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Articles Gadgets & Gear Green Building Home Design Home Improvement

Energy Saving Appliances

It seems that every company on the market claims to have energy efficient products that can lower your bills. How many times have you been walking through the store and you see the claims of “lowering your heating bill” or “eco-friendly dishwasher”? Just because an appliance company might claim to be “energy efficient” that does not mean it is necessarily true.

Every appliance is different and every appliance has a different rating scale. The good news is that the United States Department of Energy and the United States Environmental Protection agency have started working with Energy Star to label products when they are energy efficient thus protecting you from .

The Energy Star label states that the products either exceed federal energy consumption standards (normally by at least 15 percent or more) or they have energy saving features built into them. All products that have the Energy Star label are energy efficient products made to save you money and save the environment.

All products have different types of ratings and rates. When shopping for a new energy efficient product make sure you check the labels for the corresponding rating.

Central Air Conditioner:  SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) is the measure that is used to rate efficiency. The higher the number the more energy efficient the unit is try and look for a unit with a SEER of 12 or more.

Washing Machine:  EF (Energy Factor) indicates the number of complete cycles a washer will operate while using one kilowatt-hour of electricity. The current federal standard for energy efficient washers is an EF of 1.18, while Energy Star washers require an EF of 2.5.

Dishwashers:  EF (Energy Factor) indicates the number of complete cycles a dishwasher will complete while using one-kilowatt hour of electricity. Dishwashers that qualify for the Energy Star label have an EF of 0.52 or greater.

Refrigerators and Freezers:  The labels indicate the number of kilowatt-hours of electricity the appliance will use in one year of operation. The smaller the number, the more efficient the appliance and lower your bills.

In addition to saving you money every month, buying certified Energy Star appliances can also give you a tax credit at the end of the year. To find out if your new appliances make the cut check out Energystar.gov here for a complete list and details and to see if you qualify. Buying energy efficient appliances will help reduce your carbon footprint and will also lower your water bill and electric bill.

Source: housewares.about.com

 

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Articles Eco Eats

Have a Green Thanksgiving

 

iStock_000010991193SmallLooking to make your Thanksgiving more eco-friendly this year? It’s a lot easier than you might think. Every year Americans waste on average 200 millions pounds of turkey this year (Latimes.com). Don’t be apart of that staggering and frightening statistic. Do your part and go green this Thanksgiving.

Use real plates. Although buying paper plates, napkins, and cups might seem easier, it’s actually worse for the environment. It’s far better for the environment if you were to just wash your dishes. Feel free to use the dishwasher! Just make sure to not choose the “high heat” setting because it uses a lot of extra energy.

Use to-go containers. Use reusable to-go containers instead of plastic wrap. According to life.gaiam.com Americans use enough plastic wrap to cover the entire state of Texas. This year do your part and boycott the plastic wrap.

Actually eat your leftovers. I’m not a huge fan of leftovers and I know that I’m just as guilty as the next person for contributing to the 200 million wasted pounds of fowl. Make delicious left over turkey sandwiches or hot turkey gravy sandwiches. After you have finished all the meat, use the carcass and make a turkey stock. You can use the stock later this winter for hearty winter soup.

Buy organic. This year try to buy organic. All the same items you use year after year have an organic alternative. Organic food is free of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers and is not only better for the Earth but better for your body.

Do you have any tips for an eco-friendly Thanksgiving?

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Eco Eats

The Good and Bad of Kale

Kale is one of the most underrated super foods available to you. It has a lot of vitamins and nutrients that is vital to your diet.

What exactly is Kale?

The green or purple veggie is related to cabbage and is classified by leaf type (curly, plain, etc.). It’s hearty enough to survive winter frosts and grows in individual stalks. It’s actually one of the healthiest vegetables you can eat.

Why it’s good for you.

Kale is truly a superfood. It’s filled with micronutrients, including vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, and chlorophyll.  Kale is popular among cancer patients, since it is helps one achieve a healthy alkaline balance and thus a neutralized body system; it can also help improve circulation and reduce inflammation. It’s also high in fiber and zeaxanthin, which is a carotenoid that protects eyes from vascular degeneration [Source: Super Kids Nutrition]

How to add kale to your diet.

Try making a green smoothie in the morning by mixing some kale, fruit, and a liquid base (try almond milk, water, or coconut water). Kale chips are a great introduction to the veggie, and a popular choice among children. Sautéing some kale for a side dish is always a good option, or you can throw some leaves into a soup after taking it off the stove.

Homemade Organic Green Kale Chips

We have included a delicious recipe for Kale Chips. They are easy to make and taste delicious!

  • Wash kale. Use fresh, velvet like kale, that’s green or purple,
  • Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Wash and thoroughly dry. Flat kale dries easier and quicker than curly kale. It’s essential to have completely dry kale before you bake -if you have to use curly kale, use a salad spinner to dry.  You can always buy prewashed kale at the grocery.
  • Tear Kale into bite sized pieces (or about the size of chips).
  • Pour a small amount of organic canola, grape seed oil or olive oil in a bowl.
  • Dip your fingers in the oil and rub the oil into the kale leaves very lightly coating the entire back and front.
  • Put torn medium size pieces of kale on a baking sheet making sure they don’t touch.  Place on top or medium rack.
  • Bake for 5-7 minutes checking to make sure tips are NOT browning.  Chips should come out crisp (especially if you dried the kale completely).
  • Add a dash of salt and enjoy!

 

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Articles Home Improvement

Give the Gift of Green

Everyone probably has a little box of tools in their garage meant for screwdrivers, hammers, measuring tapes, and other random but helpful items. But did you know you could have “green” tools instead of regular tools? The green tools not only cost about the same as regular tools and power tools but they are also a lot better for our earth and are completely sustainable. A lot of the green tools are made from recyclable materials which helps reduce the amount of  The green tool box is not only a good idea for yourself but makes it the perfect present. Give the green tool box to your favorite handy-man and include a how-to book for ideas and you can pick it up from your local thrift store.

Battery-operated Drill

This one might seem like a no-brainer but you would be surprised by the amount of people that are still using electric drills. Not only is the cord annoying and gets in the way but they use a lot of energy. A rechargeable drill packs a lot of power while using far less energy.

Measuring Tape

An important and basic tool that everyone needs in their toolbox is a measuring tape. Manufacturers offer a greener option when compared to traditional measuring tapes. Green measuring tapes are made from recycled materials and have many features traditional measuring tapes have such as your desired length, a cam-activated lock, etc.)

Screwdriver

Another really important “must-have” tool is a screwdriver. However you don’t have to have your traditional basic screwdriver, they offer rechargeable battery-operated screwdrivers. They also have screwdrivers that are made from corn and other recyclable materials.

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Eco Tips Featured

Be Green on Halloween

Halloween is a fun time filled with candy, costumes, and most importantly fun, family bonding time. It might be scary to think of all the waste that accumulates on Halloween but have no fear, we have come up with tips that will help reduce your Halloween waste.

  • Instead of buying plastic pumpkins  for trick-or-treating that might get ruined, make your own candy knapsack. Take old pillowcases and decorate them with your children.
  • Buy re-usable decorations instead of one-time-use ones. This might seem like a no-brainer but you would be surprised at the number of people that buy disposable decorations because of convenience or price. I personally think that you should invest a couple more dollars for products that will last a couple of years compared to one Halloween.
  • After Halloween is over, don’t throw away your costume. Re-use it or donate it to a local thrift store.  If you want to keep your costume, you can always take certain pieces of each costume to make a new one for next year!
  • Before buying decorations, make your own. A simple Pinterest search turned up creative and cleaver decorations using all sorts of household items. One popular craft is to make your own ghost lanterns out of old gallon sized milk jugs.
  • Make your own scarecrow out of old clothing and household materials. Your scarecrow doesn’t have to be scary, you can decorate him or her with leaves, hats, flowers, old scraps of material, and old clothing. Make your scarecrow unique, like you.

What are your green Halloween tips?

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Eco Tips Featured Home Improvement

5 Reasons to use Zero-VOC Paints

 

According to the EPA indoor air is up to three times more polluted than outdoor air and is considered one of the top 5 hazards to human health (eartheasy.com). Paints and finishes are among the leading causes. Do you have a new baby or pets? These are two very good reasons to improve the health and eco-friendly aspects of your home. Also you can’t forget your long-term health.

You’ll want to look beyond the furniture, cleaning products, and carpet: Start with the walls themselves. Choosing a paint that’s low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — or, even better, totally free of them — can improve indoor air quality (and your health).

But keep in mind that even paints labeled “low” or “zero” VOC aren’t always created equal. The current standard for a paint to be labeled low-VOC requires that it have fewer than 250 g/L; zero-VOC paints have to meet a less-than 5 g/L requirement.

Health.

Reduced toxins benefit everyone, including those with allergies and chemical sensitivities.

Environment.

Reduces landfill, groundwater and ozone depleting contaminants.

Effective.

Low-VOC products perform well in terms of coverage, scrub-ability and hide-ability (covering flaws on previous coats).

Water-Based.

Easy cleanup with soap and warm water.

Little or No Hazardous Fumes.

Low odor during application; no odor once cured. No off-gassing. Painted areas can be occupied sooner, with no odor complaints.

Not Deemed Hazardous Waste.

 Cleanup and disposal greatly simplified.

Sources: eartheasy.com, (http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_paints.htm)

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Featured Green Building Home Improvement

Why You Should Consider Installing a Dual-Flush Toliet

American homes are notorious for wasting water. It seems not much thought is given to leaving the water running while brushing your teeth or taking an hour-long shower. Interest in low flow and dual flush toilets is on the rise in the United States, due in part to increased government regulation and the rising cost of water, and there are incentives for making changes in the way we use the toilet. One product set to combat this is the dual-flush toilet. These designs look and act like standard toilets but are able to reduce water consumption by providing the right amount of water for the specific task.

How they work

Standard toilets use siphoning action, a method that employs a siphoning tube, to evacuate waste. A high volume of water entering the toilet bowl when the toilet’s flushed fills the siphon tube and pulls the waste and water down the drain. When air enters the tube, the siphoning action stops. Dual flush toilets employ a larger trapway (the hole at the bottom of the bowl) and a wash-down flushing design that pushes waste down the drain. Because there’s no siphoning action involved, the system needs less water per flush, and the larger diameter trapway makes it easy for waste to exit the bowl. Combined with the savings from using only half-flushes for liquid waste, the dual flush toilet design can save up to 68 percent more water than a conventional low flow toilet [source: How Stuff Works].

Here are a few Pros and Cons for purchasing a duel-flush toilet for your home.

Pros

  • According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 4,000 gallons of water can be saved annually in a residential household that converts to these water-conserving fixtures.
  • Most types of dual flush toilet are designed to use gravity to remove waste through a large trapway, rather than old-fashioned pressure siphoning. The size of the trapway has a bonus effect: it reduces the incidence of clogs.
  • Dual flush toilets aren’t just clever and pretty; those that are high efficiency models are required to flush up to 350 grams of waste.

Cons

  • Some models of dual flush toilets may require professional installation or simply present a frustrating challenge for the DIY enthusiast
  • Many models may leave some residue in the bowl when using the low volume flush option. This means that dual flush toilets in general require more frequent cleaning
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Eco Tips Featured Furnishings

4 Benefits of Buying an Eco-Friendly Mattress

Traditional mattresses are created using a wide range of chemicals and glues which are bad for both your health and the environment. There are a couple of different types of eco-friendly mattresses, such as a mattress with a latex core (entirely made from the sap of rubber trees) which is a renewable energy source. It is hard to find an eco-friendly mattresses you can try out before buying, so your best bet is calling your local mattress stores and asking if they carry any brands of eco-friendly mattresses (and if not, ask if they can point you in the right direction). Before buying an eco-friendly mattress make sure to do plenty of research beforehand.

Here are 4 important benefits to keep in mind when deciding to purchase an eco-friendly mattress.

Healthier

When it comes to your health, everything is a factor from what you eat, to how you move, and how you sleep. Your sleep is actually a vital factor in your health. And if you don’t get good quality sleep, you won’t be able to function properly. With an eco-friendly mattress, you can sleep soundly knowing not only that you’re on a bed that is full of support and comfort for a good night’s sleep, but it also anti-microbial and made of biodegradable materials and a mattress that doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals.

Comfort

You will spend about one third of your life in bed, so why go for anything less than comfortable? Unlike others, eco-friendly mattresses have many comfort pros, but no cons. Their main comfort features though are their ability to regulate body temperature more freely and easily than other mattresses, and they match themselves to the shape of your body, allowing you to have a more natural sleep.

Eco Friendly

Latex mattresses are made out of the sap from rubber trees, (which attributes to their comfort and health benefits), and allows them fully bio-degradable. With the use of these materials to make the beds, this means that they are the most eco-friendly mattresses available, unlike other mattresses that are filled with synthetic chemicals and fumes.

Durability

Durability is an important factor when making such a large purchase. On average, most mattresses will show signs of sagging within 2 years and need to be replaced between 7-10 years of use. But with a latex mattress, they will last up to 20 years before a replacement is needed. And since they’re eco-friendly, this not only saves you money but it saves on the environment too

Keep in mind

Purchasing a queen-size mattress made with all certified organic fabrics and an all-natural latex core starts around $1,400 and can travel upwards of $6,000. Green mattresses tend to last much longer – some come with 20-year guarantees – but that’s still a major investment over a conventional product that costs a third as much.

Sources: treehugger.com, ( http://www.treehugger.com/green-home/how-to-buy-mattress.html ), sleepjunkie.com, ( http://www.sleepjunkie.org/all-about-eco-friendly-mattress-options/)

 

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Featured Furnishings Home Improvement

Ceiling Fans Can Help Reduce Your Energy Costs

Everyone who lives in a climate that gets over 80° is interested in reducing energy costs.  Installing a ceiling fan is one way that you can save some money and stay cool in the summer.

Why a ceiling fan

An important tidbit of information to remember is that ceiling fans don’t lower the temperature in the room, they just provide a breeze that can help make you feel up to 5° cooler. However the movement of the air inside the house in the summer may be enough to lower the thermostat a couple degrees, thus saving you a few dollars on your electric bills. Ceiling fans cool you off which will help reduce the temptation to keep lowering the thermostat. It is important to remember to make sure the blades are rotating counter-clockwise for a “cooling” effect.

Where to put a ceiling fan

If you are remodeling your home or having a new home built, don’t forget to order the wiring for a ceiling fan in every room (where you could possibly want one), even if they don’t get installed right away. It is much cheaper to have the rooms wired in the remodel/building stage than after the fact.  It’s a good idea to put a ceiling fan in every room where your family spends a lot of time (kitchen, family room, living room, the den, and of course the bedrooms).

What ceiling fans won’t do

Ceiling fans won’t keep your home cool if you leave them on when you aren’t home.  They don’t cool the air, they just provide you with a breeze that cools you off.  If you leave your fan on in the room when you aren’t there you aren’t saving energy – you’re wasting it!

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Eco Tips Featured Gadgets & Gear

4 Kitchen Appliances You Can Live Without

An easy way to start reducing your electric bill every month is to cut back on appliances you do not really need. If you are like the typical household you have drawers and cabinets filled with gadgets and small appliances. To help conserve energy, resources, and money consider getting rid of some of these gadgets and using the alternative instead.

Electric Knife

Most people break out the electric knife twice, maybe three times a year (Thanksgiving, Christmas dinner, and maybe Easter). However why not ditch your electric knife and use a nice sharp knife instead? It does the exact same thing as an electric knife but does not use any electricity.

Juicer

Are you surprised to find an electric juicer on the list? This is an easy switch that won’t screw up your healthy juice regimen. Hand-held juicers require a little muscle, but they produce big energy savings.

Electric Mixer and Stick Blender

An electric stick immersion blender has a single mixer attachment, so to make something like whipping cream, a hand-held mixer is your best bet. The old fashioned, quiet hand mixer works like a dream. Often you can find these in antique stores with wooden handles. Don’t forget vintage is totally in right now.

Coffee Grinder

It’s early in the morning and it’s awfully easy to plug in the coffee grinder to pulverize fresh beans. Just think how much faster you’ll wake up if you have to do it yourself.