Installing a programmable thermostat in your home is a simple way to save energy and money. If you get an ENERGY STAR qualified programmable thermostat and use it properly your household will save about $180 a year on energy bills. That, along with all the other energy saving steps you take can add up.
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 …read more

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…

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.
Install light sensors that automatically turn off when people leave the room.
Use voice mail service vs. an answering machine. If you have only …read more

At Offbeat Homes I just reviewed a pretty cool book. If you’re looking to go green at home, it’s a perfect read for you. However, since I’m not interested in re-writing the entire review post here, you’ll have to shoot over to Offbeat to learn more.
It’s worth the click though – it’s a stellar book. In fact, I’ll even give you click choices; click the link or book image to whisk off to the book review.
Book Review: The Carbon-Free Home: 36 Remodeling Projects to Help Kick the Fossil -Fuel Habit

Click here to learn about all …read more

If you’re looking for some information about saving resources on lunch, (think packaging), then a visit to waste-free lunches is a must.
Waste-free lunches covers everything you need to know in order to pack an earth-friendly lunch for your kids. The waste-free lunch website notes that “It’s been estimated that on average a school-age child using a disposable lunch generates 67 pounds of waste per school year. That equates to 18,760 pounds of lunch waste for just one average-size elementary school.”
That’s a lot of waste. This site can help you beat the waste.
Ideas covered include:

Cost of a waste-free lunch.
Comparisons …read more

One of our green sins in the poll has taken a strong lead…
That’s right, clearly the sin of, “I leave unused appliances and chargers plugged in all day” is something many of us do. All appliances from your chargers to your lamp suck up energy even when they’re turned off, so long as they’re plugged in.
I don’t unplug everything. The things I don’t unplug include the TV, because it’s got some funky, “If you unplug me you’ll have to reprogram me” deal going on, and I’m not TV savvy enough to figure out why. I also don’t unplug my computer. …read more

Remember the post 12 Items You Should Always Buy Green – well, I was looking for your ideas about what got left off the list. Here’s what people said…
Marye – “Meat and dairy… commercially produced meat of all kinds is unethical, unhealthy, bad for the earth, and downright nasty. Genetic manipulation, hormones, antibiotics, canabalism, unethical treatment…the list of why not goes on and on..AND not only that but the studies that show commercially produced sanimal products have a much higher proportion of Bad Fats than those raised in stress free conditions.”
Rachel – “Cleaning products!”
dh – “I always buy organic …read more

I don’t know if you’ve seen this article, “Things You Should Always Buy Green” at Co-op America, but it’s pretty interesting.
It lists 12 items and if you’re watching your green spending, I’d say this is a good place to start. It can help you to zero in on the best ways to spend your green dollars.
Here are 6 of the 12:

Produce
Coffee
Transportation
Paper
Batteries
Light bulbs

I agree with the list. I was trying to think if there was anything I might switch out for something else, and I can’t think of anything. I think they nailed it. Maybe gardening gear should be in there, …read more

Can you believe that some people still only use their towel once and then re-wash it! How crazy is that? Sadly, I’ve met quite a few people addicted to re-washing towels.

Assuming you’re clean after a bath or shower (let’s hope) then there’s no good reason not to hang that towel up, let it dry, and use it again. At my house we go about a week, sometimes more, with the same three towels – one for Cedar and two for me (my hair is long I gotta wrap it). This small step saves time, energy, detergent, and water.
If you have …read more

This week our audit was trash. How much we have, what we can’t recycle, and more. Here’s what you need to get up to speed:
Weekly Green Audit Challenge: Trash!
Daily Green Audit Tip: Trash Control
Daily Green Audit Tip: Trash Control & What Can’t be Recycled
Update: Aerosol Product Recycling
Now, let’s add the audit all up and see where we stand. The key point is that this audit should have made you aware of what you’re throwing out vs. what you’re actually recycling.
If you noticed that there was an excess of paper, cardboard, cans, and plastics in your trash the fix is easy …read more