‘Tis the season for sniffles and coughs and other symptoms of the common cold....

So what can't be made from corn these days? Automobile fuel, bioplastic, and now clothing, too? Ingeo-a trademark of the Cargill Dow corporation- is the name of a fiber derived from corn. It is touted as environmentally friendly because it comes from a renewable resource, its production requires less energy than that of synthetics, and it is biodegradable. Ingeo fabrics are said to be comfortable, to have a nice drape, to be resistant to moisture and odor retention, and to provide natural ultraviolet (UV) resistance. One potential downside: Ingeo comes from non-organic corn that may have been genetically modified.

If you're shocked every time you open your bill from the electric company, it might be time to...