While we’ve been hearing about global warming and climate change more and more in the news, there are still those who argue that the problem does not exist, or if it does, that we are not the cause. A new report from WWF, formerly known as the World Wildlife Fund, shows that not only is climate change a very real problem, but one that is quickly worsening. In fact, the report, titled “Climate Change: Faster, Stronger, Sooner“, details that global warming is accelerating at a more rapid pace than predicted in an assessment report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that was published just a year ago.

On a range of fronts, the WWF report found that the problems arising from global warming are occuring sooner and to much larger degrees than anticipated. One example given to demonstrate the severity of the situation was findings from the Arctic that sea ice is disappearing up to 30 years ahead of the predictions from the IPCC…and may in fact be totally gone in as little as five years. On another front, the rising heat from global warming has already cost 40 million metric tons of crop losses per year. Click here to read more

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Brad Pitt has no shortage of press coverage. Most of it, however, has to do with rumors about him and his partner, Angelina Jolie. Occasionally the focus does turn to his actual work,  though there was less attention on him for his role in Burn After Reading than there was for his decision to have more children. But there’s more newsworthy items about Brad Pitt to focus on than the stuff that tends to grace the covers of US Weekly and Star magazine. Namely, the project Pitt spearheaded in New Orleans called Make It Right.

After spending time with displaced residents of New Orleans, Pitt wanted to get involved in helping rebuild the city and saw an opportunity to not just get housing back for New Orleaners but to get it back greener than ever. Click here to read more

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When it comes to skincare, guys have it pretty rough. You deal with a lot of the same things as women do (acne, dry skin, redness and the like) plus your own unique difficulties (razor burn, super sweaty workouts, etc.) yet there aren’t nearly as many male-oriented skincare products and while some can work for both sexes, certain options are just too pink and rose-scented. And if you’re also a man who prefers natural ingredients and earth-friendly elements, it can be even trickier to find the right thing.

Uncle Harry’s Natural Products Facial Anti-Bacterial Wash (face soap, in not so many words) from GreenFeet may not be specifically made for men, but it’s a good choice for keeping your skin clean and clear from blemishes–without even a hint of pink or baby powder…there’s even a picture of a guy on the bottle; that’s encouraging, right? Click here to read more

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Whether you’re looking for a gift for your actual grandparents or your parents, who are now grandparents thanks to you, it can be tricky finding the right thing. They’ve got years worth of goodies and gadgets filling their home and may insist that they don’t need a thing. Still, it’s nice to have a little something for your late-in-life loved one and going green with the gift you give your grandparent is a great way to get some green conversation going with someone who may be part of a generation that didn’t think too much about the environment. While each individual is different and sometimes a gift is obvious, we’ve collected our top five best bets for when you’re not sure what to get.

1. ORGANIC CHOCOLATE BERRY CORDIALS
It’s hard to go wrong with chocolates and even harder to go wrong with these Organic Berry-Filled Chocolates from Organic Style. The Chocolate Berry Cordials are crafted from 68% single origin chocolate from Madagascar and contain sweet Oregon berry preserve centers–four each of raspberry, strawberry and marionberry, for twelve total. We love that they’re organic and sustainable and that a portion of the proceeds are donated to charity. And they’re safe for the lactose intolerant as well, since no dairy is used in their production. Click here to read more

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It has not been a great fall for finances, to put it mildly. An erratic stock market and looming recession have most of us cutting costs and planning for the worst. The rising costs of food and gas have been especially difficult for many and while gas prices have gone down a bit, the government has issued a warning to Americans to expect higher heating costs this winter. The estimated 15% price increase from last year is due to more expensive fuel and the likelihood of colder weather. And coal and natural gas costs have also been climbing.

An ever-growing energy bill isn’t good news for anyone trying to cut back, but it may help us ease our dependency on un-renewable energy sources and push us to not just cut back our use, but to really consider switching to clean energy sources.

Still, odds are you’re not installing solar power this winter (if you don’t have it already) and that doesn’t mean you can’t lower your heating costs. What you can do is use your energy wisely; turning on the heater for shorter periods and taking steps to keep that heat: Make sure your windows and doors are tightly sealed, with no air escaping in or out…and don’t leave doors open long when you’re entering or exiting the house. Click here to read more

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With the way the world is going, it’s becoming clear that we have to work more with what we’ve got–and that’s why we at Greenzer love it when designers make use of reclaimed wood for their wares. Like in the case of this Lazy Daisy Reclaimed Wine Barrrel Lazy Susan from Uncommon Goods.

Made from white oak wine barrels that have aged past the point of wine-purposes, the Lazy Daisy is as functional as it is earth-friendly, and we’re not just talking about using it as a base for a cake, either (although you’d probably feel classier than ever applying frosting to a cake resting atop this earthy lazy susan). Click here to read more

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Dogs love their toys. In fact, if you don’t provide ample toys for their amusement, you’ll find they can make just about anything into a fun toy–the side of the sofa, your leather shoe…the cat. It’s worth it to get the toys; not only do they keep your dog entertained, but they also keep him or her active and learning, which are two hugely important elements of a dog’s happiness. Before you buy bunches of dog toys for your pup, however, there’s a few things to consider. For one thing, many dog toys are made from potentially hazardous materials, like vinyl, which has been linked to all kinds of health problems, and, if the toy comes from outside the US, there’s the potential inclusion of lead. Hardly things you’d want to feed your best friend (and you know they chew on everything). Click here to read more

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We won’t argue that pre-prepped jars of baby food are convenient and that as the parent of a young child, convenience is a valuable commodity. But there are some definite reasons to consider making your own baby food instead of purchasing store bought. The biggest one, undoubtedly, is your baby’s health. The European Union recently recalled all Chinese baby food that contained Chinese milk after it was discovered that a toxic chemical had been illegally added to the dairy supplies. By that point four babies had already been killed and 54,000 sickened. Although this is an extreme example, when it comes to the health of your little loved one, it’s always nice to err on the side of overly cautious. If you’ve always thought of storebought food as more nutrious, you can read this chart comparing the two options. Click here to read more

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