Archive for the ‘Green Homes’ Category

21
Jun
2008

Are you Capturing That Rain Water Yet?

June 21st, 2008 at 11:31 am by bibi in Xeriscaping, Living Green, The 3 R's, Go Green, Recycle, Environment, Green Homes

Finally we are getting some rain. Oh, I know some parts of the country are getting way more than they need but for those of us in parts of the country where rain is scarce, we welcome every drop.

It’s time to think about how to capture this precious water any way we can, so that we can reuse it and disperse it in our gardens when the rain is not so forthcoming. The best way to do this I found is to use a Rain Barrel. I found this really attractive one over at the Garden Supermart, it has a Crown Planter that allows you to put a plant on top for a more attractive look than an average planter, it comes in two versions a 50 gal one and a 65 gallon one, with a spigot at the bottom, a connector with shut-off valve and a 6′ garden hose. Many more tips on Living Green can be found at the Garden Supermart.

Another way to save water during the rainy season is to have a rain sensor on your sprinkler system. So many times do I see sprinklers going on in the middle of a rain shower, what a waste. If you are not home to monitor when your sprinklers go off, a rain sensor will do that for you, so you don’t have to watch water and money go down the drain.

Collected rain water can not only be used for watering plants but also for washing driveways, cars, walkways, dogs, gardening tools. Use your imagination and I am sure you can come up with many other uses recycling rain water.

gardensupermart.com rain barrel recycling rain water water conservation

bibi

Comments (3)

9
May
2008

Your Checklist To A Greener Home…

May 9th, 2008 at 12:40 pm by bibi in Living Green, Alternative Energy, Energy, Green Building, Environment, Go Green, Green Homes

Next time you think about remodeling any part of your home or maybe even building your new home, Think Green first. Whether you will be putting down a new foundation or changing the Blinds in your home there is always a Green alternative. Here’s a checklist that can help jog your imagination.

In the Bathrooms, use high performing shower heads which use 1-1.5 gallons per minute/ 60% less than traditional shower heads.
Thinking of repainting the house? Think No-VOC Paints. VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds which are toxic.
Keep your attic cool by installing a radiant barrier to keep the heat out.
If you are building new or gutting rooms, remember proper Insulation is key to energy savings.
Taking into consideration your window coverings is often overlooked, but good Blinds or room darkening curtains can help keep the heat out and keep you cooling bills down.
Remodeling the kitchen? How about a recycling center in the kitchen making it easy and a good habit for everyone to learn. These can usually be installed right in the cabinets. And if you want to get fancy there are even Kitchen Composters out there.
Changing your flooring? Consider engineered wood, especially ones that use recycled materials.
Redoing the landscape? Think water conservation in your new garden. Use indigenous plants whenever possible, and consider a drip system to compliment your sprinkler system for those areas that don’t need quite that much water. Check out Xeriscaping and also remember to capture and reuse rainwater.
Consider a Tankless Water Heater. They heat water on demand rather keeping the whole tank of water hot constantly. A lot of savings there.
Use Solar Energy where you can, even for heating the pool.

Please leave any other suggestions in the comments…Thanks…

http://www.smithandnoble.com/sn/home.jsp

energy efficient green building

bibi

Comments (3)

30
Sep
2007

Clear the Air

September 30th, 2007 at 03:51 am by bibi in Green Homes, Green Living

Earth Saving Tips from

Believe it or not!

According to a two-year study by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), many indoor plants absorb air pollutants through their leaves and roots and convert them into breathable air.

Within 24 hours, some plants can remove up to 87 percent of toxic indoor air.

Depending on the species, one plant can provide effective cleaning for every 100 square feet of space. For example, between 15 and 20 golden pothos and spider plants can refresh the air in an average 1,800 square-foot home.

Plants work equally well in homes, offices, and factories, as long as their requirements for sunlight, water, and soil are met.

clean indoor air pollutants stale air toxins

bibi

10 Tips to an Organic Garden

July 29th, 2007 at 11:31 pm by bibi in Green Action, Green Homes, New Green Ideas

Improve your soil. Find a local nursery and take them a sample of your soil. They can test it and tell you what you need to improve it.

Let the good bugs do their work. Beneficial Insects

Choose the right plants. Choose types that are resistant to disease and pests and are not water hogs. Also choose many different types of plants, makes you less vulnerable to diseases.

Don’t jump for the chemicals at the first sign of bugs. Most bugs are beneficial in the garden. Try knocking the bugs off with a spray of water, or cutting off the diseases area of the plant.

Avoid using pesticides, they end up killing more than you intend.

Choose Native plants, they are already adapted to your environment and will require less time and effort from you.

Weeds Happen! Get used to it. Try ground covers you can step on or crowding them out by spacing planting s closer together.

Fertilize Naturally. Composting

Water Smartly.
- Water less frequently but for longer periods of time. This will give your garden a deeper watering and promote deeper roots.
- Water between 5 am and 10 am, so that water is less wasted through evaporation, and leaves have time to dry out.