When I was trying to decide on which college to attend about a decade and a half ago, I found the process rather overwhelming. I didn’t have any older siblings who had been there, and my parents apparently always assumed I’d go to one of the state schools they attended. It sounds supremely naive now, but I had no idea that different schools had different personalities, philosophies or cultures. I knew some were better at some academic disciplines and sports than others, but I didn’t know how to figure out which school would really be right for me.

I also certainly didn’t give any thought to which college might be the greenest, or which might have the most sustainable cafeteria. Heck, I didn’t even know that different dorms tended to have prevailing cultures year after year, or that you don’t need to get the “recommended” textbooks for a class, or sometimes even the “required ones”!

See our list of the 10 greenest colleges.

I bring this up because my interest was piqued today when I received an email about a list of top environmental studies programs from the 2011 Fiske Guide to Colleges. Although former New York Times Education Editor Edward Fiske has been publishing versions of his guides for 25 years, I wasn’t aware of them. According to the author, his books are specifically aimed at explaining the real characters of schools to parents and prospective students, from details on the student body, to social life, and financial aid, as well as academics. (I can say from experience that it’s important to not overlook the complete picture of student life.)

Scenic Hudson, the environmental organization I head, celebrated the accomplishments of Kris and Doug Tompkins at its annual gala on June 24. Both left extraordinary business careers (Kris was CEO of Patagonia, while Doug founded The North Face and Esprit) to take on visionary conservation initiatives. The work they have achieved over the last decade in South America, personally preserving 2.2 million acres, not only inspires but raises the bar for all of us striving to protect the earth’s great, remaining wilderness areas.

On a personal note, Patagonia’s equipment and its founder, legendary mountaineer Yvon Chouinard, inspired me to become a rock climber as a young man. The “clean climbing” gear he invented transformed the sport, saved my life on numerous occasions and instilled in me an ethic that we can enjoy the outdoors but must protect nature from damage.

Scenic Hudson is dedicated to safeguarding the magnificent natural resources in New York’s Hudson River Valley. Amazingly, despite its proximity to New York City, the region has much in common with the remote landscapes of Patagonia that Kris and Doug are conserving. Both feature world-class scenery, provide habitat for an unusual variety of life and are places where farming is an important part of the culture. Sadly, both also face myriad threats….

Summertime, and the living is pesky. Just as human beachcombers thrive in the sun and waves, insect and rodent populations tend to boom in the warm weather. As this editorially produced infographic from Renters Insurance shows, each of us could be sharing our home with some 10,000,000 insects. If that totally creeps you out, don’t over worry: we have to share this blue marble with many other species, and each organism has an important place in the web of life.

If you still don’t want to share your abode with munching termites or animals that, let’s face it, can possibly spread disease, we don’t blame you! But you have options besides reaching for the industrial-strength Raid. (In fact, a friend of mine had her health permanently compromised after she accidentally inhaled garden pesticides–and studies are just starting to probe possible long-term effects from daily exposure to residues that collect in our homes.) Natural pest control is easier, and more effective, than you might think. There’s also a lower-chemical approach called integrated pest management.

Let’s take a closer look at pests:

Seth Leitman and I have been working hard on a book about green lighting, to be published early this fall by the Green Guru Guide series. The book shows home and business owners how to save big money with the latest in efficient lighting technology, and we hope it’s an enlightening read to boot. Seth and I will be introducing the book next week in New York City, at the special Rock The Reactors green lighting celebration on Bastille Day.

So come out and say hello, and learn how you can save money, and live greener!

Why Bastille Day you ask? Rock The Reactors (a group I named, incidentally) was founded by tireless eco-activist Remy Chevalier, who is of French descent and grew up in the offices of French Elle, where his dad was the founding photographer. Remy proved to be an invaluable source for the green lighting book, and as we quote in our pages, he believes a very achievable switchover to green lighting will save enough energy to shut down our aging nuclear power plants — in particular Indian Point, one of the oldest and most controversial plants, and roughly 30 miles north of Manhattan. To Remy, the French got it wrong when they built so many nuclear plants a few decades ago. In his view, that aging atomic infrastructure, which is increasingly unpopular with French youth, is an entrenched foe that needs to be overthrown a la revolution in favor of new green technology — starting with lighting, the lowest hanging fruit.

At the fabulous Hiro Ballroom (below the Maritime Hotel), Remy is assembling an eclectic mix of poets, artists, musicians, activists, intellectuals, lighting professionals, designers and other “leading lights,” as well as former Indian Point workers (and now whistleblowers). The latest LEDs will be on display and libations will be poured. There will be brief presentations (limited to 3 minutes each, so it won’t be like school) and performances by special guests. Anyone will have a chance to step up to the mic and contribute if you have something to say.

The evening will be a unique, inspiring time to learn about a brighter, cleaner future. Remy knows a thing or two about bringing together eclectic forces, having run the environmental room of the former Wetlands club.

Details:

Hiro Ballroom

88th 9th Ave.

New York City

Bastille Day

July 14, 8pm

More info

Amber Roussel and Mark Austin are Team Houston, and they got the gold (two Fiestas). (Ford Motor Company)

I have seen the future of auto marketing, and it has nothing to do with the relentless TV ads (even the funny ones) that no one believes anymore. Ford had a brilliant idea: Hire 20 teams of young and attractive Internet bloggers to promote the Ford Fiesta, sponsor a contest allowing the winner to keep not one but two cars, and then just stand back. They’re going to reach the kids where they live.

Ford has just completed the second round of its Fiesta Movement promotion, and gathered in 500,000 YouTube views, 70,000 Flickr views and an awesome 10.7 million Twitter impressions. I’ve got to believe that will be far more effective then spending kazillions on slick 60-second spots.

Ford is hardly the only automaker latching on to the benefits of social media. All the Big Three have high-placed specialists now. Nissan is proving adept, and Toyota created an entire “Darker Side of Green” themed series to promote the new Lexus CT200h hybrid (see TDG original video of the launch below), complete with live environmental debates and Dark Ride, a noir-ish movie.