Eco Friendly Products: Which Are Worse?

By Rachel Z. Arndt Which is greener, printed books or e-readers? Aluminum cans or glass bottles? The answers will surprise you. Washing By Hand vs. Dishwasher Assumption: Laboring at the sink with a sponge must be better than using that energy guzzler under the counter. Reality Check: A dishwasher is something most folks are not: incredibly efficient. It can save up to 5,000 gallons of water per year compared with scrubbing by hand. That's because it uses roughly five gallons per load -- about one-fifth the amount most people use at the sink. And when less water is needed, your home's hot-water heater uses less energy. Just make sure you don't prerinse, which can squander an extra 20 gallons...