Make Green Come True

Many political discussions today revolve around energy conservation and our environment.   Here is a brief timeline of some of the green projects that have been implemented in our nation’s favorite home:

1.  1979 – Carter’s administration installs a solar water heater in the White House.

2.  1989-1993 – Bush initiates a project to install more energy-efficient chiller system in the air conditioning system for the White House.

3.  1993 – Clinton initiates an extensive energy audit of the white house.

4.  2002 – Bush continues Clinton’s work, installing a new solar system and many other upgrades.

5.  2002-2008 – Compact flourescents replace many of the less energy efficient lights throughout the home.

6.  2002-2008 – Low water usage toilets and faucets have been installed.

7.  2002-2008 – The sprinkler system uses a computerized system to shut off during rainfall.

8.  2002-2008 – Insulation improvements are made throughout the house.

9.  2002-2008 – Motion-sensored lighting is installed in many parts of the house.

10.  2002-2008 – A long-term project to computerize light system, allowing power to be automatically shut off when not necessary is initiated.

Sources:

http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa070201a.htm

http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/11/08/455649.aspx

http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/12/01/obama-plans-to-green-the-white-house/

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/greening_whitehouse.pdf

Many innovations are making run-of-the-mill power strips into technological dinosaurs.  Phantom power, the power leaked by items that are plugged in, but not necessarily switched on is gaining more and more exposure in press.  As more people become aware of the drain of phantom power, new solutions like the one below are sure to appear.

Belkin has introduced a remote control power switch.  It can be operated through a handheld remote, so you won’t have to crawl to flip off the power and cords can be hidden out of sight and out of reach.   The remote can operate not only a single power strip, but also an entire fleet of power strips that are used on all the electronics in your home.

Belkin BG108000-04 Conserve 8-Outlet Surge Protector with Remote Switch (White)

Related Make Green Come True Articles:

Product Review: Smart Strip

A Fun Gadget to Monitor Your Home Energy Use

Phantom Power

If you want to save power, but still need productivity and speed from your computer.  Check out these earth-friendly laptops.  Each contains a host of green features that will save electricity and help save the Earth while you work and play.

Sony VAIO VGN-Z550N/B 13.1″ Laptop

Specs:

• 13.1″ -inch Screen
• 2.40 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 Processor
• 3 GB of RAM
• 250 GB Hard Drive
• Dual-layer DVD±R drive

Green Features:

• Energy Star 4.0 certified (Energy Conservation)
• Silver EPEAT designation (Reduced environmental impact)
• RoHS-compliant (Reduced hazardous production materials)
• hafnium-infused circuitry (Energy Conservation)

Apple MacBook Pro MB134LL/A 15.4-inch Laptop
Specs:

• 15.4-inch Screen
• 2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
• 2 GB RAM
• 250 GB Hard Drive
• DVD/CD SuperDrive

Green Features:

• Energy Saver Mode (Energy Conservation)
• Hafnium-Infused Circuitry (Energy Conservation)
• Mercury Free Display
• Energy Efficient LED Display

1.  I will use water wisely.   I will not run water excessively.  I will combine laundry and dish loads.  I will quit the spinkler habit during hot months.

2.  I will recycle more. I will investigate my community recycling policy and seek out ways to recycle goods that are not covered by regular recycling pickup (electronics, appliances, plastic bags, etc.).

3.  I will seek out new ideas. I may know the basics, but I will look for new ways to make my home, lifestyle and diet green and earth-friendly.

4.  I will conserve energy. I will look for ways to weatherproof my home and conserve electric power.   I will shop for green products whenever they are available.

5.  I will enjoy our planet. Enjoying nature brings the green mission close to one’s heart.

Interesting article:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27665158/

When you prepare for Thanksgiving this year, be thankful for our beautiful planet and help preserve it with these simple tips:

1.  If you travel, pack light.  The lighter your bags, the less fuel will be wasted, regardless of your method of transportation.

2.  Plan a local menu.  Seek out farmers markets and locally grown produce.  Not only will it be fresher and better tasting, but it will also be better for the Earth.  Once again, less transportation will be required.

3.  Bring out the nice dishes.  If you use your own plates and silverware over disposable options you will greatly reduce the amout of waste you produce.  Don’t worry if everything doesn’t match.  Your family will enjoy eating on  a variety of family dishware.

4.  Go organic.  Search for fruits and vegetables that do not use pesticides.  Rainwater runoff containing pesticides is a contributor to water pollution and pesticides are potentially harmful to our health.

5.  Dim the lights.  Before your meal, make sure to switch off lights and other devices throughout the house.

Many of us drink filtered, purified, or bottled water on a daily basis.  We do this for a variety of reasons from health concerns to taste preference.  Here are a few practical ideas on how to green your water use.

1.  Choose Filtered Over Bottled – Not only will you not be throwing away or recycling plastic bottles (even recycled bottles require a lot more energy than reusable containers), but you will also be reducing the energy costs of manufacturing, delivering the bottles to your grocer, and driving the bottles back to you home.

2.  Choose the Right Filter -  Check that your water filtration system meets NSF/ANSI Standard 53 to ensure a higher quality water filtration.

3.  Change Filters Regularly – When you install your filter, take the time to read the instructions on how often to change the filter.  If you do not follow this advice, you may actually make your water more harmful by filtering.

The Ontario Ministry of Environment has developed a very useful site to illustrate how you can make an environmental impact throughout your home.  They depict three home – an apartment, townhouse, and house – and highlight room by room strategies to reduce electric cost and consumption, save water, and help save our planet.  While some of the tax rewards vary widely based on your particular country, state, and local government, most of the ideas and green living tips found on Add It Up are action items we can all take to become more eco-friendly.

Each time we leave the house, cook, or drive somewhere there is a simple tip to follow to save electric and fuel costs, while reducing your carbon footprint.  The 10 minute rule:

If you’re going to turn it off in 10 minutes, turn it off now.

This rule applies to several sitations.  First, consider the air conditioning in your home on a hot summer day.  If you are going to be leaving in ten minutes, you’ll probably never notice the difference if you turn the air off now.   The same applies when you are getting close to your destination.  You can switch off the heat or air in your car a few minutes early and most likely you won’t notice a significant change in your comfort level before you turn off the car.   When cooking, if you know that a dish needs only a few more minutes in the oven, switch off the power a bit before you take it out of the oven.  As long as the door is shut, most of the heat will be retained (Be careful to never undercook food though!).  By applying the ten minute rule, your savings will add up.  Over the course of the year, ten minutes a day is over sixty hours of energy and cash savings.

Australian scientists have discovered that trees in the Australian wilderness are responsible for storing nearly three times the amount of carbon dioxide previously thought.  This carbon dioxide storage is crucial to maintaining clean air and offsetting the emission of greenhouse gases.  Help save our forests by planting trees of your own, protecting those that already exist, and taking a global perspective.  You can help save the rain forest with this site or learn more about the Australian study here.