Earth, Wind & Power Blogazine

Tips for Making Your Home More Energy Efficient

By Samantha Gasco

With the economy making its recovery, budgets are still tight and saving money is one thing we are all looking to do. With a little extra thought you can do just this and address our ever important environmental issues at the same time.

There are a million and one things you can do to your home, car and lifestyle that can help conserve energy and save a few bucks, but for now here are just a few simple tweaks that can make a huge impact.

1. Instead of using paper towels for kitchen messes, use clothes to clean floors, work tops etc., then wash (in cold water of course) and reuse. Saves on energy used making the rolls transport and paper - even recycled ones use all these resources.

2. Walk! So many people feel they need to jump into the car to hit up the corner store for a couple groceries. Walk or ride a bike instead, it’ll save you money on gas, is better for your health as well as that of our planet.

3. Turn your heat down by one degree or if using central air turn up one degree, and watch your bill decrease. Or, in the summer, turn up your A/C unit. Do really need it to be on 66 or 68 degrees. How about 70 or 72 degrees, and closing blinds that provide direct sunlight.

Now these are just small changes that won’t become a huge inconvenience in your life and in the end your pocket will be thanking you when it’s not turned inside out.

Click herefor more eco-friendly home and garden tips from EWP.

Gardening Tips for the Consciously Green

Summer is here so step outside and exercise that green thumb that’s been hibernating for all too long. If you're looking to make your garden extra green, here are some ideas that kick off your green garden revolution.

First and foremost, cut out the pesticides and harmful chemicals. Rely on Mother Nature to do her job. Also, try composting. If you don’t have enough room for a large compost bin, a wormer is a good option. Not only will it give you rich, organic soil the worms will speed up the composting process.

Gardens need a lot of attention and water, so instead of using the garden hose and racking up a water bill, collecting rain water is a resourceful way to keep your garden vibrant and green.

Buy flowers that will flower as late into the fall as possible. This will allow more beneficial bugs and bees to have plenty of time to pollinate.

(Source: Associated Content)

Put a Stop to Catalog Waste & Killing Trees

Are you over filling your recycling bin with catalogs you’ve never read let alone never ordered anything from? Well its time to stop all the wasting and giving your mailbox a break.

A free catalog choice service lets you select the ones you want to receive and send your request directly to the merchants. It’s so easy too! All you have to do is go to the Catalog Choice website and with a click you can stop all the junk.

Each year over 53 million trees are consumed each year to produce paper catalogs. The production of those results in 56 million gallons of wastewater, and 4.1 million tons of waste of old catalogs. Needless to say, those few minutes of your time to stop the junk are worth a ton.

Fake TV: A Green Way to Keep Burglars Away

Whether leaving for a vacation or just going out for the night you want to make sure your home is safe. Many people in an attempt to elude intruders tend to leave on lights or even the TV to let burglars know someone just may be home. Well although we want to applaud you for looking out for your safety, you are wasting a lot of energy, especially if you are using the glow of your TV.

Now with the invention of the Fake TV, you can have the glow of the TV all while using only one-tenth the energy of the real thing. The TV light is made up of scene changes, fades, flicks, and color changes, so from the outside looking in it looks like the real thing. Running under $40 the Fake TV is an eco-friendly option for those of you who like to use your TV as a security feature.

How to Recycle Your Old Ink Cartridges

By now everyone should know the importance of recycling, and if not, it’s time to get with the program. But not everything may seem as easy or convenient to recycle as paper and plastic products. One of those items is ink cartridges, whether it’s for a business or personal use, there are a lot of benefits to recycling your empty cartridges.

Most cartridges can be recycled up to six times and are guaranteed by most manufacturers to work as well as brand-new ones. Most inkjet cartridges can be refilled at any ink store for a fraction of the cost of buying a new one. It also significantly reduces the amount of plastic ending.

Look at the instructions in the box of your new laser or ink jet cartridge to find out how to recycle your old one. Many companies will provide instructions, packaging materials and free postage if you wish to recycle your old cartridge, which is then refilled and used again.

Another option is turning your ink cartridge in at office supply stores. One great option is Staples, which offers $2 in Staples Rewards on each recycled cartridge that can go toward future ink purchases for all Dell, HP or Lexmark cartridges.

So although ink cartridges are not as easy as curb-side pickup, it’s well worth going out of your way just a little bit to recycle.

All Natural Memory Foam: Comfortable and Eco-Conscious

Memory Foam has got to be one of the best inventions ever, and if you have yet to try one of these pillows or mattresses out, now is the time. Not only is memory foam extremely comfortable it is now eco-friendly.

Essentia has created natural memory foam, made from 100 percent natural latex (allergy-free), and infuses organic essential oils, plant extracts and water into the foam composition to give it a memory foam feel.

It has all the benefits of memory foam, providing luxury and outstanding comfort, without the toxic ingredients. The natural memory foam will also provide a healthy, allergy-free sleep environment, and comes with a  durable 20-year warranty.  Also, as an added bonus the natural memory foam is 100 percent biodegradable!

Organic Linens for the Table

As many of you are filling your plates with healthier, organic foods, you can now go one step further by making what is under your plate organic. It’s time to dress your table in some eco friendly duds. Not only do table clothes provide an elegant backdrop to any meal, they can make you feel a bit more responsible when they are made from all-natural and organic materials.

Rawganique has expanded its line of fine linens to be eco friendly by using organic cottons and hemp products. Made in Europe from the finest certified organic French linen or European hemp yarns, these linens are also chemical free and sweatshop free.  Rawgnique’s prices are also lower than other organic linen products because they manufacture and sell direct to customers so there are no middle people to mark things up.

Customers can also get matching table runners and napkins to have a completely organic set. So even if the meal on your plate isn’t totally guilt free at least the linens you are eating on are.

How to Recycle Old Electronics

With technologies advancing rapidly and consumers constantly in with the new and out with the old; you can’t help but wonder, what happens to all the old electronics? Well some are sold, others are donated or recycled, and surprisingly, a lot are just thrown away. 

If you aren’t able to sell your used items, your best bet is to recycle them. Televisions are used on average for less than two years. For computers, it's three. Recycling, or "E-cycling," these and other electronic items is critical for preserving landfill space and for ensuring that hazardous materials used to make electronics are properly disposed.

Whether you are looking to recycle a television, computer, ipod or cell phone, the Electronics Industry Alliance(EIA) maintains a listing of organizations nationwide that accept donations of working electronics products. Recyclers can choose their location and EIA will provide various locations for recycling those used items. That old excuse of ‘I didn’t know where to recycle’ is no longer viable. Sorry!

Eliminate Plastic Bags From Your Shopping Trip

The time has come to eliminate all the plastic bags from your grocery trip. You’ve already switched to reusable shopping bags, now it’s time to get rid of the other bag…the plastic produce bag! One option is to check out 520-nm’s produce bags that offer eco-conscious shoppers an ideal way to eliminate their plastic usage.

 Made of 100 percent recycled PET, or plastic bottles, right down to the label the large reusable produce bags keep the equivalent of 18 plastic bottles out of landfills. One hundred bags reduce the need for approximately one cubic yard of landfill. The heavy duty recycled material makes these bags longer-lasting and more versatile than other produce bag alternatives made from cotton, mesh or tulle.

The bags are easy to use and easy to care for. They can be used endlessly and are machine washable. The 520-nm bags come in both produce and bulk item sizes.

(Source:  520-NM LLC.)

What Makes a Product "Green"?

What makes a product “green”? There are many ways a product can be made green, they are energy or water efficient, use healthy, non-toxic materials, are made from recycled or renewable sources; and are recyclable or biodegradable themselves, among other things.

Many people automatically see dollar signs when they think about purchasing organic and environmentally-friendly products. Sure, a lot of items may run a few dollars more; however, being green on a budget can be very easy.  Easy ways to make your home eco-friendly without compromising your budget include using reusable plates and cutlery, energy-efficient light bulbs or reusable shopping bags these are easy, each bringing more bang for your buck by being reusable and lasting longer than traditional products. Just something to keep in mind next time you make a trip to the market.