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Residential Wind Turbines

Marcus — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Energy costs getting you down? Looking to cut down on bills, and get a little greener in the process? With energy bills rising by as much as fifty percent in recent years, chances are you’re eager for some alternatives. Which is where wind power comes in. Wind is a clean, efficient, sustainable and cost-effective source of energy, and it’s rapidly growing in popularity. A growing number of homes in the U.S. are opting to have residential wind turbines installed, and as a result are seeing dramatic reductions in their energy costs. Think wind power might be right for you? Keep reading to find out more.

Why wind?

First off, wind power will save you money—as much as 50-90 percent on your electric bill! Although wind turbines can cost from $6,000- $22,000, it’s an investment that usually pays for itself in around six to fifteen years. Once the cost of the turbine has been recouped, it’s not uncommon to see electric bills of $8- $15 dollars for up to nine months of the year! In addition, wind power is good for the environment—it produces zero pollution, and every kilowatt hour that is powered by wind will offset pollution that would have been generated by your utility company.

What kinds of residences are eligible for wind power?

Since a wind turbine is a relatively large structure, this type of power isn’t really suitable for small-lot suburban homes or anything in an urban setting. Usually, a house on an acre or more of land is desirable. It’s also important to consider wind speed in your area—in order for a turbine to be efficient, wind speed should be at an average of at least 10 miles per hour.

Where can I buy a residential wind turbine?

Take a look at this list of small wind turbine equipment providers.

Is there any way to benefit from wind power if I live in a small and/or urban location?

Why, yes, there is. In most areas, you can contact your energy company and switch to green power—that is, your energy company will purchase your power from sustainable energy sources in lieu of coal or oil. There is a minor charge, but it usually only amounts to a few extra dollars per month. This is a great alternative for city dwellers who wish they could install a massive wind tower on the top of their high rise.

Want to learn more about wind power?

Wind Turbine Power: Farmers Turning the Wind Into Gold

Inexpensive Residential Wind Turbine—Wind Power—Alternative Energy For Your Home

Can You Harness Wind Power or Not?

Home Wind-Power Turbines Going Mainstream

What YOU Should Know About Wind Power!

Can You Use Wind Turbines to Power Your Home?

Recycled Record Ideas

ckane — Sat, 31 May 2008 16:59:58 -0400

Not to sound like a broken record, but cool new items can always be made from old junk, even from a recycled record. Crafty people have long been making bowls by melting platters, and directions can be found here.

If you're not the crafting type, Uncommon Goods (which has a history of carrying recycled crafty products) sells an LP snack tray, record bowls, record coasters, a record cuff bracelet, a clock made from a 45, and a photo frame made from an LP. Although for what they charge for some of these, I'd be inclined to hit a garage sale, get some Ray Conniff albums, and attempt to make my own.

Naturally, you shouldn't throw out the sleeve the vinyl rested in all those years. Maybe the sleeve is a work of art, or just sentimental: You can make it into a bag or hang it in a record frame on the wall. Ready-made record-sleeve bags can be bought here, or this site has suggestions for making your own.

On the ready-made front, Uncommon Goods sells a popular wallet made from old record covers. And Steve Jerman transforms record covers into super cool journals--I am loving the one made from Herb Alpert's ubiquitous Whipped Cream and Other Delights [pictured--unfortunately on the rear view, check the site to see the front]. At $14 a pop, the journals might be the best deal of the crafts listed here.

That's just the tip of the iceberg...Google around for more ideas on reusing and upcycling this abundant resource.

Green is the New Gold – in the Real Estate Market

susan — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:18:23 -0500

There’s only one way to survive in a housing market that’s in the toilet – you’ve got to channel Gypsy Rose Lee, yessir – “You gotta have a gimmick.”

So if you’re a real estate agent, you don’t have to just sit there and watch your commissions evaporate as if global warming had already hit. No, you can call yourself eco-friendly, take an Eco-Broker course, and specialize in selling green homes.

That’s what’s happening, according to the a recent Wall Street Journal article, How Green Is My Realtor:

“In a bid to stand out in a sagging housing market, an increasing number of real estate agents are marketing themselves as eco-friendly -- connecting environmentally conscious buyers to ‘green’ homes and helping sellers make their homes more eco-sensitive.”

As gimmicks go, I’ve gotta say, I like this one.

Eco Brokers Look for the Green

Brokers are advising sellers on improvements they can make in their homes to green them up – improving insulation, adding solar panels. And not only are they finding eco-buyers the green features more and more people want – they are also able to advise the buyers on how to go about fixing up houses that are not yet environmentally-equipped with fixes that will save energy, water, money and even improve air quality.

Banks Are Also Looking for the Green – With Eco-Friendly Mortgages

And here’s another gimmick I like – banks, too, are going green. They are offering great deals on mortgages -- discounts or bigger loans -- to people who are buying eco-friendly houses or making energy-efficient improvements to their houses. The excellent Wall Street Journal article, by Sara Schaeffer Munoz, says that Bank of America Corp. will give you $1000 credit toward closing fees with mortgages on homes that meet the government’s Energy Star Program.

Do we need any more evidence that Green is the new gold – when it comes to marketing in the year 2008?

HERE ARE SOME USEFUL GREEN REAL ESTATE AND GREEN MORTGAGE RESOURCES

Eco Broker International: Offers eco-courses for realtors.

Green Key Real Estate in San Francisco

Indigo Financial Group, based in Lansing, Mich.: Handling eco-friendly mortgages in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and Alabama.

The National Association of Homebuilders: Developing a green building standard along with works with the International Code Council.

U.S. Green Building Council: A nonprofit that rates commercial buildings on energy and eco matters.

Grow Your Own Clean Air

ellen — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

So it’s winter and the windows are closed and it’s getting a bit musty in the office. We’re all ready to pass out by 3pm. But what can you do at the individual level, sitting at your computer in your tiny office/apartment/home?

We found this book we love called How to grow Fresh Air: 50 Plants that Purify Your Home or Office by Dr. B.C. Wolverton (at Amazon).

What space couldn’t use some air purifying? This book rates the best indoor plants based on their ability to remove chemical vapors, ease of growth, resistance to insect infection, and transpiration rate.

Excited, we immediately went to our local nursery to purchase some plants but none of the ones mentioned in the book were grown there. We tried to find the plants online but they were prohibitively expensive.

Then we remembered that plants grow from seeds.

We ordered some Rubber Tree and Pygmy Date Palm seeds (these were the only ones of the 50 plants included in the book that we could find) to start some seedlings on our window sill using an egg crate, potting soil, water and a little TLC.

Pygmy Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii)

Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica)

We’ll keep you posted.

Using Plants For Clean Air

ellen — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

This is a project we completed last year where we incorporated live plants for visual serenity as well as the benefits of cleaner indoor air. We installed planters at the perimeter of the center stairwell which was brightly lit by a huge skylight above. Since it would be pretty difficult to reach those plants from the stair, we designed sliding glass panels at the millwork for access, watering and cross ventilation.

The Plan of the Master Bedroom/Stairwell and the Bedroom Elevation is shown below.

Towels to Keep You Clean and Green

RiverWired.com — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

It’s Good: Who doesn’t love a soft, lush, classic twill weave bath towel, available in a variety of pleasing, muted tones? Simply delightful in Blue, Ivory, Taupe and White.

It’s Green: You can now clean yourself with a clean conscience, because every one these towels is made from 100% pesticide-free organic cotton.

It’s Here: OrganicStyle

It’s: $27.95