Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 3:05PM 
A local company pushes “smart grid” technology
by Lee Stabert
When it comes to radically improving the way we use electricity, there is only so much consumers can do—no matter how much they are willing to sweat or how much caulk they pump into window frames.
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 2:49PM 
The PECO rate caps are about to expire. Are you ready?
story by Samatha Wittchen
illustration by Michael Miller
there’s an elephant in the room. You might have overlooked him because it’s a big room—the entire Philadelphia region, in fact. That said, he’s also a big elephant—a big, electron-filled elephant.
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 2:44PM Replacing your old appliances could save you some serious dough
by Samantha Wittchen
When it comes to energy hogs, large appliances are second only to your home’s major mechanical systems. According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines and dryers make up 13 percent of your annual energy bill. Upgrading your appliances to more efficient models is one of the easiest ways to shave some bucks off your monthly costs.
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 2:37PM 
essay and illustration by Jacob Lambert
Environmentally speaking, there are a few things i’d like to experience before I die. Hopefully, the coming decades will bring a collective snubbing of our oil-centric exurban lifestyle. A move towards energy creation that doesn’t involve strip mines and cluster bombs would be also encouraging, as would genuine mainstream interest in nature.
back page essay Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 2:26PM 
Green Metropolis:
Why Living Smaller, Living Closer, and Driving Less are the Keys to Sustainability
by David Owens, Riverhead Hardcover (2009)
book review, urban living Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 2:20PM 
Ready to be outraged? The devastation chronicled in Josh Fox’s documentary Gasland hits very close to home. Offered almost $100,000 dollars for drilling rights to his family’s land in northeast Pennsylvania, Fox sets off on a mission to discover how the extraction of natural gas affects local water supplies and residents’ health. The news isn’t good.
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 2:16PM 
Sometimes i feel bad for corn. With the preponderance of industrial/monoculture-raised/processed corn products, the golden ears have become synonymous with the face of food evil. It’s like having a punk sibling whose bad deeds tarnish the whole family.
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 2:09PM 
“Someone once said, ‘If you do what you like, you’ll never work a day in your life,’” muses Green Meadow Farm’s Glenn Brendle. “But the key is to make what you like pay the way. I liked to garden, but it wasn’t clear that I was going to be able make it work well enough to raise a family.”
farm profile Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 1:59PM 
by Tenaya Darlington,
madamefromage.blogspot.com
Pete demchur might be the only cheesemaker in America making extra sharp chevre. He produces an array of goat’s milk specialties from his long-established herd in Chester County, including kefir and yogurt, but the recipe for Shellbark’s Extra Sharp remains his best-kept secret.
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 1:36PM 
When the heat hits, give your stove a break
recipes and photos by Marissa McClellan, foodinjars.com
Here in Philly, August is a notoriously steamy month. Temperatures hover in the 90s and the air is so thick with humidity that walking from one room to another can leave you dripping with sweat.
