Simple ways to become a smarter consumer

What does it mean to be a smarter consumer and why do you care?

Reduce Reuse Recycle

First of all being a smarter consumer means you pay attention to the things you buy in an attempt to reduce waste and help lower the carbon footprint of the population. Lofty goal I know, but if we all do a few simple things being a smarter consumer is not hard at all.
Pay attention to all the disposable things you buy and really try to limit their use. Yes it is much easier to just throw away paper plates and napkins...but watch as your garbage fills and fills. Lucky for you there is a system in place that will remove that garbage every week. Try to imagine the heaps that would accumulate if all you ever used were simple throw away things like plates and silverware.
Pay attention to single use and over packaged items. This one is a little more difficult because you will have to make some sacrifices. This sort of thing means not buying the pre-cut vegetables and fruit at the grocery store. Stop paying for convenience and start paying attention to the amount of packaging you throw away. It really is not hard to cut your own vegetables or fruit.
Here is a list of a bunch of stuff you can live without...I promise:

Paper Billing: I don't know about you but I used to get 20 envelopes a month for bills that I already have automatically scheduled to pay. Take 5 minutes out of your super busy life and sign up for electronic billing. Some companies even offer rewards for signing up!

Land Fill Full of Disposables

Anything disposable: cups, plates, forks, knives, napkins, diapers, razors - do yourself a favor and invest in some decent quality stuff that can be reused again and again. This stuff is really not worth the use in the long run, don't be lazy because you don't want to do dishes...be a grown up and care about stuff.

Tin Foil: I know its easy just to grab some tin foil...wrap up that pizza and go, but that is an obvious waste we can live without. Invest in some good glass/plastic containers instead.

Non-Reusable Batteries: obviously you use them and throw them away...unfortunately these can be considered hazardous waste - try and use rechargeable ones instead.



Bottled water - bottled anything: If you are not going to recycle the plastic water bottle because it is a pain...then please please please use your own water bottle and fill up at drinking fountains.

Cutting out a few of these things will make a difference.

What does Photovoltaic mean and why is it useful

Photovoltaics

Photovoltaics is the direct conversion of light into electricity at the atomic level. Some materials  
exhibit a property known as the photoelectric effect that causes them to absorb photons of light and release electrons. When these free electrons are captured, an electric current results that can be used as electricity.

The photoelectric effect was first noted by a French physicist, Edmund Bequerel, in 1839, who found that certain materials would produce small amounts of electric current when exposed to light. In 1905, Albert Einstein described the nature of light and the photoelectric effect on which photovoltaic technology is based, for which he later won a Nobel prize in physics. The first photovoltaic module was built by Bell Laboratories in 1954. It was billed as a solar battery and was mostly just a curiosity as it was too expensive to gain widespread use. In the 1960s, the space industry began to make the first serious use of the technology to provide power aboard spacecraft. Through the space programs, the technology advanced, its reliability was established, and the cost began to decline. During the energy crisis in the 1970s, photovoltaic technology gained recognition as a source of power for non-space applications.

Thanks to NASA for putting it so well...you can find the rest if you would like to follow the link.

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2002/solarcells/
http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/solar-power/photo-voltaics/

Vermicomposting - a better way to compost

The practice of using worms while composting to help break down material into a richer soil

Earthworms can eat their own weight in organic matter ever day

What it is all about:

While organic waste can be composted year round you will find many home owners do now want to take a trip outside in the middle of winter. Also there are plenty of home owners who do now want a large bin full of decaying matter on their property in the first place.

I had a wicked batch rotting in a 5 gallon bucket that I would leave outside...unfortunately I had to move before I could try it out but I will be trying again for the spring time.

Worms have been the recyclers of dirt since soil was soil. Their populations can double each month which is good because they have to do all the tunneling and digesting.

Using an earth worm bin could be your choice for keeping organic rich soil inside without all the stench and icky bugs.

The Process:

Be warned...dealing with rotting material is quite disgusting and not for the weak of heart. These worms will eat and digest and eat and digest food scraps until the material looks like dirt and is full of worms. Once the material passes through the worm it becomes saturated with nutrients and is referred to as 'casting'. These 'castings' or worm manure is the nutrient rich 'vermicompost' that plants love. Use this worm soil as a mulch or a mix with regular soil.

Is it worth it?

Depends....if you are already into composting and would like to speed up the process then vermicomposting would be extremely valuable to you. Worms digest plant material much faster than traditional composting.

Traditional composting can take weeks or even months if the conditions are poor.

Another advantage of vermicomposting is the time release capabilities of the castings. The worm castings have a mucous coating which takes time to break down.

Casting contain:

5X more nitrogen

7X more phosphorus

11X more potassium

than plant soil

(The three main ingredients that help plants grow)

Aloe Vera a healing plant

I have an aloe vera plant in my room and it's been outgrowing the pot. It is not quite as bad as the one in this picture but you get the idea. Some of the leaves have even fallen off. I was curious how I could use the leaves before they shrivel up.



Aloe Vera  also known as the true or medicinal aloe, is a species of succulent plant in the genus Aloe that is believed to have originated in the Sudan.

Apparently this plant is very beneficial for your skin.

To use the plant for skin care you simply cut the leaves and use the gel to cover your skin.
Any affected area on the skin can be healed by the gel.
Sunburns and rashes...even helps with acne!
Aloe vera leaves contain a range of biologically active compounds, the best-studied being acetylated mannans, polymannans, anthraquinone C-glycosides, anthrones and anthraquinones, and various lectins

Lowering your impact over the Holidays

Going green for the Holidays

If you are trying to live a more green lifestyle one place to start would be around the holidays. If you can imagine for a moment the amount of waste this country accumulates every Christmas for every family you would potentially envision a massive mound of wrapping paper and food debris. Here are a few ways to have a smaller impact on the Earth without being a Grinch during the holidays.

The easiest idea to remember is "Don't overdo it." I know it sounds like there is no Christmas spirit but seriously when you over prepare for parties there is entirely too much waste.

Holiday Cards

 Approximately 1.5 billion holiday cards make it through the post every Holiday season. Yes it is nice to send a card, but what do most people do with that card after a few days....it gets filed in the trash.

 An easy alternative would be to use an "e-card" ...there are plenty of website available to send e-cards.

 You could always make a phone call to loved ones

 Look for a card that has been made from recycled paper

 You could even make up gift cards from old holiday cards (excellent craft for the kids)

Entertaining

It may sound like a lot of work, but the best practice is to use all real tableware and silverware...even the napkins should be a washable cloth. However if washing all of those dishes by hand is not a possibility...check into products that are recyclable, been recycled, or biodegradable. Plan ahead and do a little homework...by not being rushed you won't be tempted into buying highly packaged and non renewable materials.

Also think about the food you are serving....from an earlier topic (precycling) we should always think about how much packaging and waste comes with some food.

Feel good about what you are doing

Remember we can't always be the most eco friendly that we want to be...however on large occasions or even any occasion that you can make an impact on the waste produced you should feel good about yourself. Every little bit counts as long as more and more people get the idea.

Make the holidays about spending time with humans...not electronics.

Tree - real or fake

Artificial trees can be reusable, but some have been known to contain lead.

Real trees are generally preferred for a few reasons. First a new tree can be planted in place of the tree you took. Second after the holidays you tree can be picked up and turned into compost. Third, with a little foresight, you can buy a pine tree with its root ball and after the holidays plant it somewhere nearby.

11 ways to a Greener Home

You have taken some initial steps to lower your carbon footprint and excess energy use, but your work is not done yet. Here are a few more things you can do around the house to continue the green initiative.

#1 Install bamboo floors

Wood floors are nice and durable, but the trees take decades to mature while bamboo is a grass and will mature in a fraction of the time. It may not be quite as durable as hardwood, but it will cost about half the price.

#2 Get your green thumb

Planting annual flowering plants is nice for the color, but they must be replaced each spring. There are plenty of flowering plants that will survive through the fall and winter to bloom again and again every year.Paring this perennial garden with a home compost for organic fertilizer is another smart choice.Instead of throwing away your vegetable remains begin a compost in a corner of your yard.

#3 and #4 Keeping Clean

Adults and children both need to be reminded to get the dirt of before entering the home. Outside mats and inside mats will greatly help to keep the amount of debris to a minimum. Remembering to wipe your feet and store your shoes near the door will greatly decrease the use of inside cleaners, paper towels, mops, hot water and vacuums.Remember that your little ones are always watching so be sure to set a good example by taking shorter showers, turning off electricity, and packing lunches in reusable containers.

#5 Update the Dishwasher

If you have an energy rated dishwasher don't be shy about using it. Hand washing dishes is nice and all but will generally use way more water than the dishwasher. An energy star appliance will use around 6 gallons for a full load while a human would use closer to 20 gallons to hand wash the same amount of dishes.

#6 The toilet

Traditional models flush 25% of household water down the drain. Updating to a dual flush model that has two different flushing amounts will greatly decrease the amount of water used. Traditional toilets use 3.5 gallons per flush, the dual flush toilets have an option for a little flush of about 1 gallon and a larger cascade about 1.5 gallons.

#7 Electricity

As a consumer you should have an option to get your energy from a renewable source. The price will be more for the green energy, but that extra money will help to sustain the energy you use. It will cost you about 15 more dollars a month to get 100 percent offset of carbon dioxide emissions from the generation of electricity.

#8 Work from Home

Whenever possible work from home. This will reduce the wear on your vehicle and the pressure on your wallet to fill the tank. Older equipment like copier and fax machine suck too much energy, updated devices often combine most of these functions and use less energy.

#9 E-Bills

This one is pretty simple...less paper mail means more trees get to live. Americans receive 4 million tons of junk mail a year approximately 850 pieces per household. You can go online and opt out for these prescreened credit card companies and other such junk.

#10 Solar Power

Charge your mobile devices with a solar charger. Most are fairly inexpensive and compact enough to travel. If you have a little bit of know-how you can even make a small charger at home.Need some light at night along a walkway or garden? get some inexpensive LED lights with solar panels for a cheap way to get some additional light.

#11 Expand your Conquest

Get on the internet or use your phone to peruse more suitable and sustainable ways to lower your carbon footprint.  There are plenty of apps available for iphone and android that will help with additional ideas and suggestions towards a greener lifestyle.

Home improvement tip will save energy and save money

Alright so you have taken the time to get your attic insulated and you are feeling pretty good about your 500-ish dollar investment...but what if that just isnt enough? There are almost more home improvement projects to be done.








New Windows! The home improvement tip for the month is to replace old double hung windows with new efficient windows. Don't worry if you cannot replace every window in your house at once because I sure cannot afford that, but I have been replacing them a few at a time as money permits.
It might feel like a large expense up front, but trust me when I tell you those windows will make all the difference in the world.

There are some myths out there so do your homework and don't be fooled.
For instance there is this idea that covering windows with aftermarket film will reduce damaging UV rays....this is not the case....in fact some window companies wont ensure any of their windows that you have covered with a film because that film causes the windows to crack or break.

Another myth is about sealing old windows shut in order to save money...this may be a good idea a the time, but in all reality it is not helpful. Sealing windows is a safety hazard and should be avoided at all costs. Windows are in place to ventilation and possible emergency exits.

And the list goes on...

USA climate zones

Here is an image describing some factors that determine how much energy your windows allow to flow through the house.

Window U Factor Table