WEATHER

From dry to drenched, South Florida's rainfall in '08 was `average'

After a see-saw year of drought and deluge, regional rainfall and levels in Lake Okeechobee wound up almost exactly average.

EVERGLADES

Ruling puts brakes on Tamiami Trail bridge project

The Miccosukee Tribe won its bid for an injunction to stop the building of the one-mile Tamiami Trail bridge -- part of the Everglades restoration project.

EVERGLADES RESTORATION

More research on Everglades projects ahead

With a federal judge blocking plans to build a new Tamiami Trail bridge, federal agencies fall back on plans for a new study.

FLORIDA REEFS

Climate change increases problems for Florida reefs

Despite new federal protections, Elkhorn Coral may disappear from the waters off the coast of South Florida

THE EVERGLADES

U.S. Sugar land deal is approved -- with an escape clause

South Florida water managers approved the controversial purchase of U.S. Sugar land considered essential to Everglades restoration.

THE EVERGLADES

Hurdles remain for Florida-U.S. Sugar land deal

Skeptical lawmakers and a House committee review loom among upcoming hurdles for the state's controversial Big Sugar land buy.

HOMESTEAD | TURKEY POINT

Turkey Plant a refuge for crocodiles

As Florida Power & Light began digging cooling canals at Turkey Point nuclear power plant in Homestead, crocodiles began swimming into the deep waters of the newly created refuge, generating their own electricity through rituals of courtship and mating.

GREEN CHRISTMAS

Chickens, organic jeans on lists of the eco-aware

If the idea of Bing Crosby crooning ''I'm dreaming of a green Christmas'' gives you warm fuzzies, this holiday season may be your best yet. Yes, it's the year of the eco-friendly holidays. Entire books are being devoted to the greening of the season. Websites have been constructed, mass e-mails have crisscrossed the Internet and segments of talk television are being devoted to helping you reduce your holiday carbon footprint. If Santa used some sort of motorized conveyance to make his rounds, he...

Gifts that give twice

Evergreen takes on new meaning this season with gifts that give back to the Earth.

LIGHTING

Dim bulbs cast pall on green efforts

Does this sound like you? You are doing The Right Thing. You are thinking globally and acting locally. You eat what's in season, and you buy it at the farmers market. You opt for paper at the grocery store; you recycle the bags. You compost. Maybe you even drive a hybrid.

FRUGAL DUCHESS

A second look at vampire power

My recent column on vampire energy -- also known as standby power -- generated well-deserved heat. Standby power is the energy wasted when electronic products are turned off, but plugged into an outlet.

EVERGLADES

Contaminated fields could add millions to Everglades cleanup cost

Contamination in sugar fields, though typical, could add tens of millions of dollars in cleanup costs to a proposed Everglades restoration land deal.

Drought-tolerant palms also need to survive the rainy season

'Drought-tolerant'' is a characteristic high on every gardener's plant list these days since water restrictions are about to become permanent.

Office Depot riding Europe's green wave

For the past five years, office supply giant Office Depot has trumpeted green initiatives to environmentally conscious consumers in the United States.

Miami rides a green wave toward a 'bike friendly' city

Miami leaders have ambitious plans to turn the city into a bicycle-friendly metropolis. They start with Bike Miami, an event next month the city hopes will become a regular happening.

Thin rooftop panels help house produce its own power

Flexible, thin film solar panels offer increased efficiency, better hurricane resistance and can be installed like conventional roofing materials.

Ruling favors animals over insurance

A court ruling requiring FEMA to consider endangered species before issuing federal flood insurance could have ripple effects in other states

GOING GREEN

In experiment, hydrogen power fuels Miami home

A switch was pulled and the shelves of equipment murmured softly and turned on the lights. A house in Miami's Bay Heights quietly went off the grid and onto hydrogen power.

Couple lives green in their Key Largo dream

South-facing small windows and Bahama shutters, light paint and a white roof offer clues to the character of this house within a hammock: It is a ''green'' home that proudly wears a photovoltaic system and thermal water heater on its roof and envelopes a 7,500-gallon cistern within its walls.