One week has passed since Hurricane Sandy slammed into the Mid-Atlantic region, but thousands of people in New Jersey and the greater NYC area are still feeling its effects. While the rest of the country tunes into election day coverage, people in hurricane-ravaged areas still need your help. Officials aren't sure exactly how many people are in need of housing -- estimates range between 10,000 and 40,000 -- and with a powerful nor'easter in the forecast, the situation could get dire. If you want to help Hurricane Sandy victims, there are many things you can do, from giving money to donating food and clothes. Read on to learn how you can do your part to help.

 

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The COP17 Durban Climate Change Conference ended with the failure to institute a binding emissions agreement, so it seems that the world's efforts to avoid the effects of climate change are at a crossroads. However while the politicians talk, scientists are coming up with bold and - dare we say - crazy ways to save the planet. Geo-engineering (the deliberate large-scale engineering and manipulation of the environment to combat or counteract anthropogenic changes in atmospheric chemistry) has long been touted as a way to counter the catastrophic effects of global warming, but has been considered dangerous by some as it interferes with the world's delicate ecosystems. However there are several schemes proposed by scientists all around the world that could offer a solution - read on for a look and let us know what you think in the comments!

 

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Inhabitat’s Green Halloween Costume Contest received hundreds of incredibly crafted costumes – and after an intense bout of online voting we’re thrilled to announce our winners! From a ghastly Two-Face covered in gore to a life-size LEGO minifig and a hilarious bucket of cheese balls, our winners wowed us with their creativity and DIY skill. Hit the jump for the grand prize winner of a Kilo Glow bike from Pure Fix Cycles, our editors’ choice Nokero Solar Light Bulb winners, and our runners-up – all of whom scored organic cotton Inhabitat t-shirts!

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This is your last chance to vote for your favorite Green Halloween Costume Contest finalists!

Hey Inhabireaders! Today is the last day to vote in our annual Green Halloween Costume Contest. We received hundreds of incredible DIY Halloween costumes from readers across the globe, but only 34 have made it into the final cut. It’s now up to YOU, dear readers, to select a grand prize winner to receive fame, fortune, and a glow-in-the-dark Kilo Glow bike (worth $399) from Pure Fix Cycles! From a Zombie LEGO minifig to an incredibly creative and crafty Photobooth Costume, a real, working camera cardboard costume and a hilarious barrel of cheese balls, there is no shortage of awesome costumes - so check out all of our finalists and vote for your favorite! The polls close TONIGHT at 11:59 PM EST — get on it!

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE DIY COSTUME >

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The 2012 Presidential Election is tomorrow, and critical decisions regarding how the United States should tackle climate change and energy security will need to be made in the near future. Therefore, it is of great importance that Americans elect a leader capable of addressing these issues. After three years of President Obama in the Oval Office, Americans have seen the current administration’s environmental policy agenda enacted. But in order to cast an informed ballot in the November election, the American electorate – especially independent and undecided voters – needs to know how presidential hopeful Mitt Romney plans to meet the challenges of a changing environment. Spoiler alert: Romney’s approach to the environment is unsustainable at its core and contrasts greatly with President Obama’s.

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Fall is here and we've got all kinds of autumnal activities on our minds - like baking, pumpkin carving, and hard apple cider drinking. I've always wanted to experiment with making my own hard apple cider, but never felt like I had the time or money to execute it properly. Recently, however, I discovered a German style of hard cider called “Apfelwein” that is delicious and can be accomplished in just an hour or two (minus fermenting time, of course). Read on for six easy steps to mix up several gallons of your own apple cider wine. Follow them, and in just a few short weeks, you can sit on the porch, sipping the delicious fruits of your labor!

 

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Photo: @AlanaNewHouse

Hurricane Sandy has come and gone - businesses are reopening, subways are re-opening and New York City is even planning to host its annual New York Marathon this weekend. But while many people are dissecting links to climate change, what went wrong and how it is going to impact the upcoming election, it is important to keep in mind that there are STILL 570,000 people stranded in Lower Manhattan without power, water, food or access to basic amenities. 570,000 people is equivalent to almost the entire population of Boston or San Francisco - it is a lot of people. Read on to learn how you can help the relief effort by donating today!

 

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Now that Autumn has arrived, we at Inhabitat want to make sure that our readers get the most out of the outdoors - what better way is there to strengthen our connection to nature than to get out and enjoy it? Our first fall outdoor guide focuses on our lovely readers in the San Francisco area - we've rounded up our top 6 favorite hikes around the bay. These hikes will take you to remote state parks, beautiful mountain top vistas, and backyard trails, so get out there this weekend - and remember to respect the trail so it's in great condition the next time you head out!

 

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Hurricane Sandy is barreling up the East Coast towards New York, and those in the path of the storm should brace for the worst. If you live in NYC you probably know that you need to stock up on food and water and that you should evacuate if you live in a low-lying area, but you may be missing some crucial facts. Check out our list of 6 things you should know to survive Hurricane Sandy to get the whole story – including what you should and should not do during the storm.

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You might not be terribly eager to sink your teeth into a nice, creamy gobbet of fat, but to the countless songbirds that stick around during the winter months, suet is a nourishing food source that can make a huge difference as to whether they survive winter and sing for another summer. If you’re as much of a bird lover as we are, you might want to create some of these suet treats to help our little feathered cousins out over the lean winter months. They’re a bit messy to make, but the happiness you’ll inspire in those wee friends is well worth the minor gross-out factor, we promise!

 

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Did you know that the average American household spends more than $2,200 annually on energy bills, and close to half of that figure can be attributed to heating and cooling? If you’re looking to chop that number down, there are a lot of things you can do, but one of the most effective is to install a programmable thermostat. You’ve probably heard about these useful gadgets before, but they can be a little intimidating for homeowners who have never used one. The truth is that they’re probably much less complicated than your Tivo or DVR system, and once you have the hang of it, they can save you about $180* a year. Read on as we break down the basics of programmable thermostats into digestable bits.

* Based on ENERGY STAR averages. The $180 savings assumes a typical, single-family home with a 10 hour daytime setback of 8° F in winter and setup of 7° F in summer, and an 8 hour nighttime setback of 8° F in winter and a setup of 4° F in summer.

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This year’s record breaking summer high temperatures and general worrisome warming trend don’t necessarily mean that the coming winter will be a walk in the park. Before the cold weather strikes, get your home buttoned up and ready for it with our expert hands-on game plan, which will not only make your home more comfortable and energy efficient, but save you some money while you’re at it. From big changes that will knock hundreds of dollars off your energy bill to smaller ones that need just a bit of elbow grease and a few materials from your local hardware store, we’ll show you what you need to get the job done! So no matter if you rent or own your house, check out these 7 handy tips that we promise will make a real difference in keeping you warm and your energy bill manageable this winter.

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One of our most blockbusting posts last year featured pumpkin carver extraordinaire Ray Villafane’s gory zombies bursting from a giant pumpkin, and though we didn’t think it was possible, but he went even more over the top this year creating an insane, free-standing disemboweled zombie pulling an army of other ghoulish gourds. Villafane was at the New York Botanical Garden this weekend gutting a selection of massive pumpkins and shaping them into a frightastic 3D vignette of freakish orange creatures. Trust us when we say that you cannot miss these photos of the master at work and of the finished product, but don’t blame us if you have unsettling dreams tonight.

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Natural disasters are physically, socially, and psychologically devastating to a town. It can be extremely difficult to rebuild civic infrastructures and restore the lives of residents. Where do individuals, families, organizations and governments begin to look for help? Are there processes, policies, or protocols in place for dealing with the unthinkable? The Sustainable Disaster Recovery Conference  brings together organizations from many different sectors in a collaborative effort to address these types of questions.  The Sustainable Disaster Recovery Conference aims to spread awareness of “green” options available to help disaster-stricken towns not just reconstruct their cities, but to rebuild efficient, livable communities that are healthier and stronger than ever before. The groundbreaking conference, brought together by The Center for Sustainability, Greensburg GreenTown and GreenTown Joplin, will be held at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri from Monday, October 29, 2012 through Tuesday, October 30, 2012 ! Find out how you can attend ahead — Inhabitat readers will receive a special discount at registration!

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Urban Prototyping is a global series of festivals designed to explore the impact that participatory art, technology and design can have on the urban experience. Urban Prototyping: San Francisco (UP:SF) re-imagined three-blocks of downtown San Francisco with 23 interactive projects, 60 local and international performers, and 20 panelists. Over 100 artists, makers, students, activists, and entrepreneurs came together to examine the future of our cities and conceive of worthwhile, interesting and affordable ways to recreate public space - from a 10-Mile Garden to a Fruit Fence planter and modular biofilter urinals, read on for a look at some of our favorite projects!

 

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