Also, a good programmable thermostat saves you time. ENERGY STAR qualified programmable thermostats come with four pre-programmed settings that regulate your home’s temperature in both summer and winter and even when your family is asleep or away. This means a programmable thermostat automatically help to reduce heating and cooling in your home according to your families schedule.

Visit the ENERGY STAR programmable thermostat page to learn about choosing the right programmable thermostat how to make sure that your thermostat is properly installed, and how to properly set and use your thermostat.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

So, last year we posted about Earth Hour here at Tree Hugging Family. Of course that’s when Peggy, who was, I believe, pro-Earth Hour was still blogging here. Now it’s just me – and I don’t participate. I’m not an Earth Hour fan.

However, instead of posting my issues with EH here, I’ve got a post all about it over at Blisstree Green Living. You can check it out – Are You On Board With Earth Hour?

IF you happen to be an Earth Hour fan, I’d read Peggy’s post from last year her also on board post this year, or just head over to the official Earth Hour website to sign up. Earth Hour is happening tomorrow, Saturday March 28th at 8:30 – 9:30 pm.

Green contests!!

Speaking of Peggy, Light Green Stairs is having a contest with green goodies. Sinupret for Kids Giveaway Package – Sinupret is a cool natural plant-based allergy remedy for the littles. If you’ve got kids and pollen, head over to the contest to score some free Sinupret. THEN stick around and check out this too fun for words video (not green – still wicked fun).

Don’t have kids or pollen? Well, hopefully you have feet! Click here to learn about how you can win some cool new Keds Green Labels. Neat-o.

Green news you need to know…

‘First Locavore’ Michele Obama to Oprah: Veggie Garden Coming to White House Lawn. Ah raise your hand if you remember the video about this very topic I posted here! I DO.

LunchBots: A Non Toxic, Healthier Alternative – no they aren’t little robots that pack the lunches for you, but they’re about that slick.

Learn all about the first and only USDA organic certified bar in the world. Very cool for thirsty folks.

Do you have any cool green news to share this week?

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

One of the families covered in this article get around fridge use by keeping a small freezer in the basement along with a cooler upstairs. They keep the cooler cold with “Two-liter soda bottles full of frozen water, which are rotated to the freezer when they melt.” This family’s fridge is sitting empty and unplugged in their kitchen.

There are some pros to this practice. For example, my favorite anti-fridge quote in the articles is…

“Refrigerator lust is one of the things driving huge energy-use increases in the developing world,” wrote the blogger “Greenpa” on his “Little Blog in the Big Woods” two years ago. “A great deal of what’s in your fridge absolutely does NOT need to be there.”

I agree. Having a fridge can likely lead to over consumption and a general lack of consideration toward purchases. People buy a ton of junk that’s unnecessary, although you don’t need to dump your fridge to be smarter, greener consumer. The fridge also uses about a sixth of all energy in a typical household, making it by far the largest energy hog appliance in most homes.

On the flip side:

Refrigerators have gotten much better over the last two decades. Basic models now use about 60% less electricity than the fridges from 20 years ago while ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models use at least 20% less energy than required by current federal standards and 40% less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001.

Additionally, the fridge is obviously very convenient. No fridge, in my opinion, could lead to impulse buys (you’d need to make more frequent trips to the store) and along those same lines, it would waste time. I don’t have extra time to run out every other day for a smaller container of milk.

Lastly, there are plenty of ways to save energy that don’t require giving up your fridge.

• With some basic maintenance your fridge can be more energy efficient.
• You could have more family activities over electrical activities.
• You could plant windbreakers.
• Try some solar lighting.
• Turn off lights when you leave the room and unplug items when they’re not in use.
• And so much more – placing all the energy drain blame on one appliance is silly.

DON’T FORGET: If you do give up your fridge or trade up to a newer, more energy efficient model, you should recycle your old refrigerator.

What do you think – could you live without a fridge? Personally, I’ve lived with a super small, energy efficient fridge for years, because a large one seems unnecessary for my family, but to have none at all seems excessive.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

When it comes to powering up your house it can take a lot of energy and cost some big bucks. Nowadays we power up everything from lamps, to laptops, to toothbrushes, and more. To save energy and money try the following…

1. Use rechargeable batteries whenever possible. This not only saves you cash but saves landfill space as well. Some studies show that it can take as many as 1,000 regular batteries to cover the lifespan of one rechargeable battery.
2. Install light sensors that automatically turn off when people leave the room.
3. Use voice mail service vs. an answering machine. If you have only a cell then you likely already use voice mail. If you still have a land-line phone, and an answering machine, consider switching to a voice mail service in order to cut out a little clutter plus save energy. Because your answering machine is plugged in 24/7 it drinks up energy.
4. Use compact fluorescent bulbs, solar charged lights, or LED lighting where possible (both inside and outside) over incandescent bulbs.
5. Unplug anything that’s not in use. While one lamp sitting plugged in doesn’t drain too much energy during the day, consider everything you have plugged in. It all adds up. In the kitchen alone people have their microwave, toaster, blender, and more plugged in all day. It’s unnecessary.
6. Close air vents in all unused rooms of the house. It’s silly to heat or cool unused rooms, and it’ll save you money.

[Image via Stock.xchng]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

Want to learn how to be the sexiest green geek on the planet? Or maybe just at your workplace? No matter the level of sexy geek you’re aiming for, Geeks are Sexy has a killer series going on right now about greening your geekdom. Is geekdom a word? Hmmm.

No matter; green is sexy as you may have guessed I’d say, and this series is in-depth, useful, and entertaining so far. I’m giving it an A+.

Hit it:

Sexy Green Geek: Part 1 – Reduce

Sexy Green Geek: Part 2 – Reuse

Sexy Green Geek: Part 3 – Recycle

November current events at Tree Hugging Family – themes, reviews, news, and more…

[images via, stock.xchng & Buy Nothing Day]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

1. Turn on the bathroom vent fan. This allows that warm shower air to escape. If all you’ve got is a bathroom window, take an early morning shower, or late evening shower, and open the window.  You could also take cooler showers.
2. Eat hot peppers – or some other spicy hot seasoning. Research shows that eating hot stuff can cool you internally. Odd but true.
3. Drink all day long. As you lose liquid through perspiration, your body heats up. Drink all day to stay cooler. That’s water folks, not something kooky like beer or coffee all day (just checking).
4. Turn off the lights. No brainer.
5. Shut the shades. Another no brainer. Actually, you should open your windows and blinds during the cool parts of the day (early morn and evening) to let cool air in. Once the sun pops up, shut the house down.
6. Live on in a single level. If you can, living in a single level is a better choice than say, living in a third, or even second floor apartment.
7. Quit with the oven already. Don’t turn it on. Live on cold sandwiches, grill outside, or microwave your food. Your oven heats up your kitchen considerably.
8. Hang up your clothes to dry. If you must dry use cool settings. This conserves energy and you won’t be releasing heat into your home.
9. In New Mexico, and actually other desert areas, people hang damp sheets on their open windows. This is not the best trick for high humidity areas, but if it’s dryer and deadly hot outside, this trick can cool down the hot air that pushes through the window.
10. Get naked. Ok, don’t get all naked; especially if you’ve got friends coming over (unless they like naked you). Still, hats on your head, and shoes on your feet conserve warmth, so… take some stuff off.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

Here are some ideas…

For a winter wedding: Blue Starburst! LED Light String

For table tops: LED Tealights – these are silver plated, but they come in different base colors, and some with color changing flames.

For outside eating: Umbrella Nights Lights or Soji Lanterns.

For added beauty: White Led Cherry Blossom Tree in the UK or U.S. – also available in multiple colors.

You can also string LED ropes on trees outside, or even across rooms. We had LED lights for Christmas this year and they were so clear and sparkling; we loved them.

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

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

What does World Wildlife Fund want you to do during Earth Hour? Well, turn off your lights! The rest is up to you. People in six continents will be in the dark with you.

Here are some suggestions on what to do during this hour in the dark:

-Think about how to implement some of the ideas from Earth Hour: More than Just an Hour.

-Give up a disposable product you currently use. (Ideas: Replace paper napkins with cloth. Use a gold filter instead of paper coffee filters. Use a real cup instead of disposable ones in the bathroom. Stop buying bottled water.)

-Consider living closer to where you work.

-Make some new green goals.

-Commit to always taking your own bags to the store.

-Think about how you can buy products with less packaging.

-Decide to start buying at least five organic products each month at the grocery store.

Inspire others now by commenting on this post. Tell us how you are going to observe Earth Hour 2008.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

Many of us are welcoming spring today, so I thought it would be nice to go over some nature loving, tree hugging, eco-friendly ideas that will carry the entire family through the better part of spring and into summer.

1. Quit looking at nature through your frosty windows. It’s warming up, so get out there and enjoy nature in real time, in real life, in full blown color.

2. Throw open your windows wide and let in the fresh air. Natural ventilation is actually a really effective green home goal to aim for. Proper cross ventilation naturally helps to remove any indoor pollution caused by molds, mites, varnishes, paints, cleaners, and more.

3. Have a spring reusable bag sewing party.

4. Use the spring lilacs to create something sweet.

5. Celebrate spring like other cultures do:

• In Egypt, you throw open your windows and breathe deep on the first day of spring. Later have a picnic.
• In Poland a large straw doll is dressed up in old clothes, and then thrown in the river – ok, maybe don’t do that one (not great for fish).
• The festival of colors, or Holi, is a Hindu spring festival, observed in North India and Nepal where children squirt colored water on each other to celebrate.
• What other spring traditions do cultures celebrate? Tell me what you know.

6. See the zoo babies.

7. Try left-over heat cooking for your spring recipes. This means turn the stove top or oven off when food is almost done. Pasta, veggies, rolls, and even meats in the oven will be ok (and fully cooked) if you turn off the heat a few minutes early. Just leave the oven door shut, the pot top on, etc. Imagine how many minutes of energy you will have saved by next spring.

8. Enjoy new blossoms and leaves sprouting to life on the trees.

9. Build a rain barrel to collect spring showers.

10. Rent lawn equipment that you know you will only use occasionally.

11. Alternatively, start a neighborhood co-op of lawn equipment. Purchase together and share major item.

12. Visit a waterfall – this is the best time of year for waterfalls, snow is melting, and the water comes crashing down.

13. Spring clean – just don’t spring clean with chemicals and other icky stuff. Make this year’s spring cleaning actually clean and healthy.

14. Learn which fruits and veggies are in season and eat bunches of them. Buying in season and locally grown is better for the earth, your wallet, and your health.

15. Choose a recycled plastic picnic table.

16. Fold a “springing” froggy out of recycled paper.

17. If your coffee shop of choice serves single serve sugars and creamers, choose a new favorite coffee shop or ask them to get large, bulk containers of cream and sugar.

18. Visit a wetland area – there are still enough wetland areas so that it’s safe to assume that there’s one near you, but there may not be for long. Without conservation we could lose some major wetland areas. I’d visit soon because it’s not clear yet that enough people care to save them. Ask your local visitors center where you can find a wetland area near you.

19. Get some cool spring worthy eco-toys. These new toys from Green Toys are created from curbside recycled milk containers. The actual shop should be open in the spring sometime, but until then you can contact the company directly with purchase inquiries. They have a great Sand Play Set or Organic Gardening Set.

20. Is it still too cold for flowers where you live? Make some colorful recycled tissue paper garlands to add spring to your house. (Use that used holiday tissue that I know you saved). Better yet, make a garland and give it to a neighbor, friend, elderly home, or children’s ward at a hospital.

21. Rejoice in spring flowers.

22. Help your kids to join Journey North.

23. Buy a reclaimed wood garden bench so you can sit outside and read.

24. This season, and each season have your car engine tuned up and serviced. Following a decent tune up schedule will reduce the amount of pollution your car emits by 20%. Better yet you’ll save on fuel – good for the earth and wallet.

25. Hunt for birds nests – don’t touch though, just look.

26. Build your own compost bin for recycling spring garden and kitchen scraps.

27. Visit a rural farm. Notice how a farm in spring differs from where you live. Unless of course you do live on a farm – then visit a city park and observe the same differences.

28. Go ahead, green your entire Easter celebration.

29. Or at least make your own recycled magazine Easter baskets.

30. If you go on a green picnic this spring make sure six packs with plastic rings aren’t on the menu. One, the plastic rings when not cut can kill birds, fish, and other wildlife. Two, plastic won’t degrade until well after your great grandchildren are celebrating their springs. And three, there’s no need to have them. Many canned drink products now come in boxes instead of with rings. If you’re buying canned drinks, get those instead.

31. Get some eco-friendly rain gear for the whole family so you can go splash in spring puddles.

32. Get your spring garden seeds organized using recycled milk cartons.

33. Rent a greener car on your spring break vacation.

34. Don’t defrost the Easter Ham in the microwave. Microwave defrosting wastes more energy than planning ahead and defrosting in the fridge.

35. Go searching for the end of a rainbow.

36. You still have time for a spring garden clean up.

37. This year combine your spring cleaning with some green audits: Try green auditing your trash, bathroom, or your pantry.

38. Get in the habit of nighttime watering now. Watering your lawn and garden is much more efficient at night than in the daytime. In the cool of evening plants lose almost 50% less water than in the heat. That adds up to a ton of water saved each year. Of course you can double your water saving efforts by using your saved rainwater.

39. On each of your spring outings pick up one piece of trash. If everyone did this that would be over 300 million fewer pieces of litter on our streets, in our parks, and so on, daily.

40. Relax… think about simplifying your life and time.

41. As summer gets closer consider organizing a summer toy lending program with other families – this cuts down on consumption, teaches kids about sharing, and uses fewer resources and energy. Get ideas for your lending program here.

42. Now that it’s warming up, turn your heating down by 5 more degrees. Each 5 degree decrease saves up to 11% energy consumption a year.

43. If you go camping, leave nothing behind in nature. Pack up all your belongings and carry them out of the forest with you.

44. Get up close and personal with some fresh grass – ponder a single blade. Think about all the good reasons why you shouldn’t add chemical poisonous fertilizer to your grass this year

45. Get that recycling under control.

46. Learn to love slow mail – the quicker you send your mail or ask for packages to be delivered to you, the worse it is for the planet. Transportation is hugely connected to pollution and global warming. The more transport we require the worse it is. Quit with the two day mail services. You don’t need stuff right away, and if you know you will, plan accordingly.

47. Try out one of 10 great organic gardening projects for kids this spring.

48. See how many toads you can count at the local river or lake. Can you find tadpoles too?

49. If you take out an off-road vehicle this spring, stick to where you should be. Running over habitats is not cool – you could destroy an animal’s home, kill rare plants, and harm tree roots. Stick to wide trails that are deemed ok for off-road travel.

50. Get away from it all. Imagine what life would be like away from all the hustle and bustle most of the time.

51. Blow bubbles! Make some homemade bubble mix out of a tablespoon of glycerin, a cup of natural liquid soap, and a gallon of water (give or take). Make your own bubble wands out of recycled items like…

• Butter or yogurt tub tops with holes punched in them.
• Green plastic strawberry containers.
• Bent wire hangers.
• That fly swatter you never use.
• Pipe cleaners bent into fun shapes.

52. Hang out with a family of ducks.

53. Dare your family to take at least 5 small steps for the environment by summer.

54. Go on a wildflower hike.

55. Clean out your closets – give good clothing away to the thrift store, make cleaning rags out of the worst, and save the cherished pieces for a memory quilt.

56. Make sure your family participates in eco-friendly boating (if you boat).

57. Slap a fresh coat of paint on the house – non-toxic, VOC-free paint of course.

58. When spring cleaning, don’t forget the car. However, use a bucket of water and an old rag to scrub away dirt, not the power spray on the hose. Every minute you run the hose you’re wasting 10 (or more) gallons of water. There are people in other countries who can’t even find one decent glass of water to drink, and animals and fish who have lost whole water habitats due to water waste. There’s no excuse for excessive water waste.

59. Go bicycling as a family – double your efforts by actually having an errand destination; the grocery store, library, the park for lunch. Every time you don’t take your car, you’re doing the earth some good.

60. Plant a tree – it’s almost always a good time to plant a tree, but spring is really nice because a new tree’s roots won’t be shocked by the cold anytime soon.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family