Archive for 'Around the Home'
Green Lifestyle: 5 Low Cost Tips
Posted on 30. Mar, 2009 by Mark Coleman.
Going green has become a popular trend that looks like it’s here to stay. Even if you can’t build a new home that is energy efficient or remodel your existing home to make it greener, there are still things you can do at home to help the environment.
First, consider replacing your old incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. These bulbs use up to 80 percent less energy than the older style bulbs. As an added bonus, they last longer so you won’t have to change then as often.
Second, you can attach aerators to your faucets. These little devices attach to the faucet where the water comes out, and mix air into the flow. You’ll use less water, but the water pressure will remain nearly the same as before. There are similar devices available to attach to your shower heads, which will reduce the total amount of water you use while showering.
Third, replace your old thermostat with a programmable one. This will allow you to fine tune your heating and cooling cycles to the times you’re at home and actively using your living areas. The energy savings can really add up when you stop keeping the house warm or cool for the entire 8 to 10 hours that you spend at work. You can set the thermostat to turn off as you leave for work, and set it to automatically turn on about a half hour before you return home. Your house will be comfortable while you’re at home, but you won’t be wasting energy and money while you’re away.
Fourth, install a water filter on your kitchen faucet instead of buying bottled water. Most municipal water systems in the United States provide clean, healthy drinking water, so a filter is usually not necessary. But major beverage manufacturers have spent millions of dollars on marketing campaigns to get us to think that bottled water is cleaner and safer than plain tap water. If you just can’t bring yourself to start drinking water from the tap, you can at least buy and install a filter. Then you can stop adding plastic water bottles to your local landfill.
Fifth, start using cloth tote bags for your grocery shopping. Plastic grocery bags are not biodegradable, and are another of the many disposable items that are clogging up local landfills. If you don’t want to start a collection of cloth grocery tote bags, you can at least reuse the plastic grocery bags. Many communities also have recycling receptacles for plastic grocery bags. So when you have accumulated more than you can use, instead of throwing them away, you can recycle them.
These are just a few ways you can help clean up the environment. They’re fairly easy to implement. They’ll help you get in the habit of looking for ways to be even more eco-friendly.
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Green Flooring: Lots of Choices
Posted on 29. Mar, 2009 by Mark Coleman.
Have you been thinking about replacing your old floor coverings with eco-friendly materials? Are you building a new house and want to keep it green? Then here are some facts that will help you make the best flooring choices for environmentally friendly products for your home.
If you love the look of wood floors, you can use sustainably harvested wood. Look for products that have been certified by The Forest Stewardship Council. The FSC certification requires that wood products come from forests that meet strict standards. For example, the forests must preserve old-growth trees, minimize the use of chemicals, and prohibit the use of GMOs (genetically modified organisms). One of the most popular sustainable hardwood flooring products today is Brazilian Cherry, which has a rich natural color and distinctive grain. So you don’t have to sacrifice beauty for ecology.
Cork flooring is not only environmentally sound, but it’s healthy, too. The cork material comes from renewable bark that is harvested from the tree without harming it. The bark itself has natural anti-microbial properties that help keep the interior of your home free from harmful bacteria. On top of al that, cork has a warm look and a more comfortable feel underfoot than tile flooring or even carpeting laid over a concrete slab. It comes in tiles or planks, and is less expensive than hardwood flooring.
Bamboo flooring comes from a highly renewable source, since bamboo plants are fast growing. It’s a very durable material that can last for the lifetime of a home. It’s similar to hardwood flooring in terms of maintenance, and can also be stained and sanded. One word of caution, though. It’s not automatically green just because it’s bamboo. The laminating process requires using adhesives, and some of them contain formaldehyde. So it’s important to read the manufacturer’s label to make sure that the bamboo flooring you buy was processed using safe materials.
Carpeting can be very eco-friendly when it’s made from good quality recycled materials. When reading the label, you’ll want to make sure that the carpeting has “low off gassing” or “low VOCs”. This means that the product will not be emitting gasses into your home that can irritate your eyes and lungs after you install it. The highest quality recycled material comes from post-consumer PET resins (Polyethylene terephthalate). This means that the materials come from recycled beverage containers, which have to meet high quality standards in the first place.
Recycled carpeting is stain and soil resistant and comes in a wide variety of rich, fade-resistant colors and a variety of textures. Make sure to also use green carpet padding. Again, look for the lowest VOC ratings for off gassing, and the highest quality of recycled materials. You’ll stay healthier, your home will have cleaner air, and you’ll be saving hundreds of beverage containers from the landfills.
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What’s a Solar Trickle Charger? - 469
Posted on 28. Mar, 2009 by Mark Coleman.
Do you remember the last time you went out to your car, turned the key and nothing happened? Maybe you heard just a clicking sound, but then dead silence. The reason nothing happened was because your battery was dead. If you were lucky, your spouse or a neighbor with jumper cables was nearby, ready and willing to help. If you weren’t so lucky, you had to wait for help or walk to the nearest gas stationwhich may not have been so “near”.
Solar Trickle Chargers can prevent exactly that kind of headache or emergency. They make sure you always have a fully charged battery. Solar Trickle Chargers are low current solar panels designed to be used with 12-volt storage batteries. These are the kind of batteries your car or truck uses. Trickle chargers guard against natural battery discharge and electrical drain. There are a few different types to choose from, depending on how much energy you need.
The small, light duty 1 to 3 volt rechargers are sometimes called solar battery maintainers. They can be purchased for as little as $20. They’re small enough to fit on a car dashboard (about 6 inches by 18 inches).
Heavier duty trickle chargers produce 5 to 6 volts, and will not only keep your vehicle’s battery charged, but have even more versatility than the smaller versions. They’re a little larger in size, stating at around 12 inches by 13 inches. But they’re thin (often less than 1 inch high) and lightweight (usually under 5 pounds). They cost from $50 to over $100, so they’re more expensive than the1 to 3 volt versions.
Higher voltage trickle chargers are built to withstand a wide temperature range from 40 below zero to over 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Using the newest solar chip technology, they’ll even generate power on cloudy days. You can use them to power anything that is normally powered by a 12-volt battery, like landscaping water fountains, RVs and even electric fences. They’re also a good way to keep the charge in a battery that’s not used for long periods of time, like seasonal recreational vehicles: RV’s and boats.
When you’re determining what kind to buy, you’ll need to consider the time of year you’ll be using it the most, as well as the kind of 12-volt battery you’re charging. Flooded lead-acid batteries (the least expensive kind of 12-volt battery) typically lose up to twice as much charge as sealed batteries. And hot summer temperatures, especially over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, will drain batteries up to 6 times faster than moderate temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
These battery rechargers will not only save you time and inconvenience, they’re good for the environment and your wallet. You won’t be throwing away 12-volt batteries as often. Which means you won’t be buying new replacements as often either.
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Green Cooling: What are the Options?
Posted on 27. Mar, 2009 by Mark Coleman.
There is a lot of information available about how to heat your home using solar technology. But how can you cool your home and still be environmentally friendly? Here are a few things to consider.
1) Plant your roof. That means to literally fill you roof with plants. It’s an interesting thought, even though this option is probably not available to most people living in suburbia. Recently, the University of Texas completed studies comparing the interior temperatures of two similar-sized boxes on a 90 degree day. The box that was “planted” on top stayed between 20 to 50 degrees cooler than the box with a painted black top.
If you can’t plant your roof, you can still take a lesson from the “black-box” experiment. The next time you install a new roof, replace those dark-colored shingles with lighter colored ones. Even if you use traditional air conditioning, it won’t have to work as hard if the inside of the house is already cooler. This concept applies if you live in a region that has hot or warm weather for at least 6 months out of the year. But if you live in a climate that has 6 months of cold weather and harsh winters, a black roof may be exactly what you need to keep warm.
2) Ventilate your roof. Since heat rises, it goes into your attic. So installing vents under the eaves and adding an attic exhaust fan can help remove all of the hot trapped air. You’ll need at least 2 vents to create cross ventilation that will allow cool air in and pull the hot air out.
3) Install ceiling fans and raise your thermostat a couple of degrees. Again, heat rises to the ceiling of each of your rooms. By installing ceiling fans, you help disperse the heat that collects in each room. You’ll also find that you can raise the thermostat a few degrees and still feel just as cool. Ceiling fans use less energy than air conditioners, so you’ll save on your utility bill.
4) Don’t cook during the day. Using ovens and stove tops just create more interior heat, and make your air conditioner have to work that much harder. Plan meals that don’t require cooking, or do your cooking after the sun sets and you’ll save on your air conditioning bills. This is also a great excuse to use for not cooking at all, and dining out instead.
5) Insulate your home, especially the west and south facing walls. You probably already know that good insulation can have a big effect on cutting your heating bills. Well, the same applies to cutting your cooling bills. The west and south facing walls receive the most sunlight and the most radiant heat during the day. You can prevent this heat from transferring indoors with good insulation.
These are just a few ways you can stay cool and help the environment. Once you start thinking about ways to live green, more ideas seem to appear. Keep you eye out for new products and technologiesthey’re sprouting up every day.
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Solar Powered Battery Rechargers: An Easy Way to Start Going
Posted on 26. Mar, 2009 by Mark Coleman.
Solar Powered Battery Rechargers: An Easy Way to Start Going Solar - 439
The thought of having a completely solar powered home is an attractive idea to a lot of people. Unfortunately, solar panel technology is still relatively expensive when it comes to providing energy to your entire home. But there are ways to start using solar energy at home that won’t break your budget. Here’s an easy way to start using solar energy in smaller applications.
For instance, anything that uses electrical power can be switched over to using solar power. Make a list of everything you use that requires alkaline batteries. Include things like flashlights, alarm clocks, voice recorders and even battery-powered toys. The AA, AAA, C and D batteries used in these items actually contain hazardous materials that are not supposed to end up in our landfills. People are not supposed to just throw them into the trash when they’re drained, but that’s exactly where most of them end up. Just think of how many of these small batteries you buy and use in a year. If you multiply that number by the population in your city, you’ll have a good idea of how important it can be to start being eco-friendly even in small wayslike starting with your household’s batteries.
It’s not hard. You can set up a solar powered battery recharging station in your home for less than $100. You’ll just need to buy a solar powered recharger and rechargeable batteries to replace the old alkaline variety. Take an inventory of the batteries that all of your gadgets currently use. List all the different sizes of small batteries, and the total number of batteries needed in each size. You’ll want to add a few of each size for spares so that you can still use your gadgets while their original batteries are recharging. Keep your recharging station in an accessible place, but safely out of reach of children and pets. Every time you buy a new gadget that uses alkaline batteries, add those batteries to your inventory list and buy a set of rechargeable batteries to put into use as soon as the alkaline batteries run down.
Solar rechargers cost around $20 and up, depending on how many batteries you want to be able to recharge at one time. The batteries themselves start at around $1 each for AAA’s, if you can find them on sale. They do cost more at the outset than disposable batteries, but the savings over the life of your gadget starts adding up fast. If you set up a solar battery recharging system, you’ll save money, you’ll never run out of batteries again, and you’ll be helping to clean up the environment.
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Plastics: Are Any of Them Safe? - 492
Posted on 26. Mar, 2009 by Mark Coleman.
It turns out that plastic is not as solid as we thought it was. There are several types of plastic used in our homes that have been found to leach cancer-producing toxins, and many of them are commonly used to store food and beverages. The dangerous effects of these plastics range from hormone disruption, obesity and reproduction problems to cancer.
Some people question the research and say there hasn’t been evidence to prove that plastics actually harm humans. But why take the risks, when there are easy and safe alternatives? Here are the plastics to avoid.
#3 PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is dangerous because of the dioxins produced during manufacturing. Dioxins are known to cause cancer, and they accumulate in fatty tissue, so are not easily flushed from our systems. The flexible type of PVC is commonly used to wrap meat in the US contains phthalates, which are suspected of causing cancer and problems with hormonal development. The hard type of PVC has been used in the building industry to make residential and commercial plumbing pipes which carry drinking water.
#6 PS is polystyrene, or styrofoam, which is commonly used for disposable plates, cups and carry-out containers. The styrene has been found to leach into foods, and may cause cancer or hormonal disruption.
#7 PC contains bisphenol A (BPA) which causes problems similar to those caused by phthalates. Other potential problems include possible insulin disruption which may lead to pancreas problems including Type 2 Diabetes. This type of plastic is commonly used in plastic baby bottles, plastic eating utensils and microwave oven cookware, as well as to line the metal containers of canned foods.
The good news is that there are some plastics that are safe to use. They have proven to be stable enough that they don’t transfer chemicals into food or the environment. Here’s a list of the most common plastics that are considered to be safe.
#2 HDPE has not been shown to have any negative health effects, and is recyclable.
#4LDPE is being used for beverage containers, and has not been shown to leach chemicals.
#5PP has not been shown to have any negative health effects, but is difficult to recycle.
#1 PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is most commonly used for beverage containers like sports water bottles. They are recyclable, but are only intended for a single use. Some studies have shown that the PET leaches into the beverages when these bottles are stored for long periods of time (several months), so they’re far from ideal. But the harmful effect of leaching appears to be limited to gastrointestinal distress with no long term effects.
PLA (polylactide) is made from starchy plants like corn. There is no need to recycle them because they biodegrade in less than 2 weeks.
Of course, the safest thing is to avoid using plastics whenever possible. That way, you won’t be adding to the growing surplus of non-biodegradable plastic that is multiplying all over the planet.
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What is Green Real Estate?
Posted on 25. Mar, 2009 by Mark Coleman.
Most people are concerned about living in a healthy environment, and eco-friendly housing is becoming a popular topic these days. Home Builders and Real Estate Agents are starting to talk about “green real estate”. But what qualifies a house to be advertised as “green real estate”? At least one national builder uses 5 criteria. They are: energy efficiency, indoor air quality, resource efficiency, water conservation, and site management.
Let’s take a look at what each one of these characteristics means. Energy efficiency refers to the appliances in the home, as well as items like wall insulation, energy efficient heating and cooling systems, and insulated door and roofs. Low-E windows block radiant heat from coming into the house. They can keep a house several degrees cooler than regular windows, especially when they’re installed on the south and west sides. These are all items that can give homeowners real saving in the cost of their energy bills over the life of owning their home.
Indoor air quality is affected by the furnace and air conditioning system, as well as the materials used in carpeting, laminate flooring and compressed wood materials. In the recent past, these items were typically made with materials that produced toxic gases like formaldehyde. Even when there was no obvious odor, the off gassing from these materials could cause respiratory problems for people with allergies and chemical sensitivities. Now low VOC (or low off gassing) carpeting and compressed wood items are commonly available, but you have to check their labels.
Resource efficiency refers to using solar, wind or geothermal resources. Solar water heaters and solar swimming pool heaters are becoming much more available, even in tract home subdivisions. Consumers want to help clean up the environment and save on utility bills. They’re letting the new home builders know what they want, and the builders are beginning to listen.
Water conservation can involve items like low-flow toilets and no-drip plumbing fixtures. Shower heads which minimize water use also help the conservation effort. Gray water (or drain water from sinks) can be recycled and used in exterior sprinkler systems.
Site management includes xeriscaping. This is the practice of landscaping with plants that are native to the region. They are specifically selected to grow and thrive with natural rainfall, and without additional watering. Site management can also include strategically orienting the house on the building site. This can maximize sun exposure in the winter to help heat the interior, and minimize sun exposure in the summer to keep the house cooler. Trees and plants can be strategically placed to with similar effects, to help heat and cool the home according to the season.
These criteria are not national, world-wide or even industry-wide building standards. But with the rising cost of energy, and the likelihood that energy costs will continue to increase, consumers are having a real impact on the building industry. Builders are finally seeing that energy efficient eco-friendly homes sell faster than other homes. So it looks like green real estate is here to stay.
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Turn Your Home Office Green: 3 Ways Your Computer Can
Posted on 24. Mar, 2009 by Mark Coleman.
Turn Your Home Office Green: 3 Ways Your Computer Can Help
These days everyone is looking for more ways to clean up the environment. If you have a home office, here are some ideas to help you use your desktop and laptop computers to make your lifestyle greener.
Consider using digital storage instead of printing everything out. You can scan important legal documents and store them on your hard drive instead of keeping multiple hard copies in storage. Even if you work in an industry that requires by law that you keep records for a number of years, you can usually find ways to at least reduce the amount of printouts you do on a regular basis. And at this point, many state and federal laws have been amended to allow digital storage of files that need to be maintained for several years.
There are now many online vendors to choose from who can provide digitally secure storage for your computer’s files. The cost of online storage is usually a lot less than renting an off-site storage unit to fill with boxes and boxes of paper. If you can use digital storage, you can save money, and you can also save a lot of trees.
If you use a fax system regularly, you can save money by switching to an online fax service. You won’t have to waste paper and printer ink on spam faxes or faxes that are incompletejust delete them from your hard drive. You also won’t miss out on important faxes because of an empty ink cartridge. Not only will you save on paper and printer ink, but youll have an automatic digital copy on your hard drive of every fax you send or receive. And you’ll never have to buy a new fax machine again. Just do an internet search for online fax services and choose the one with a plan that fits your needs.
Another way to reduce using paper is to switch to online banking and billing. Most banks and utility companies today have options for paperless billing. You can receive and pay all of your bills online. In fact, most other services that bill you on a regular basis now have the option for online billing. Cable companies, credit card companies and phone companies all have the resources to eliminate paper bills and make all of your transactions online. By handling all of your bills online, you can save reams of paper and have copies of your transactions automatically stored on your hard drive.
It’s easy to see that the more you use your computer, the greener your office will be. Start with these small steps. Then if you want to get really serious about having a green home office, you can always add solar panels to power your computers.
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Organic Fast Food From the Pantry - 487
Posted on 24. Mar, 2009 by Mark Coleman.
If you’re trying to eat healthfully, and to stay away from fast foods, sometimes it can be a challenge on busy days when you’re pressed for time. How often have you come home from a long day at work, the fridge is bare, you’re out of fresh fruits and veggies and a trip to the store is out of the question? What kind of healthy meal can you make if you’ve got to pull it out of your pantry?
Here’s where a little pre-planning can go a long way. If you keep some basic supplies in your pantry, you can put together a healthy organic meal in an hour or less. There are dry goods and canned goods you can keep on your shelves for months. Here are some ideas for items to add to your shopping list for your next trip to the health food store.
But be careful when you buy products labeled “organic”. It’s such a popular term these days that companies are using it as a marketing feature, but not necessarily a product feature. Read the labels. Make sure the ingredients are really 100% organic. Some companies will include a percentage of organic ingredients just so they can use the term. But they’ll include chemical additives or high fructose corn syrup as well. So don’t fall for “organic” marketing schemes.
Organic cereals - These are nutritious, filling and easy to prepare. They’re also a favorite for those who enjoy having breakfast for dinner. They come in hot or cold varieties. Cold cereal is the fastest of organic fast foods and perfect if you just can’t wait to eat.
Soy milk - Keep a box of soy milk available to have with your cereal. Non-GMO (genetically modified organism) soy products are the healthiest to buy.
Flax seed - This is a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Good for your heart and a great source of fiber. You can add it to either sweet or savory foods for a rich, nutty taste.
Dried organic herbs - Keep your favorites available for adding to your veggies and soups. They’ll add that homemade touch to anything you eat.
Legumes - Dried beans and lentils are a good source of fiber and protein. Many beans take a few hours to prepare, but lentils can be cooked and ready to eat in less than an hour. You can eat them hot or cold, puree them, or add broth and make them into soups and veggie stews. They’re both healthy and filling.
Canned organic veggies - Keep your favorites on hand. They’re great to use for side dishes. Or you can to add them to beans or lentils for the soups and stews mentioned earlier.
These items will get you through at least of couple of hectic days. You’ll be able to save time by having them on hand. And you’ll be able to maintain your healthy eating style.
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Healthy Water and Cleaner Landfills - 445
Posted on 22. Mar, 2009 by Mark Coleman.
We’ve been told for the past decade or so that drinking water from out cities’ water systems in the United States is potentially full of toxic chemicals like lead, chlorine, mercury, copper and bacteria. We’ve read scare stories about municipal water systems being polluted by sewage systems. As a result, people got used to drinking bottled water as a healthier and safer alternative to ordinary tap water.
Now we’re finding out that bottled water isn’t as healthy for us as we thought. First there’s the container itself. That handy plastic sports bottle we’ve gotten used to carrying around with us is often made from plastics that contain cancer-producing toxins called phthalates. They actually leach into the water that we’re drinking and accumulate in our bloodstreams. Studies are showing that the concentrations of phthalates in our systems are increasing with each generation, mainly as a result of drinking water bottled in toxic plastic containers.
Then there’s the fact that these plastic bottles aren’t biodegradable. Plastics now represent at least 25% of the contents of our landfills. And plastics won’t break down for at least 10,000 yearssome estimates are even longer. So our healthy-water solution has turned into a big health hazard. What can people do?
Fortunately, there are a couple of easy and inexpensive solutions to our drinking water problems.
You can install a simple filter system onto your kitchen faucet. And you can now buy a portable filter system that’s as convenient as your old sports bottle, but the bottle is not toxic.
First, there are filters that can be attached to your kitchen faucet. They’ll reduce chlorine and heavy metals, and generally make your tap water taste better. For example, the Brita system costs about $20 - 40 for the starter kit, and $20 for each replacement filter. It will filter about 100 gallons of drinking water and lasts for about 4 months.
For about the same price, you can now get a 16 ounce portable filter system, from Back to the Tap, which actually filters as you drink. It uses a number 4 LDPE plastic bottle, which is the kind of plastic that doesn’t leach phthalates into your water. The filters are replaceable, and you can refill it anywhere with plain old tap water. It can be refilled about 300 times, so that’s 300 sports bottles you’re not adding to the surplus of plastic that’s already in our landfills.
Going green does take some forethought and planning, but it’s getting easier every day. It’s really rewarding when you can see an immediate impact on your own health. It’s an added bonus when taking care of your own health also makes the environment healthier.