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The Most Useless Energy-Related Home Products

November 27, 2009 in Save Energy, Save Money by Jennifer | No comments

There’s an interesting list up over at Green Building Advisor about the most useless energy related products around. The list is pretty cool but I don’t agree with all of it. Of course I’m not an official green building advisor or anything.

Blogger and advisor Martin notes the following as a waste of money and not great energy savers to boot…

  • Tyvek ThermaWrap
  • Fafco plastic solar collectors
  • Passive fresh air inlets
  • Vinyl siding laminated to rigid foam
  • Powered attic ventilators
  • Programmable thermostats
  • Inexpensive LED lamps
  • Foil-faced bubble wrap
  • Power factor correction devices
  • Vent-free gas space heaters

I’m not so sure I agree with the whole programmable thermostats being useless argument. Martin notes that they’re not totally useless — “they’re just unnecessary and insufficient.” He also notes that “Study after study has shown that installing programmable thermostats makes no difference in energy use.” Mainly because homeowner behavior is far more important than the hardware. However on the flip side I’ve known people who have used them and note that they have saved money. I had one in a previous home and while I didn’t feel it saved as much money or resources as the programmable water heating thermostat I also had, it still did save money on my energy bill. It may depend on how you use the device along with your normal habits surrounding electricity use.

I also think that powered attic ventilators can work to reduce costs in a newer home. My pal installed one and his energy costs are lower than before BUT he has a newer and soundly built home. Martin notes that most aren’t as efficient because  most U.S. homes have leaky ceilings so instead of helping the ventilators commonly draw conditioned indoor air into the attic through ceiling cracks which of course will increase not decrease costs. He also notes that canned foam to seal leaks in your ceiling or additional insulation for your attic floor will be more useful.

In any case, if you disagree or not it’s a good read. He makes some excellent points and it’s lame to waste money on what won’t work for your home.

The Four Energy Saving Areas in Your Home

November 24, 2009 in Save Energy, Save Money by Jennifer | No comments

Basically, you’ve got four major energy saving opportunities in your home…

  1. Lighting
  2. Appliances and electronics
  3. Heating & cooling
  4. Water heating

save more energy

You could, of course, break it down even more. Each of us has hundreds of ways we could be saving more energy, but the above four are major and a good place to start.

For lighting you can save more by incorporating day lighting into your home with energy efficient windows, skylights, and light tunnels. You can buy energy efficient bulbs and keep the lighting to a minimum or as needed basis. You can also remind family members to simply turn off the lights.

Appliances and electronic equipment makes up about 20% of your home energy usage and costs so it’s smart to purchase energy efficient versions of things like televisions, microwaves, refrigerators, washers and dryers, audio equipment and anything else you plug in. You may be able to get rebates on many of the items you buy. To further use these items efficiently, use them sparingly – i.e. hang dry many clothes instead of using the dryer each time. Plug all items in one space into one power strip then turn the whole darn strip off when you leave the room. Also, cook wisely – you don’t need the stove for everything.

For heating and cooling think ahead of time. Make sure you build or buy a home that’s got energy saving features such as good orientation, evergreen windbreaks, try passive solar design, and weatherize properly for winter. Also little adjustments such as turning the heat down a few notches adds up over time.

Heating your water can actually account for as much as 25% of your energy use. Try a solar water heater or the next time you upgrade, upgrade to the most efficient model you can. Insulate your hot water pipes and heater, install a water timer, and do the little things like taking shorter showers.

If you do all of the above it will not only save you energy but it will put money directly in your pocket – good timing with the holidays here.

Save energy with a toaster oven

October 2, 2009 in Eco Kitchen, Save Energy by Jennifer | 1 comment

Say the word toaster oven and most people think of those old burning hot machines sitting on top of grandma’s counter when they were a kid (or is that only me?). In any case, a new toaster oven is a great way to save energy in the kitchen.

Black & Decker Toaster Oven

The newer toaster oven models are not the machines of the past either. New toaster ovens have all sorts of settings, come in various sizes (some even fit whole pizzas!), and overall are more eco-friendly than oven cooking because they use less energy, have shorter preheating times, and keeps your home cooler in the summer than a traditional heat ridden oven. Newer toaster ovens even look better than the ones from years past so you won’t feel the need to cover it up when guests come over.

Note if you only want one other appliance – i.e. an energy saving microwave or a toaster oven check out Treehugger’s guide to which is the better and greener choice for your needs.

Clothes Dryer Alternatives

September 28, 2009 in Furniture & Appliances, Save Energy by Jennifer | No comments

Clothes dryers can use a ton of energy in your home, zapping resources and raising your bill. Luckily, there are plenty of options that will allow you to go dryer free most of the time.

The basic clothesline: Obviously people have been using the basic clothes line for hundreds of years. It’s simple to set one up too. You don’t need two properly placed trees either. Mother Earth News has an easy tutorial about how to make your very own sturdy clothesline. There are also retractable clotheslines you can invest in as well that can be inside.

Drying racks: Drying racks are nice because they can be used both indoors and out, and usually fold up nice and tidy and out of the way when not in use. There are many drying rack options like the Expandable Wall Rack (shown above), an Over-Bath Drying Rack, or a basic folding drying rack.

Hangers: You have to hang your clothes anyhow, so why not simply take them from the washer, put them on hangers, and hang them on the shower rack for a day. THEN move directly to your closet. This is pretty much what I do all year round. Living in rainy Oregon makes it difficult to hang clothes outside year round, so this is easier. Inside clothes dry super fast too, so it’s not as if your bathroom will always be clothes covered. There are even eco-friendly hanger options, such as…

  • Save the ones your clothes come on. Seriously folks; according to a Readers Digest story last year, about 3.5 billion hangers end up in the landfill annually. What the!? Use the ones you’ve got.You can also check thrift stores for used hangers.
  • B Green Bamboo Hangers
  • Compost friendly Wheatware Hangers

Locate Special Offers and Rebates from ENERGY STAR Partners

August 11, 2009 in Save Energy, Save Money by Jennifer | 1 comment

Just an FYI, ENERGY STAR makes it pretty darn easy to save energy and money at the same time. At the ENERGY STAR website they’ve got a deep search function that’s built to help encourage customers to buy energy efficient products. The benefit to you – the customer is that you might score a killer deal.

Some of the current price reductions you can search for include sales tax exemptions or credits, or rebates on qualified products via ENERGY STAR and their partners. Sometimes you’ll also be able to find partner sponsored recycling incentives for the proper disposal of old products.

How to get a deal:

  1. Head to the ENERGY STAR special offers page of their website.
  2. Enter your zip-code (many rebates depend on where you live) and click to see if there are any special offers or rebates currently available on ENERGY STAR qualified products in your area.
  3. You can also drill the search down by choosing specific products, such as a washer or a refrigerator.

We all want to buy the best and most energy efficient products to save money and to support a healthy planet, and this ENERGY STAR feature just offers a little help and incentive in doing so.

7 Ways To Conserve Water and Energy in the Bathroom

August 4, 2009 in Save Energy, Save Money, Water by Jennifer | 1 comment

Keep it green from the get-go. If you’re building or remodeling, invest in an earth-friendly tub. Diamond Spas and Durat both have eco-friendly options. Durat is especially cool making tubs of solid material with recycled plastics (see Durat tub example above). Check for water leaks: You can do this by checking your water meter say, at 8am. Wait two or three hours but run no water during that time. Re-check your meter and if it’s changed, there’s a leak.

Insulate hot water pipes for hotter water even after changing your heat to a lower setting.

Insulate the water heater tank: It only takes about a year to get back the money you save on this investment and you’ll conserve energy.

Water softeners may cost you: Only use if seriously necessary. According to American Water & Energy Savers, you can “Save water and salt by running the minimum amount of regenerations necessary to maintain water softness. Turn softeners off while on vacation.”

Install water-saving low-flow shower heads.

Take shorter showers – technically you should wash up and get out not linger.

Buy an inexpensive tank bank or float booster for your toilet. This alone could save you ten or more gallons of water per day.

How To Cut Heat Loss and Conserve Energy with Evergreen Tree Windbreaks

August 3, 2009 in Green Your Home, Organic Gardening, Save Energy, Save Money by Jennifer | No comments

The following is a special report from Fast Growing Trees Nursery about how to effectively lower your energy costs, improve your landscaping, and save money all due to trees!

According to The Department of Environmental Protection, evergreen windbreaks are the most effective component in cutting winter heat loss. Research indicates that heat energy savings of up to 40 percent are possible resulting from diminished wind velocity and reduced air infiltration into your home. Considering the U.S. average, that could mean a savings of as much as $400 per winter!

Location is the most important factor in effectively planting a windbreak. The evergreens should be planted north and northwest of your home. That will place them perpendicular to the strongest and coldest winter winds. Plant the trees in a “U” or “L” shape to block the wind most effectively. The best zone of wind protection occurs from 2 to 7 times the height of the trees you plant. For example, if the mature height of the evergreens you’re planting is 20 feet, then the zone of maximum protection will occur 40 to 140 feet downwind. Keep this zone in mind when figuring out how close to a structure you’ll need to plant your trees for the greatest effect. Finally, decide how far apart to plant your trees. Plant them more closely to have them grow together quickly. Or plant them farther apart to save money but wait a little longer for them to fill in.

Keep a few things in mind as you plant your evergreen trees. Evergreens like full to partial sun and just about any soil conditions. Dig a hole slightly shallower and about twice the diameter of the root system. Use your shovel to scrape the walls of the planting hole so the roots can easily penetrate the soil as they grow. Then, set each tree in the planting hole and spread out the roots. The bottom of the hole should be firm enough to keep the tree from sinking after it’s planted. The top of the root ball should be about an inch above the surrounding soil. Then make sure the tree is straight up and down in the hole. A level is very helpful for accuracy.

Finally, apply water as you backfill the hole with soil to remove any air pockets. Break up dirt clods and remove any grass, stones or other debris. After the transplant is complete, water each tree again well. To keep the soil moist, it is recommended that you mulch around the tree. Use enough mulch to reach a depth of 2 to 3 inches. This will keep the moisture in and slow down the growth of weeds and grass.

For more detailed info on how to plant evergreen trees, visit Fast-Growing-Trees.com and check out their planting information.

Low-cost help for the poorly weatherized home

August 1, 2009 in Save Energy, Save Money by Jennifer | No comments

I know it’s hot as blazes, (it’s been around 100 in Oregon) but this is actually a good time to think about your home’s energy use during the winter. Right now there are programs available for low-income families that can help to weatherize your home so that once fall and winter come your home will stay warmer and your wallet fuller as you save energy.

Saving home energy and conserving resources can be expensive if you need to make changes to your home. However, The U.S Department of Energy (DOE) offers a Weatherization Assistance Program that, in the last 32 years has provided assistance to more than 6.2 million families. The Weatherization Assistance Program enables low-income families to permanently reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. How the program works is, “Weatherization service providers install energy efficiency measures in the homes of qualifying homeowners free of charge. These are not expensive upgrades—the average expenditure limit is $2,826 per home—but they are effective, and energy savings pay for the upgrades within a few years.”

Savings to you: On average, weatherization of your home reduces your heating bills by 32% and overall energy bills by about $350 per year at current prices.

Are you eligible?

The DOE estimates that around 20 to 30 million U.S. families are eligible for services. Home owners and renters may qualify and if you get Supplemental Security Income or Aid to Families with Dependent Children than you are automatically eligible. Preference is given to those 60 years or older, families who have one or more members with disabilities, and families with children. Mainly they’ll go by your income to see if you qualify. If you are eligible you may get things like a microwave for low energy cooking, a wrapped water heater and more.

Contact your local state weatherization program to see if you are eligible and to learn how to apply.

If you can’t get assistance through the DOE you might qualify for:

  • Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
  • Many local energy suppliers offer assistance programs. Programs vary greatly though so contact your local provider and ask about consumer assistance in paying your bill.

What is low-impact living?

July 23, 2009 in Green Your Home, Save Energy, Save Money by Jennifer | No comments

Low-impact living, in basic terms, is living lightly, or as lightly as you can on the planet. Everything we do, from the day we’re born, affects the planet. Your goal as someone who wants to live green and protect the planet is to lower your impact when you can. You can’t have a zero impact – it’s impossible, but you can take small and major steps to green all aspects of your life.

First of all, if you don’t know you’re impact you’re stumbling around in the dark. Calculate your own eco-impact using the new and improved Low Impact Living Environmental Impact Calculator. Once you enter your zipcode this powerful calculator will show you your personal carbon footprint along with the energy, water, wastewater, trash, and stormwater runoff footprints of your home and lifestyle. Additionally, it recommends projects based on your specific inputs that can save you money, reduce your environmental impact, or in many cases both at the same time.

Once you have your score the next step is decisions and research. It’s hard to lower all your impacts at once so you can choose a couple to work on, and once you get those impacts parred down, choose some more. You can make decisions based on a few factors:

  • Choose an impact that will save you money – i.e work on energy savings for the home.
  • Choose an impact you believe in – i.e. if you’re passionate about ocean life work on buying sustainable seafood and doing some beach clean-ups.
  • Choose an impact that affects many aspects of sustainability – i.e. choosing to work on your transport impact can save you money, help halt the effects of global warming, and make air quality better in your direct area.

Here are five common impacts we make on the planet and some tips for lowering your impact…

NEW Eco-Performance Kitchen Faucets from Moen

July 21, 2009 in Save Energy, Save Money, Water by Jennifer | No comments

Moen has just introduced a new line of green kitchen faucets. They’ve already been carrying other green faucets for a while but their new eco-performance line of kitchen faucets is being touted as the first real green water saving faucets for the kitchen. The new Lindley Eco-Performance kitchen faucet offers beautiful, traditional styling, consumer-preferred high-arc pulldown spout – and a multi-function spray wand featuring water-saving settings.

Kevin Campbell, director of retail marketing for Moen notes, “While homeowners are concerned about saving water, the thought of waiting at the kitchen sink to fill a pot or pitcher is not very appealing… We are so excited to be the first in the kitchen category to offer homeowners a water-saving kitchen faucet that still provides the exceptional performance they have come to expect from Moen.”

What makes these faucets eco-friendly?

Faucets offer three unique water-flow settings. For everyday tasks that require constant, yet low-water flow, such as washing dishes or preparing foods, homeowners can choose new eco-performance standard stream or aerated spray modes. These special setting help you save water and money by providing a reduced flow rate of 1.75 gallons per minute (gpm), which translates to a 32 percent water savings. For tasks that require a set amount of water, such as filling a pot or pitcher – you can switch your faucet to the fast-fill mode, which flows at the standard 2.2 gpm rate.

Other perks:

  • The pulldown wand offers an ergonomic design with a fiber hose and a ball joint at the end of the wand.
  • Lindley faucets offer Moen’s patented Hydrolock installation system which connects the faucet and supply lines together with a telltale “click” for a quick, easy and secure connection.
  • Lindley faucets are available in LifeShine Classic Stainless or in Moen’s new Mediterranean Bronze finish.

The faucets are available at Home Depot or through the Moen website.

Evening Breeze Air Conditioned Canopy Bed for Energy Savings

July 15, 2009 in Furniture & Appliances, Save Energy by Jennifer | No comments

The Evening Breeze Bed is a tease if you aren’t traveling to an exotic location; but so cool we have to see it anyhow. The Evening Breeze Bed is a stylish air conditioned canopy bed, designed to provide cool air plus the desired temperature and humidity in a bedroom. There’s a mosquito net (the canopy) which also protects you from unwanted biting intruders. Bed temperature levels range from a gentle breeze to extra cooling for hot nights.

Air conditioners, according to Evening Breeze, are the number one energy consumers in tropical households and holiday homes. The average energy use for the Evening Breeze bed is only 400 Watt, which means a typical energy use decline of 60% per room in a tropical (hot, muggy) setting. This implies a yearly saving of 4 MWh, equaling 1.000 USD or 2,5 tons of CO2 pollution.

Evening Breeze also has a triple filter system process to make sure that the air you are breathing is 99,97% free of airborne particles. You can keep your windows and doors open since the air is concentrated around the bed vs. room, so you don’t lose air. This means you get freshly circulating air all night long.

Where can you get one?

Right now it looks like this bed is a commercial deal. Got a hotel or holiday home and you’re good to go. Residential use, I’m less clear on. The team over at Evening Breeze notes, “We are currently developing our sales and service network in the Caribbean and Africa. If you are interested in an Evening Breeze bed, please let us know. We will tell you when and where our beds are available in your region.” Contact them here.

I think cooling just a sleeping area makes a lot of sense even if you’re not in the tropics. You save money, save energy, and get a pretty canopy bed to boot. Hopefully we see this available on a wider scale soon.

What do you think – does the Evening Breeze Bed look good to you? Learn more at Evening Breeze.

Seven Ideas for Extra Home Energy Savings

July 12, 2009 in Save Energy, Save Money by Jennifer | 1 comment

There are so many ideas for energy savings that there are solutions for almost any home out there. Even if you’re already doing the basics; turning off lights, using energy efficient appliances, you can always try to save more energy and money. Here are ten ideas recommended by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy that we haven’t looked at here before.

  1. Replace any older windows with energy efficient windows OR at the very least caulk leaky windows.
  2. If you’ve got a waterbed, make sure you make the bed daily. Simply covering a waterbed up can save you one-third of the energy it typically uses.
  3. Insulate any hot water pipes and ducts that run through unheated areas.
  4. When buying a new dishwasher look for a no-heat drying feature which uses fans powered by room air vs. electricity.
  5. You should routinely look at your energy and utility bills to see which areas you could be doing better in. Some homes are energy guzzlers, but do ok with water conservation. You won’t know how your home is doing if you always pay the bill without stopping to think.
  6. Your heating and cooling systems need to be tuned up twice a year to keep them running at maximum performance.
  7. All those little cracks in your house can add up to the energy lost through, say a door kept open 24/7. Go through the house and check for all those tiny cracks. Seal up the largest air leaks in your home first (i.e. you can hear them leaking on windy days). The largest cracks are usually found near utility cut-throughs for pipes (”plumbing penetrations”), gaps around chimneys, recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and in unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.

Inexpensive and beautiful way to cut energy costs

June 1, 2009 in Organic Gardening, Save Energy by Jennifer | No comments

One inexpensive and beautiful way to cut energy costs is to simply plant deciduous trees on the south, east, and west sides of your dwelling. If you plant some trees today, you can expect long-term rewards in about 5-6 years (I know seems like forever) but, if you know you’ll be in your home long-term, this is a smart and pretty investment.

By lining trees up on the sides of your home you can create enough shade to cut cooling costs by as much as 30-40% once the trees mature. Trees can also act as windbreakers in cooler weather and combat Beyond shading your property, trees also help lessen the effects of Urban Heat Islands (which make your area warmer than it should be.

You can get deciduous trees for around $10 per tree (give or take) which is a great deal. Before you choose a tree check out the post Tree Planting Where You Live, which can help you make smarter decisions about which trees are best to plant for your area.

Learn more about tree planting for energy savings.

What is an ENERGY STAR qualified home

May 11, 2009 in Green Building, Save Energy, Save Money by Jennifer | No comments

An ENERGY STAR qualified home is a simple concept. For a home to earn the ENERGY STAR qualified rating, it must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ENERGY STAR homes need to be at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC). These homes usually include additional energy-saving components as well that can pop their energy efficiency rating up to 20–30% more efficient than your standard home.

The major features of an ENERGY STAR home include:

  1. Effective Insulation
  2. High-Performance Windows
  3. Tight Construction and Ducts
  4. Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment
  5. Efficient Products
  6. Third-Party Verification – this simply means that an outside qualified party (Home Energy Rater), conducts “Onsite testing and inspections to verify the energy efficiency measures, as well as insulation, air tightness, and duct sealing details.“

WHY BUY OR BUILD AN ENERGY STAR HOME:

  • It can simplify the green home buying process. Since it’s ENERGY STAR you have fewer decisions to make, because a home needs to meet eco-specifications to qualify.
  • Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR qualified homes have much lower owner costs when it comes to energy and water use.  You can also save money with lower financing options.
  • According to ENERGY STAR< energy efficient homes are a smarter investment, “To date, more than 6,500 home builders have partnered with EPA to construct nearly 940,000 ENERGY STAR qualified homes. The trend is clear. By choosing a home with the ENERGY STAR label, you can be confident that it will have an increasingly valued feature when the time comes to sell.” Of course they’d say that, but really green home are doing well on the market, so it’s not just company fluff.
  • You’re helping to keep the planet green. Houses can generate more greenhouse gas emissions than your car.

If you’re building, not simply buying an ENERGY STAR home you can check out some home plans that are Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR rating or click here to find home builders and developers that build ENERGY STAR qualified new homes, lenders that offer energy efficient mortgages, utilities that offer special incentives to buyers, and home energy raters that can verify the energy efficiency of a home.

You can take a tour of an ENERGY STAR home to learn more about the features offered.

Beyond Basic Compact Fluorescent Bulbs

April 8, 2009 in Save Energy, Save Money by Jennifer | No comments

We’re always hearing about compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) – and for good reason. CFLs are more earth friendly and last longer than typical bulbs. CFLs are an inexpensive way that any household can incorporate greener standards. BUT, what other greener lighting options are there? CFLs are not the only lighting choice if your goal is a green home. Following are two more green lighting options.

LIGHT-EMITTING DIODES (LEDS): Led lighting is actually more efficient (about three times more so) than CFLs and ten times more efficient than typical incandescent bulbs. They don’t give off much heat and last far longer than CFLs or standard bulbs. For example, the typical lifespan of a CFL is at most 10,000 hours while a LED can last up to 50,000 hours.

A downside of LED bulbs is that they’re more expensive to get started with. They do pay off in energy savings and lifespan in the long run, but in the short run you’ll need a larger budget to start using them. Also, LEDs are and are not handy depending on your needs. They make sense for smaller spaces where direct light is needed, but won’t work as well to light up large areas. See more tips on where LED lighting works best.

COLD CATHODE BULBS: These are actually a type of CFL but they run at room temperature, unlike average CFLs that work (in simple terms) by heating up. These can also be used for dimmers and any other light situation where flashing lights are needed. and last longer than other CFLs. You won’t have to fork over much extra cash for cold bulbs either, they’re not too much more than other CFLs and save you a little more over time due to their long life span. Cold cathode bulbs used to be used more like LEDs – i.e. in smaller, direct light situations, but currently you can find all sorts of bulbs for all kinds of applications.

Where to find these bulbs:

Quick Energy Saving Tips for Empty Rooms

February 27, 2009 in Save Energy, Save Money by Jennifer | No comments

We all know that we should turn off the lights when we leave a room. However, there’s more you could be doing in order to save energy on empty rooms.

Close off the vents in unused or less used rooms of your house.

Make sure the doors aren’t leaking cool air into your home via a large bottom opening. If you can feel cold air coming into your home from an empty room, place a towel or a made to order door draft stopper like the one below.

In unused rooms with fireplaces make sure you close the damper.

In empty or less used rooms close the drapes or blinds so that less cool air comes inside, which can result in air leaking under the door and into your used rooms.

Unplug items in underused rooms – i.e. lamps and TVs.

Are Microwaves Eco-friendly?

February 11, 2009 in Eco Kitchen, Save Energy by Jennifer | 1 comment

Microwaves can be eco-friendly; if you use them properly.

Eco-perks:

  • Cook faster than the oven or stove (in most cases). Thus saves energy.
  • Uses less energy overall than an oven or stove (if you’re cooking for the same amount of time).
  • Microwaves are recyclable.
  • Microwaves are not emitting toxic heat waves into your kitchen and home. Although, in the past, microwaves have been followed around by rumors of radiation attacks, this is no longer an issue. The FDA currently continually runs tests on microwave brands and also notes that as of right now, none on the market are a problem. I do always like a little grain of salt with my FDA, but overall new microwaves are safe. (see below).

Eco-cons:

  • If you microwave plastic containers bad chemicals can be released into your kitchen. You can avoid this by using good eco-friendly food containers vs. plastic.
  • Can zap nutrients if you cook food too long. This is not exactly an eco-problem, but if you pay for organic veggies, why zap them to death? Make sure you cook for short time periods.
  • Most people leave their microwaves plugged in because of the handy clock. Unplug your microwave when its not in use for maximum energy savings.
  • Older microwaves can be a hazard. Not only have older models been shown to leak radiation, but they’re not as energy efficient as newer models. It’s not worth the $5 you’ll save to buy an old one – just go new.

Cell Phones vs. Landlines for Energy Saving

February 6, 2009 in Green Your Home, Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle, Save Energy by Jennifer | 1 comment

Today, most of the people I know have cells. Many don’t even have landline phones anymore. However, some people I know have both.

Is this a wise use of energy and resources? Or should you ditch the landline phone?

Eco cons of landlines:

  • Landlines use more energy. Most need to stay plugged in 24/7; even cordless, because of the charger. Leaving anything plugged in drains energy resources.
  • Landline phones are tough to recycle. Some parts can be, but in many cases, you’ll be hard pressed to find a decent recycling center for basic phones.

Eco cons of cell phones

  • Cell phone batteries, for the most part are not eco-friendly. Some companies are working on more eco-friendly phones though.
  • Cell phones are outdated quickly and don’t last as long as most landlines.
  • Cell phones are lost often – another way cell phones cause waste.

The upsides:

Landlines don’t have those toxic batteries, and last a long time. Cell phone recycling programs are becoming very common, and they’re easy to find. Cell phones also use fewer materials to make, and can be unplugged plus charge quickly, using less energy.

What to do:

Some estimate that landlines will soon be obsolete anyhow, which is something to consider. Another fact is that you really don’t need both. If you already have both, it’s probably a smarter eco-choice to ditch the landline. The flip side is if you’re concerned about cell phones causing cancer. This is up for debate, but something to consider. If you’re worried, and having a landline will ease your concerns, it may be healthier stress-wise to have both and only use your cell on the go.

Do you have both landlines and cells in your family? Have you considered ditching one?

Does It Waste Energy To Turn Lights Off?

February 5, 2009 in Save Energy by Jennifer | 1 comment

You always hear that you shouldn’t run around flipping lights on and off because that act wastes energy. Does it though? Should you leave lights on rather than turn them off if you’re only leaving the room for a minute or two?

You should turn off the lights whenever you’re not in a room. Bulb lifespans are shortened by flicking them on and off, but not enough to make it worth your while to leave the light on. You’ll save more money by saving energy – i.e. turning off the light will lower your electric bill considerably.

For things like computers you don’t need to turn them off if you’re only stepping away for a minute, but you should power it down. Program your computer to sleep if you walk away for a bit. If you know you’re going to walk away for more than an hour, I’d turn it off.

All in all, when it comes to lights turn them off. It’s doesn’t waste bulbs significantly or power to do so. When it comes to other electronic items, turn them off and unplug, unless like a computer they have power down and sleep settings.

Source: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

Quick Tip: Just In Time for Tax Season – Toilet Rebate!

January 30, 2009 in Save Energy, Save Money by Jennifer | No comments

Keetsa has the goods on how you can get a rebate ($100) on a eco-friendly toilet. Good news if like me, you live in Portland, Oregon. If you don’t happen to live in good ol’ pdx, check with the resources below to see if you qualify for a rebate on an energy saving appliance in your neck of the woods.

Can I Get a Rebate for Trading in Old Appliances

Energy Star rebates and special offers

DSIRE – offers, “Fast and convenient method for accessing information about renewable energy and energy efficiency incentives and regulatory policies administered by federal and state agencies, utilities, and local organizations.”

Is There an Energy Tree in Your Future?

January 7, 2009 in Save Energy by Jennifer | No comments

I recently saw this kooky little creation – The Energy Tree. While it’s odd for sure, it’s a pretty cool idea.

The Energy Tree was a project developed for Microsoft’s StartSomthing PC Competition by Ben Arent, a UK Product & Interaction Designer. His portfolio is pretty neat, with many cool designs to see but this project might be the most useful dream product for green home dwellers.

Basically Arent designed the Energy tree as an “All in one device to view energy use in the home, and improve the overall energy life-cycle.” The Energy Tree, in theory, monitors power consumption and recycling use. A product like this would serve to help humans become more aware of their energy use at home, or I suppose in an office setting.

The Energy Tree has a user interface for displaying information about energy consumption. According to Arent, “The Energy Tree will grow a real tree… if you are energy efficient, but if you waste energy it will start to get a disease and or die.”

For folks saying – “This concept is crazy, it will never work!” Arent answers some questions here.

So, if something like this was on the market, would you be interested? I think it’s pretty cool. I like the whole tree metaphor. It’s a nice visual for energy use.

Cuddling & Other Tips for Saving Energy in Winter

December 14, 2008 in Save Energy, Seasonal Tips by Jennifer | 2 comments

Today we got snow here in Oregon, and trust me it’s freezing. This led me to think a little about winter and energy saving. Cuddling is of course an effective way to stay warm in winter but in case you’re not feeling all that cuddly, here are some other energy saving options.

  • Seal gaps or cracked seams in exposed ducts.
  • Clean or replace your furnace filters monthly.
  • Place window shrink wrap on non-energy efficient windows. You can also hang heavy blankets up with strong nails and this will block quite a lot of the chill.
  • Keep everyone gathered in a few rooms. Heat those rooms and shut the doors on rooms that no one is in.
  • If you leave turn off the heat! Once you return, your heater will quickly heat back up. There’s no need to heat an empty house – NOTE unless you have pets – don’t leave them freezing.
  • Lower your water heater. If you lower it to 120 F you can save money. Typically, a 10 F reduction on your water heater can save up to 5% on your heating, and no one needs their water set above 120.
  • Insulate any hot water pipes that lead from your water heater.
  • Install low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators – which is not a direct heat energy saving, but the less hot water used, the more you save.
  • Don’t underestimate clothing – a nice cozy sweater means you can keep the heat down. It’s not tank top weather!

Need more winter energy tips?

Quick Energy Saving Tip – DIY Energy Audit

Green Your Home On the Cheap

Quick Green Home Tip: Turn Down the Thermostat

Green Action for Autumn – Sealing Your Home for Winter

Is it snowing and chilly where you are?

Quick Energy Saving Tip – DIY Energy Audit

November 30, 2008 in Save Energy, Save Money by Jennifer | 1 comment

You can hire someone to run a home energy audit for you, or with the help of Home Energy Saver, you can actually do an energy audit easily by yourself.

At Home Energy Saver, you enter your zip code, and what shoots out is a typical round up of energy costs in your area. For example, after I enter my zip code, it shows that the average home’s energy costs are $1395 a year, while an energy efficient home in the same area costs about $737 a year.

There’s also a graph that shows which appliances typically drain the most energy in your area.

Next there are some questions to answer – all were pretty easy, so you don’t need technical know-how for this audit. Questions like…

  • Does your house have foundation or floor insulation?
  • Do you have a clothes washer?
  • How many freezers do you have?
  • What kind of heating equipment do you have?
  • And so on.

After filling out all the answers, the site will show you where you can make changes, cut costs, and save more energy. It’s a really nice site, and even if you aren’t planning on making any immediate changes, it’s cool to know your options.

Visit Home Energy Saver

Green Your Fridge & Freezer

October 29, 2008 in Green Your Home, Save Energy by Jennifer | No comments

Greening your fridge and freezer is easy and helps to contribute to an overall eco-friendly kitchen.Try these tips:

Buy Energy Star the next time you upgrade your refrigerator.

Own the smallest fridge you can live with that meets your needs. Not everyone needs a giant fridge.

Consider if you really need an extra fridge or freezer; say, in the garage. Even energy efficient appliances suck down on energy resources.

Maintain a tight seal on both your fridge and freezer doors. You should be able to stick a piece of paper in the door and it should stay put.

Most newer freezers self-defrost, but if yours doesn’t, be sure to defrost regularly because a freezer can’t function with thick walls of ice build up.

Vacuum the coils on the back of your fridge at least every six months which will improve performance and energy use.

[Wicked cool retro blue fridge available at Big Chill]

Green Your Home On the Cheap

October 17, 2008 in Green Your Home, Save Energy, Save Money by Jennifer | 1 comment

Hey folks; sorry that I’ve been missing in action. My laptop motherboard died – we’ll skip that story because it’s highly depressing. That said, stay tuned for some extra green home and living posts over the next few days to make up for my absence.

Since I’ve been having to spend massive amounts of cash on computer issues, saving cash has been on my mind. The good news is that there are plenty of ways you can go green without spending a lot of green. For example…

Free – $5 energy-efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs – Every once in a while places like Home Depot or your local energy company give out free CFLs (check your local resources). Even if you have to buy a bulb, the cost is low compared to the green savings and money saving over time.

$10 weather stripping – weather stripping at most will only cost you about $10 per roll, and it’s a great way to conserve energy resources and costs.
Read the rest of this entry »

Compact Fluorescent (CFL) Bulb Safety

October 13, 2008 in Save Energy by Jennifer | 1 comment

Compact Fluorescent (CFL) Bulbs are much better for the earth than standard bulbs, so hopefully your home is full of them. However, there’s a slight danger to having CFL bulbs.

You may have heard that mercury is dangerous, and that’s not false. However, when it comes to CFL bulbs, you’re not dealing with a huge risk. CFLs do contain mercury, but not in large enough amounts to affect your entire household, say, if one breaks. Mercury will escape from your bulb if it breaks, but it’s such a tiny amount, that it’s not going to flow over all the rooms in your home, and it won’t pose a danger to you, your pets, or your kids, so long as you carefully clean up the broken bulb.

  • Kids should never clean up broken bulbs.
  • You should avoid touching the bulb pieces while cleaning them up.
  • Gently sweep pieces into a dustpan, and toss into an outside trash can.

There have been some strange, rumor-like stories about CFLs online, but when you get right down to it, they’re mostly safe, and save energy, so go ahead and use them.

[image via GE - visit the GE Lighting ENERGY STAR Program page to learn all about CFL bulbs.]

Quick Green Home Tip: Turn Down the Thermostat

September 28, 2008 in Green Your Home, Save Energy, Seasonal Tips by Jennifer | No comments

It’s getting cold, and you’ll probably be reaching for the thermostat. However, before you crank that sucker up, try the following…

  • More clothing – a sweater inside is ok.
  • Extra blankets at night.
  • Exercising indoors – although I’d draw the line at jump rope and jumping jacks if you live above someone.
  • Open the window shades during the day to let some sunshine in.
  • Co-sleep with another family member.

Once you do decide that it’s cold enough for your heater to be on, try setting it 3-5 degrees lower than you think it should be set at. For example, if you always blindly turn your thermostat to 68, see if you can set it at 64 and still stay warm enough. Experiment with how low is just fine vs. too low.

This tip can save you money as you save resources. The Department of Energy notes that you can save $40+ a year just by turning your thermostat down by 1 degree. Wow – you do the math.

Green Action for Autumn – Sealing Your Home for Winter

September 27, 2008 in Green Your Home, Save Energy, Seasonal Tips by Jennifer | 1 comment

Once the weather starts to cool down, it’s time to take some green actions at home to make sure your house can handle the upcoming chilly weather without a huge drain on resources or your wallet.

One action step you can take is to make sure your home is properly sealed up. If you built an energy efficient home to start with (or moved into one), then sealing is a chore you can probably avoid. Newer, and well-built energy efficient homes already take heating and cooling needs into account. However, if you live in an older home, apartment, or other dwelling that has yet to be properly remodeled for efficiency, then sealing is a must.

Sealing can save you hundreds of dollars a year on your energy bill, and sealing helps to reduce the amount of CO2 that emits into our environment each year as well.

Sealing basics:

Sealing is cool, because it’s fast and easy for most people – even if you’re non-handy. Basically you’ll be checking the spaces around windows, doors, crawl spaces, the attic, basement, and even lighting fixtures for incoming air or cracks. Sealing is also a super inexpensive fix. Every general hardware store carries materials like caulk, weather stripping, window plastic, and more for a song. Sealing will pay for itself very quickly, and your family will be more comfortable in your home.

If you need a quick primer about sealing your home for winter, take a look at Weekend Project: Air seal your home from the ever helpful Lifehacker. Another good guide is Getting Energy Ready for Winter from the California Energy Commission.

Unplugging Your Home & Other Ways To Save Energy

September 7, 2008 in Save Energy by Jennifer | 1 comment

save energy

save energy

The Environmental Defense Organization notes that Americans waste in excess of $1 billion a year due to power waste. It’s not only our wallets that suffer either. Every time we use more energy than needed in our homes, we waste resources and contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Luckily you can take some simple energy saving steps that can both save you money and help protect the earth:

Unplug your house: There’s no reason to leave items plugged in when they’re not in use. Lamps, chargers, the toaster, blender, TV and more all continue to drain energy while plugged in. Unplug when you’re done, to save resources.

Use the right bulb: Energy saving light bulbs can save untold of amounts of energy over time.

Choose the right home appliances: Choose Energy Star products for money and planet saving benefits.

Live small: Live in a home that meets (not overly exceeds) your space requirements. The smaller your home, the less energy it takes to run the house.

Go alternative: Using alternative means of energy, like solar power, can ease the amount of footprint your home personally makes on the earth.

Weatherize: Don’t forget to weatherize properly for summer as well, not just the cold months.

Late night sweeps: Do a late night sweep each evening before bed. Walk through your home, turn off extra lights, and unplug items. Make sure nothing is left on overnight.

Is Hand Washing Your Dishes A Good Green Choice?

August 29, 2008 in Green Cleaning, Save Energy, Water by Jennifer | 1 comment

There’s usually a pretty large debate about hand washing vs. dish washing between green living folks. Each side has pros and cons that they feel strongly about.

save water at home

I’m on the side of dish washing being the best green choice. Dishwashers approved as energy efficient by the EPA can use a lot less water then conventional hand washing – in some cases, depending on how you wash, hand washing can waste up to 20 gallons more water than a dishwasher.

There are some other points to consider though.

Are you scrapping or rinsing your dishes? If you scrap then place your dishes in the dishwasher, it clears some food. A new dishwasher is powerful enough to get the rest of the food off. An older model dishwasher may require that you rinse dishes first, which of course wastes water.

If you use a soap that sucks (different dish washing soaps do work differently in different dishwashers) you may need to run your dishes twice – another water waste.

If you have hard water, you’ll need to use a rinse agent (vinegar can be substituted), or you’ll have to possibly run an extra rinse cycle to clear off soap residue.

If you live alone, and use maybe three dishes a day, hand washing responsibly is a better choice, because your dishwasher really should be full to be an efficient use of water.

For people on the side of hand washing is better, it can be, if you wash smart. Many people run water the entire time they wash, and that’s what wastes those 20 gallons. If you hand wash, use an easy rinse soap, run one sink full (or bin-full) of hot soapy water, and one sink (or bin-full) of warm or cool rinse water. Don’t just run the water like crazy.

What do you think – is hand washing or machine washing a better use of energy?

Beat Summer Heat Forever

August 18, 2008 in Green Your Home, Save Energy by Jennifer | No comments

Maybe not forever, but long-term solutions sure beat here and now solutions. You can make some changes to your actual home that will save you energy, cut heat inside the house, and keep costs lower in the long run.

beat summer heat

Buy window awnings: Awnings block more sun than you might think, without compromising too much incoming window light. If you go with awnings, choose opaque or light colored material, that’s tightly woven.

Make your landscaping work for you: Just like you can block cold winter wind with trees and bushes, you can also block the summer heat. Tall trees, big shrubs, and even well-placed vines can block quite a bit of sun and heat. To learn about green landscaping visit the EPA.

Curtain the outside of your home: Drapes inside cut heat, but there are also woven mesh screens that you can hang outside to block sun. Visit North Solar Screen to learn more.

Paint your home right: There are no clear studies but it stands to reason that lighter colors reflect the sun, and thus heat, so painting your home a dark color is not the best choice for hot climates.

Try some film: Window films are a little weird to use, but do block heat well.

Quick Green Home Office Tip

August 18, 2008 in Home Office, Quick Green Home & Garden Tips, Save Energy by Jennifer | No comments

If you’re looking to green your home office experience, you can start with the energy factor. Even when your computer, printer, and lamp are plugged in, they’re draining energy. That costs you money and resources.

Unplugging is a possibility, but also a pain if you’ve got a ton of office equipment. Charges, lamps, electronics, and a radio; it’s a lot to remember.

What to do: Invest in one simple power strip, like the ecostrip. Once you’re ready to leave your office, you can simply turn off the powerstrip, rather than unplug each and every cord. This is a simple green tip that can save you money, time, and resources.

Quick Tip for Water Savings

August 16, 2008 in Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle, Save Energy, Water by Jennifer | No comments

Showers and baths use an insane amount of water. To conserve more water, cut five minutes off your daily shower. To double your efforts, try placing a small plastic bin in the tub as you shower. Use that water to water plants, wash the car, or mop the floors. The two easy steps above can save upwards of 375 gallons of water a month!

10 Tips for Greening Your Nursery

August 6, 2008 in Children & Babies, Decor, Furniture & Appliances, Green Cleaning, Organics, Save Energy by Jennifer | No comments

This week we’re going room by room, looking at how we can green up all the spaces of your home. It’s really important to keep your little one’s sleeping space free from chemicals, toxins, and other icky things. Babies, with their smaller bodies and immune systems are more sensitive to everything. Following are ten tips that can help you green your nursery.

organic baby nursery

  1. Get rid of smelly baby odors (think diaper pail) with natural methods.
  2. Install energy saving lights and light bulbs. You can also set up lighting on a timer or sensor – for example, a night light on a sensor can save a ton of energy.
  3. Use non toxic paints and finishes on the walls and furniture.
  4. look for refurbished or recycled furniture. If you refinish it yourself, remember to use healthy non lead, non-toxic laminate or paint. Avoid materials like plywood and particleboard, because it usually contains formaldehyde.
  5. Be sure to buy a  safer, greener, baby mattresses. These used to be spendy, but you can find great deals on green mattresses and it’s worth it. While you’re at it, make sure to invest in organic baby bedding as well.
  6. Look for flame-retardant and sustainable floor coverings and rugs.
  7. Invest in toys made from sustainable wood, non-toxic materials, and made with Fair Trade practices. These type of toys cost more, but it’s better to buy fewer toys that are safe than a bunch of plastic toys chock full of chemicals. You can even consider what you have around the house as toys. Babies still love to bang on pots, play with cups, and dance with you – try to have fun with fewer toys overall.
  8. Invest in greener diaper choices.
  9. Keep your baby clean with natural soap and care options.
  10. Stock up your baby’s closets with natural and organic clothing finds. For some ideas visit the following stores:

Green Building Resources & Green Living Tips

July 29, 2008 in Alternative Energy, Decor, Save Energy, Sustainable Building by Jennifer | 1 comment

I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but Best Green Home Tips used to be located in a different spot, at the RiverWired network. Over there, we looked at many a green building and remodeling tip. I thought that if you missed these posts, it would be cool to catch you up to speed.

green living

Following are some of the best posts that you may have missed the first time around…

Green building:

Green home interior:

Alternative energy & energy saving:

This catches you up on about half of the green building blog. Later this week, I’ll post a second batch of great links that can help you to build and live green.