Tag: eco home ideas

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Eco Tips Featured Recycling

4 Ways to Reduce Junk Mail and Paper Waste

Excess junk mail and paper waste… almost every household seems to have this problem. From credit card advertisements, free sweepstakes opportunities, magazine subscriptions you didn’t order, and of course the very popular free coupons. The coupons may come in handy.  As for everything else, the likelihood of them meeting your paper shredder is definite.  There are a few ways that you can decrease the pile of paper waste and junk mail in your home.

Unsubscribe Magazines and Newsletters: If you like receiving magazines or store catalogues, you can get these online.  For example, if you have a Nook, Kindle, or iPad, these subscriptions can be continued digitally and without the use of paper.  It would cost less as well to have your subscriptions electronically transferred to your portable reading device.

Opt-out: Sign up at the website optoutprescreen.com where you can remove your name and mailing address from the mailing list for credit card and insurance providers.  This will definitely decrease the amount of junk mail you receive!

Avoid Sweepstakes and Contests: If you have entered a contest or sweepstakes online, which requires you to give the website your home address, you will receive a lot of junk mail! Those guys won’t let you off easy.  They will want you to sign up for another contest or be part of a great deal in town! Try to avoid these sites.

Pay Bills Online: With current technology, banks, insurance companies, and other service providers have been able to give their customers the online bill pay option.  Rather than receive your bill in the mail, you can sign up online to receive an alert when the time comes to pay a certain bill. After that, you can go to the insurance site or your online bank account and pay the bill! That makes less bills coming through the mail. Most banks are trying to promote the option of bill paper to decrease the amount of paper waste!

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Eco Tips Featured Green Building Home Design

3 Benefits of Using Solar Energy at Home

Solar energy has recently become more popular due to its organic and natural qualities. It is also more economical to use solar energy due to its renewable supply. Ultimately, solar energy is worry-free and the only maintenance and upkeep needed are the application of solar panels and keeping the panels clean and clear of debris. There are many great benefits to use solar paneling for your home as a means of using energy.

  • Decrease in Energy Bills: When using solar energy, you are only taking from an ample supply of energy that regenerates itself naturally.  The use of non-solar energy only increases your electric bill every month, depending on the usage in your home. The application of solar panels will be beneficial because the energy produced will decrease your electricity bill.  Solar energy is free because it is natural and harnessed by solar panels.
  • Decrease Energy Demand: Using solar panel generated energy will decrease the demand for machinated energy. The production of energy costs hundreds of dollars, thus the expense of paying energy bills.  However, solar panels produce more energy than your local energy provider. All the excess energy produced by your home solar panels goes back into the power grid.  Therefore, the electric company writes you a check for the extra energy you produce.  Not only are you benefiting from home generated energy through solar panels, but you’re also being paid for the energy you produced!
  • Environmentally Sound: Solar energy is natural and can never run out. It is renewable and does not require a bill every month for its services for your home. You will experience some relief using your heater, appliances, and air conditioning unit knowing that your source of energy is renewable. Also, to produce energy without solar energy requires the use manufactured electricity, which requires a huge amount of power usage. The use of solar energy decreases the need for electric power.
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Gadgets & Gear

2 Solar Flashlights to Keep Handy

Need a flashlight and the batteries are dead? How many times has that happened to you? Have no fear because solar powered flashlights are here! With so many great solar powered models on the market it is hard to know what exactly to look for. It is best to determine what you and your family needs are then decide what kind of flashlight model to get!

A solar flashlight is a flashlight that stores energy from the sun, using solar power as a source of light when it gets turned on. A typical solar powered flashlight has a small amount of solar panels, normally in the handle; which makes the flashlight easy to use! Other models include a crank that creates light was well or even hybrid models that include a hand crank and solar panels or a set of batteries and a hand crank. There are even some flashlights that include radios (very handy in emergency situations).

Many stores have solar flashlights such as Bass Pro Shops and Target and you can shop around online and also order directly from the manufacturers. If you buy a good solar flashlight is should last you a long time. You can throw it in your toolbox and forget about it, just do not forget to place the flashlight in the sun to charge!

Here are two great solar powered flashlights you should consider buying:

  • Goal Zero 90107 Solo Solar Powered Flashlight

This flashlight includes solar powered panels as well as a crank and a AC/DC output to power this flashlight. It has a long battery life and can be charged in as little as 10 minutes with the hand crank. It costs about $25 dollars online not including shipping and handling on Amazon.com.

  • Dorcy 3 LED Dynamo & Solar Flashlight

This flashlight has solar panels and a crank shaft to charge the batteries. It features three bright LED lights. It costs $20.59 plus shipping and handling and you can find it at opticsplanet.com.

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Eco Eats

30 Minute Vegetarian Chili for Meatless Monday

Meatless Monday is here again and with this simple vegetarian chili recipe you are guaranteed to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Try to get the produce in this recipe from your local farmer’s market to support your local farmers (if possible). For more information on why to go Meatless on Monday click here.

Vegetarian Chili

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon extra-virgin oil

2 bell peppers (any color), chopped

2 cups chopped mushrooms

3 carrots, peeled and chopped

1 large onion, chopped

3 celery stalks, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 (15 oz) cans of pinto beans

1 (14.5 oz) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes with juices

Optional Ingredients:

Non-fat plain Greek yogurt

Low-fat or Fat-free shredded cheddar cheese

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add bell peppers, mushrooms, onion, celery, and garlic; cook, stirring, until vegetables begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Add chili powder, oregano, cumin, and salt; cook, stirring occasionally for about 5 more minutes.

Add beans and tomatoes with their juices. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until chili is fragrant and slightly thickened, 25 minutes. Serve warm.

Additional Notes:

You can choose to garnish with the chili with nonfat plain yogurt if you like or low-fat or fat-free shredded cheddar cheese.  When I make this chili I follow all these directions then throw it in to the crock pot and let it cook for a couple of hours (when I have the extra time). When you throw the chili in the crock pot the vegetables soften and the ingredients meld together to create a delicious chili. Serve with a mixed green salad on the side and a couple of crackers. Eat and enjoy!

Nutritional Info: Servings: 4/ Amount per serving: 2 C/ Calories per serving: 287.6/ Total Fat: 6.2 g/ Cholesterol: 0.0 mg/ Sodium: 960:5 mg/ Total Carbs: 46.0 g/ Dietary Fiber: 14.1 g/ Protein 14.2 g/

Recipe adapted from the South Beach Diet.

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Eco Tips Furnishings Home Design Home Improvement

The Easiest Way to Conserve Water and Save Money

With a lot of the country in a serious drought (Kansas, Texas, Nebraska just to name a few), it is nice to know that the average consumer can make a difference saving water and money by just switching their showerhead! When you get a low-flow showerhead you are able to save you and your family some money and a lot of water.

The average American uses about 2,500 cubic feet of water every year, that’s the equivalence of about an Olympic sized swimming pool!  A typical shower uses up to 25 gallons of water and on average the typical American uses about 100 gallons of water daily (this number can change depending on the length of the shower.)

A low-flow shower head has the ability to cut your bathing water consumption by up to 70%. According to the EPA by “letting your faucet run for five minutes uses as much energy as it takes to keep a 60-watt light bulb lit for 14 hours.” Just by switching your shower head to a low-flow model you can save a lot over the course of a year:

  • With a traditional, 2.5gpm showerhead, you’ll use 5,250 gallons of water on showering in one year.
  • With a 1.5gpm, low-flow showerhead, you’ll use 3,150 gallons of water over the course of one year.

(Remember these numbers are an estimate and are based on a single person household, these numbers can double and triple depending on the amount of people in your home.)

Low-flow showerheads are super simple to install and start around $10. There are so many styles and variations you can choose from, there is bound to be something that you end up loving. For instance some models have “flow-adjusting dials and a pause button, which allows you to break for a bit of lathering up, then return to the same temperature and pressure.” If you are looking for a simple way to improve your water consumption and help reduce your water footprint, it’s time to take a trip to your local home improvement store!

Sources: lowflowshowerheads.org, (http://lowflowshowerheads.info/water-saving-stats/), hometips.org, (http://www.hometips.com/buying-guides/showerheads-low-flow.html).

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Eco Tips Featured

5 Natural Alternatives to at Home Air Fresheners

According to recent studies conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), most store-bought air fresheners contain formaldehyde, petrochemicals, p-dichlorobenzene and aerosol pollutants (these chemicals can cause asthma, watery eyes, respiratory problems and more)! Store-bought air fresheners release pollutants more or less continuously. Upon reading about all those harmful chemicals in air fresheners I immediately started researching natural and eco-friendly ways to freshen my home without risk of potentially putting myself at risk. Here are three ways to leave your home smelling fresh without using harsh chemicals and most of the ingredients can be found in your pantry!

Simmer Spices. You can simmer spices such as whole cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg on the stovetop or place them in a crockpot for all day smell.

Use Essential Oils. Dab a little on a light bulb or a warmer to gently scent a room. You can also combine then with other scents and make one uniquely your own!

Cooking Odors. Eliminate cooking odors by placing a shallow bowl of vinegar nearest the scent. It will help “capture” the scent and rid it of your house!

Create Your Own Potpourri. Create your own potpourri from bulk herbs, flowers, and spices and leave a little in a bowl or place them in sachets. You can use your left over herbs from your herb garden and flowers from your flower garden as well!

Odor Absorbers. Use a neutral odor absorbent such as a box of baking soda in a stinky area (especially in the refrigerator to help capture smells). You can also sprinkle especially smelly spots (such as the garbage can) with a little vinegar and baking soda to help with the smell.

Sources: kimberlysnyder.net, (http://kimberlysnyder.net/blog/2012/03/10/the-danger-of-air-freshener-and-10-alternatives-for-a-great-smelling-home/)

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Eco Tips Featured

4 Things to Help Keep Your Kitchen Eco-Organized

Space is a valued commodity in most kitchens, so we came up with a few new uses for old items that most of us already have stashed away or collecting dust in a closet.

Vintage ceramic crocks. Keep an eye out for ceramic crocks at a second hand store or antique shop. Use them in the kitchen to hold utensils or dried herbs.

Wicker baskets. Wicker baskets are easy to find at most resale shops or just stashed around the house. Use larger baskets for organizing or storing placemats, plates or silverware.

Glass jars. Old glass jars can be labeled and reused as small canisters to hold healthy snacks like almonds, granola or dried fruits.

Loaf pans. Retired loaf pans are ideal to use for neatly classifying and storing kitchen spices or seasonings in cabinets. Label each pan based on general use:  baking spices, poultry seasonings or meat seasonings.

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Articles Featured Gadgets & Gear

Saving Money with Power Strips

Guess what? If your electronics are plugged in, they are leaching electricity … even if they are turned off. This is referred to as “phantom load” and it accounts for nearly 20% of all electricity that is used in your home. What a waste, right?

You can eliminate “phantom load” and go greener by plugging most of your appliances into a power strip. A power strip will halt the energy drain as long as the switch on the strip is in the “off” position. Flip the power strip switch to “off” or unplug as many appliances as possible before going on vacations or leaving home for long periods of time.

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Featured Lawn & Garden

Which Plants Are Easiest to Care For?

Indoor plants not only add to the décor, but also foster a fresh and energizing atmosphere if kept healthy. In addition, plants can help counterbalance the effects of humidity and electrical radiation. 

The challenge, especially if you lead a busy lifestyle, is proper care and tending. You can get creative with plants by placing them in an unused fireplace or atop high kitchen shelves and ledges.

Below is a list of three low maintenance indoor plants that you can easily incorporate into your eco-friendly living space.

Christmas Cactus. The Christmas cactus can handle low light and infrequent watering.

Pothos. One of the easiest houseplants to grow. The Pothos is tolerant of almost any lighting environment and almost impossible to kill.

Mother-In-Law’s Tongue. Long living plants with sharp pointy leaves that require infrequent watering.