How Green Is It? Messages abound telling you to do your part to prevent climate change and to save the environment. Turn off the lights, drive clean cars, buy Earth-friendly products those are just a few of the things we hear and read about.

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How Green Is It?

Are we being fully informed about the costs and downsides of green behavior?

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Critics Say 'Clunkers' Program Isn't Very Green

August 3, 2009 • The "cash for clunkers" program was designed to move new cars off the lots, and so far it's working. But it was also supposed to help the environment by replacing gas guzzlers with more fuel-efficient vehicles. Critics say it isn't creating a market for the most fuel-efficient cars.

How Green Are Reusable Bags?

August 7, 2009 • They have become as much a fashion statement as a political one. From the Whole Foods Market to Home Depot, stores are jumping on the reusable-bag bandwagon, delighting many eco-minded shoppers. But bagger, beware! Not all reusable bags are created equal.

Search For Green Power On And Off Of The Grid

August 18, 2009 • Hundreds of utilities around the U.S. — and a growing number of companies — are offering customers a chance to buy green power. Businesses use them to promote their environmental consciousness. But where does the power come from?

Series Overview: How Green Is It?

August 3, 2009 • Messages abound telling you to do your part to prevent climate change and to save the environment. But how do we know if what we're doing really has the impact on the environment we think it does? Are we making the best choices? And are we fully informed?

Questions Linger Over Energy Star Ratings

A customer looks at a display of televisions in a Best Buy store in San Francisco. California state regulators are currently considering ways to reduce the power consumption of flat-panel televisions. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Questions Linger Over Energy Star Ratings

October 22, 2009 • Energy Stars are those blue stickers that are supposed to help you choose the most energy-efficient appliances, TVs and other power-hungry gadgets. More than a third of Americans use them to pick products, but some flaws in the program have raised doubts about the ratings.

Thinking Of New Windows? Save Your Energy

October 10, 2009 • Anyone replacing old, drafty windows at home with new energy-efficient ones can get a federal tax credit of up to $1,500. But energy experts say there are less expensive ways to reduce energy costs.