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Green at Home
Air Conditioning Alternatives
Using an air conditioner in the hot summer months has its consequences. Your energy bill skyrockets and the amount of energy usage is a strain on the environment. There are alternatives to using the air conditioner that may save you some money on your energy bill and help out the environment too. The Department of Energy estimates that awnings can cut down solar heat gain (the amount temperature rises because of sunshine) by up to 65% on windows that face south and 77% on windows that face west. Installing awnings above your windows can result in savings of up to 26% in hot climates and 33% in more temperate climates, where you may not even end up needing the air conditioning at all. Plant trees to create shade around your home. Large trees can provide enough shade over your house to significantly lower the amount of light getting through the windows in the summer time, and therefore reducing the temperature to a more comfortable degree. You can also plant vines around your home. Vines are shockingly effective at keeping a house cool. Ivy, Russian and Virginia creeper vines grow fast and have an instant effect on cooling down a house. They can reduce ...- Bookmark :
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Clean Your Barbeque The Eco-Friendly Way
Now that summer has rolled around, it's time to fire up your grill and make some delicious food at your pool party. While there are a number of things you can do to make your pool party more eco-friendly, there is still the issue of cleaning and maintaining the grill to keep it working for you all summer long. Fortunately, there are some eco-friendly tips you can follow when it comes to cleaning and maintaining your grill. You might be surprised to learn that there is more that goes into cleaning your grill than just turning it up to a high heat to kill off any food or bacteria that was left behind. Cleaning your grill properly will not only cut down on any excess smoke, but it will make your food taste better too. And if you're not a big fan of cleaning, you'll be pleased to know that there are ways to clean your grill that are not labor intensive. Regardless of what type of grill you have, you need to clean your grill after each use. Be aware, that the process will be slightly different depending on what type of grill you have. Letting old food and grease ...- Bookmark :
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Eco-Friendly Smart Windows
A new window coating is being manufactured that automatically adjusts to control solar gain through windows. The company behind the window coating, RavenBrick, calls their product Raven Windows. The Raven Windows are made with a special nanomaterial coating, which makes the windows responsive to outdoor temperatures. Essentially, the Raven Windows perform like an intelligent window filter that automatically adjusts to block solar heat when the temperature outside becomes too hot. Conversely, the Raven Window allows the solar heat inside when the temperature outside is too cold. RavenBrick is a clean tech company that provides innovative solar-control technology that works to cut down on energy expenses by up to 50% in most buildings. RavenBrick's product is a major improvement in both cost and functionality over other sun-blocking windows. Not only that, RavenBrick has a smart-window solution for almost every building exterior. Check out some of the benefits of RavenBrick's technology: - The Raven Window will help you cut down on your heating and cooling costs, for significant savings over time. - The Raven Window is fully automatic, and requires no electricity or controls. - The Raven Window is easy to install on new windows and just as easy to fit to existing windows. - The Raven Window ...- Bookmark :
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Say Farewell To The Incandescent Bulb
The incandescent light bulb will soon be no more. IKEA recently sent out a reminder that they will no longer be selling incandescent bulbs at all of its stores in the United States. Incandescent bulbs are being phased out starting next year, as manufacturers in the United States will not be allowed to produce 100-watt bulbs, under federal law. By the start of 2014, the only incandescent bulbs that will be found on the market will be 3 way bulbs, plant lights, and appliance lamps. Despite the fact that incandescent bulbs are disappearing off the shelves, consumers have been slow to the punch when it comes to purchasing the alternative: LEDs and CFLs. Consumers have complained that CFLs, aka compact fluorescent lights, put off a harsh greenish beam of light, which is unappealing when compared to the warm glow of the incandescent bulb. LEDs cost more money and consumers in the United States are less aware of them. Neither CFLs nor LEDs are available as a dimmer and thus, both options are not ideal for people looking for some kind of mood lighting. As a result, incandescent bulbs still dominate sales in the lighting world, holding a high of 82% of ...- Bookmark :
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Green Rugs
Carpets can be troublesome because they catch all different types of pollutants and dust, as well as pesticides that are brought in on the bottoms of shoes. Insects like bed bugs like to hide in carpets and they are not easily detectable. Vacuuming helps to combat the dirt that accumulates in the carpet, but vacuums aren't able to get everything. If you've ever ripped up your old carpet, you know how much dust and filth is sitting underneath. Furthermore, carpets are typically produced with petrochemicals, which means they are not eco-friendly because petrochemicals are derived from crude oil. Some great alternatives to carpet flooring are tile, wooden or slate floors. The downside is that you lose the warmth and comfort of having a carpeted floor. The solution to this downside is to place rugs on the floor for comfort and decoration. Rugs can be washed in the washing machine and hung outside to dry, or you can beat them with a stick or broom to clean them. Thus, rugs are much easier to maintain then carpet. There are some qualities to look out for in rugs in regards to their manufacturing and the materials used to make them to make sure ...- Bookmark :
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