Home Alternative Green Energy

It is important that we become better stewards of our planet. Here are some easy tips that everyone can implement.

1. Recycle more – Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours or a 100 watt light bulb for 20 hours. Each ton of mixed paper that is recycled can save the energy equivalent to 185 gallons of gasoline. If everyone recycled their newspapers, we would save 250,000,000 trees each year. We throw away over 25 billion Styrofoam cups each year. Each month we throw away enough glass bottles to fill a skyscraper. A glass bottle takes over 4,000 years to decompose. Disposing a single quart of motor oil improperly can contaminate over 2,000,000 gallons of water. This year make a commitment to recycle more than you did last year.

2. Use Recyclable bags when shopping – Plastic bags kill 1,000,000 sea creatures each year. If your plastic ends up in the landfills it will take over 1,000 years to decompose. Plus as they decompose they release chemicals in to our land that contaminates our water supplies.

3. Use fewer plastic bottles – Use recyclable bottles for your water but when you do use plastic be sure to recycle. Right now 8 out of every 10 plastic bottles are not recycled. You can recycle most plastic bottles with the PET #1 and HDPE #2 --- 96% of all plastic bottles produced.

4. Don’t use chemicals in your yard – There are other ways to take care of your yard without poisonous chemicals. A mixture of water and salt will kill weeds; use composted material for fertilizer; kill mites with 1 quart of water, 2 tbs of tobasco sauce and 1 tsp of dishwashing detergent; take care of aphids, white flies and spider mites with 2 liters of water and 2 tbs of dishwashing detergent.

5. Replace poisonous cleaning products with natural products – There are several products on the market now that you can choose from. However, some simple solutions that you can do yourself are: use baking soda to clean and deodorize; use lemon juice for bacteria; use white vinegar to cut grease, remove mildew and some stains; use cornstarch to clean carpets and windows.

6. Use environmentally friendly light bulbs - They may be more expensive to begin with but you will save money in the long run with lower electric bills, plus they will last longer. If we change to efficient LED’s we can cut 6% off our national electric consumption. It is estimated that you will save $30 over the lifespan of each compact fluorescent light bulb that you install in your home or office.

7. Composting – 26% of our waste disposal each year is from food and yard waste. Using compost materials in your yard can reduce pests and plant diseases; eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers; and provide healthier, higher yields for gardens.

8. Eco friendly landscaping - Our water supply is a huge concern right now in many parts of the world. Help use less water by having native plants in your landscaping; reduce turf grass; solar paneled landscape lights; and have rain water sensors on sprinkler systems.

Really these tips are quite simple if you just remember to:
1. Recycle
2. Use less chemicals
3. Use less water

Top of Page

In the quest for green living, interior paint is a rather big issue. We don't paint often, but when we do, things can get messy. Things already improved by masssively replacing oil based paints by acrylics. But still, acrylic paints are also highly chemical substances. And there's more - acrylic house paints are by far less durable then oil based paints. In five years, they start to peel and need to be painted over. On top of that, they keep exhuming funny gases, even long after they dried.
Of course the durability can be helped by more chemistry. But there are different, more natural options.

What's toxic about paints?
First, there's the solvent issue. Oil based paints need to be thinned with turpentine - bad for the skin and the environment. Acrylics thin with water. But there's a downside to that: one may get to believe that acrylics are harmless and can be tossed into the sink. Which is not a good idea.
Shellac is even more difficult in terms of solvents - pure shellac only dissolves in pure alcohol or thinner. When you work with it, there's a high omission of VOC (volatile organic components)
But: shellac is a purely natural component, and considered safe for kids furniture and toys - once it's dry.

Other toxic aspects of paints are their binder, and their pigment. First the binder. I think, in the list of traditional binders, acrylic binder is the most toxic of them all... The pure ingredient of oil-based paint is linseed oil - you can put that on your salad, if you like the taste of it. Eventual additives may be less harmless, but it's very well possible to produce a 'green' oil paint. Latex is a rubber, also a natural ingredient. About eggs and milk, there's no need of saying more.

And last, the pigments. Some pigments are toxic, others are harmless. Some ar e natural, others highly chemical. It's a matter of choice, made by the paint manufacturer. A choice you can make yourself, when you make your own paint.

Available green options

Really, there are many green options available for exterior and interior house painting, especially when you work with fresh materials like untreated wood and plaster, or new drywall. Although, shellac sticks to virtually anything (and can be painted over with latex or oil-based paint). Green paints often need a little extra drying time, or care while you handle them. Egg- and milk paint have to be really fresh, when liquid they start to rot within days (which makes them unsuitable for retail), but of course, that's only a problem for big manufacturers. And, sometimes you need to do an extra layer or so.

For new walls, egg-tempera paint or milk paint is a good option. Egg-tempera is made of eggs and pigments in water, carefully put together in the right proportion of volumes. Egg paint dries fast, is tender for the first week, but gets really tough in time. The Egyptian tombs were painted with egg-tempera paint (about 3000 years ago).
For milk paint, it's about the same. It's the caseine that makes milk a good binder. Caseine is one of the strongest glues around. Milk or fresh cheese was used in Italian dry fresco, which also have been preserved for ages (in most cases). Milk paint was used in traditional American farm houses. It can be put on untreated wood as well, and it's available in a ready-to-mix powder form, to which you only have to add water.
Both egg-tempera and milk paints are matte. You can make them shiny by giving them an extra layer of another binder, like bees wax (that was turned into a soap), a shellac, or eventually an acrylic. But usually, people prefer matte colors for walls.

For the protection of wood, boiled linseed oil or polymerized tung oil are good options. Tung oil is said to be less yellowing. Especially polymerized tung oil is a great material. It's made of nuts, so people with an allergy to nuts have to be careful with it. Tung- and linseed oil have different drying processes, and shouldn't be mixed or painted over each other.

For the rest, getting good protection for your wood and plaster walls is mostly a matter of layering the materials right. When you polish or paint a linseed-oiled wood every year with a fresh, thin layer, it will be kept good for hundreds of years.
If you want to make a new start on old oil-based layers, use shellac, and after that an eco-friendly oil-based paint.

Top of Page

While there are many durable and fashionable fabrics available for furniture at many price ranges, I want to focus on leather as an option and a choice for your furniture. In addition, there are environmentally-friendly options for leather furniture as there are for fabrics, such as hemp and flax (linen).

Leather is made from animal skins, most usually cow hides, so it is already environmentally-friendly in that it is the byproduct of the feeding of our population. People have been making leather for millennia, for clothing, for shelter, for tools, for binding, for furniture, and for protection, along with many other uses.

Versatile and durable, leather is ideal for furniture. It is resistant to cracking and tearing and will retain its shape over an extended period of time. It is supple and “breathes” in any climate so the comfort remains no matter what the season.

Leather furniture is available in a variety of treatments and finishes which have an impact on its look and its durability. The best leather grades are “top grain” which is the outer layer of the hide where the greatest natural beauty is evident. “Range marks” (healed scars, insect bites, etc.) may be present, and the natural variations of creases and folds are also indicative of top grain, top quality leather.

“Splits” are the underside of the skin and as such are rather plain, so embossing, pigmenting, and sealants are typically applied to increase the look and value of splits. This process is called “correcting” the hide.

Leather for furniture can be dyed, stained, waxed, sanded, embossed, and pigmented by hand to achieve the look and finish that the tanner desires. Each process and how it is done will determine the final look, feel and durability of the leather. The finest hides are aniline dyed in a vat so that the dye penetrates the hides completely and offers better color consistency. Fine leathers are often “micropigmented” by adding a light layer of pigment to the surface to make the color even more uniform without affecting the “hand” or feel of the leather.

Leather is appropriate for both traditional and contemporary furniture designs. With traditional furniture designs, leather provides an elegance and luxury. Paired with brass and gold accessories, any dark leather exudes a regal look to the room. When used in contemporary settings, more vibrant colors of leather, suede (nubuck) and high sheen finishes will provide that impact that the modern design calls for.

Regardless of the style, the unique nature and individuality of each hide and each piece of furniture made from it will add beauty, value, comfort, and pride of ownership to your leather sofa or chair.

Our company, EcoSelect Furniture, sells custom leather furniture, made with eco-friendly leather and hemp fabrics. Our green living room furniture of sofas, loveseats and chairs are high quality for the price of ordinary brand name products.

Top of Page

Reusing and recycling are two keys to green living. Before you throw anything away, give careful thought as to how the item might still be used. In some cases, donating unwanted items to charity is the best approach. You could also consider selling the item in a garage sale or on an online auction site. However, if the item is broken or too worn to be used in its normal fashion, you might need to get a bit creative in order to find a new use for it.

Fortunately, there are many different kinds of home accessories that can be created from discarded items. By using items in this fashion, not only will you reduce waste, but you can also gain some decorative and useful items for your home for little or even no cost. Always give some careful thought to any item before you discard it. Many times you will be able to think of new and creative uses for it.

Utilizing Scrap Fabrics
Fabric scraps can be used in many different ways to create home decorating accessories. You can utilize worn or damaged clothing, old bed linens, towels, and anything else made from fabric for this purpose. If you know how to sew, you can make many different items from fabric scraps, such as pillows, quilts or even window curtain toppers. However, even if you don't sew, you can cut up old clothing and linens to create dust cloths and rags, which will also help to prevent the needless use of paper towels. For those who enjoy crafts, scrap fabrics can also be used in a number of ways, such as creating a braided rug from discarded clothing.

Using Paper Scraps
Most households generate a lot of paper scrap. If this excess paper is still good on one side, such as is often the case with junk mail and used printer or notebook paper, you can make attractive and useful notepads for your home. Simply use a paper cutter or scissors to chop the paper up into uniform pieces, stapling them together at the top to form a pad. You can embellish your paper pads however you wish, such as using an ink pad and stamp to add an attractive design. Then, keep one of these notepads beside the telephone, on the family bulletin board, or in any other location where you frequently need to write things down. This will allow you to get double-duty from your used paper, while preventing the use of new paper for notes.

If you enjoy arts and crafts, you could also investigate methods of making your own paper from paper scraps. This generally involves using a blender to create a paper and water mixture from the discarded paper. This slurry is then poured over a framed screen so that the water can drain, after which you can allow the new sheet of homemade paper to dry. This paper is often very decorative and can be used in a number of creative ways as part of your home decor.

Top of Page

The wasteful using up of the earth’s resources will ultimately impact not only on ourselves but also on future generations. If we each develop good green habits we really can make a huge difference.

Take this quick quiz to see how well you’re doing.
* Do you use bio-degradable cleaning products?
* Do you consistently recycle all your household rubbish you can?
* Do you walk short distances rather than using the car?
* Do you switch your computer off over night?
* Do you have a vegetable garden?
* Do you avoid buying highly packaged products?
* Do you intentionally buy locally produced products where possible?
* Do you use a cold water cycle to wash your clothes rather than hot?
* Do you reuse the other side of photocopy paper for rough prints or drafts?
* Do you hang your washing out when possible rather than using the dryer?
* Have you put a notice on your letterbox to stop junk mail?
* Do you turn the tap off when you brush your teeth?
* Do you donate good, unwanted clothes and possessions to charities?
* Do you turn the lights off when you leave the room?
* Do you ride a fuel efficient car?
* Do you car pool when it is possible to do so?
* Do you keep pockets of your home warm in the winter by keeping the doors closed?
* Do you compost you food scrapes and/or garden waste?
* Do you use energy saving light bulbs?
* Do you use recyclable bags for your shopping?
* Do you recycle your computer print cartridges?
* Do you wipe up spills with a reuseable cloth rather than paper towels?
* Do you reuse plastic shopping bags for other things?
* Do you cook two or more meals at the same time to save power?
* Do you dispose of any hazardous waste (EG paint) appropriately?
* Do you switch appliances off at the wall rather than leaving them in the stand by mode?
* Do you choose your home appliances based on their energy efficiency rating?
* Do you pass magazines on to others when you have finished reading them?
* Do you keep yourself informed about issues effecting our environment?
* Do you belong to an organization that actively supports green living ideals and practices?

The Score:
For every question you said ‘Yes” to give yourself a point. Here are the ratings:

25 – 30 - Well done! You’re doing your bit to save resources. Keep up the good work!

10 – 25 - Room for improvement here. A few habit changes will make a big difference over time.

10 or less - Maybe it’s time for a rethink? Of course it’s up to you, but if you would like to practice green living try introducing these behaviors into your life one by one.

Remember it only takes 28 days to create a new habit. This means that is we make a conscious effort to practice a new behavior for 28 days after that we will find ourselves doing it automatically.

How easy is that?

Top of Page

Going green is the “in” thing nowadays and this does not only applies to cars or certain materials people use everyday but also to how a particular home use energy efficiently and how it reduces its carbon footprint. However, people should realize that going green is not a fad that would die out after a couple of years but a new way of life and mindset that they should embrace not only to protect the environment and themselves but to prepare a future for the next generations to come.

There are already several initiatives put forward by various sectors in this regard, including energy deregulation in various states like Texas, which gives people the power to select energy providers. However, unless scientists find ways of producing significantly cheap electricity that are both renewable and environment-friendly, residents should find ways how they can have energy-efficient homes. This not only would be good for their wallets but would also be good for the environment - and the following tips can show them how.

The Home Energy Rating System Program

Residents can make their homes more energy efficient by following a few simple suggestions. To help people understand the energy efficiency levels of their homes, they can make use of the Home Energy Rating System or the HERS program.

The HERS program involves physical inspection of the various elements of a home, after which a rating scale that indicates zero to a hundred is provided the home. 100 is the reference home standard and the farther your mark is away from this reference point, the higher your home’s energy efficiency is. Not only that, a HERS inspection can identify various issues and problems in your home which you can improve on.

How to Make Your Home Energy-Efficient

An energy-efficient home can help you reduce not only your Texas electric bills but your homes carbon footprint as well. The following describes some of the more popular tips that could help you have an energy-efficient home.

* Harness the power of the sun not only by using a solar power calculator’s but in every aspect in the home where solar power can be utilized. This includes solar heaters and lighting systems. You can also save more energy by designing your homes in a way that you can maximize natural light and save on energy consumption.
* Heat/cold-air loss is one of the primary reasons why your electricity bills goes way up, so it is vital that you properly insulate your homes from cracks, fissures and openings where heat/cold-air loss can occur. In relation, you can also make use of quality, energy efficient windows that have special coating and structure that can keep hot/cold air from transferring to.
* If possible, change your old appliances with energy efficient models that require less energy consumptions in order to function well. This includes refrigerators, washers, dryers, furnaces and other electrical appliances used regularly at home.
* Thermostat settings need not be too hot or too low. Just set it at comfortable levels that would still be convenient to the inhabitants of the house.
There are several other methods and home modifications that one can do in order to turn your homes into energy-efficient domicile. You can either study these things on your own or seek the assistance of professionals to help you on your green journey.
About Shop Texas Electricity- Shop Texas Electricity helps consumers and businesses compare and shop for their electricity plans in Texas. Learn more about Shop Texas Electricity by visiting us at www.ShopTexasElectricity.com


Top of Page