Green at Home

Ditch your Answering Machine and Switch to Voice Mail

Although not an idea that jumps right to mind, experts are showing in study after study that by using voice mail, less energy is consumed and results in less hazardous waste than the use of answering machines. In the same way that power plants are responsible for producing considerably less pollution than if everyone ran their own fossil fuel-based generators (or by using electric cars in place of the commercially common gas-powered ones), centralizing voice mail into large servers requires far less electricity than by everyone using their own dedicated machines.  These machines must be on and active 24hours a day, seven days a week.  Such electronics are responsible for 25% of home energy use, according to Energy Star, the corporation responsible for rating electronics and appliances based on the energy that can be saved by their use, and these electronics directly contribute 2% of the U.S.'s output of overall global warming gases. The Green Book, an ecological conservation group, reports that should all answering machines currently used in U.S. homes was to be replaced by voice mail, the annual energy savings would be nearly two billion kilowatt-hours.  This is more or less the equivalent of taking 250,000 cars off the road ...

Plastic Containers Helpful Buyers Guide

There are lots of different types of plastics on the market, each with their own properties.  Some plastics are a lot healthier and more environmentally friendly than others.  They're more stable and easier to recycle.  How do you tell the difference?  Each piece of plastic should come with a resin identification code.  That's the one on the bottom of most containers - a number from one to seven located inside the recycling symbol.  Here's a look at the types of plastic, and which ones are best from a green perspective. Type one is polyethylene terephtalate, also known as PETE or PET.  This is what most disposable soda and water bottles are made of, and is usually clear.  Plastic type two is high density polyethylene, or HDPE.  Many milk jugs, detergent bottles, and toiletries bottles are made of this.  It is often opaque. Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, is used to make meat wrap, bottles for cooking oil, and plumbing pipes, as well as garments.  It's numbers as type three.  Type four is low density polyethylene, LDPE, which is used to make grocery bags, cling wrap sandwich bags and other films.  Plastic type five is polypropylene.  Yogurt tubes and cups are often made from ...

Ceiling Fans and Roof Turbines

Did you know that ceiling fans and roof turbines could be saving you a lot of money?  They're extremely efficient and can do a lot to improve the temperature of your home, winter or summer.  Here's a look at what you can do with your roof turbines and ceiling fans to improve energy efficiency and save money. Most of us are used to turning on the ceiling fan to cool things down in the summer, but it can also be used during the winter.  Turning the switch to make the ceiling fan run clockwise will pull warm air down from around the ceiling to lower levels.  That means less energy spend heating.  If you're going to be buying a new ceiling fan, make sure it's one that can be reversed.  These very efficient fans can cut your costs by as much as ten percent. During the summer, ceiling fans are an excellent way to cool, too.  They work extremely well in areas where the climate is dry - by moving hot air around, they encourage sweat to evaporate.  That has a cooling effect, and you'll feel significantly cooler.  Ceiling fans can be used to make areas of over a hundred degrees Fahrenheit ...

3 Organic Methods to a Great Smelling Home

Most people find that their home doesn't always smell the best.  There are some foods that leave a smell or others can smell bad if they accidentally get burned while being cooked.  Then there are some "experiments" that accidentally get created inside the fridge, which can really leave a foul odor as well.  Of course, while you may want to eliminate those nasty odors, you won't want to bring in the poisons that can come along with air fresheners that are synthetic and full of chemicals.  Here is a look at some organic methods you can use to get a home that smells great. Get Rid of the Odor First, you need to work at getting rid of the source of the odors that are in your home.  You can't afford to merely cover up those odors.  If there are veggies and fruits that are rotting, throw them in the compost bucket.  Wash away any leftover trace that may be in the fridge as well.  Use some baking soda in the fridge to eliminate the odors that show up there.  Another way is to empty your garbage and if there is any wetness in the can, it needs to be washed up.  ...

Green Roof Insulation

For most homes in the temperate parts of the world, roof insulation is very important in many ways.  Your house will be warmer in cold weather and colder in warm weather.  You can save on the costs of electricity necessary to run the heater or the air-conditioner.  In the process, you are also doing your share in lessening greenhouse emissions. Unfortunately, the most common material used in roof insulation in most homes is neither eco-friendly nor health-friendly.  We are talking about fiberglass batts, which contain formaldehyde - a known carcinogenic that induces respiratory problems in humans even on short-term exposure.  Plus, the production process for fiberglass batts is very energy-intensive.  Fortunately, you have many eco-friendly options available.  Just choose the one that best fit your house, your preferences and your budget. Recycled Cellulose Fiber Although recycled cellulose fiber is comparatively more expensive than the other types of eco-friendly insulation, its benefits are well worth the price.  Since it has better insulation properties than fiberglass batts, you can save more on energy bills.  It is also fire-resistant, thanks to the environment-friendly boric acid.  As such, your roof can better resist fires without the noxious fumes involved.  Along with this property, you also need not ...