• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

Go Green And Save Green: Expert's Guide   These days there's a lot of talk about "going green."  Some things are easy to do and don't cost anything.  Other things are easy to do....if you're filthy rich.   In this guide, you’ll find out how to spend an arm and a leg...err.....about $55,000 on sustainable improvements which will save you about $18,000 over 5 years (and should recoup the full cost over the lifespan of each improvement).      Now if only we were all rolling in money!     Do this… Conserves... read more

• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

In most cases, the greenest car is the one you're already driving. Keeping your car in good repair delays the need to buy a new one, and minimizes wasted fuel. It's where to start.   OIL CHANGES The 3,000 mile oil change is a myth. This is what the State of California says. Or more exactly what the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) says. Most drivers (including myself) change their oil every 3,000 miles (or 5,000 km) even though many automakers now recommend service intervals of 5,000, 7,000 or even 10,000 miles for most modern... read more

• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

Love the idea of a green summer lawn as much as you hate the idea of it's environmental cost?  Read on for some simple ideas you can put into use to help grow a lawn that will use less water, has fewer weeds and doesn't require chemicals that will cause harmfull runoff or be tracked into your home.   Raise your lawnmower's height.  Taking off more than 1/3 of the height of the grass at any one time will seriously hurt your lawn's ability to photosynthesize.  Leaving a taller lawn will not mean you have to mow more frequently.  Like all plants, grass relies on... read more

• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

THE FOOD Start with food that is in season, local, and organic when possible.  Check out your local Farmer’s Market.  Sometimes local farmers may be growing organically without paying to be certified- ask around. When you buy food at the grocery store, check the labels and avoid palm oil. Don’t forget to bring your own bags when grocery shopping!   COOKING When it comes to energy consumption, a gas stove requires less energy for stove top cooking.  Gas stoves with an electric ignition (piezo) will use 40% less gas than one with a continuous pilot... read more

• Last updated 3/30/11 by stins

Sprouting seeds is a way of adding extremely nutritious phytonutrients to one's diet without great difficulty, expense, or space needed.   1. Start with a jar, such as a canning jar (or reuse a glass jar such as a pasta sauce jar).   2. Add a screened lid. If you have a standard canning jar, you can purchase or make a simple screen to fit under the screw-on lid (your local natural foods store may have the screen lid that fits standard mason jars). For reused glass jars, retain the original lid, drilling out or otherwise removing the center so that you have a... read more

• Last updated 3/30/11 by stins

The poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said it best when he stated: “Music is the universal language of mankind.”   That’s why music today is something we can all appreciate, just like the preservation of the environment.   And even though more and more people are downloading music from places like iTunes and Napster, there is still a large amount of us who stick to purchasing CDs.   The bad thing about buying CDs is all the excess paper and plastic packaging that comes with them, not to mention that millions are thrown away every year.   The good thing is... read more

• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

An Introduction to Daylighting   According to Wikipedia, daylighting is "is the practice of placing windows, or other transparent media, and reflective surfaces so that, during the day, natural light provides effective internal illumination."   Today's highly energy-efficient windows, as well as advances in lighting design, allow efficient use of windows to reduce the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours without causing heating or cooling problems.     Techniques   Windows The best way to incorporate daylighting in your home depends on... read more

• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

Whether you're just feeding yourself or feeding a family of 4, buying organic food stuffs can get pricey.  But there are some great ways to go organic without going broke.   Pay attention to sales in your local stores and stock up when you can. If you have access to a Whole Foods, consider signing up for their e-newsletter.  Twice a month, they send out their best store specials.  If you're a Whole Foods shopper, they also frequently offer discounts if you buy a case or more of something.  So if you just can't live without your organic whole wheat pasta,... read more

• Last updated 3/30/11 by stins

by Ian Woofenden and Mick Sagrillo (Home Power - December 2007/January 2008)   There’s a lot of preparatory work to do before you get to see your wind turbine’s blades spin. It includes understanding how much energy you need (or want), how to use energy efficiently, how much wind energy you have available at your site, and how to match your needs with your resource. After you’ve covered this ground, you can start to consider which wind turbine and what balance of system components to buy, and how to install them.   Energy Analysis First If you want to... read more

• Last updated 9/26/11 by stins

Moving in and out of a home or apartment is never fun. The idea of lugging tons of boxes, spending hours cleaning your old abode and driving miles away with a jam-packed car is more than enough to make the average person cringe. Not only is it not fun to move, but it's also very harmful to the environment. You accumulate excess waste from throwing out old possessions and packing boxes, and you release carbon dioxide into the air making several trips in your car. If you practice living green there are several steps that you can take to make your moving experience... read more