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Archive for January, 2010
Is LED Lighting Soon to Replace CFLs as a Green Lighting Alternative?
In-home lighting has come a long way throughout history, from candles and flames to incandescent light bulbs and then compact fluorescent light bulbs. Now there is a new contender on the scene – light emitting diodes (LEDs). However, can the benefits of LEDs outweigh the potential problems associated with them? While the battle between incandescent and compact fluorescent lighting is over (compact fluorescents being the clear victor), the battle between LED and compact fluorescents has just begun. Overall, LEDs have a huge potential for the future, but are not necessarily the best choice at the current time. Here is a quick comparison of the differences between LEDs and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Benefits of LEDs Compared to CFLs LEDs last about ten times longer than CFLs. This will save you the time and effort of changing your light bulbs on a frequent basis. Many LEDs will last for more than ten years of continuous use. An LED light uses about half the amount of electricity as a CFL with the same lighting capability (sometimes even less). This is even more important when you are powering your home with solar panels or other sources of alternative energy in an effort to reduce your reliance ...- Bookmark :
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Greenwashing: A Practical Guide to Spending Responsibly
Whether you have been living a green lifestyle for years or are a newcomer to living green, you likely know the importance of purchasing green products. In today’s marketplace, there’s no shortage of consumer products that promise to help the environment and reduce their impact. However, determining which of these products and companies are really providing a concrete benefit to the environment and which are simply using it as a marketing ploy can be difficult. Greenwashing is the act of misleading consumers to believe that a product is better for the environment than it actually is. In order to make the best use of your spending power and choose products that are actually making a difference, you will need to learn to identify greenwashing companies and avoid them whenever possible. Here are some simple things you can do immediately to help you spend responsibly. Read the Fine Print on the Label: Whatever a product’s advertising claims are, the label doesn’t lie. Look for indicators that the product is made with recycled materials and read the ingredients list, if applicable. Often, claims will be made that a product doesn’t contain a certain chemical and is therefore better for the environment. Check labels on ...- Bookmark :
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Fruit Flies - Get Rid of Them the Natural Way
Fruit flies are definitely very annoying. Sure, they won't harm you, but they are definitely frustrating to deal with. They especially show up during the end of summer when you have fruit that is overripe. While no doubt you want to get rid of them, it is very important that you choose a natural option to eliminate them so you don't bring harmful chemicals into your home. Especially at the end of the summer, fruit flies show up in veggies, fruits, in garbage areas, and kitchens. They are attracted to vegetables that are rotting and fruit that is overripe. Fruit flies are actually house flies, but they are the smallest type of these flies. They have red eyes and a body that is yellow. They don't carry around diseases, but they are pests that come in swarms and that may decide to breed in any overripe fruit that they find. If you don't want to end up with more, it's important to learn how you can naturally get rid of them. Going with natural options to eliminate fruit flies are safe and they are also effective as well. With a few ingredients that are easy to find and a bit of knowledge, ...- Bookmark :
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Go Green and Avoid Using Plastic Bags When Shopping
If saving the planet is important to you, then one of the ways that you can go green is to stop using those plastic bags when you go shopping. Of course, you may be tired of using those plain old bags at the market, which is why designer canvas totes and market bags have become so popular. Now you are able to look good while you work on saving the environment. More than Going Green These reusable bags are about a lot more than going green these days. In fact, you simply need to talk to a French woman and you'll find out that these bags aren't just a necessity for saving the environment, but they are now considered fashion accessories as well. With the green crowd, these market bags and tots are a really hot option. There are more and more people who are starting to take bags of their own when they go shopping, and most major stores now have their own "green bags" available for sale to customers. Of course, today the crafters out there are getting out there in to the market for market totes and bags. They are a hot item and many crafters are taking canvas tote ...- Bookmark :
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Clothes Dryer Efficiency Tips & Forgotten Alternatives
Save energy and go green when washing your clothes. Utilize with the spin dryer, which provides you with the high speed centrifuge for all your clothes. Place your clothes in the spin dryer after the washing machine has taken out most of the water. The dryer utilizes the same energy no matter how damp the clothing, thus improving the overall washing efficiency. The high speed provided by the dryer removes any additional cleaning chemicals, thus relieving your skin of irritability brought on by contact with the cleaning chemicals. This small adjustment will extend the life of your clothing. Hold on to your favorite clothes and linens longer and save money at the shopping mall. Cleaning the lint filter after each use is an important habit to start in order to prolong the life of your dryer. Exercise restraint when tempted to stuff your dryer to the brim with all of your laundry. When you overload the dryer, you deny the inside of the dryer the necessary air to circulate between your clothing. The extra space in the dryer allows your clothing the proper space it needs to have the most effective exposure to the heat/air. If possible, open a window or door ...- Bookmark :
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