. But what are the rest of us—who live in the...

EarthTalk: High molybdenum levels from cookware

Dear EarthTalk: I recently had a tissue mineral analysis indicating that my levels of the nutritional element, molybdenum, were off the chart.  I believe this may be leaching...

Share the season in pictures with the Fairfield Community

EarthTalk: Toxic hair salons

Dear EarthTalk: As I understand it, hair salons are pretty toxic enterprises on many counts. Are there any efforts underway to green up that industry? -- P.H.Hair salons have...

EarthTalk: Recession hurts green group efforts

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that environmental non-profits have been hit hard by the economic downturn, and has this had an impact on their effectiveness? -- B.W.Non-profits of...

EarthTalk: Disposable paper products decimate forests

Dear EarthTalk: Are any major brands of disposable tissues, paper towels, napkins and toilet paper yet using recycled content and chlorine-free bleaching? -- S.C.Not many. In...

EarthTalk: Pesticides, fertilizers and water pollution

Dear EarthTalk: What effects do fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides used on residential lawns or on farms have on nearby water bodies like rivers, streams—or even the ocean...

EarthTalk: Green Power for Homes

Dear EarthTalk: I’d like to know the relative electricity cost of utility scale solar and wind plants versus rooftop residential solar. In other words, how can I know whether to...

EarthTalk: How "green" is Borax for housecleaning?

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard so much about using Borax for green housecleaning.  But if this mineral has to be mined, doesn't that negate some of its...

EarthTalk: Green life lessons for youngsters

Dear EarthTalk: What are some things that children and families can do to be greener (and to provide life lessons for the kids in the process)? -- C.M.There are many ways to...

Winning the Real Estate Game in Fairfield in a Tough Market

EarthTalk: Cigarette litter

Dear EarthTalk: Has anyone ever studied the environmental impact of discarded cigarettes? I’m constantly appalled at the number of drivers I see pitching their butts out their...

EarthTalk: Green ways to keep groundhogs and others away

Dear EarthTalk: What would you recommend as a non-toxic/non-lethal way to keep squirrels, gophers and groundhogs away?   -- F.G.Keeping unwanted critters away can...

EarthTalk: Upgrading older appliances

Dear EarthTalk: I am considering upgrading some older appliances in my home. Where can I find information on which models are the most energy efficient?  -- J.D.There has...

EarthTalk: Tax incentives for energy-efficiency

Dear EarthTalk: Since Obama took office, have any new incentives been put in place for homeowners looking to increase energy efficiency and reduce the overall environmental...

EarthTalk: Can cars run on water?

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard that cars can be modified to run on water. How is this possible? -- D.M.There are a number of online marketing offers of kits that will convert...

EarthTalk: Can we bring back train travel?

Dear EarthTalk: If train travel is so much less polluting than driving or flying, why are passenger rail options in the U.S. so limited compared to Europe? And is anything being...

EarthTalk: The stimulus package and green jobs

Dear EarthTalk: What kind of job opportunities might be opened up by the new federal emphasis on green projects? -- D.W.If it’s a U.S. industry that has the potential to be...

EarthTalk: Insulating paints

Dear EarthTalk: Do insulating paints actually insulate and save energy? If they do, are they environmentally friendly to use? -- B.D.Paint additives that claim insulating...

EarthTalk: Do sunspots and solar wind contribute to global warming?

Dear EarthTalk: Don’t some scientists point to sunspots and solar wind as having more impact on climate change than human industrial activity?   -- D.N. ...

EarthTalk: Neighborhood Solar Power

Dear EarthTalk: I know of solar power systems that people can put on their roofs to generate electricity or heat water. Are there systems that serve whole neighborhoods? -- L.H. ...

EarthTalk: Recycling mattresses

Dear EarthTalk: How can I recycle my old mattress if the place I buy a new one from doesn’t take it? What do mattress companies do with old mattresses when they do take them? Do...

EarthTalk: Where will we re-charge our plug-in cars?

Dear EarthTalk: With plug-in hybrid and electric cars due to hit the roads sometime soon, will there be places to plug them in besides at home? And if so, how much will it cost to...

EarthTalk: Microwaves vs. gas and electric ovens

Dear EarthTalk: How does the microwave compare in energy use, say, to using a gas or electric stove burner to heat water for a cup of tea? -- T.D. The...

EarthTalk: Nanotechnology forges ahead

Dear EarthTalk: What is "nanotechnology?" I’ve heard that nanoparticles are already in consumer products, yet we haven't really studied their potential health...