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Collecting the rain that falls on your roof can help your garden and save some of your water usage. Master gardener Paul James, conservation expert Gina Hungerford and rain barrel builder Jeff Greer explain how to start your own water conservation system with easy-to-install rain barrels.
To save a little water from going down the drain, Hungerford offers a simple, efficient, low-cost method for homeowners to collect and recycle water. She suggests installing rain barrels, which are simply large containers that capture rainwater at the end of your downspout. According to Hungerford, a quarter-inch of rain falling on the average home yields a little over 200 gallons of water. A rain barrel can be filled within a matter of minutes during a good rain.
Modern chemicals do many good things for us. But some also do harm — to us, wildlife or the environment. With U.S. industries now using some 75,000 chemicals, and as we discover more about their downsides, public demand for greater precaution is growing. The dramatic increase in organic food sales in the last two decades is one sign of this growing public concern.
In 2002, the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit watchdog, released the results of a “body burden” study that found 167 chemicals present in the blood and urine of nine volunteers. Then in 2005, the group reported the results of its tests of 10 newborn babies, in whom it found 287 chemicals present.
A green roof is an extension of a new or existing roof that involves a high-quality water proofing and root repellant system, a drainage system, filter cloth, a lightweight growing medium and plants. Green roof systems may be modular, with drainage layers, 
filter cloth, growing media and plants already prepared in movable, interlocking grids, or, each component may be installed separately. Green roof development involves the creation of “contained” green space on top of a human-made structure. This green space could be below, at or above grade, but in all cases the plants are not planted in the “ground.”
filter cloth, growing media and plants already prepared in movable, interlocking grids, or, each component may be installed separately. Green roof development involves the creation of “contained” green space on top of a human-made structure. This green space could be below, at or above grade, but in all cases the plants are not planted in the “ground.”
These 19 tips, from easiest (and cheapest) to hardest, will help you save money by going green, this year and for years to come. Don’t delay: Winter’s coming, and lucrative federal tax incentives won’t last forever.
1. Dodge the Draft(s)
2. Change Furnace Filters
3. Run Fans in Reverse
4. Winterize Your A/C and Water Lines
5. Turn Down Your Water Heater
6. Install Storm Doors and Windows
7. Give Your Heating System a Tune-Up
8. Mind That Thermostat
9. Put Up Some Plastic
10. Use an Energy Monitor
11. Use Caulking and Weatherstriping
12. Put on a Sweater
13. Boost Insulation
14. Insulate Your Pipes
15. Seal Those Ducts
16. Take Advantage of Tax Credits
17. Choose the Right Contractor
18. Get Creative and Go Alternative
19. Upgrade to an Efficient Furnace
Electric heaters are the most popular way to warm rooms not only in United States, but across the globe. People use electric heaters to warm their homes and offices because they are convenient and efficient; all you need to do is plug it into an electric outlet and it will start providing you instant warmth. The ample varieties in design as well as capacities offer plenty of options to a buyer. However if they are not used correctly, they may be unsafe and not efficient. Here are a few tips on how to use electric heaters wisely.
Don’t leave an electric heater unattended while in use. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, electric heaters account for 40% of the deaths and 30% of the injuries each year in the United States that are heating related. Even with safety features, electric heaters may catch fire if used for long hours without supervision, or something near heater may catch fire after long exposure to the heat.
Use only as directed. Place the electric heater on a level, flat surface. Use the heater on a tabletop, only if the manufacturer permits it. If you place it on furniture, it could fall and be damaged or cause fire or injury. Do not use electric heater in a damp or wet area unless designed for use in bathrooms or the outdoors.
Keep children and pets away from an electric heater. Children may put their hand on a hot electric heater and can burn themselves. Pets could knock the unit over or could also be injured.
Use it when you need it. Electric heaters take less time to warm an area, so when you don’t need it on, turn it off. Some electric heaters include a thermostat that maintains the temperature you set. By keeping this tip in mind, you will not only save on electric bills but will also save energy.
Get it inspected by an expert regularly. This ensures that all electricity points are working correctly and helps prevent any injuries or fires. Get the electric heater repaired if there is a problem.
These suggestions will not only help you use electric heaters safely but will also reduce the costs on your electric bill.
Being passive isn’t always a bad thing, especially when it’s passive solar heating and cooling. The idea behind passive solar is to design buildings that take advantage of natural heat from the sun in winter; and shade and wind and in the summer. Although the concept has been used in many cultures for centuries, passive solar design principles recently have been refined a great deal, even since the 1970s.
Almost all Americans use household cleaning products — from dish detergents to bathroom cleaners and floor polish to scouring pads. Most of us are exposed to cleaners on a daily basis, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [source: Davies]. Even if we don’t use cleaners, it’s likely we’re regularly come into contact with them at work, school or elsewhere.
Unfortunately, cleaners often contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to our health and planet. Health effects associated with cleaning products include asthma, contact dermatitis, burns to the skin and eyes and inflammation or fluid in the lungs. Long-term repercussions may include reproductive problems, cancer, heart disease and other health issues.
From the wacky to the practical, renting instead of buying can save you serious money, as well as benefit the environment.
1. Tools
In these tough economic times many people are looking for ways to shave expenses off their budgets. One tried-and-true method is to rent instead of buy. Environmentalists have long pointed out that we can also significantly reduce our impact on the planet if we borrow the things we only need occasionally.
Preparing for a new baby can be a busy yet motivating time. Between the type of paint you use to the way you wash their bedding, there are many things to think about when it comes to making it the best environment it can be for you and your baby. The goal is to create a healthy atmosphere for the baby by improving the indoor air quality. Breathing quality air isn’t just important for baby, it’s important for everyone who lives in the home.
Here are a few pointers for indoor air quality in a nursery and beyond. Read more…
1. Build a clothesline
Next to your refrigerator, your dryer is likely the biggest energy-guzzling appliance in your house. And while we wouldn’t ask you to store your food in a vintage icebox, an old-fashioned clothesline is actually a pretty good idea. (If that sounds too retro, think of it as a “solar dryer” instead.)
You can buy a pulley kit like the one pictured here at the hardware store. Or you can order the components online. But it’s easy to make a traditional clothesline yourself, using 4×4 or 6×6 pressure-treated posts for the uprights and 2×8s for the cross arms (which don’t need to be pressure-treated). Simply notch the posts to receive the cross arms, set them in concrete, and run the lines on eye hooks between them. A 4- or 5-foot cross arm should give you enough room for five lengths of line, nicely spaced.
Lumber: $42
Hardware: $10
100 feet of line + 100 wood clothespins: $17
Total: $69
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