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 kit allows you to build a model house complete with solar panels, windmill, greenhouse, and desalination system. The experiemnts actually work and were developed by physicist Uwe Wandrey. There are plenty of easy-to-follow activities included in a 96-page full color manual that highlights 70 experiments and 20 building projects, organized into the following nine chapters:

1. The Heat Trap: Construct and experiment with a greenhouse.
2. The Sun Collector: Collect the sun’s rays to heat water.
3. The Sun Burners: Make a solar cooker while learning about the principles of light before you cook rice and bake bread.
4. The Water Vampire: Desalinate water, plant watercress, produce sauerkraut and make chewing gum.
5. The Heat Absorbers: Learn how heat of evaporation provides cooling, conduct experiments about air humidity, build a hygrometer and test a refrigerator.
6. Power Plants: Grow beans, make a potted plant feed a candle, harvest sunflower energy, build an oil press, and assemble an oil lamp.
7. The Energy Converters: Extract electric current from sunlight and metals in acid, build a light telephone, galvanize a nail and split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
8. The Forces of Magnetism: Generate electric current with magnetic fields. Build a current indicator, electric and solar motors, a transfer switch, and a crane. Lift pencils with the sun and learn about levers. Build an electric car.
9. Wings in the Wind: Build a sail car and learn how wings and sails transform energy. Learn to sail with the wind, by the wind, and against the wind and examine a mixed energy vehicle.

Who could use this kit…

• Homeschoolers
• People interested in realistic model building
• Folks interested in learning more about sustainable living and green energy
• Schools
• People who like to do science experiments
• And more

With the holidays coming up this might make a great gift too – for the right person. It says that the Power House is for ages 12+ – I’m going to work on it with my son Cedar who is 8 1/2. I figure Cedar loves to build and he loves eco-topics so this is right up his alley, even though he’s a little young. When he saw the kit he almost exploded with excitement so that’s a good sign.

After we take a closer look I’ll post what we think and what ages I think it’s ok for.

The kit contains: foam house and plastic greenhouse parts • frame • base • wood glue • solar panel • compass • wire • LED (light emitting diode) • battery holder • small light bulb and holder • solar motor • magnifying glass • propellers, iron core • ring magnet • thermometer • test tube holder • measuring beaker • sand paper • copper foil • zinc plate • wire mesh • many small parts such as paper clips • screws • clips • lead sinker • washers • wing nuts • iron powder • wires • tubing • rubber bands • yarn • wooden components • cutouts for devices • and full-color, illustrated 96 page Experiment Manual with 70 experiments and 20 building activities.

Look for our review soonish, but until then you can visit the Green Power House page for more details or pick it up at the Discovery Store.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

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.

General Microwave Cooking Tips

USDA’s guide to Cooking Safely in the Microwave Oven

On Food and Zapping (with tips on hot foamed milk for coffee and non-erupting polenta)

Microwave Iced Tea

Veggies, Rice & Snacks

Corn on the Cob

Rice

Potatoes Lyonnaise

Squash

Cheesy Cracker Melts

Breakfast

Breakfast Casserole

Banana Muffins

Desserts

Krispie Marshmallow Treats

Double Chocolate Brownies with Sweetened Whipped Cream

Chocolate Cookie Bark

And for a Nice Hostess Touch

Aromatherapy Hot Towels for your guests

Do you have any favorite microwave recipes?

Image via flickr.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in June 2008

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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

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

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 it might save me a few bucks at the pump? I think you know.

Even if there were enough untapped oil in the US to lower prices, it’s a very finite resource. And the first drop of oil wouldn’t come for three to five years after drilling starts. We obviously can’t continue our serious dependence on oil of any kind — foreign or otherwise. The big answers should not come from politicians making unfounded promises to lower our gas bills.

I don’t have all the answers, but I’m smart enough to know that it’s not more oil and pollution that we need. I would have hoped the Presidential candidate on a major ticket would have known that too.

Until the the technology for gasoline-free cars is out there and affordable for everyone, there are a few other things you can do. I know, you’ve heard them all before, but repetition is the old school way of learning, after all.

• Walk or bike instead of drive, at least two days a week

• Carpool

• Live closer to work

• Use public transportation if available

So, you may be wondering why I’m disappointed in McCain when Bush is actually the one in power who’s actively trying to lift the ban on offshore drilling. It’s because I already knew what Bush is all about. Naive me thought that just maybe McCain was serious about his environmental concerns. Well, I guess I have my answer to Would John McCain be a Green President.

Please let McCain know what you think about his decision to support coastal drilling.

Image via flickr.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in June 2008

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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 helping us to reduce emissions!

Read this CNN lifestyles article about how many people are making changes to avoid spending money on gas.

Have you made any lifestyles changes because of gas prices?

Image via flickr.

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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.

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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 vents are being cleaned. Dirty vents can greatly impact your drying time.

•Try an indoor clothes drying line or rack.

•If an appliance breaks, suggest an Energy Star replacement.

•If your water heater isn’t insulated, ask about getting that done. You may be allowed to do this yourself.

•Choose PVC-free or nylon shower liners.

•If your apartment doesn’t offer on-site recycling drop-offs, find your nearest center. I know it stinks to drive your recycling, but it’s better than throwing it away.

•Try to get your apartments to add recycling drop-offs. This is a complicated matter. My city won’t provide these services to large apartment complexes, and my apartment manager said that everyone’s rent would rise to pay for a private company. As new laws are passed, this problem will go away.

•Since many apartment ovens don’t include self-cleaning features, try a baking soda paste solution.

Do you have more green apartment living tips to add?

Image via MorgueFile.

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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 Solutions, a national non-profit working to increase renewable energy worldwide.

Organizations that have made renewable energy commitments with Green-e include Aveda, Mohawk Fine Papers, The Pepsi Bottling Group, Wells Fargo and more.

So, look for the symbol. Even if it isn’t directly printed on a product, check the company’s About Us page. For instance Aveda, a cool company that uses 100 percent wind power, talks about their Green-e certification on their Renewable Energy webpage.

Have you noticed the Green-e symbol before? Do you plan to look for it?

Green-e symbol via Green-e.org

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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 aspect is appealing. Besides, there are very few movies I actually want to own. And renting from a mail service like Netflix eliminates the need to drive to the video rental store.

According to Netflix:

“If Netflix members drove to and from a rental store, they would consume 800,000 gallons of gasoline and release more than 2.2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.”

But what about the paper used to send and return?

I’ll admit: I’m impressed by their mailing system. The simple mailer they use to send you a DVD can be easily turned back into the return envelope. All you have to do is tear off the portion with your address and put it into your recycling bin. Then you reuse the rest.

Does Netflix recycle the return mailers that are sent back to them?

I sent an e-mail to Netflix to ask this question. The response I received (in less than 24 hours) was that they do indeed recycle the return mailers.

Netflix also allows you to download some movies online each month, but I’ve never been able to get that feature to work for me since I have a Macintosh computer. Apparently I’d need Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista.

Now the not-so-green thing about it.

According to Netflix:

“Netflix members say they rent twice as many movies per month than they did before joining the service.”

It’s easy to see how members would watch twice as many movies since it’s more convenient, plus there’s the teeming queue awaiting you. Also, with some packages, the rate is the same no matter how many movies you watch each month.

So, isn’t this encouraging more DVD watching (more electricity usage)? Yes it is, but Netflix can’t really control how many movies you choose to watch. That’s up to you.

What do you think? Is Netflix a good choice for the environment, or should you just download an occasional movie from iTunes?

(DVD images are from Netflix. Actually, they are in my queue right now.)

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Solar runs on the sun! Ok, that one was obvious. But solar also saves you money and you aren’t a slave to electricity. Solar Cynergy has created a Solar LED Series that not only is perfect for residential use, but also have a line for commercial or “City & Transportation” uses.

Their system combines your basic LEDs with a tiny photovolatic cell. In this case, their LEDs are made of Polycarbonite Resin (read strong) and PC/ABS. These specific lights are so strong you can supposedly drive right over them – with no ill effects. Plus these lights are reported to run for 15 hours after charging for 8 in the sun.

John Huang of Solar Cynergy noted that these lights are “Currently being specified and used in upcoming commercial “green-building” projects, and are growing rapidly due to our unique product designs combining both function and aesthetic.” Which is true. Their solars are some of the most pleasing I’ve seen.

Here are some specs from Solar Cynergy:

• “Working Temp: -4 degrees to 158 F-
• 10 Year Warranty, 25+ year life
  
• Uses quality Nichia LEDs
• Weather resilient!”

I like the green garden path lights:

Commercial / city use:

Next up, Solar Cynergy is releasing a brand new line of high quality OEM Solar Photovoltaic modules. (Solar panels if you want to be less technical. More information about these panels will be released soon.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family