Posts tagged "green"

The True Cost Commuting

The closer you live to work, the more money you have for a house.  That’s common sense for most (we hope).

While the numbers on this info graphic are probably a stretch — they do illustrate the dynamic that even the smallest changes in our life (money spent on commute) can have on other areas of our life (our home).

How Big a Backyard Would You Need to Live Off the Land?

(Click image for larger view)

A group of students from Yale have discovered a fungus with a powerful appetite for polyurethane. That common plastic often winds up buried in landfills, where it can remain, largely unaltered, for generations

Johnson City recycling trucks now picking up cooking oil and batteries

Recycling trucks have been making the rounds in Johnson City since 1989. In that time the city’s recycled more than 160 million tons of materials.

The Big Business of Sustainable Design

utnereader:

LEED-certified architecture was conceived by a nonprofit to save energy on heating and cooling, but it also makes for big business. According to the watchdogs at Mother Jones, an office building certified for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design costs $171 more to build per square foot than a typical structure—and the standards may be better at generating publicity than at encouraging truly cost-effective, environmentally friendly energy. At least that’s the contention of energy consultant Henry Gifford, who has filed a series of lawsuits against the U.S. Green Building Council, which developed the internationally recognized rating system.

Keep reading …

From Microwaves to books that need to be plugged in, our energy usage is at an all time high - There’s no doubt that energy consumption has been & currently is on the rise.

More than 19,000 rebates totaling more than $4.5 million have been paid to Tennesseans this year for using Energy Star appliances. The rebates ranged from $40 to $250 for using room air conditioners, central air conditioners, air source heat pumps and gas furnaces. Appliances purchased since April 22, 2010, are eligible for a rebate debit card on a first-come, first-served basis. Officials at the Department of Economic and Community Development estimate that $770,000 is left for future rebates. Applications must be postmarked by Jan. 14, 2012.

Details are at http://www.e-rebates.org/teearp

notquitehippie:

It’s that time of year! No, I don’t mean Turkey or Black Friday deals, but it’s time to put in your order for your favorite seed catalogs. 

Start-up Aeroseal has been getting decent media exposure lately with a writeup on Energy.gov and a listing on This Old House‘s Top 100 Best New Home Products of 2011. The company has an exclusive license to technology originally developed within the Indoor Environment Program at the Energy Department’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. In short, Aeroseal sends a sealing mist through air ducts to eliminate holes and cracks of up to 5/8th of an inch — resulting in improved comfort and energy savings.

The potential for Aeroseal is enormous because a typical home with forced-air heating or cooling will lose about 20% or more of the air through leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts, according to the U.S. EPA.

With the rise of environment-friendly products on the market, vinegar has emerged as a folk hero of sorts when it comes to cleaning agents. There is a surplus of books, websites, and advice columns about the wonders of this ordinary household item. Testimonials and how-to’s can be important, but they don’t explore the science and interactions behind vinegar.