Pretty soon here, I’m going to be reviewing Thames & Kosmos Green Power House – a Discovery Store toy. However, this kit is not so much a toy as a full on model home / eco-experiments activity project. There’s a lot to this activity kit though, so before I review I’m going to cover the basics.

Power House provides an introduction to sustainable energy sources and teaches basic concepts and principles in physical science. Using the kit will teach you about, and how to use heat and light energy from the sun, wind power, and electrochemical and plant energy.

The Power House …read more

Did the title make you cringe? I admit that I felt I outgrew microwave cooking after college, but perhaps the microwave should be utilized for more than just heating leftovers.
Not only does microwave cooking save energy, but foods cooked in the microwave generally retain more vitamins than foods cooked more slowly.
Plus, the microwave won’t heat up your kitchen like the oven can.
Here are some external links to microwave recipes and tips to get you started as a microwave chef. Please remember to make sure you’re using microwave-safe cookware.

Lord Petro is all around. Watch the video to learn more.

Did you learn anything new from Lord Petro?
Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in June 2008

Oh, sigh. I shouldn’t let politics get me down, but I was so disappointed today to hear that John McCain now supports offshore drilling in protected areas. A big booger, that one. (Read more at the Washington Post: Bush Calls for Offshore Oil Drilling and CNN: McCain wants to lift ban on offshore drilling.)
The whole thing makes me want to not own a car anymore. I did happen to fill up my Civic today, and I paid $41 for the cheap stuff.
But does that mean I want to go out and mess up ecosystems on US shores in hopes that …read more

When our apartment lease is up in a few months, we’re considering moving closer to where my husband works. That will not only save him time, but will save us hundreds of dollars a month — that’s the cost of owning a second automobile, including gas. We’re figuring the higher cost of living near where he works will be cancelled out by the savings of no commute.
Imagine living close enough to walk or bike to work. For many, the higher cost of gas is stimulating that reality. And if there’s anything good about the high gas prices, it’s that it’s …read more

Driving a Vespa instead of a larger vehicle saves gas and carbon emissions. It also helps with traffic congestion. I know it’s not for everyone, but I’ve known some people who really dig on this ride to work. The Vespa Vespa video by Rex Hermogino describes the Vespa experience with a fun song to make you smile. And laugh. Check it out. If you don’t like it, you can complain in comments, but I’m just that sure you’ll love it.
Video via Vespa’s Go Green Challenge.

One thing that frustrates me about apartment living is that I don’t have control over things like choosing Energy Star-certified appliances. In this post, I’m talking about apartment renting. If you own your apartment or have a special arrangement with your landlord, you may have more flexibility.
Here are a few suggestions to help you live a greener apartment life:
•Make sure your air conditioning filter is getting changed regularly. Energy Star recommends checking monthly and changing at least every three months. Most apartments change them for you, but some (like mine) need to be reminded.
•Check to see if the outside dryer …read more

This week we’re taking a look at some of the Eco Symbols You May Not Know. And if you know about them, you can look for them. Put on your eco-symbol glasses. Here we go with Green-e.
The Green-e logo is a symbol for excellence in renewable energy. For the retail market, Green-e is an independent certification and verification program for renewable energy use and greenhouse gas emission reductions.
Using renewable energy reduces harmful emissions from non-renewable resources like coal. Unfortunately, only two percent of the electricity in the US comes from renewable resources. Green-e is administered by the Center for Resource …read more

Why am I posting this after my Play Games post where I encourage you to watch less TV (and DVDs)?
It’s because I still like to watch some movies, particularly classics and some foreign films that aren’t as easy to find in the video store. And I do watch some new releases as well. I know we’re human, and movies can be fun (when you pick a good one, that is).
Why Netflix? Well, I know more about them since I’m a customer.
If you think about it, Netflix is basically the paid sharing of DVDs on a large scale. So, the reuse …read more

This is a very cool company, Solar Cynergy, who nicely sent me an e-mail a long time ago (you don’t want to know how long) but the e-mail ended up at the end of my list. I found it today. Lucky for you, because if you’ve ever considered solar this is a great company to go with. I like their lights because they’re really beautiful to look at. The earth likes their lights because they’re solar; which of course, holds many benefits.
Solar runs on the sun! Ok, that one was obvious. But solar also saves you money and you aren’t …read more