Recent Posts
Brave New Leaf
Return To Blog Listing
A green newbie trying to assess her impact and transform her lifestyle to be more sustainable. Covers green projects and products.
Recent Posts Tagged With 'project'
How to build your own solar-powered hot water heater
Take a look at this fellow in Florida that built his own solar-powered hot water heater for only $160 in materials. The construction is surprisingly straightforward. One note: the design that he builds doesn't include anything that prevents the pipes...
Water Project: How to check your toilet for leaks
With our water supply secure until 2050 in the Pacific Northwest, we don't focus on water saving projects as much as we ought to. Fact is, a global water crisis is looming, and even those of us swimming in H2O......
The Green Economics of Tankless Water Heaters
In theory, a tankless water heater seems like a no-brainer. Why heat your water all day when you're not using it? Providing on-demand hot water is much more energy-efficient. It's the dominant water heating technology in Europe and Asia. Plus......
I'm Quitting Diet Coke to Save the World
It's getting around time to green my food and beverages. I've done the research, and now I'm ready to make some changes. I'm going to start with beverages first, because it is a much more finite universe. A quickie beverage......
The Revolution will look like Tupperware Parties
Today's NYTimes highlights a growing trend happening in surburban living rooms across America. EcoMom Parties are the new Tupperware party, with neighborhood mothers gathering together to discuss how they are evolving their lives to reducing their ca...
Reset your fridge and freezer temperatures
Refrigerators are big energy sucks in the average household, averaging 20% of your yearly energy bill. That's why I was delighted when I read a great green tip in a magazine. The tip in question: "To help your refrigerator be......
Which is greener: shopping at the mall or online?
I needed new underwear. So, without really thinking, I put in an order to Victoria's Secret online for a dozen pairs or so. All told, I ended up with four packages shipped to me: one box and three bags, 4......
Make your own Plastic Bag Dryer
While we're trying to reduce plastic bags in our household, sometimes they are an inevitability. Going to the airport, for example, requires us to break out a few ziplocks. Not just for the security check, but to make sure our......
Junk Mail Project Update
About 10 weeks ago, I started a trial of a couple of services claiming to reduce my junk mail. Good news is, I have seen a noticeable change in the number of catalogs I receive. Some rather insistent catalogs still......
Dishwashers are a greenie's dream
Dishwashers are a greenie’s dream: an appliance that works AND is more efficient than doing it the manual way. Several studies show that today’s dishwashers save energy and water overall doing your dishes by hand (not to mention time!). But......
Energy Project: Smart Power Strip Solutions
When I performed my Energy Audit, one of the things that shocked me was how many of the electronics I owend leeched power when they were plugged in, but not turned on. The phenomenon is called 'phantom power', or 'vampire......
When you can't recycle, try freecycle
Two weeks ago, I pushed our computer back further behind the desk to make the workspace under the desk more aesthetically pleasing. The unintended consequence was that the mouse and keyboard cables no longer stretched fully over to the workspace.......
A handy guide for recycling Christmas materials
You'd really like to play with all of your new toys, but your entire house is neck deep in the discarded holiday wrapping remnants. Need a quick guide to get rid of your waste quickly, but in the most eco-friendly......
Four simple ways to keep your water hot, and reduce your carbon footprint
In a recent look at my hot water heater, I discovered that the gas burned to heat my water is responsible for 8.1% of my CO2 emissions, or 1.5 tons of carbon a year. It took me some time, but......
Buying Green Power
At this point in my eco-makeover, I've been able to reduce my energy consumption significantly through a few simple projects. This has reduced my monthly energy bill enough that it is time for me to purchase some green power. What......
Waste Project: Reduce your Junk Snail Mail
Junk snail mail stinks. Most respectable websites practice disclosure policies when subscribing and unsubscribing you to an email list, but those same companies won't provide you the same courtesy when it comes to shoving an enormous wasteful catalog...
Energy Project: Switching to Compact Flourescent Bulbs
Current Power consumed: 56.64 kwh/month % of total power usage: 10% Forecasted power conserved: 40.92 kwh/month Forecasted % reduction in power usage: 7% Cost: $28.67 Payback Time: 10 months Forecasted Money Saved: $3.05/month Time to Implement: 90 m...
Waste Project: How to set up a Home Recycling System
If you followed my garbage audit, you realize that I am not a prolific recycler. But I am committed to changing my habits. Better late than never, right? I recently outlined the reasons for why I’m just starting to recycle......
Energy Project #1: Optimize the Power Usage of my Computers
Current Power consumed: 170 kwh/month % of total power usage: 36% Forecasted power conserved: 114 kwh/month Forecasted % reduction in power usage: 24% Cost: $0 Payback Time: Forecasted Money Saved: $9.09/month Time to Implement: 10 minutes As I menti...
