Living Green

Programmable Thermostats

2008-12-26T22:06:00.000-08:00

Going green and saving energy can also save you money. One great idea to do both is to get a programmable thermostat in your house.

Did you know that you could save about $180 a year by installing a programmable thermostat? According to Energy Star, the average household spends more than $2,000 a year on energy bills — nearly half of which goes to heating and cooling. Programmable thermostats make monitoring energy easy by making it automated. Remember to set your programmable thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter (or lower) and in the summer set it to 78 degrees (or higher).

Wondering which programmable thermostat is right for you? Here is a great article from Energy Star to help find the programmable thermostat that will work best for you.

Green Holiday Tips Video

2008-12-14T22:28:00.000-08:00

This video is from The Natural Step in Monona, Wisconsin.

Planning a Green Home?

2008-11-20T20:39:00.000-08:00

If you are planning a new home, there are many resources available to help you plan an environment-friendly house. One such resource is the book, Your Green Home: A Guide to Planning a Healthy, Environmentally Friendly New Home, by Alex Wilson.

The book covers areas such as renewable energy systems, materials selection, water efficiency, optimizing energy performance and sit design. It is useful for people who are building on their own, as well as those who are utilizing the service of an architect or design firm.

After reading this book, you will learn the principles behind Green Building and what the process is to achieve a green home. Planning a home to be energy efficient and environment-friendly is not only good for your pocketbook, but good for our planet as well.

Green Living Light Bulbs

2008-11-14T16:41:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we may feel overwhelmed at trying to save our planet. If you think about it, that sounds like a huge task, doesn't it? The key is to start small.

Hmmm......where to start? I have an idea!

How about light bulbs? Did you know that if every American home replaced just one light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (aka CFLs): we’d save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year; we’d save more than $600 million in annual energy costs; we’d prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.

Those are some powerful statistics. That power starts with you. Doing something as simple as switching light bulbs. And there you go, you're saving the planet!

Feels pretty good, doesn't it?

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

2008-11-11T17:20:00.000-08:00

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

Reduce means to use less of everything: less energy, less paper, less gas, and less water. for example, turning off the water when you brush your teeth.

Reuse means to find new uses for your old products. For example, turning an old tire into a planter in a garden or making a purse out of an old pair of jeans.

Recycle means taking used products like cans, bottles, plastics, and paper and turning them into something we can use.

The green symbol with the 3 arrows is the symbol for Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

10 Ways to Lower Your Electric Bill and Help the Environment

2008-11-11T17:08:00.000-08:00

By Jill Black

Each month we cringe when we see our electric bill. You can do a few simple things that could save you big money each month. Another benefit to lowering energy usage is it helps promote the planet by not wasting resources. Here is a list of ten things you can do every day to bring down that bill.
1. Turn off lights that you are not using.
It only takes about two minutes to walk through your house and turn off lights that no one is using. The average bulb uses an estimated 20 watts. When your old bulbs burn out, try replacing them with the new energy efficient bulbs. They last much longer, from 3-5 years with average use, and the savings really add up.
2. Run your automatic dishwasher when it is completely full.
Make sure your dishwasher is completely full. Running a half full dishwasher is wasting energy and water. Don't use the automatic dryer, let your dishes air dry. This saves a lot of money in the long run.
3. If the temperature is nice outside, open your windows
Give you're A/C or heater a break! Open those windows and let the fresh air inside! If you do this as much as possible, you are sure to see a difference in your electric bill.
4. Change you're A/C filter once a month.
If the filter is clogged with dust, it makes the A/C work harder, costing you more money! An average filter costs just a few bucks to replace; doing so can save you some bucks as well.
5. If you live in a mobile home, put skirting around the bottom.
This will help keep your home warm in the winter, using less heat, and cooler in the summer.
6. Keep curtains/blinds closed during the day.
On those hot summer days when it's a bit too warm outside to open the windows, keep the hot sun out by closing the blinds. It will take less energy to cool your home. Also try using ceiling fans. They use little energy and can help cool rooms down. Most have reversible motors, so during winter you push warm air back down.
7. Replace weather stripping on windows and doors.
This keeps that hot or cold air from blasting through, keeping your home at a comfortable temperature.
7. Keep your thermostat set at a higher/lower setting when you are not home.
When you are away for the day, keep your thermostat set at about 80 for warm climates, and about 65 for cooler climates. Your home stays at a comfortable temperature without costing an arm and a leg!
8. Turn off your computer monitor when not in use.
If you're not surfing, no need to leave that monitor on. If you have more than one computer, turn off the one you use the least.
9. Turn off your television when not in use.
Just like the computer monitor, if you're not watching T.V. it's just wasting electricity!
10. Try washing clothes in cold water instead of hot water.
You're saving energy by using cold water and your clothes still get nice and clean! Also try drying them on a cooler setting. If you can, hang your clothes outside. Not only are you saving energy, you also have the sweet smell of line dried clothes! With just a few simple changes, anyone can cut their energy bill. Not only are you saving money, you are helping the environment.
Jill works with inside real estate. They have sites focusing on El Paso Real Estate and Dallas real estate. They also have a new site focused on the Corpus Christi Real Estate market.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jill_Black

Earth Friendly Dish Soap

2008-11-11T16:55:00.000-08:00

Looking for a dish soap that is earth friendly, natural and mild on your skin. Dishmate Apricot Liquid handsoap is a great choice for people choosing to go green. It is wonderful for people who have sensitive skin and can't use harsh products. It is formulated with an apricot oil base that acts as a moisturizer on skin. You can find it at eco-friendly retailers such as Green Goods.

Product Size: 25 oz. Bottle
INGREDIENTS
Water, coconut oil derived surfactants, 100% apricot oils

Living Green Tip of the Day

2008-11-11T12:32:00.000-08:00

Wrapping a water heater with insulation can keep as many as 1,000 pounds of global-warming CO2 a year out of the upper atmosphere.

Global Warming

2008-11-11T12:07:00.000-08:00

What is "global warming"? Well according to Wikipedia, Global warming is the increase in the average measured temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century, and its projected continuation. In media, it is synonymous with the term "climate change."

This statement from the Union of Concerned Scientists sums up why global warming must be brought to our attention and placed as a top priority:

Global warming is one of the most serious challenges facing us today. To protect the health and economic well-being of current and future generations, we must reduce our emissions of heat-trapping gases by using the technology, know-how, and practical solutions already at our disposal.

Global warming will affect every one of us and we all need to do our part to slow down this process in order to protect our planet and everyone on it.

Click here to see a map that details local consequences of global warming.