E.B. Boyd

E.B. Boyd is a San Francisco-based journalist who writes on everything from sustainability to psychology to the media. As the daughter of an environmental educator, she was reciting the words "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" before she even knew what they meant. Although she started out in life as a traditional journalist (first working for CNN in the Middle East, then for The (Toledo) Blade in the Midwest), a long stint toiling in the trenches of Silicon Valley left her with a great appreciation for the power of smart people to come up with innovative (often technological) solutions to tough problems. Today she writes for a variety of magazines and websites.

Take a look at a pile of food scraps, and most eco-minded folks think “compost.” And sure enough, that’s a great way to recycle. (Or is it “reuse”?)

In any case, there’s another use for your rotting apple cores and moldering orange peels: Energy. A few municipalities have started setting up facilities to capture the biogas that escapes as organic matter decomposes and turn that gas into energy.

You’ve been doing your part for the planetary ecosystem by biking and walking instead of driving. And you’ve been doing your part for your inner ecosystem by making better food choices. Suddenly, you make a delightful discovery: Your skinny jeans fit again!

Fab. So … what do you do with your old “fat jeans”?

A new car looms in my future. My current ride has over 200,000 miles on it. While it’s still going strong, there’s no escaping the fact it probably won’t make it to 300,000. Normally, I’d just go out and get another full-size model. But with innovation going like gangbusters in the zero-emissions, alternative fuel, small neighborhood car space, I’m thinking I might try a new strategy: Buy something small and cute (and easy to park — a big plus in crowded cities) for everyday driving, and use a rental or car share service for bigger trips.

The long dark days of winter are here, bringing us cheery snowmen, cozy nights by the fire, and… sky-high heating bills. There’s nothing to be done, you think. You’ve got to heat the house, right? Well yes, but there might be a way to reduce the amount of energy you use — without resorting to three layers of sweaters and goofy wool hats.

What if you could generate energy simply by walking? Or by boogie-ing on a dance floor? Or by driving your car on any old road?

That’s the premise behind piezoelectricity. Certain crystals or ceramic materials can generate an electric charge simply by having stress applied to them — the stress, for example, of a person walking on or a car driving over them.

It’s mid-December, and you’re still not sure what to get your sweetie? Try one of these green tech goodies.

Solar Gorilla, $250