Schools around the nation could learn a thing or two from Richardsville Elementary School in Warren County, Kentucky. The still under-construction school is aiming to be the first net zero energy school in the nation, and if their long list of eco-centered elements is any indication, they’ll make the grade.

Richardsville Elementary isn’t the first environmental effort from the Warren County Public School System, last year they won the Andromeda Star of Energy Efficiency Award for more than $4 million of energy savings in four years and a 28% reduction in energy use (among other accomplishments). They’re also working on turning another of their elementary schools, Bristow, into a net zero school.

Throughout their greening, the Warren County Public School System has been taking a two-fold approach, focusing on both reducing energy use and educating students about energy efficiency, and that’s evident in the Richardsville Elementary designs from the Sherman Carter Barnhart architecture firm. Click here to read more

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There’s a delicate balance when it comes to picking out eco-friendly toys for your kids. Go too educational with it and they’ll dismiss it as schoolwork. Go too far to the toy side and they won’t be inspired to learn about going green.

Idbids are a great in-between, straddling fun with straight-forward facts about improving the environment and filling in for a range of ages (from itty bitty on)—all while being truly eco-friendly themselves.

The Idbids are stuffed toys inspired by natural elements (the three options are a water drop named Waverly, a flower named Lola, and a cloud named Scout) and each Idbid offers specific information about their inspiration. Alongside the organic cotton Idbid, you’ll find a photographic storybook—printed on recycled paper—that kicks off the eco-adventure with information about the earth and the Idbids, but you can also accompany your child on the internet to visit each Idbid’s online world where they’ll pick up even more information (in an interactive way). Click here to read more

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You might not realize it, but every update you make on Facebook takes a toll on the environment—whether it’s hundreds of photos or just a new status. It’s that way for every similar site, but Facebook has made some eco-enemies with the announcement that their new data center will run on coal instead of a renewable energy.

Coal is responsible for the most man made emissions of CO2 on our planet, and it’s a limited fuel whose procurement has resulted in some serious land devastation. By choosing the climate change culprit as a power source, Facebook is rejecting more environmentally-friendly renewable energy mostly for the purpose of saving money.

But it’s not all as simple as it sounds. Facebook built their new data center in Oregon partly because of the cool, dry climate, which will allow them to use an evaporative cooling system that brings air from outside to cool the equipment instead of constant air conditioning. In response to the coal controversy, they’ve argued that placing their plant somewhere the utility providers offered more renewable energy options would have meant conventional cooling for the center, and, ultimately, resulted in a bigger carbon footprint than the one created by the coal. Facebook has also called attention to the fact that their new data center will be green in many other ways and get LEED certification. Click here to read more

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Last year’s Earth Hour was lit up with plenty of support from the celebrity community, with big names like the Backstreet Boys, Vivienne Westwood, Cate Blanchett and Colin Firth backing up the worthy cause (to name just a few), and it looks like this year will be no different.

One of the first A-listers to add their name to the Earth Hour supporters is singer Leona Lewis, who’s already known for her earth—and animal—loving ways. She recently banned meat from her tour for its environmental impact, plants trees for every flight she takes, and rents hybrids when she’s away from home (a surprisingly rare action).

Lewis is acutely aware of the impact we’re having on our planet and worries what the future will look like if we don’t take action. Click here to read more

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Water is one of the lesser talked about environmental issues facing us today. We’ll tote reusable shopping bags, recycle our bottles, and drive less, but unless we’re living in a city facing a drought, most of us don’t give too much thought to our water use—until we get the water bill.

Just because it’s not the biggest green thought we’ve got, however, doesn’t mean it’s not equally important. All around the world (even here in America) scientists worry that we may soon be facing a full-blown water crisis, and if that’s not enough incentive to take preventative measure now, than perhaps the potential savings of reduced water use can convince you.

If you’ve dismissed water efficiency because you’re not planning on building a new home and don’t see how it can be incorporated into your existing system, it’s time to hit the sofa for a little Renovation Nation. On the show’s Save Water, Save Money DVD, host Steve Thomas tackles all things aqua and offers up inspiration (in the form of innovative homes) and solid information on how to apply what you learn in your own life. Click here to read more

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