Green goes prime time with The Goode Family

You might believe that global warming is a hoax or that green is just a fad doomed by greenwashing. One thing's for sure: Green has gone mainstream, and with the May 27 premiere of the ABC animated series The Goode Family, environmentalism has joined the ranks of prime-time network programming.

In case you missed the first episode—watch the show, which got at best mixed reviews—here are a few details to get you up to speed: The Goodes live by the motto WWAGD, as in "What Would Al Gore Do?" Their front yard is dominated by a vegetable garden. The family pooch, Che, is a reluctant vegan (he salivates over the neighbor's beef jerky and noshes on a unsuspecting kitty). And even reusable shopping bags are deemed unacceptable by the mother, Helen, because "they're made in sweatshops." The tone of The Goode Family can also be mocking, as when the dad, Gerald, forgives his teenage son for using too much gas but reminds him that "what's important is that you feel guilty about it."

The Goode Family is cocreated by Mike Judge, whose credits include Beavis and Butt-head and King of the Hill, which Fox cancelled after 13 seasons. The latter series had its moments of eco-zealousness—in a recent episode, the Hills' guests complain about rash-inducing petrochemicals in their hosts' synthetic-leather sofa—but nothing like the dark-green fanaticism that is the Goode life.

This environmentally oriented programming is reminiscent of The Simpsons Movie, in which the entire city of Springfield is quarantined under a giant dome by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency after Homer turns Lake Springfield into a toxic cesspool.

American TV has plenty of eco-themed programming, especially on cable channels, including Living With Ed, the HGTV series about actor-and-environmentalist Ed Begley Jr.'s low-carbon lifestyle. And last year, the Discovery Home channel sprouted into Planet Green.

But seeing solar-power roof panels, wind turbines, and signs for "fair trade locally grown sustainably harvested certified organic" fruit in prime time says a lot about the state of green in America.

For ABC, the real sustainability question is, Even as more Americans seem to embrace green, will they tune in to watch the Goodes?—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Check out our reports on the Energy Star program, CFLs, and low-VOC paints.

In down economy, appliance repairs are on the rise

Even as cash-for-clunkers legislation aimed at resuscitating the struggling U.S. auto industry winds its way through Congress, many Americans looking to save money are holding on to—and putting repair money into—their cars and trucks rather than buying new ones.

A similar storyline is unfolding for home appliances at a time when the industry is experiencing a 12 percent year-over-year decline in major-appliance shipments. "Appliance Anxiety: Replace It or Fix It?" in yesterday's Home section of The New York Times, covered the repair-it-rather-than-replace-it trend and included the story of a 53-year-old mother of four who decided to shell out $239 to repair her clothes washer rather than spend about $400 for a new machine. This blog has also covered the apparent shift among budget-conscious consumers who are choosing to fix their appliances rather than buy new models.

The Times' articles relied on data from the Consumer Reports Annual Product Reliability Survey, conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. If you're trying to determine what to do with your appliances, read our fix-it-or-nix-it report (available to subscribers), which features a repair-or-replace timeline for 15 appliances.

If you're planning a kitchen or bathroom remodel, check out the August 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, online and on newsstands in July. You'll find our testing-based product reports, including coverage of all major kitchen appliances as well as toilets and showerheads.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums

Essential information: Visit our appliances hub for links to buying advice, ratings, and brand-reliability data on a range of household gear. And read about a proposed cash-for-clunkers bill for home appliances.

Tip of the Day: Cut your exposure to arsenic in pressure-treated lumber

If you have a deck, playground set, or other outdoor structure that was built before 2004 with pressure-treated lumber, you should pay attention to the new advice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on how to mitigate hazards associated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) used to preserve wood.

As covered in this article on carcinogens and pressure-treated lumber, CCA, used for decades to make wood resistant to insects and rot, was found to contain known carcinogens. While the federal government did not order a recall of CCA-treated lumber, the outdoor-lumber industry voluntarily halted its production for residential use at the beginning of 2004. Also at the time, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency acknowledged the importance of reducing exposure to CCA.

The EPA and CPSC have since completed a study of stains and sealants. "The new information is that we want people using oil-based or water-based deep penetrating stains about once a year to help people trap the arsenic into CCA-treated lumber that is still out there," says Scott Wolfson, the CPSC's deputy director of public affairs.

Our ratings of deck stains (available to subscribers) include semitransparent stains like the ones Wolfson recommends. Be sure to follow proper safety precautions when working with CCA-treated wood.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums

Essential information: Even if your deck doesn't contain CCA-treated lumber, you should perform an annual safety check and clean underneath it. Also check out our report on decking materials.

By the Numbers: Worldwide energy use to soar over next two decades

678 quadrillion

Projected total worldwide energy use (in British thermal units) in the year 2030, a 44 percent increase from 2006, according to new information from the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration.

Just last week, this blog ran an item about how the recession has brought about a decline in energy-related carbon-dioxide emissions. But, says the EIA, the global downturn in energy use is temporary: "The current global economic downturn will dampen world energy demand in the near term, as manufacturing and consumer demand for goods and services slows. However, with economic recovery anticipated to begin within the next 12 to 24 months, most nations are expected to see energy consumption growth at rates anticipated prior to the recession."

That growth will result in a 39 percent worldwide increase in energy-related CO₂ emissions, from 29.1 billion metric tons in 2005 to 40.4 billion metric in 2030, according to the EIA.

There is some good news: The EIA says that concerns over both energy prices and the environment has sparked interest in renewable energy, which it notes is the is the fastest-growing source of electricity generation worldwide. The EIA predicts that renewable energy used for electricity generation will grow by an average of 2.9 percent annually from 2006 to 2030, with hydropower and wind power the major sources. (The Power Profiler from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can tell you what the primary energy sources are in your area.)

Renewable-energy efforts are gaining momentum in this country. Just yesterday, President Barack Obama announced that more than $467 million in money from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act will fund geothermal- and solar-energy projects nationwide.

"We have an ambitious agenda to put millions of people to work by investing in clean energy technology like solar and geothermal energy," said Steven Chu, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy. "These technologies represent two pieces of a broad energy portfolio that will help us aggressively fight climate change and renew our position as a global leader in clean energy jobs."

Read more about the president's announcement. e-mail | Twitter | Forums

Essential information: Learn more about geothermal energy and tax breaks for renewable energy.

The best iPhone apps for home improvement

Unlike many corporate come-ons, the current slogan for Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch—"There's an app for just about anything"—is supported by some pretty good numbers. About 35,000 apps are available for those high-tech handheld digital devices, ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous: Rest Area provides road-tripping families with the location of the nearest pit stop; Hold On records how long you can press a button on your iPhone or Touch.

All you iPhone- and Touch-toting home remodelers and home-improvement DIYers haven't been neglected. ColorSnap, from Sherwin-Williams, lets you easily match paint colors without having to head to a paint store or home center: You take a picture of an object whose color you like and, using the app, match it to the closest Sherwin-Williams paint color. (Benjamin Moore is coming out with its own color-matching app next month June). Landscapedia, Plant Doctor, and several other apps serve up helpful information for yard-and-garden projects.

The HandyMan Sidekick is a multipurpose calculator, helping you determine how much paint you need for a room or how much mulch you should buy for your flower beds, for example. The iHandy Carpenter features a level (shown), plumb bob, ruler, and protractor.

Those are just a few of the home-related apps out there. Tell us about your favorites by leaving a comment below. And check out the free Consumer Reports Mobile News & Video app, which provides access to our buying advice, videos, and more.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums

Essential information: Our Home Improvement Guide interactive contains room-by-room advice on appliances and materials.

NOAA's forecast for the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season

The the 2009 Atlantic storm season will start on June 1 (it runs through November 30), and last week, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration forecast a 50 percent chance of a near-normal Atlantic hurricane season, a 25 percent probability of an above-normal season, and a 25 percent probability of a below-normal season.

There's a 70 percent chance of the season having nine to 14 named storms, of which four to seven could become hurricanes, including one to three Category 3, 4 or 5 storms, says the NOAA. (Read the 2009 Atlantic storm season forecast from the experts at Colorado State University.)

NOAA officials are stressing two trends this year:

The first is the trend toward warmer temperatures in the North Atlantic, a result of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation. The AOM caused last year to be one of the most active hurricane seasons ever recorded, with 16 named storms, eight hurricanes and five major storms of Category 3 strength or higher. For the first time on record, six consecutive tropical cyclones made landfall on the U.S. mainland.

The second trend us that storms are lingering longer and depositing heavy rains over inland areas, so that flooding now accounts for more fatalities than high winds. Watch our video on flood insurance (right) and use the NOAA's Historical Hurricane Tracks tool to see which major storms have hit your area since 1851. Read more about flooding and flood insurance, and check the latest rates from the National Flood Insurance Program.

"The seasonal numbers are interesting, but they don't tell you when and where storms are going to make landfall or at what intensity," says Dennis Feltgen, a public-affairs officer for the National Hurricane Center, in Miami. "The one number you need to worry about is 'one'—as in that one storm that may hit you this year."

Feltgen urges you to plan early. "If the hurricane flags are already flying, it's going to increase your odds of making a wrong decision," Feltgen says. "Planning for a hurricane isn't overly expensive; it's largely a matter of having enough food and water and batteries on hand. When you go to the supermarket, look for an extra box of macaroni or jar of peanut butter on those more frequent two-for-one sales and set one aside."—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums

Essential information: Use our Storm & Emergency Guide to be sure you're prepared for a natural disaster.

Weekend Project: Using a pressure washer for easy spruce-ups

This item is the first in a new series on weekend projects, simple, quick jobs you can do to improve your home and save yourself some money. We'll post them early in the week so you have time to assemble the gear and supplies to get the job done. Send in an e-mail to tell us what kinds of chores and repairs you'd like us to cover.

Living in a newer home has its perks. I don't have to worry about any of these five major home repairs you shouldn't ignore—at least for now.

In the yard, however, it's a different story. Over the course of the last few years, a steady stream of pollen, sap, and leaves had morphed into a messy green layer on the roof of my tool shed and on my daughter's playground set.

Following the savvy advice in our June 2009 story on simple home projects, I successfully cleaned the asphalt roofing shingles on the shed using a soft brush and a bleach solution to avoid damaging the shingles.

But using a stiffer-bristled brush and a bleach solution (as we recommend to clean outdoor decking) didn't make much of an impression on the playground set. I knew I'd have to haul out my pressure washer. But first I watched our video (right) on safe, effective pressure washing; check out this video whether you own or are thinking of renting one of these powerful machines.

Before firing up the machine, I donned, gloves, sturdy shoes, and hearing protection, then started cleaning. I held the sprayer about 2 feet away from the lumber, bringing it no closer than 6 inches so as to not damage the wood. If you notice that the spray is damaging wood fibers, either pull back the sprayer or widen the spray pattern.

And be careful where you point the stream so as to avoid the kind of serious injury detailed in the video—a gasoline-powered pressure washer emits a stream of water much more powerful than a regular garden hose.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums

Essential information: See our pressure washers buying advice and ratings (available to subscribers).

Propane dealers don't want you to get a bloated feeling

Feel like you've run out of propane for your gas grill sooner than you used to? No, nothing has happened to the propane you cook with. Rather, it seems as if propane suppliers are filling tanks with less gas than they used to, according to this recent Associated Press article.

The 20-pound tanks used on millions of gas grills have typically been filled with 17 to 18 pounds of propane (for safety reasons they can't hold a full 20 pounds). But when oil prices and propane futures soared last year, propane suppliers including big names Amerigas and Blue Rhino started filling tanks with only 15 pounds of gas, ostensibly to save you from having to pay more for a tank. There was no commensurate drop in price as oil and  propane has become cheaper, and Home Depot would not tell the AP whether the retailer plans to go back to 17- to 18-pound level of gas.

The average price for a tank exchange is $20 to $25, and if you refill your own tank, the cost is about $17 to $20, according to the AP story.

So be aware that you might be getting 11 to 12 percent less propane for the money when you exchange your propane tank. If you refill your own tank(s), ask the propane supplier to put the usual 17 to 18 pounds of gas in the tank. And when you're having a big party and want to ensure you don't run out of fuel for the grill, consider getting a second tank as a backup.

Some grills are fitted with scales to help you determine how much propane is left in the tank. And the Fiesta Blue Ember iQue FGQ65079-U403 we tested for our latest report on gas grills (report and ratings available to subscribers) uses sonar to gauge the amount of propane in the tank; a display shows how much cooking time remains based on the gas level. The grill costs $900 and is our top-rated large model. e-mail | Twitter

Essential information: Read more about shrinking items at the Consumerist.com. And post a comment below to let us know about products and services for which you think you're getting less for the money.

Buyer's guides to carpet cleaners and juice makers now on ConsumerReports.org

Carpet cleaners and juicers don't appear to have much in common. Except that we've gotten a surge of requests to provide buying guidance for both; in one case, it happened within the same discussion in our forums.

So we've recently launched buyer's guides on carpet cleaners and juice makers/juicers. The former covers rental deep cleaners, vacuum-sized cleaners/extractors, and scrubbing machines. The guide to juice makers has details on citrus juicers and juice extractors. Essential information: Watch the video (right) to learn how quick action can minimize the long-term damage that wine, soda or juice spills can cause to carpets.

Our forums on laundry and cleaning and small appliances offer discussions and user reviews of both products.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter

Essential information: These buyer's guides to vacuums, blenders, and food processors feature buying advice and ratings (available to subscribers).

Stay safe in and around the pool this summer

Some sobering statistics about pools and kids just out from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:

• Each year, nearly 300 children younger than the age of 5 drown in pools and spas, and around 3,000 kids suffer pool- or spa-related injuries that require attention at a hospital emergency room.

• About two-thirds of pool- and spa-related deaths and injuries involve 1- to 2-year-olds, with around 80 percent of the drowning fatalities occurring in residential settings.

• From 1999 through 2008, the CPSC says, 83 incidents of pool and spa entrapments, including 11 deaths and 69 injuries, were reported. And since 1999, 14 percent of the reported suction/entrapment incidents at pools or spas were fatal.

With Memorial Day upon us and pool season here, adhering to smart pool-safety rules is key. Learn how by reading the advice from the experts at the Consumer Reports Safety blog in "Does Your Pool Meet the New Safety Rules?" and "Make Sure Your Pool Is Child-Safe This Summer."

Also visit the CPSC's new PoolSafety.gov site and watch its safety videos.

Essential information: Get ready for Memorial Day grilling.