Easy Eco Blog.com

Save Money – Washing Clothes in Cold Water

easy eco blog — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:00:06 +0000

Saving Energy by Washing Clothes in Cold Water

We use Seventh Generation laundry detergent in our washer and noticed that the box suggested saving energy by using cold water for washing all clothes. US Dept of Energy calculates that 90% of energy used in washing clothes goes toward heating the water. Save up to $60 a year by using cold water. If 70% of US households washed their clothes in cold water, we could provide energy 4.4 million households. In 2012 it was estimated that approximately 40% of homes washed their clothes cold water.

The Seventh Generation FAQ’s do state that amount of sudsing is affected by temperature though. You might have to use warm water for those pesky stains like those from oil. So check your laundry detergent’s label to see if it is compatible with mostly cold water washing.

Make sure you do full loads of laundry. Use the Moisture-sensing option if available. Save 5% or around $60 on your electric bill by conserving.

Amazon has discounts and free shipping on Seventh Generation products. Seventh generation has started to sell concentrated liquid detergent in a new cardboard bottle that is fully recyclable, including the inner plastic pouch.

Saving energy in the Dryer

Save energy in your dryer by using the sensor dry option if your dryer has one. Also try avoid using fluffy towels as they take longer to dry. Waffle towels are thinner and will save you money. Be sure to clean out the lint trap after each load. Using clothes line to dry clothes helps even more.

If your Clothes Washer was made before 1994, a new high efficiency one will use about half the energy. Energy Rebates are available with a new washer or dryer.

Be sure to read our article: Ways to Save Energy, Money on your Energy Bill

Green Electrolux Laundry Set

The new Green Electrolux Laundry Set is advertised as an eco friendly, environmentally conscious appliance. It takes only 18 minutes to wash, 18 to dry. Large 4.8 cu ft washer and 8cu ft dryer. They claim it is 75% more energy efficient and uses 56% less water. They even have green tips on their website.

As part of “eating its own dog food”, Electrolux committed to reduce total energy consumption at factories and facilities by 15% by the end of 2009.

Remember that it takes a lot of carbon emissions to build the unit, so to be most green, replace an appliance only when your current one is literally broken beyond a reasonably priced repair.

Ortho Home Defense MAX Green pesticide alternatives – Roundup herbacide alternatives

easy eco blog — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:00:43 +0000

The Scotts Company sells the popular line of pesticides Ortho Home Defense MAX as well as Roundup. They produce everything from bug killers to rodent control products to Scotts Miracle Grow.

Roundup is a popular herbicide that is used to kill weeds. It is effective because it travels from the above ground portion of the plant into the roots and then kills the roots. The active ingredient is Glyphosate, which is also present in similar products. You need to be very careful in using this product because of all the injuries that have resulted. The Bugman recently talked about this chemical’s problems.

“Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide that will kill almost all plants it comes in contact with, including annual, biennial and perennial grasses, broadleaf and woody plants. The chemical is sprayed on the leaves, where it is absorbed and translocated through the entire plant. Roundup is non-selective, so it kills many kinds of plants, and can drift to unintended plants and harm or kill them.

There are concerns of irreversible damage to plants, beneficial insects and animals, and water contamination due to Roundup. Glyphosate itself is very low in toxicity to mammals, including humans, but it contains a surfactant known as polyethoxylated tallowamine (POEA) that is very toxic…”

Roundup is responsible for a high number of poisoning reports within California, probably because it is so popular. In 1998, California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation concluded that glyphosate ranks first among herbicides as the highest cause of pesticide-induced illnesses or injuries to people in California. Common symptoms of glyphosate poisoning include eye soreness, headaches, diarrhea, nausea, sore throat, gastrointestinal injury, and other flu-like symptoms. Long term toxicity is being probed.

This study from the Centre for Agriculture and Environment stated that Glyphosate or Roundup is absorbed by plants and is rapidly translocated. Residues of the pesticide have been found in fruits and vegetables, long after it has been applied. Lettuce, carrots and other vegetables contained trace levels of Roundup a year after it had been applied according to Caroline Cox, staff scientist for the NCAP (Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides) and editor of the Journal of Pesticide Reform.

Time to eat organic fruits and vegetables.

Roundup is used extensively in farming. There are even Roundup Ready genetically engineered seeds that are immune to Roundup’s effects. Roundup’s owner, Monsanto takes legal action against farmers who even unknowingly plant contaminated seeds. Mother nature never sits still. Years of its use has lead to Roundup resistant weeds.
Genetically modified crops have escaped at least six times in the past per a GAO Report in 2008, causing over 1 billion dollars in losses to rice farmers. A new genetically modified corn, Enogen, that is used to create ethanol has been approved and may cause further contamination. A single kernel in 10,000 unmodified kernels can cause corn to become liquefied and soggy.

Over use of Glyphosate has lead to an 81% decline in the Monarch Butterfly population.

Genetically Modified (GMO) crop problems

These genetically modified seeds have resulted in even stronger super weeds that are resistant to Roundup. This has caused the chemical companies to push using a 1940′s era pesticide called 2,4-D. So the war is escalating, and over time we will probably see weeds to resistant to this chemical.

Ortho Home Defense Max

One of the more popular products sold at places like Home Depot is Ortho Home Defense MAX Perimeter & Indoor Insect Killer – “Kills bugs inside, keeps bugs out!” – It comes in a convenient 2 gal. Pull ‘N Spray so you can zap insects any time. “For long lasting residual control leave spray undisturbed. The product will keep killing for up to 12 months.”

You can to email or call for Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) or find it online elsewhere.

Active Ingredients is listed as 0.05% Bifenthrin (MSDS)- It is virtually insoluble in water so it has high persistence in soil (half life = 7 days – 8 months) and consequently it is one of the longest residual termiticide, which can be good or bad. It is highly toxic to fish and aquatic arthropods, so it should not be used where it can affect them.

Australia has some analysis of the chemical showing that toxic to mammals. Australia suggests using more Integrated Pest Management.

Problems with Pesticide Runoff

This article echos the main concern that this pesticide flows into water systems through runoff into storm drains, causing problems for aquatic species.
“High levels of pyrethroid pesticides in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the number one river system on America’s Most Endangered Rivers List of 2009, has been linked to heavy urbanization in the region.”
If you are going to use this pesticide, please do not over use it and do not use it in areas that will drain to the sewer during watering or rain season.

A 2010 San Francisco Estuary Institute report found that urban runoff was more toxic than rural. Heavy loads of mercury and PCBs flowed into the Bay from culverts and creeks carrying storm water.

In August 2011, Roundup pesticide resistant pests were found in Northern Iowa. Monsanto sells genetically-modified corn seeds that are resistant to their Roundup pesticide. These insect-proof crops make farming much easier by allowing farmers to grow the same crop year after year. This violates a basic tenet of pest management, which states that using one method year after year gives pests an opportunity to adapt. Scientists now say that Roundup resistant superweeds have spread to more than 20 states. Monsanto was listed as the worst company of 2011.

The government requires that farmers who plant genetically-modified corn, plant as much as 20% non-modified corn on their farm. Some farms are allowed to plant as little as 5%, possibly leading to other problems.

If you must use Roundup, follow its directions carefully and apply it to a very small area.

Alternative Eco Friendly Green Pesticides

Herbicides should not be necessary for every garden. Physical weed management techniques such as mulching digging up weeds can be very effective. Eco friendly green pesticides include: mechanical removal, suppression with mulches, or maybe spraying with vinegar. If you must use an herbicide try to stick to the least toxic ones that utilize non-poisonous ingredients including clove oils and soaps.

Orange Guard is an eco friendly green insecticide. Alternatives to Home Defense Max: Natural insecticides like Pyrethrum from Chrysanthemum plants (Details), may be better that these chemicals.

Our other articles cover green termite pest control and green indoor pest control.

PEPCO Energy Efficiency Rebates

easy eco blog — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:00:39 +0000

New rebates have been added for 2012.

Utility Company PEPCO has a bunch of programs and incentives to help save energy and money.

Have PEPCO haul away that old refrigerator energy hog for FREE and get $50.
Free Home Energy Assessment with rebates up to $1000 on qualifying heating systems, $300 rebate on hot water heaters
Save energy and money with Energy Wise Rewards
Up to $350 rebate with Energy Star appliance rebate program

Questions, call PEPCO at 202-833-7500.

Always check your local utility’s web site for rebates before you buy a new item. We recently bought a new dishwasher that had a $50 utility company rebate that was not advertised by the store. They fulfilled the rebate in only 2 weeks. Green your home and get cash back. Most rebates run through December 31 or while funding is available.

Be sure to also take advantage of the Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credit. This Federal tax credit can save you money in addition to your utility companies’ promotions. It applies to many items including: Windows, Doors, Skylights – Wood Heat Stoves, Pellet Stoves, Fireplace Inserts – Energy Efficient Water Heaters – Solar panels.

Additional Resources for more information

Read our article: Ways to Save Energy, Money on your Energy Bill – It is full of tips to save you money.

Interested in Solar? Read our article Are Solar Panels for Me?

Non eco Friendly Costco Effect – Rewards Card Fallacy

easy eco blog — Mon, 14 May 2012 07:00:07 +0000

The Costco Effect is defined by the Devil’s Dictionary as “..consumer enter a store planning to buy toilet paper, and end up charging $1500 on their AMEX card.” CNBC ran a program entitled “Costco Effect” which describes the loyalty many shoppers have to this store.

The Wall Street Journal even had an article on this. “Michael Norton, a Harvard University marketing professor, co-authored a yet-to-be-published paper that found people buy more than they intend at Costco because they perceive that prices are better. He believes people end up throwing out food as a result.”

Knowing many Costco regulars or “addicts”, I can agree with the articles. You visit the store to buy more household items like detergent, paper towels, bread, milk but end up with books, electronics, beef jerky, clothes, and much more in your shopping cart. Shoppers assume they are getting great deals and buy until their garages are overstocked.

This overbuying problem presents itself at other warehouse clubs like Sam’s Club and even to holders of Store credit card with rewards or loyalty program like a Target Credit Card or Amazon Credit Card. You end up buying extra, often unnecessary items because of a discount, cash back, or sales goal.

We have no problem buying in bulk to save money, but when you add in a bunch of impulse items, you do not save money, you spend more. Many items are only sold in bulk, so we had first hand experience buying items, eating some, then tossing the rest. Not very eco friendly and no savings of money.

Try to restrain yourself at Costco or any other store.

Do you really need this item? Will I really finish this 12 pack?

Never shop when you are hungry! That sample tasted good, should I buy some? Eat before shopping.

Also remember that you can return anything to Costco at ANY time, even partially consumed. (Some electronics have a 90 day return period.)

Comparison Shopping Online Saves Energy

Comparison Shopping Online Saves Energy according to a report from Carnegie Mellon’s Green Design Institute. They looked at a major E-tailer buy.com and evaluated logistics specifically for electronics products. They took in to account many factors including transportation, data centers, warehouses, energy use in Homes, etc. Some findings when comparing online stores to brick and mortar retail operations:

E-commerce uses 30% less energy
Online commerce results in 30% fewer CO2 emissions

More online stores are carrying a wide variety items from Electronics to groceries to books, making it a convenient one stop shop. No need to waste gas driving to several different stores. We buy many items from Amazon (Support the site by using our links)

NSTAR Energy Efficiency Rebates

easy eco blog — Sat, 12 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

New rebates have been added for 2012.

Utility Company NSTAR has a bunch of programs and incentives to help save energy and money.

Have NSTAR haul away that old refrigerator energy hog for FREE and get $50.
Free Home Energy Assessment with rebates up to $1000 on qualifying heating systems, $300 rebate on hot water heaters
Up to $25 rebate with 7 day programmable thermostat purchase
Up to $200 rebate with variable speed pool pump purchase

Questions, call NSTAR at 800-592-2000.

Additional Resources for more information

Read our article: Ways to Save Energy, Money on your Energy Bill – It is full of tips to save you money.

Interested in Solar? Read our article Are Solar Panels for Me?

High Fructose Corn Syrup getting replaced – Soda and Health Issues

easy eco blog — Fri, 11 May 2012 07:00:40 +0000

High Fructose Corn Syrup is getting replaced by sugar in many packaged foods and drinks. High Fructose Corn Syrup has recently gotten a bad reputation as an artificial sweetener. It is heavily processed and offers little nutritional value

Problems with Sugars

Changing to sugar is almost a marketing gimmick. Researchers have concluded that sugar and High Fructose Corn Syrup have the exact same effect on obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Biochemically they are almost identical. One is not better than the other. Consumers should seek less sweet alternative products. The American Diabetic Association has stated that studies have found little evidence that high fructose corn syrup differs from sucrose. Some corn syrup comes from Genetically Modified corn, making you part of an experiment to ensure that this does not cause long term problems.

Soda and Hidden Fat Increase

Danish researchers found that drinking non-diet soda leads to dramatic increases in dangerous hidden fats like liver fat and skeletal fat. (February issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition)

Flame Retardants in Soda

Some citrus flavored soda, including Mountain Dew, uses brominated vegetable oil or BVO—a toxic flame retardant, as an emulsifier, to keep their artificial flavoring from separating from the rest of the liquids.

Some restaurant and products have replaced high fructose corn syrup with agave nectar claiming that it may be better. Unfortunately it is high in fructose, ranging from 50% to 100%. A diet high in fructose raises lipids and reduces insulin sensitivity. Glucose doesn’t have these negative effects.

Quest for Sugar Elimination

Recently went looking for some simple unsweetened iced tea at a Walgreens and in a gas station, we found nothing but sweetened versions of the drink. If you wanted to do without sugar you have to buy bottled water.

People need to drink water instead of soda. Snack on fruit instead of cookies. Yes they are not as appetizing, but they are far healthier.

Check out this video that talks about the problems with sugar.

Sugarless Gum Problems

photo credit: TheTruthAbout…

I saw an article that mentioned that the artificial sweeteners used in chewing gum could cause problems. A Google search shows many articles that talk about sweeteners such as Sorbitol, Mannitol, and Aspertame causing stomach problems in some people. Better living through chemicals. Also the mechanism of chewing causes swallowing lots of air, which can cause gas and bloating.

Let’s not even get into all the waste gum packaging has or gum littering the ground…

Reduce your LCD or Plasma TVs Energy Use

easy eco blog — Tue, 08 May 2012 07:00:59 +0000

You can easily optimize the picture settings of your TV and reduce your energy bill and save money. Most TVs are set so they are optimized with high brightness and contrast levels to ‘look good’ or deliver wows in a TV store. The brightness and colors are cranked way up or set to what is known as “Torch Mode”. You can set your TV to optimal image settings and save money in the process.

Always set your TV for Home use, not for Store use. Set your TVs mode to one called Standard, Cinema, or Movie. Avoid modes named Dynamic or Vivid. Turn the brightness and contrast down to an acceptable level.

Our Sony XBR LCD TV has a Power Saving setting you can set to OFF, Low, High, and Picture OFF. We set this to High. It also has a PC Power Management setting to have the TV save energy when there is no signal. Newer Sharp LCD TVs when first turned on, ask whether they will be used in retail stores.

Power Consumption of Pioneer Plasma HDTV

CNET has a good description of how they test power usage. After they calibrate the set to optimal setting, it almost always uses less power. A top rated Pioneer Plasma TV used 40 less watts of power when calibrated. This translates to $13 or more a year power savings. Use a Killawatt to measure before and after power use. People have save $30 to $60 a year with picture adjustments.

If you are buying a new HDTV, be sure to look for a green LCD TV. Energy Star 3.0 standards requires less than 1 watt of power usage when the TV is off and has a formula for maximum energy use based on screen size. Look for this mark on any TV you purchase.

Make sure the mounting apparatus on your LCD or plasma TV is secure. Make sure other furniture such as book cases are moved away from the flat screen TV so children cannot climb and reach the TV.

Use a smart power strip so the TV cannot draw phantom power or vampire power while it is off.

Eco Friendly OmniMount Omnilite Mounts

Looking for a mount for that new flat panel TV set? OmniMount has a new Omnilite series of flat panel mount. Both the product and the packaging are made from recycled materials. It has condensed packaging and streamlined hardware kits. Manuals and installation templates for each product will be printed on the inside of the box, eliminating paper.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL) Energy Savings

easy eco blog — Mon, 07 May 2012 07:00:54 +0000

Just in case you have not joined the wave. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs or CFLs can save you lots of money. 90% of energy used by traditional incandescent lightbulbs is wasted as heat.

How Energy Efficient?

How does a regular incandescent bulb compare to a compact fluorescent one? CFL’s use about 66% less energy and last about 10x longer. The estimated amount of savings is up to $39 over the life of the CFL. PG&E advertises that replacing a 100 watt incandescent bulb with a 25-watt CFL will save at least $90 in energy costs over the life of the bulb. A typical house may have over 60 light bulbs.

Per the Energy Star.gov: we could reduce green house gas emissions equivalent to taking 800,000 cars of the road by having each American home replace just one light bulb with a CFL.

A 60 W incandescent lightbulb can be replaced with a CFL that uses from 13 to 15 Watts of energy. LED lights would use even less energy, perhaps 12 Watts to achieve the same amount of light.

By 2012, light bulbs are required to be labeled with Light Facts that tell you their energy costs, light output, and other information.

Picking the best CFL Bulbs
By now, hopefully everyone knows why we should switch to CFLs. We have covered this area in the past.

Environmental Working Group has a new research which identified 7 bulb lines from Earthmate, Litetronics, Sylvania, Feit, MaxLite, and Philips that last a long time and have very little mercury. Look for these when you are shopping.

Also a reminder that these bulbs are very delicate. Transport them with care. We have recently broken 2 CFL bulbs ourselves.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs are falling in price everyday. Home Depot now has 23 Watt (120 Watt Equivalent) Flood Light CFLs. 14 Watt (60 watt equiv, 800 lumens) Candelabra CFLs are available.

Different CFLs emit different light temperatures or color of the light, measured in Kelvin (K). Cool Bright White CFLs are rated at a temperature of 3500K, while Soft White CFLs are 2700K. 3000K will resemble a halogen bulb’ s white or light. Temperatures from 5000 to 6000K resemble daylight. Consider special Full Spectrum CFLs to beat Winter Blues

Flipping CFLs Quickly On and Off Warning

CFLs will last a lot longer if you do not turn them on and off frequently. Leave them on if you will be back in the room within 5 minutes. Flipping a CFL on/off is the equivalent to 5 seconds of CFL ON time. CFLs will burn out quickly if not allowed to have 15 minutes between power cycling.

We recommend you do not use CFLs in motion controlled light fixtures.

Hybrid CFL – Halogen Lightbulb

To address the slow brightening of CFLs after being turned on, GE created the Energy Smart Hybrid Halogen – CFL. This bulb includes a halogen capsule inside the CFL bulb, that turns on instantly and then turns off as the CFL reaches full brightness. The down side is that this bulb has problems with rapid power cycling and has a lower life when this happens often. GE markets this lightbulb as lasting for 7.3 years and saving $48 in energy costs.

Actual lifespan of a CFL

California has subsidized the cost of compact fluorescent light bulbs so they cost an average of $1.30 versus $4 without subsidies. Analysis by PG&E for 2006 to 2008 has found an average lifespan of 6.3 years for CFL’s versus a projected useful life of 9.4 years. Field tests have shown shorter lifespans in bathrooms, recessed lighting, and when frequently turned on and off. We have read some articles claiming a 10,000 hour CFL average life span which equates to 3.5 years with 8 hours a day of usage.

EDN is reporting that some CFLs suffer from poor power factor that causes more power use. These power losses don’t show up directly on our electricity bill, but the utilities sure see the effects.

Low Temperatures

Outdoor CFL’s are not designed to work in extremely cold conditions, such as those below 0°F. Outdoor compact fluorescent light bulbs will take longer to reach full brightness in cold conditions.

Recycling CFLs

The one gotcha – CFL’s contain mercury, so you cannot simply throw them in the trash. You need to recycle them at stores like Home Depot or Ikea. Several local hardware stores including Brownie’s in San Francisco and many Ace Hardware locations also recycle CFLs.

Also be very careful if a CFL breaks. Follow the instructions to carefully clean it up and ventilate the room for at least 15 minutes. Have people and pets leave the room, and do not let anyone walk near the broken CFL, and turn off any central forced air heating or cooling system, if needed. Consult these additional clean-up steps to properly dispose of a broken CFL.

Green Incandescent Bulb – Philips Lighting’s Halogena Energy Savers

Hate CFL’s? Philips Lighting has released the new Halogena Energy Savers Light bulb. It is an incandescent bulb that is 30% more efficient than older bulbs and lasts about 3 times as long. Cost $5. Amazon and Home Depot carry them exclusively.

The 2007 Federal Energy bill phases out inefficient incandescent light bulbs beginning in 2012, so that has forced vendors to innovate.

Incandescent Bulbs are Being Phased Out

California began phasing out sales of incandescent light bulbs on January 1, 2011, while the Federal law takes effect on January 1, 2014. It will be harder to find incandescent light bulbs in the future, so CFLs are bound to become more popular by default.

Green Fluorescent Lighting

Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) have been covered often by the media. Not much attention has been paid to standard fluorescent tube lights.

Philips has new “green” ALTO II T8 low mercury fluorescent lamps. With 50% less mercury than previous generation low mercury lamps, these are better for the environment. They also use 100% recycled mercury. These bulbs are available in lower power 25 W, 25W long life version, so you can save up to $21 in energy costs over the rated average life of the lamp.

New low cost LED Light Bulbs are coming soon that will surpass CFLs in efficiency.

Improving Light Energy Savings

You will not save money even if you use CFLs, when lights are left on for no reason. With our recent remodel, we installed several light switches that automatically turn off. These are required by California’s Title 22 code.

Vacancy sensors detect when a space becomes vacant and turn lighting off automatically after a preset time delay elapses. They also make other specialized versions that have fixed 5 minutes delays, good for closets.

These switches replace standard light switches, so they can be easily retrofitted. Most cost under $50.

Costco CFL Compact Fluorescent Lightbulb Sale

Costco has a PGE instant rebates on Feit Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs in any San Francisco Bay Area locations.

A 10 pack of 13 Watt bulbs (100 watt replacement) costs only $6.49

An 8 pack of 23 Watt bulbs (100 watt replacement) costs only $7.19

Several other varieties are available.

Also read: Ways to Save Energy, Money on your Energy Bill

Compact Fluorescent CFL Sales Drop

Hard to believe but CFL sales actually dropped in 2008 compared to 2007. One article blames it on the economy. People want to save money but short shortsightedly buy the cheaper priced bulb. Some people do not light the light color emitted, but may not realize there are CFL bulbs with different emission colors.

In the past, 80% of light bulbs sold in the U.S. were incandescent, and lighting uses almost 20% of all residential electricity. Clearly there is a lot of room for improvement.

In the coming years, incandescent bulbs will be slowly phased out, so people will have to buy CFLs or LED bulbs.

The estimated amount of savings is up to $39 over the life of the CFL. A typical house may have over 60 light bulbs.

Full Spectrum CFLs to beat Winter Blues

Full Spectrum compact fluorescent light bulbs are now available. These light bulbs produce a white light that produces a light spectrum similar to that of the Sun’s light. This type of light source has been use used to treat Sleep Phase Disorders, Seasonal affective disease or winter blues, and other conditions.

Look for bulbs with full spectrum on CFL bulb labels. They mimic daylight so they have a temperature rating of 5000K – 6500K. Home Depot’s are called “Daylight Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs”. They do not cost much more.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

This malady is finally getting more press. It is characterized by episodes of depression that usually occur during a certain time of the year, usually during winter. If your location has long winter nights, with little sunlight, you might be affected. A recent article has additional tips on beating this syndrome. Light therapy, Dawn simulation, Negative Air Ions, Antidepressants, Behavioral Therapy, Vitamin D, Diet, and and Outdoor Exercise are therapies to help ease the Winter Blues.

Philips even has a new Wake-up Light with Dock for iPod

This item slowly wakes you up and allows you to feel more ready in the morning. – Anything that makes waking up easier sounds good to us and a lot of others!

Improving Indoor Air Quality – VOC eating Plants – Hepa Air Filters

easy eco blog — Wed, 02 May 2012 07:00:41 +0000

Indoor Air Quality refers to how clean the air indoors is. We spend 90-95% of our time indoors. Often times the air outside is cleaner. This leads to health problems like allergies, asthma, etc.

Consumer Product Safety Commission and EPA has a good guide on how to improve indoor air quality. EPA has an extensive list of items that affect indoor air quality.

Major air quality problems include: Smoking, Fireplaces, Mold, Dust, Radon, Stoves.

Some lesser known problems include: Offgassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other chemicals from paint, carpets, cleaners, gasoline, paint thinner, dryclean clothes, office equipment, furniture, and building materials.

Using Plants to Scrub the Air

NASA has done research to show that plants Clean Air and Water for Indoor Environments. Plants have been found to reduce dust, formaldehyde, benzene, and other harmful chemicals. Air purification using plants is called phytoremediation. Recent research conducted at universities found that certain plants reduced total VOC levels by up to 75%. Plants clean the air by absorbing chemicals through small leaf pores called stomata . And from microorganisms living in the soil.

List of Plants that Purify the Air

Plants that are recommended include:

Areca palm (Dypsis lutescens)
Asparagus fern
azalea
Bamboo palm (Chamaedora seifritzee)
Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
Chinese evergreen
Chrysanthemum
Corn Plant
Devils ivy
Dieffenbachia
Elephant ear philodendron (Philodendron domesticum)
English ivy (Hedera helix)
Flamingo flower
Gerbera daisy
Golden pothos (Scindapsus aureus)
Grape Ivy
Janet Craig
Kimberly Queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterate)
Ligustrum
Marginata
Mother in-laws tongue
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum clevelandii)
Philodendron
Poinsettia
Pot Mum
Schefflera
Snake plants
Spider plants (Chlorophytum elatum)
Tulip Orchid
Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)

One or two plants can clean approximately 100 square feet. Formaldehyde is no longer detectable if you have 1 or 2 Boston ferns within a 100 square feet space.

Removing common chemicals from the air

Formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene are three common toxic indoor chemicals that should be removed from the air. Philodendron and spider plants remove formaldehyde; English ivy and Marginata remove the large amounts of benzene; and Gerbera daisy and the Peace Lily are very good in removing trichloroethylene.

Penn State recommends plants for improving air quality too.

Preventing Mold

Make sure that you do not over water your indoor plants. Mold occurs typically when house plants are watered too much or too often.

If you have carpet, consider removing it or using modular green carpets such as Interface floor. Install using no voc adhesives.

Filtering your air

Putting a better filter on your heater, such as a 3M Filtrete will also improve indoor air quality.

In room portable air purifiers with HEPA filters also help clear the air. Look for ones that are whisper quiet.

Also consider installing a high-quality whole house air filtration system such as one from Aprilaire. These filters, filter the year before it reaches your heating system. Neutralize most germs, dust, mold spores and other air borne pollutants.

This is a lot cheaper and more green and eco than buying lots of air purifiers or replacing every piece of furniture you have.

Be sure to Fix Leaky Ducts – Reducing Air Leaks

Drought Tolerant Plants, Water Conservation, Xeriscaping, Saving Water in Garden – Green your Garden – Eco Friendly Garden Quiz

easy eco blog — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:00:44 +0000

California is facing another drought, and so are many other states. Water use may be curtailed causing water rates to go straight up. Summer is when our water bill goes ballistic with >$100 months commonplace. Gardens use a lot of water. Lawns can easily use 50-80% of a household’s water. Our garden uses close to 75% of our water, probably because we conserve so much. Drought Tolerant Plants, drought resistant plants, and Xeriscaping, help you by saving water in garden.

Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping and xerogardening (based on Greek word for ‘dry’) are landscaping and gardening in ways that reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental water from irrigation. Denver Water pioneered the first Xeriscape garden. They suggest the following 7 principles:

Plan and Design your garden on paper. How will it be used? Hardscaping or using soil, gravel, or rock pathways use no water. Space plants further apart to give roots more space.
Compost and mulch to help the soil retain water, prevents erosion, and keep weeds away. Some people use old newspaper as mulch. Add a generous two to three inch layer of mulch around the base of plants.
Water your garden efficiently. Intelligent sprinklers, zones, water deeply and infrequently, water in morning. Collect rain water.
Select Drought Tolerant plants and Native plants. Group plants with similar light and water requirements. Put moderate water-use plants in low-lying drainage areas, near downspouts. Plant Vegetables in shaded areas.
Plant Native grasses
Maintain your garden. Fertilize, cut grass and recycle grass, prune, compost remains. Some fertilizer companies recommend five fertilizations a year, yet many lawns can survive with only two.
Use water without waste with these tricks: recirculating fountains, bird bath, dry creek bed, or water jars and urns.

Some cities and water departments like Austin, Texas and Cary, North Carolina pay “cash for grass” .

Saving Water by living with Lawns

Keeping a green lawn takes a lot of care and cost.

During hot weather, lawns need 1/2″ of water ever other day.

Best time to Water your lawn, grass, or garden is early in morning to lessen evaporation. Water not at night as lawn disease may occur.
Water more deeply, not more often. Water every other day.
Most grass can survive a month without water. Some people allow their lawn to go brown during drought spells.
Make sure your sprinkler system is setup correctly, water times are set optimally, and water does not leak. Utilize drip irrigation, flag drippers, spot watering, smart controller, high tech sprinklers, rain shut off and micro spray watering heads for particular areas.

Reducing a Lawn, Grass, Garden’s Water Use – Green Weed Prevention

Lawns use 50-80% of a household’s water. That amounts to a lot of money every year! Here are some tips to save on water. Keeping a green lawn takes a lot of care. After the kids have outgrown play areas, consider dumping your lawn.

Ditch the lawn or replace it with artificial turf.
Flowers use less water than grass. Pathways use no water.
Mulch in gardens prevents soil erosion, helps keep moisture in the soil, and keeps weeds away.
Native grasses, flowering perennials, succulents, hearty shrubs are good drought tolerant replacements for lawns

Grasscycling – Recycling Grass

Grasscycling is a leaving your glass clippings on your lawn, allowing them to decompose and fertilize your lawn. I learned about it from a RecycleWorks brochure.

Benefits:

Reducing waste that goes into landfill
Healthier lawns
Save Money! Less costs due to elimination of disposal and collection
Save time with less raking, bagging, etc.

You basically do not cut any more than 1/3 of the length of the grass blade at one time. The grass should be dry when you mow. Mower blades should be sharp. In the fast–growing season you may have to cut every 7 days-but in the slower growing season you might only need to cut your lawn every 1-2 weeks.

Allow Grass to Grow Taller

Adjust your mower to raise cutting height and remove collection bag. The rule that said you should never cut more than one third of a grass’ blades height was from the USDA in the 1950′s. These days most grasses can survive 50% or more removed. There are special recycling mowers available on the market with side chutes that leave this mulch on your lawn. More mulch = less fertilizer needed = money saved. 99% of the time, you are better mulching. Only after a long rain or vacation, should you bag grass remains.

Most lawns in California need 1 inch of water every 5 to 7 days during the growing season. Water your lawn a lot less earning slow-growing ones. Water in the early morning to lessen evaporation loss and prevent disease development. Deep infrequent grass watering helps produce cheaper, more extensive root systems.

The most green Eco Friendly mower is the classic push mower. No gas, no fumes to worry about. Push the mower and burn 540 calories an hour using it!

Allow Certain Weeds to Thrive

There are many weeds and pests that do not harm your lawn.

Dandelions should be removed when their heads about to seed
Clover, Moss, Creeping Charlie can be left alone
Crabgrass on the other should be removed

Plant Fine Fescues Grass

These grasses are slower growing and more drought resistant. You may save 50% on your grass care with a Fine Fescue.

Eco-friendly green Weed Prevention

Weeds are a fact of life in gardens. Using harsh chemicals to eliminate weeds simply causes other problems. Eco-friendly green Weed Prevention is available through the use of several products.

Weed block landscape fabric is used on permanent landscape and garden areas, under patios, sidewalks, and decks. It is made from INGEO fiber and is derived from renewable resources. You can also buy a recycled version.

You can also use cardboard and newspaper underneath wood chips or mulch.

Water Saving Tips Continued

Outdoor water saving Tips

1) Water your garden less often, but using more water.

2) Use an irrigation controller that sense weather conditions. Water early in the morning or late at night.

3) Check your irrigation system for leaks

4) Group plants and shurbs by water need.

5) Mulch your garden. Mulch prevents soil erosion, helps keep moisture in the soil, and keeps weeds away.

6) Select local plants and trees that use less water

Lawn Alternatives

Ditch the lawn or replace it with artificial turf
Flowers use less water than grass.
Make your water go towards food, read Economics of a Vegetable Garden

San Francisco Bay Area Native Plants

Here are some suggestion for the San Francisco Bay Area, consult your local nursery for additional ones. Many Mediterranean, South African, and Australian plants can thrive here with low water footprints. Try to group plants of similar watering requirements.

Mexican bush sage, Mexican sage, velvet sage

photo credit: thisisbossi

Salavia Apiana

photo credit: anemoneprojectors

Achillea millefolium

photo credit: wanko

Antirrhinum

photo credit: Eran Finkle -ערן פינקל

Solanum

Bearberry (Arctostaphylos UVA-ursi), Baja fairy duster, Firecracker penstemon (Penstemon eatonii),Wild lilac (Ceanothus), Nepeta, Lambs ears, meadow grasses, fesuca occidentalis are all good low water tolerant plants too.

San Francisco Bay Area Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency or BAWSCA has free landscape education classes and also a Lawn Be Gone Rebate program of $500-$3000.

Re-imagining the California lawn

This book includes practical advice on how to replace thirsty, water-guzzling lawns with more sustainable, drought-resistant and interesting landscapes. As the author mentions, lawns go away as water rates go up. More people are moving towards Mediterranean plants and California natives. Other lawns alternatives include kitchen gardens, rock gardens, meadows or carpet/tapestry garden.

Green Eco Friendly Garden Tools

WSJ has a review of more eco friendly green garden tools that use battery power or propane. It is good too see more alternatives to gas guzzling garden gear. Most of the products performed better than expected indicating few compromises.

Home Depot even sells corded and battery-powered push mowers, Lehr trimmer fueled by a propane canister, and the Ariens battery AMP Rider online.

Other resources

Sunset Magazine has a plant finder.

This article has tips on less thirsty landscapes including using permeable surfaces, Permeable paver stones, stepping stones, pea gravel, decomposed granite, mulch, irrigation. The article’s resources are useful.

Key elements in gardening include:

Avoiding pesticides
Composting
Drought Tolerant Plants, Xeriscaping, Saving Water in Garden, minimizing water use
Avoiding weeds, and recycling

Green your Garden – Eco Friendly Garden Quiz

How Green is your Garden? We are not asking how lush your garden is! We want to know how eco-friendly your garden is. Here are some resources to help build a green, sustainable garden.

Sunset Magazine has a hungry use your garden quiz.

recycleworks has a sustainable gardening page

Key elements in gardening include avoiding pesticides, composting, planting native plants and trees, minimizing Drought Tolerant Plants, Xeriscaping, Saving Water in Garden, and recycling.

OSH Water Saving Items

OSH had a nice newspaper ad outlining 7 tips for saving water. They cover items from outdoor plant watering to toilets to collecting shower water. Hope this gets more people to spend some money to save a lot more in wasted water costs, while helping them go green.

New Lawn Equipment and Small Boat Motor regulations

Image from Honda Mowers

Spring is when we start thinking about purchasing new lawn equipment and motorboats.

US Environmental Protection Agency issued new emission standards for small engines used in lawn equipment and small boats aimed at significantly reducing pollution in our air and waterways. 2010 is when the new boat standards kick in. 2011 is when the new lawn and garden equipment rules start. Be sure to keep this in mind when upgrading or buying new gear. You’ll reduce the toxic gases you inhale and help clear the air.

A single ‘old-style’ lawnmower emits as much pollution in an hour as 50 cars driving 20 miles.

Many of the newly compliant lawnmowers will include catalytic converters.

Since January 1, 2007, California has required fuel powered mowers with catalytic converters, so this is not new here. If you are concerned by this, you could buy a unit that is California compliant and not wait for 2011.

Also consider buying an electric mower. Many areas have electric lawn mower rebate programs. Many counties will work with your local hardware store and offer incentives to replace your old ungreen gas lawn mower. Worx has a rebate when you buy their new electric mowers.