PLENTY
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2007
FORWARD
17
FAST A club powered by dancing;
how the U.S. consumes energy; a
crash course in home geothermal
systems; how to ditch junk mail.
24
PEOPLE Wal-Mart’s Tyler Elm explains the retail giant’s environmental
initiatives. BY RICHARD BRADLEY
26
TECHNOLOGY Growing food in
skyscrapers? Some say it’s possible.
28
BUSINESS The Chicago Climate
Exchange is taking off. Will it soar?
BY KIERA BUTLER
30
MOTION Willie Nelson brings
biofuel to the eighteen-wheeler
crowd. BY PHILIP ARMOUR
32
THINKING Kim Stanley Robinson’s
Sixty Days and Counting; Boston’s
Urban Pantheist; new and
noteworthy books.
36
63
GREEN GEAR From suitcases
to sunglasses, these eco travel
products will make you want to
hit the road again.
CHOICES
63
HOME A Nova Scotia house is
tucked among glacial boulders.
BY DAVID SOKOL
66
CULTURE Online communities for
49
30
the eco set. BY JOSHUA M. BERNSTEIN
68
Cover illustration by
RETREADS A crafter turns used
C.J. BURTON
zippers into textured still lifes.
BY DEBORAH SNOONIAN
70
STYLE An apparel company takes
sustainability to the next level;
eco-friendly jeans.
74
HEALTH Is your neighborhood mak-
76
FOOD How to eat local foods during
ing you sick? BY CHRISTINE DELL’AMORE
79
the winter; artisanal peanut butters.
IN EVERY ISSUE
CHEAT SHEET What to do with
6
8
12
14
old six-pack rings.
80
THE LAST WORD The Inspector.
BY RAGAN SUTTERFIELD
4 | Feb/Mar/07 plentymag.com
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(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY R. MANUEL SCHNELL; PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY JIM HERRINGTON; ILLUSTRATION BY MATT BANDSUCH
BY ALISA OPAR