Port Townsend Leader

Green Living & the Environment

Why home insurance rates are rising so fast across the US – climate change plays a big role

Millions of Americans have been watching with growing alarm as their homeowners insurance premiums rise and their coverage shrinks. Nationwide, premiums rose 34% between 2017 and 2023, and they continued to rise in 2024 across much of the country.

5 easy ways to make your bathroom more sustainable

(BPT) - The entire country has experienced its share of extreme weather lately. Record-breaking heat, torrential rain and drought — you name it, Mother Nature has been doling it out. It has …

Expert tips to save you money heating your home

(BPT) - As the days get shorter and cooler, it's the perfect time to turn your attention to your heating system. Before it gets too chilly, you'll want your HVAC system to be in great condition …

5 tips for sustainably decorating your home

From upcycling to investing in quality materials, Made Trade rounded up five tips for sustainably decorating your home.

Keeping Your Community Clean: 4 ways to do your part for spotless public spaces

(Family Features) From a day spent in the office to evenings out and everywhere in between, there's one thing virtually everyone leaves behind now and again: a mess.

Inside fast fashion brands' love affair with uncomfortable, synthetic, and slow-to-biodegrade fabrics

The RealReal used data from Textile Exchange to explore the far-reaching prevalence of polyester, including in the fast fashion industry.

‘Just the Facts with Steve Ballmer’ Shares Government Data on Energy & the Environment, and Economy

(BPT) - USAFacts, a not-for-profit, nonpartisan civic organization founded by former Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, is launching the next set of PSAs in a six-part series — these will focus on …

What if your pets' steps could create renewable energy?

(BPT) - Does your dog run crazy-eights? Does your cat get midnight madness? Of course, any of your pets can get the zoomies, or, maybe they simply follow you around the house all day in hopes of a …

New round of federal grants injects billions into rural renewable energy projects

The Daily Yonder reports on a new round of federal funding and its focus on communities across the country with fewer than 10,000 residents.

Environment matters

Ancient Rome had ways to counter the urban heat island effect – how history’s lessons apply to cities today

Trees are one way to cool down a city. Architects in ancient Rome also designed buildings with porticos for shade and air flow. Laszlo Szirtesi/Getty Images As intense heat breaks records around the …

New big storm is headed for the Caribbean: What meteorologists look for in early signs of a future hurricane

Disturbances in the Atlantic may be nothing, or they could be the seeds of a destructive hurricane. NOAA GOES When tropical meteorologists peer at satellite images , they often catch sight of subtle …

The Importance of Clean School Transportation

(Family Features) Across the country, more than 1.3 million children ride to school each day in school buses, most of which are powered by diesel and produce harmful emissions.

Lifestyle features

Is your child ready for their first cellphone this year? Here's what experts say.

Spokeo analyzed phone ownership rates among children and heard from child development experts on determining cellphone readiness.

The top breakfast restaurant chains in America

Stacker gathered YouGov Ratings (current as of the second quarter 2024) to rank the top 20 breakfast restaurant chains in America.

Make your shower a sanctuary of self-care

(BPT) - The self-care movement is having a moment. Over the summer we observed Self-Care Month from June 24 to July 24, with the symbolic notion of 24/7 (July 24) self-care being top of mind in our …

The rise in college student voting could have a big swing state impact on the presidential election

The Hechinger Report examines the impact and uptick of college student voting since 2022.

How Kamala Harris' political and economic approach could affect the financial markets

OANDA takes a look at Kamala Harris' role as vice president, her policy positions earlier in her career, her views, and how these would affect the financial markets if she is elected president.