Category — Green Tips

While we seem to focus so much attention on searching for and purchasing the most energy-efficient refrigerator and freezer, it turns out that how much food you store in your fridge or freezer has a significant impact on how energy-efficient they are. According to these green shopping tips at Ideal Bite, your fridge and freezer will function more efficiently when they are full, but not overstuffed.

So, here’s a thought: Next time you head out to do some grocery shopping, make it worth your while. Running in for just a few things multiple times a week ends up costing much more in the long run due to impulse purchases and wasted fuel. By planning meals, and shopping from a grocery list, you’ll conserve fuel, save money on groceries, and conserve energy. I guess the express lane isn’t the “easy out” I thought it was.

Garbage disposals are certainly a convenience, but green living advocates have often wondered if they’re the best choice for the environment.  Should you send leftover food down the disposal, or should you just pitch it in the trash?

A recent Slate Magazine article on the best way dispose of leftover food mentions some important points, but this is a debate that may never get a solid conclusion.  Here is some food for thought when it comes to using a garbage disposal…or not.

The Methane Factor: Organic waste produces methane gas, which is harmful to the environment, but some waste treatment plants and landfills now have equipment in place to capture methane gas as an alternative energy source. Find out what’s going on in your community and consider a garbage disposal if your water treatment plant has these facilities, or throw your food in the trash if your local landfill has the capabilities to capture methane.

The Water Conservation Factor: When using a garbage disposal, you have to consider the amount of water and energy it takes to get the waste down the disposal, not to mention the production process for the garbage disposal itself.

The Fuel Conservation Factor: Similar to the water conservation point, one could argue that sending waste to a landfill via a garbage truck requires fossil fuel and results in carbon emissions.

Earth Friendly Alternatives: There are two ways to avoid the garbage disposal debate.  First, using a backyard composting bin is always a better choice than a disposal or a trash can.  Second, planning your meals so that you only cook what you need, and using up leftovers are great ways to reduce household waste, so you don’t have to worry about getting rid of it.

Here are some green living tips for ridding your home of the toxins that can contribute to poor indoor air quality.

Formaldehyde: Formaldehyde is often found in the finishing products used on wood furniture, particle board furniture, and cabinetry. When purchasing kitchen cabinets, wood paneling, or other similar items, be sure to inquire about the formaldehyde content. Read more about the dangers of formaldehyde.

Mold & Mildew: Poor air quality caused by mold and mildew can cause serious respiratory problems for some people. If you want to reduce the risk of mold in your home, make sure you properly maintain the filters in all of your household appliances, including humidifiers, air conditioners, and air purifiers. In addition, shower curtains can sometimes be a source of mold and mildew. Read more about the dangers of mold in your home.

Dust: Too much dust can reduce the air quality in your home. If you want to reduce dust, consider replacing your drapes and curtains with window blinds, and replacing your carpet with hardwood flooring. Learn more about reducing dust in your home.

Visit the EPA for more about improving indoor air quality.

An article about reusable shopping bags in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal brought to light some important points.  Turns out some of them might not be as green as you think. Here are some green living tips to consider when it comes to choosing reusable shopping bags:

Where are they made? Many supposedly green shopping bags are manufactured in China or other foreign countries.  That means that it takes a lot of fossil fuel and carbon emissions to get them you.  If you’re going to use reusable shopping bags, try to find ones that are manufactured close to home.

What are they made of?  A lot of the free shopping bags that so many retailers are promoting as green products are made of plastic, which is often criticized containing VOCs, and doesn’t biodegrade well. Reusable shopping bags made of hemp and bamboo are greener options. I love the designs on these reusable shopping bags at ReusableBags.Com.  They’re made of cotton and manufactured in the USA.

Ever wonder what those little “environmentally-friendly” logos on the back of everything from your microwave oven to your bedroom furniture really mean? Turns out, you’re not the only one. Thanks to Consumer Reports, you can now search  by the type of product, or search on specific logos, like the one above, to get the facts on all those confusing environmental labels, seals, and stamps of approval that we see on so many supposedly environmentally-friendly products. Visit the Eco-Labels Center to do your own search.

Consumer Reports also provides a very helpful article titled What Makes a Good Eco-Label to help you determine if the green living products you’re using are really all they’re hyped up to be.

Can you imagine powering everyday items like your water heater, furnace, and kitchen stove with the power of the wind? In light of the current fuel crisis, and growing environmental problems, Americans are increasingly catching the drift when it comes to green energy sources, and wind power is high on the list.

According to Wikipedia, wind power is responsible for just 1% of the world’s total energy, but it is readily utilized in some countries. For example, wind turbines are responsible for 19% of energy production in Denmark, where wind farms are used to generate green energy for power grids.

Although they are certainly a green living idea worth checking into, you should be aware that wind turbines require a significant investment on the part of the homeowner. The Southwest Windpower Skystream 3 grid-tie wind turbine system, pictured above, lists at $5,387 at Real Goods.

Is your mailbox often crammed full of catalogs selling everything from bath towels to kitchen cutlery?  A quick look at your coffee table or magazine rack should give you an idea of how much junk mail Americans receive on a daily basis.  Here’s the hard truth: almost 40 percent of what we throw away everyday is unwanted paper. (Source: Recycling-Revolution)

If you want to bump up your green living efforts and stamp out junk mail, here are a few links to get your started:

ProQuo:  ProQuo is a free junk mail elimination service that claims to stop 90% of your junk mail by removing your name from junk mail lists.

Green Dimes: Green Dimes is a free service to stop junk mail, and according to their website, they’ll even pay you a buck to sign up.

Stop Junk Mailing. Com:  This is a paid service ($25) that also claims to stop 90% of junk mail.

Don’t forget to recycle junk mail that does manage to make it to your door.

Although we generally think of ceiling fans as a way to ward off summer heat, don’t overlook them as a way to conserve energy in the winter. Here’s how ceiling fans can help you reduce winter heating bills:

Since hot air rises, much of the heat we pay for ends up near the ceilings in our home, with cold air near the floor. In the winter, flip the switch on your ceiling fans to reverse, so that the blades will spin in the opposite direction. This simple action will break up the layers of hot and cold air by forcing the warm air near the ceiling downward, allowing you to stay warmer without cranking up the thermostat on your furnace. The low setting on your ceiling fans should be enough to keep the warm air down where you need it.

Here’s a tutorial on how to install a ceiling fan.

Before you whisk away your autumn leaves with a garden rake or leaf blower, consider these green living tips for using them around your yard.

Mulch- Leaves make a great environmentally-friendly mulch for nourishing flower beds and even the lawn.  Although you shouldn’t leave them whole, simply running over your leaves with a lawn mower will chop them up enough to create a leaf mulch for spreading around plants and dispersing around the yard. It’s important to chop the leaves to provide for air circulation when placed around your plants.

Compost- Autumn leaves make an excellent addition to your compost bin.  Toss them in with grass clippings and they’ll break down into a nutritious mix for your garden soil.

Important Note about Leaf Burning: Although it once was a common practice across the US, burning leaves is now considered a health hazard due to the toxins  (including carbon monoxide and formaldehyde) released. Read more about the dangers of burning leaves from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Reusing household items anytime you can is key to any green lifestyle.  From bedroom furniture to kitchen appliances, thrift stores are hot spots for picking up used household items. However, you do need to be a little selective, and buy items that are durable enough to withstand reuse.  Here are a few thrift store shopping tips:

Furniture:  If you’re looking for a sofa or arm chair, check out the condition of the frame by attempting to wiggle the arm of the furniture or looking at the underneath side.  Loose frames made of quality wood can often be tightened up, but beware of furniture made of particle board. Don’t worry about finishes or upholstery; you can always refinish with a non-toxic paint or no VOC wood finish.

Electronics:  Most electronics on the shelves at thrift stores work just fine, and have been left there simply because they’ve been replaced by newer models.  Kitchen blenders, mixers, radios and alarm clocks are usually in plentiful supply.  Avoid items with frayed cords or signs of overheating, unless you know how repair them.

Clothing:  From blue jeans to winter coats and everything in between, green living gurus can find great deals at thrift shops on gently used, and sometimes brand new clothing.  Avoid stains that probably won’t wash out at this point, and fabric that’s already worn out.  Learn how to replace a zipper and sew a button, and you’ll be able to salvage many perfectly good items.   Don’t forget about all the things you can do to recycle blue jeans.  Thrift shops are a great place to pick up  whole bags of fabrics for craft projects.