Earth, Wind & Power Blogazine

Tips to Conserve Electricity (and Money) this Spring

The drudges of winter are slowly coming to end, and along with warmer temperatures comes longer days (requiring fewer lamp-lit evenings) and open windows (leading to fresh, rather than forced, air flow) throughout your home. And all of these seasonal adjustments add up... to a less expensive electricity bill!

In addition to reducing your eco footprint, a few simple steps can help you to cut your energy usage and keep some cash in your pocket.

Focus on the Fridge
Often overlooked, this appliance is one of the largest consumers of energy in your home. Think about it; it's always on. And while it's running, it can eat up approximately 8 percent of your electric bill. An easy way to help a fridge run more efficiently is to clean the outside coils twice a year.

Don't Forget to Look Up
Don't forget about ceiling fans! Double-check that all are working properly and are dust-free and then redirect fans to circulate counterclockwise in the summertime, pushing from the ceiling down to create a cooling effect.

And then Look Out
Windows, windows, windows. In addition to turning off the therostat when possible, replace your storm windows with screens to allow air to circulate in moderate temperatures. 

Automate It 
If you haven't already, install a programmable thermostat to help adjust to unpredictable changes in temp and humidity. As the air outside heats up, adjust your thermostat to the warmest comfortable temperature for you to save dollars when the bill is due. 

For more eco-friendly tips, visit Earth Tones.

 

Spring Cleaning: Tips to Greener Vacuuming

Spring cleaning tends to churn up a lot of dust. But what's an eco-minded clean freak to do when it comes to plugging in and running the vacuum? That's what I was wondering as I pushed open my windows for the first time this season, pulled out the vacuum and duster, and took a deep breath. 

Turns out, effective spring cleaning doesn't have to be harsh on the environment. We've rounded up some tips that will keep your home humming without sucking up too much energy in the process.

Open those windows
As soon as weather permits, it's critical to air our your house and let in the freshness. This allows toxins that have built up over the winter (especially heavy if you live in a well-insulated home) to filter outdoors again, and will also help to loosen up the dust-filled corners of your lesser-used spaces.

Embrace the doormat
Up to two-thirds of the dust and dirt in your home is tracked in on your feet, according to the Sierra Club. Take a preventative measure and use doormats near every entry, shake them clean or vacuum them often, and save yourself from added trouble elsewhere.

Upgrade to an efficient vacuum
Choosing a quality machine means less time cleaning for you and less dirt in your home. How do you know which vacuum makes the most sense? Choose one that features the Carpet and Rug Institute Seal of Approval and Green Label, ensuring indoor air quality.

Never underestimate baking soda
A sprinkle of soda over your carpet prior to a good vacuum will do just the trick when you're in need of a clean-smelling boost. It's safe, fragrence free and inexpensive, too!

Keep an eye on the belt
Nobody wants to hear the snap of a vacuum belt mid-cleaning session. You should check yours regularly, replacing worn belts when necessary (for maximum effectiveness) and refitting the belt when it's misaligned, causing unintended wear and tear. 

Creative, Green Gifts for Mother's Day

This Mother's Day, why not treat mom to something special - and green? We've compiled some of our favorite ideas for the lady on your list, all of which give just as much back to her as Mother Nature. Customize one of the below gifts or create your own concept and leave us a comment divulging your creativity...

For the Gardening Mother
- In a terra-cotta planter, arrange a slew of gardening essentials to kick off planting season. Organic seeds, durable gloves made with natural fabrics, and homemade plant markers crafted from shaved sticks.
- Plan a day trip for you and mom to the local farmer's market (find one near you, here). In additon to quality time spent together, treat her to a few of her favorite, organic starter plants to really get this year's garden growing.

For the Spa-Goer Mom
- Pamper mom from head to toe with a gift certificate to one of these luxuriously sustainable spas. Rated Top 10 Green Spas and Resorts by Organic Spa Magazine, they're sure to provide pure indulgence for an hour - or a weekend.
-  Make it a DIY day when you whip up one or more of these sweet-smelling homemade body scrubs at home. Pair your pedicure-worthy treat with a set of eco-friendly nail polishes.

For the Hostess Mama
 - Brighten her eyes with beautiful dining accessories for outdoor, springtime dinners. These bamboo platters are sure to delight, as will these recycled glass goblets.
- Guests will oooh and ahhh over natural decor like this french herb wreath when it's hung on the front door. Surprise mom with something unexpected, but traditionally lovely. 

Five Frugal Tips for Living Green

With gas prices hovering at $4 per gallon, there’s plenty of reason to justify an uptick in frugality. After all, environmental concerns usually lessen when you’re also eyeing a dwindling bank account.

For those of you trying to save a few bucks, consider these green tips, which not only conserve our planetary resources, but our financial resources too! In fact, by following the below suggestions, you could save nearly $250 per month.

Turn to Tap
The average 24-case of bottled water costs roughly $6 and requires 72 fl. Oz of crude oil to manufacture. If you’re guzzling the FDA suggested 64 oz per day, you could pocket up to $365 a year by turning to tap water. 

Seal Up Cracks
While it’s sometimes hard to tell, air seeps into and out of your house through every window and door that’s not adequately sealed. That means you could be losing hard cash when hot summer air leaks into your AC-cooled home. By purchasing a sealing kit for the winter months, when windows are typically shut, or investing in energy-efficient windows and sliding doors, you could save yourself $20-$50 a month.

Bring a Bag
Lessen your wastefulness by carrying a few rolled-up, reusable bags in your car for quick shopping trips. Be sure to ask about retailer discounts when you’re checking out – many stores offer a small discount for every reusable bag you use.

New to You
Don’t count out that garage sale down the street – or the local thrift shop – the next time you need to pick something up for your house or self. Make space in your home for gently-used items that are “new to you” by donating your old stuff. You could save $25 a month by choosing a less-than-new purchase.

Share a Ride
You can read a book or finish up some last-minute work while commuting to your workplace via mass transit. On top of the emissions savings, you’ll be saving yourself from the costs of a vehicle, potential repairs, fuel and auto insurance. 

For more earth-friendly tips, visit Earth Tones.

(Source: Illinois CPA)

Hybrid Houses of the Future

Suited to Jetson-family taste with its shiny exterior and sleek lines, this off-the-grid hybrid house in California is made of plain old shipping containers, despite its futuristic façade. Using high-efficiency construction methods that go beyond standard prefab building, this smartly designed home is a sustainable, affordable option for green-minded families and features a whole slew of eco-friendly features. 

With a solar home shading system and “living roof” that uses grey water to nurture native plants, the all-steel construction house is unusually strong, offering earthquake, fire and wind protection alongside extreme efficiency. In fact, the simply designed home can be pre-engineered so that its cargo container pieces are assembled in less than an hour, according to sustainable architecture company, EcoTechDesign.

Plenty of sunlight, lots of space for greenery, and an outdoor breezeway add up to the perfect Mojave desert home, if Southern California’s warm-weather atmosphere suits your style. We'd add some solar panels to the roof, park an electric car or hybrid in the driveway and host one heck of an open house if we had the keys to a green home like this. Tell us, what would your dream green home look like if you could design it from the ground up?

For more information on green news, visit Earth Tones.

5 Tips to Buy Greener Groceries

5 Tips for Buying Greener at the Grocery Market
from the Bulk is Green Council

1.  Reduce waste! Buy just the amount you need – Whether it’s a pound or a pinch, put a stomp on food waste by buying just the amount you’ll use. Pay attention to the amount you select (or scoop, in the bulk foods section) when experimenting with a new spice in your favorite spaghetti sauce recipe or stocking up on trail mix for the kid’s lunches. Overdoing it only means you’ll pay, literally, the next time you rid your cupboard of outdated food. 

2.   Reuse it and get rewarded! Bring your own bags and containers – Whole Foods and top supermarket chains praise (and sometimes pay) shoppers who use their own bags. Invest in glass Tupperware or give that empty cottage cheese container a second use by filling it with brown rice from the bulk foods section or a quinoa salad from the deli counter. Just ask the cashier to weigh your container ahead of time. While you’re at it, BYOB (bring your own bag). If you must go with single-use, opt for paper! 

3.   Buy natural and organic, whenever possible – Not only are the pesticides and synthetic chemicals used in non-natural and non-organic foods often toxic to our health – they’ve been linked to cancer and other diseases – they’re bad for the environment. Tainted runoff from conventional farms washes into rivers and lakes, which contaminates waterways and threatens wildlife. Plus, the added benefits of buying natural and organic don’t have to mean added costs. By buying natural and organic in the bulk foods section of the grocery store, shoppers can pay 30 to 96 percent less on their grocery bill. 

4.  Make it a one shop stop – Save gas, time and the environment by picking up all your groceries in one efficient trip. Visit your local co-op or all-in-one supermarket, or consider cooking recipes made almost entirely with ingredients from one section of the grocery store, such as the bulk foods aisle to save time.

 5.  Turn the shopping over to the kids – Get your little ones excited about being green by allowing them to select natural, organic or Fair Trade treats and snacks themselves. Be it in the natural foods section or the bulk foods aisle, they’ll enjoy the freedom and you’ll enjoy getting healthy and eco-friendly food into the grocery cart without a fight.

5 Tips for Green Grocery Buyers

1.   Reduce waste! Buy just the amount you need – Whether it’s a pound or a pinch, put a stomp on food waste by buying just the amount you’ll use. Pay attention to the amount you select (or scoop, in the bulk foods section) when experimenting with a new spice in your favorite spaghetti sauce recipe or stocking up on trail mix for the kid’s lunches. Overdoing it only means you’ll pay, literally, the next time you rid your cupboard of outdated food.

2.   Reuse it and get rewarded! Bring your own bags and containers – Whole Foods and top supermarket chains praise (and sometimes pay) shoppers who use their own bags. Invest in glass Tupperware or give that empty cottage cheese container a second use by filling it with brown rice from the bulk foods section or a quinoa salad from the deli counter. Just ask the cashier to weigh your container ahead of time. While you’re at it, BYOB (bring your own bag). If you must go with single-use, opt for paper! 

3.   Buy natural and organic, whenever possible – Not only are the pesticides and synthetic chemicals used in non-natural and non-organic foods often toxic to our health – they’ve been linked to cancer and other diseases – they’re bad for the environment. Tainted runoff from conventional farms washes into rivers and lakes, which contaminates waterways and threatens wildlife. Plus, the added benefits of buying natural and organic don’t have to mean added costs. By buying natural and organic in the bulk foods section of the grocery store, shoppers can pay 30 to 96 percent less on their grocery bill. 

4.   Make it a one shop stop – Save gas, time and the environment by picking up all your groceries in one efficient trip. Visit your local co-op or all-in-one supermarket, or consider cooking recipes made almost entirely with ingredients from one section of the grocery store, such as the bulk foods aisle to save time. 

5.  Turn the shopping over to the kids – Get your little ones excited about being green by allowing them to select natural, organic or Fair Trade treats and snacks themselves. Be it in the natural foods section or the bulk foods aisle, they’ll enjoy the freedom and you’ll enjoy getting healthy and eco-friendly food into the grocery cart without a fight.

Organic Coffee Options

By Samantha Gasco

  Blended, iced, or piping hot, it’s what gets the majority of us through our busy days. Coffee, a substance drank so often it’s worth knowing where it comes from and it tastes even better organic.

Farmed without harmful pesticides, organic coffee costs only pennies more than your traditional cup of joe. And it’s well worth it considering most organic coffees are also fair trade, meaning farmers are paid fair wages to produce a quality product. So on your next shopping trip, try one of these great options and see if you can taste the difference.

Wild Oats'Organic Daylight Blend is supplied by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, a progressive Vermont-based company that has introduced organic coffee into convenience stores and fast-food chains throughout the Northeast.

Arbuckles' rich, aromatic Organic Ariosa Coffee comes with a peppermint stick tucked inside.

Equal Exchange sources the fragrant beans for its heavy-bodied Ethiopian blend from a cooperative of small farms in Africa.

Click here for more eco friendly advice and tips.

Tips for Going Green in the Kitchen

Green is always a good color for the kitchen. Whether it is the color of the food on your plate, or if it's decreasing your carbon footprint, going green in the kitchen is very easy. All it takes is a few minor adjustments and you will see yourself saving some of the green in your wallet. Here are a few tips.

1. It’s time to ditch the bottled water. It’s pricey and uses a lot of fuel to make and transport.

2. Buy locally. Find farmer’s markets and co-ops in your area for great selections of organic or locally grown produce and goods. It’s healthier and reduces the amount of fuel used to transport goods.

3. Use real dishes. Instead of relying on single use containers just wash and reuse the ones you have.

4. Buy in bulk, or buy items that have little packaging. Select items that have less plastic and extra fillers stuffed inside.

(Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Follow link for more great tips for going green in the kitchen.

Cook Your Way to Green Goodnewss

By Liz Kaadou

Creative and eco-conscious cooks around the world bring your water to a bubbling boil and prepare for an exciting and environmental lesson in “green” cuisine! While lettuce, broccoli and cucumbers technically fit the greens category of cooking, we are talking about engaging in food preparation methods that are consciously conducive to promoting eco-awareness. Follow these quick and tasty tips to transform your kitchen into an appetizing eco-oasis.

 

1) Opt for local produce from farmers markets.  They are a great alternative to the standard supermarket and can be a superb source of local, organically grown products.  By satisfying your shopping needs at these niche markets, you are helping to promote a healthy and happy environment because their products do not need to be shipped, which reduces gas usage.  In addition, you are supporting the local economy!

 

2) Start your own organic garden! Purchase seeds and some soil and you are on your way to having healthy produce in your own backyard.

 

3) Make the microwave your friend! These energy-efficient cooking machines are great options to avoid using your stove. Although you may not be able to create gourmet meals in the microwave, it is great for quick and easy cooking!

 

4) Keep your refrigerator door closed.  How many times have you been quickly trying to prepare dinner and you leave the fridge open so you can keep grabbing ingredients? Instead, make a list before you begin your cooking adventure so that you only open the fridge once and check off the items as you go.

 

5) Reduce cooking time! Why keep food on the stove longer than it has to be.  Once you bring vegetables to a boil for instance, you can turn off or lower the stove temperature and just let the veggies cook in the already scorchingly hot water.

 

6) Utilize eco-friendly cookware and kitchen utensils, like Cusinart's Greenware cooking collection, Click Here to buy.

 

7) Cut your food into smaller pieces, this reduces cooking time and of course requires less energy.

 

For more eco-friendly cooking advice, visit RTM's Earth Tones section.

 

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