A new survey shows that Americans are all for being more eco-friendly, as long as it doesn’t make them uncomfortable or inconvenienced. The Shelton Group polled 1,006 American households about their buying habits. Sixty percent want green products, but most don’t want to give up their favorite modern conveniences like iPods and air conditioning. In fact, over one fifth of the respondents said they wouldn’t give up anything despite the harm done to the environment.

The survey showed that 62 percent of Americans wouldn’t give up their iPods, 65 percent wouldn’t stop using their dishwashers, 75 percent couldn’t part ways with their microwaves, 79 percent would rather hang on to their cell phones than be green, 86 percent said air conditioning was a must and 87 percent had to have their televisions.

So what’s the takeaway, other than the fact that Americans are a little spoiled and selfish when it comes to saving the planet they call home? Click here to read more

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The newly passed House climate-change bill has not had an easy run, from it’s inception it’s been attacked and modified, and it was with a narrow victory of seven votes that it managed to pass on June 26. Yet the most challenging times may still lay ahead for a bill that environmentalists have both praised as a necessary step in revamping American’s approach to global warming and criticized for being too weak. When the bill reaches the Senate (possibly as early as September or October) it will likely need 60 votes to be passed and it’s there that it may be jointly rejected by Senate members for being too aggressive and by environmentalist groups for being too lax. Click here to read more

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This Fourth of July or the next time you go camping, skip the debate over whether charcoal or gas grilling is more eco-friendly and cook with the sun instead. The Solar Sport Oven with Reflector might surprise you with its functionality. It may be more MacGyver than Martha Stewart, but you can cook just about everything including roast meats, steamed veggies, soups and even baked good like breads and cookies (really!). Imagine if you’re out boating for the afternoon and you present fresh baked chocolate chip cookies to your guests.

The Solar Oven is built to concentrate the sun’s energy to cook food in two to four hours. If it’s cool or cloudy, no problem, the extra reflector helps boost the power nature offers on any given day. The oven is made to maintain temperatures around 210-260 degrees. You’ll never achieve microwave speeds, but at least it’s less messy than a campfire.

The oven also comes with two pots, a thermometer so you can gauge your cooking times and effectiveness, a water pasteurization indicator and a recipe book–no one expects you to be a whiz at solar oven cooking without help! You won’t pollute or use any energy for your cooking, plus portions of the kit are made from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.

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Okay, so it’s not really going into competition with the Tata Nano (more likely it’ll be a competitor for mainstream petite vehicles like the Smart Fortwo) because it’s aimed at a different audience with different demands—heated door mirrors on the iQ3 versus no passenger door mirror whatsoever on the Nano—and a vastly different car budget, but the Toyota iQ3 that is now for sale in the U.K. could one day be headed across the pond as a premium small car for U.S. buyers and it’s already garnered plenty of excitement.

The Toyota Stop and Start system in the iQ3 offers increased fuel efficiency and lowered carbon emissions, which could help put the cute (or should we say QT?) car in competition with hybrid auto choices, but the hefty price tag it’s being sold at in the U.K. (about $19,000 USD) would likely be problematic if it were to come to America and be pitted against the Smart Fortwo, which starts at $11,990—even with the iQ3’s extra seats (one regular, one jumpseat). Click here to read more

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Garden gnomes and other cheesy, un-eco decorations don’t really have a place in a natural garden. But when given an edgier look and when made of reclaimed materials, maybe your lawn could use a little character. One of these Bug Bombs might even scare away unwanted pests (no chemicals necessary) or your neighbor’s dog.

At first glance, you might not see each detail that makes this bug the bomb. But in fact, each one is handmade from dummy grenades that were used in World War II. A pretty genius way to reuse them right? Artist Fred Conlan visits army surplus stores for inspiration and to gather reclaimed materials.

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