Dear Dot, What happens when solar panels do not gather enough energy to power the home? Does solar gather power during cloudy/rainy/snowy days or only during sunny days? I wonder how effective solar is on the...

I would like to propose to my girlfriend but can’t afford an expensive engagement ring. Besides, we both care about the ethics around diamond mining. I’m considering a lab-grown diamond ring. What is the environmental...

Dear Dot, Crystals (or should I call them minerals? or just plain rocks?) have gotten so trendy over the past decade. I’m seeing them at specialty shops, yoga studios, farmers markets, even Nordstrom! While I’m not...

Dear Dot, With Valentine's Day coming up, I have to wonder: Is there such a thing as sustainable floral delivery? —Liza Dearest Liza, When my first child was born, a friend sent me an enormous bouquet of white lilies....

Dear Dot, I wear a lot of cashmere in the winter. I know that might sound snooty, but I do it because wool makes my neck itch. I've noticed that in recent years, I can buy...

Dear Dot, Can you help me figure out how to stop all the catalogs I get in the mail? A terrible waste of paper!   –Virginia, Santa Barbara Dear Virginia, It can feel like something of a mystery in our...

Dot discusses decks from her deck.

Dear Dot, I can’t afford a new electric vehicle. Is there a way to make my internal combustion engine more energy-efficient? Does it matter what grade fuel I use? Poppy MacCormack Oak Bluffs Dear Poppy, For too long, the notion...