green home

Fridge Door Open Too Long? Sound the Alarm!

jplatt — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:21:51 -0400

Does anyone in your house have an annoying tendency to stand in front of the fridge with the door open? Do your kids or your husband spend long minutes searching through the refrigerator or the freezer, letting the cold air out and wasting electricity?

Well, there's a solution. Many new refrigerators (like this Frigidaire) come with "door ajar" alams. If the door is open too long, the alarm sounds a reminder to shut it. This keeps the interior of the fridge from warming up and saves you a lot of energy that you would need to cool it back down again.

Of course, not every fridge has this feature, and no matter how bad your family member(s) may be, you don't need to buy a new fridge just to get an alarm.

If your current fridge doesn't have a door ajar alarm, you can also buy a simple magnetic door or window alarm and attach it to your fridge. These can be set to go off instantly or a few seconds after the door opens.

If you're industrious, you can also build your own alarm circuit (method 1, method 2).

By the way, this is also a great tool for dieters! Set the alarm to its shortest time possible -- or set it to go off as soon as the door is opened!

Want cleaner indoor air?

ellen — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:50:18 -0400

A short post today.

Click HERE to see 37(!) very good reasons to take your shoes off at home.

I never thought of #13 (yuck) or #25 before but I really do like the idea of taking off your shoes to set the psychological stage for entry into your home environment.

By the way, you can buy the cute little tag shown above here. Now to find the shoe rack.

Ellen

An Eco Guide to Consumer Electronics

PHowe — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 11:58:50 -0400

In its' most recent version of the quarterly Greenpeace Guide to Consumer Electronics, Nintendo became the first brand ever get zero out of 10 points. In its report, Greenpeace ranks the majority of electronics manufacturers on how they have eliminated toxic materials from their products

and on the quality of their product return and recycling policies. The guide, now in its eight edition, having published its initial version in...

continue reading at http://www.gatheringhome.com/

Eliminate Summer Bugs with Natural Methods

jchait — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:04:24 -0400

Yesterday we started looking at how to get rid of summer bugs without toxic chemicals or sprays that can be harmful to humans and pets. Today more of the same...

Mosquitoes:

To keep mosquitoes out of your home use screens on both doors and windows - much like the fly situation.

If you're hanging outside at night try burning some citronella candles or using citronella rings near lights.

You can also plant flowers that attract birds, or if you have the means, create a small pond and keep frogs, or get a bat house. Birds, bats and frogs all like to eat mosquitoes.

If the mosquito problem is serious, and you need a spray try Burt's Bees Herbal Insect Repellent. By serious I mean that you're getting really bad bites. I never had mosquito issues until this one summer in Humboldt; a bunch of mosquitoes moved into the neighborhood and bit my son and I to death. It sucked, so I got the Burt's Bees spray and it works but has no chemicals.

Fleas:

There are some organic sprays you can use - try your local natural food store or pet shop. Most of these are made from things like cedarwood, bay leaves, or eucalyptus.

Spiders:

Um, hit them with rocks, cars, get someone with big feet and courage to stomp them. Seriously, spiders won’t hurt you in almost all cases. I however, am one of those with major irrational spider fears. We’re talking MAJOR fears. I actually own one can of raid and the reason is spiders. I can’t even vacuum them up; I’m too scared.

In any case, if you’re not irrational, know that most won’t hurt you, and they’ll actually eat all those other pesky bugs. They won’t even get in your food. As for other scared people? My friend recently told me that frogs eat spiders. I’m not running any sort of test to find out, but you could try.

You should know which spiders are dangerous though. In New Mexico we saw a lot of black widows – and they’re not fun. To learn more check here. (PS I had to keep my eyes half closed while getting this link!)

Photo credit: Leaps Environmental Consulting www.leaps.ms/

5 Quick Tips to Green Your Home

kbutler — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:53:21 -0400

Yep, it’s trying times out there. Gas prices, food prices, housing prices – you have to wonder if we’re going to be able to entertain our kids with rousing stories of hard 00’s like our grandparents did with the Depression. (Though in our version, we’ve got Paris Hilton instead of Little Orphan Annie and reality TV stars in place of Hobos.) In an attempt to save money, people may be inclined to go with the cheaper option, whether it is green or not. But we’ve got your back! Check out our quick, useful reminders on how to keep your wallet green.

1. Ditch the bottle water. Install a water filter or invest in some Britas. You can skip the extra landfill that comes with all the plastic packaging and save a few dollars in the meantime.

2. Make your home energy efficient. The typical American family spends around $1,600 a year on energy bills and much of that is phantom energy. The U.S. government actually provides a detailed list on different ways you can green up your home, such as choosing an Energy Star air conditioning unit or turning off your power strips to save up to 20% on your energy bills.

3. If you’re feeling a little hippie-dippy, considering tie-dying your stained sheets and even towels for a second life. At the least, there’s a three year old out there who will dig it, even if your yuppie friends wonder what kind of organic weeds you might have gotten into.

4. There are little things you can do in the kitchen to save energy and therefore cash. Remember that is you cover a pot of water; it will boil faster and save energy. Use a toaster oven for smaller meals – it uses much less energy than the stove.

5. Think about giving up things like paper towels. That can seem like a hard one, but paper towels add up – and your old gym socks and ripped towels can do the job just as well. And they’re better off cleaning your home than living in a landfill.

So remember our tips next time you’re feeling a little blue about the lack of green in your life.

High gas prices + greenhouse gases = time for an electric mower

jplatt — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:00:00 -0400

With summer in full swing, your lawn growing longer by the minute, and gas prices going sky-high, it might be time to get finally rid of your old, gas-guzzling mowers.

Still not convinced? A recent EPA study might help make that transition even more palatable: gas-powered mowers emit as much pollution as 11 cars (for push mowers) and 34 cars (for riding mowers). Yikes!

Luckily, several new (and old) options exist which will save the average homeowner both money and the hassle of going to the gas station to fill up their lawnmower tank.

1. Go robotic! Two new electric-powered Automowers from Husqvarna offer automated mowing of yards up to half-an-acre in size. They charge in just 45 minutes, and can mow about 800-1300 square feet of lawn per hour. Meanwhile, you can sit back and drink some organic lemonade. (Price: Around $4,000)

2. Go electric! Black & Decker's 24V Cordless Mulching Mower is the first electric mower to gain the coveted ENERGY STAR rating. It charges in about 10 hours, and is intended for yards up to one-third of an acre. (Price: $400-$500)

3. Go old-school! Sometimes the best technology is old technology. The hardware stores in my area can't keep old-fashioned human-powered push mowers in stock. Sure, you have to do the work yourself, but think of it as exercise. (Price: Around $100)

4. Go really old school! Buy a goat and keep it in your yard. Now only will it trim your lawn, you can feed it your garbage! Talk about recycling!

5. Go greener by getting rid of the green! Who needs all of that lawn, anyway? Plant some trees and shrubs and flowers, for crying out loud! Your local birds and insects will love you for it.

Green Home Building Link Love

jchait — Sat, 17 May 2008 02:37:29 -0400

Here's a nice little round-up of some of what I've been reading this week. There's plenty going on, and hopefully, you'll find something to enjoy.

Get Solar Makes Finding a Solar Contractor Easier: Ah, how to find a good solar contractor in your area plus the link offers plenty of great solar info - from the basic to advanced.

The 2008 HGTV Green Home Sweepstakes is over, but that doesn't mean you can't still win a little something. Or should I say, a lot of little somethings. Enter the new Get More Green Giveaway at HGTV - you could win a $15,000 shopping spree from Sears or a $10,000 gift card from Kohler. Enough to buy some cool green goods.

Charity homes are getting greener - learn how charity homes, such as the likes built by Habitat for Humanity are working on their green efforts.

The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) is planning its first-ever national summit this summer. On the agenda - cutting building-source emissions of green house gases! Yahoo Canada. Learn more.

Learn how taking a few minutes to do a DIY thermostat checkup can save you some green - in more ways than one.

An awesome post with tips about how to green your move - perfect for when you're moving into your next green home.

Eco Friendly Flooring Doesn’t Have to be Drab - nope it does not and this post will show you where to look for some great looking floors.

And last, but not least Treehugger has the 411 on REI in REI To Retrofit Eleven Stores with Solar Power - just one more reason to be a consumer at REI, the continually getting greener as I type company. Go them.

Now, what have you been reading this week?

Intro to Green Prefabs

jchait — Fri, 16 May 2008 02:44:39 -0400

One type of green home that's all the rage are prefabs, or prefabricated houses. Prefab 101 is fairly easy to catch up on. Prefabs, sometimes called modular homes differ wildly but all have one thing in common; they're built, or mainly built off-site. Instead of building a home from scratch you could have a pre-built prefab sent your way, and basically assemble on your lot. Of course there's more to it, but that's the gist.

The prefab is not a new deal; they've been around for a good long while. I didn't used to like them much, but as the designs have become greener, and the details more unique, they've really grown on me. Another thing to note is that prefab in itself is a little misleading.

Many designs and home types tend to fall under the all encompassing title "prefab" and while not everyone is thrilled with this lack of distinction, it is what it is. There are manufactured - (i.e. classic manufactured prefab), log cabins, containers, large office shed, prefabs made of cedar, domes, and way more. Then there are the greenies. Green prefabs have popped up a lot lately and if you're considering building green, prefab may be just what you need.

Some of the pros include; less expensive than traditionally built homes (not always but often), most now look so great you can't even tell it wasen't built on site, some are made heavily with reclaimed or recycled materials, prefabs tend to leave a smaller footprint size-wise, and of course there's the time savings. It may take a while from ordering your prefab to actual set-up, or construction, but once a home arrives at your site, it's not a multi month process. You can usually count in days, how long it takes to get a prefab up; with some companies claiming three days max. It's amazing. And if you've ever built from scratch, sounds pretty darn nice.

If you want to learn more about green prefabs visit some of the following architects and companies that design them:

One of my faves - Michelle Kaufmann Designs - beautiful homes.

Hanger Prefab who designed the The Joshua Tree - my new favorite prefab!

miniHOME SOLO

Olgga Architects

Check out some prefab videos

PLACE Houses

There are plenty of other green prefab options out there though - this is a tiny sample.

[image of Joshua Tree via Hanger Prefab]

35 Ideas for Building A Greener House

jchait — Wed, 14 May 2008 02:21:20 -0400

Here are 35 ideas for building green... Feel free to add your ideas in the comments.

1. Use salvaged, recycled, and reclaimed materials.

2. Build small. At least only build what you need; no more than one bedroom per person actually living in the home. A family of four does not need four bathrooms. Seriously.

3. Try a green roof.

4. Buy from responsible, sustainable wood suppliers.

5. Work with eco-friendly builders and contractors. For example; do they have a paperless office, do they carpool to sites, etc.

6. Aim for natural ventilation.

7. Understand LEED - you don't have to go for LEED gold stars, but the basic principals should be in the back of your mind.

8. Avoid pressure-treated lumber when possible.

9. Always design with passive solar in mind.

10. On the building site supply refillable water bottles.

11. Try earth floors.

12. Find out if local codes permit graywater recycling and reuse.

13. Aim to eco-renovate an older house before deciding to build new.

14. Buy building materials and hire building help locally.

15. Don't build too far out in the sticks - to avoid excessive transportation needs.

16. Landscape with drought resistant plants, flowers, and shrubs.

17. Recycle any building material leftovers possible.

18. Plan for daylighting.

19. Build for the long term - don't make flighty decisions and build strong and durable to last.

20. Consider tankless water heaters.

21. Plan, build, and then stay put forever. Not always possible; but each time you move, renovate, or rebuild, resources and excess energy is used. It’s sustainable to stay where you are.

22. Pay special attention to moisture reduction. Mold and mildew can do homes in faster than you might think.

23. If you break it you buy it – not literally, but if you take out trees to build or mess with the soil, you need to restore and make amends. Transfer trees when possible, or better yet build around them.

24. Choose your building site wisely.

25. Build on previously used land - avoid building on new, untouched land to preserve natural spaces.

26. Install LED lighting in small spaces.

27. Try new roofing shingles made from recycled plastics and rubber.

28. Don't purchase over packaged supplies - i.e. buy screws, tools, and other materials that come free of an outer box or plastic coating wrap.

29. Install Energy Star appliances when building new - consider keeping your old appliances if remodeling.

30. Think about bamboo flooring.

31. Try cellulose insulation.

32. Incorporate as much alternative and efficient energy as possible.

33. Think about co-housing developments.

34. Use the sun in as many ways as you can think of.

35. Design for forever. As you age, your capacities change – what if one day you needed a wheelchair, or a door handle that turns easier? Build slightly wider doorways, install easy turn doorknobs at the start. If you ever sell, it would be smart to be able to sell to a disabled individual or an elderly couple. Small forethought given to design now can benefit the future generations in the home, without renovation requirements.

Also read: 50 Sustainable Home Design Features & Resources

How to Flush Your Toilet Using Rain Water

jchait — Sat, 03 May 2008 18:44:55 -0400

If you've ever built a rain barrel, or harvested your own rain water in some way, then you know how easy it is. You can use rain water to water your yard, wash your car, and any number of other uses. What if you could fairly easily use rain water to flush your toilet? Think of all the water you'd save.

Some house do utilize rain water for flushing, as do public buildings, so the possibility is reasonable for you if you own a home. Recently I saw a cool post at Seattlepi.com - at their reader blog section. The post, Flushing Your Toilet with Rainwater, covers a neat resource,a Rain Barrel to Toilet Installation Guide.

The individual who wrote this guide did a good job. It's not hard to follow and there are some great illustrations - both photos and diagrams. It's also a easy project to find parts for; this person snagged everything from the local Home Depot. The guide even discusses extras like backflow protection; a step not required in all states, but it's there, and is simple. Also extra a nice bit about attaching a water meter inside, so you can see just how much you're using. Best of all the entire installation cost around $100. A steal!

Best of all, of course are the environmental impacts. Curiously, the guy who did this is living in Seattle. Being in Oregon and the Washington myself, people often act like water conservation is a joke; I mean, we have so much rain. But rain coming down, does not equal plenty to go around. We still need to conserve when possible.

Learn more:

How Much Do You Know About Water Use?