If your image of a thrift store is a run-down, dirty, seedy little joint that no "respectable" personage would find themselves in - think again! Savvy shoppers, homemakers, artists, crafters, eBay'ers, antiques hunters, parents, home owners, home stagers, interior decorators, college students…everyone and anyone can benefit from making thrifting a part of their shopping routine.
Thrift stores vary greatly in size and types of items they sell. Depending on what you are looking for, one may suit you better over another. A good starting point would be to look in your phone book or do an online yellow pages search for your local area "thrift stores" and go for a visit to several.
The best known thrift stores are the Goodwill and Salvation Army stores. These organizations collect donations of household goods, clothing, electronics, appliances, furniture, toys, etc., and resell the items in their stores. The proceeds from store sales benefit their various charity programs. So, you not only save money when you shop there, you also help someone in need. What's better than that?
There are also for-profit, smaller, "mom and pop" thrift stores and consignment shops around as well, and these sometimes specialize in certain types of goods – such as children's clothing and toys, or finer women's fashion.
What are some fabulous thrift store finds? Here are a few:
Furniture – Often, solid wood, quality crafted furniture can be found for a steal. If you are handy with some sandpaper and stain or paint, you can make it good as new and give it your personal touch. Or, maybe you just need some cheap shelves for your basement storage room, or a small desk for a student laptop, or you want a unique piece to use as a TV stand.
Art Work – Yes! Paintings and prints for home décor. You may find a fabulous piece of art work for your wall or you may just love the frame it comes in, to repurpose for your own art. Again, a little paint or stain can turn an eye sore in a thing of beauty.
Fashion – Especially high-end labels, business suits, formal wear, and expensive fabrics such as wool, silks, leather, etc. Often, the larger stores even have a section for "better" or "boutique" clothing items, to make it easier to find the high end stuff. Find everything from retro chic to the latest trends, just in! Out of style formal wear can be altered by a skilled seamstress, for a modern, sophisticated look. Get a "semi-couture" gown for less than an off-the-rack special at the department store. Plus, old cotton t-shirts and flannel shirts are great for cutting up into dusting rags, or polishing rags for your car.
Craft Supplies – Excellent source for lots of fabrics and other crafting materials. Heavy weave, thick curtains make excellent fabric for re-upholstering that old chair. Buy old blue jeans and make fun purses or throw pillows. Of course, the variety of fabric to be found is a quilters dream! But don't forget, you can also find a variety of glassware, mirrors, lamps and lamp shades, tassles, baskets, beads (on fashion jewlery), sequined fabric…shop with your creative eye open.
Home Décor – Blankets, throw pillows, curtains, vases, planter pots, fancy bowls, lamps and lanterns, crystal, silver platters and silver sets, throw rugs, etc., can be found in great condition – just a little cleaning up and they are good as new.
Kitchen Stuff – Cooking gadgets, small appliances, canisters, china and stoneware, and glassware are some great finds for your kitchen. Of course, steer clear of any rusted or scratched metal pans or metal utensils.
Electronics – Just want an extra TV for the kids' playroom? Or need an actual VHS player for your older movies? You might even find a good MP3 player, used cell phone, stereo and/or speakers, an older PC, used video games and game consoles. Some cool "retro" electronics can be found as well, such as 8-track players, reel-to-reel players, antique radio cabinets. Look around for an inexpensive gem.
Children's and Teens Clothing – They grow like weeds, don't they?! Get so much more for so much less, especially when they are going to grow out of it in 6 months to a year. Excellent for staples like blue jeans, t-shirts, dresses, slacks, dress shirts, blouses, sweaters, sweat shirts, and coats. A great speciality thrift store for teenagers is Plato's Closet. There is one in Maryland in Towson. They specialize in the trendy fashion clothing your picky teens want.
Maternity Clothing – Nine months is a long time, but it's not forever. A woman can spend a fortune just trying to have enough basics to wear during her pregnancy, and at a time when saving money for the new baby is usually a high priority, saving money on good, used maternity clothing makes sense.
Stuff for Pets – Older throw pillows, huge floor pillows, and old blankets make great pet bedding. Old stuffed animals can be pet toys (if yours is not a "shredder"). A toddler mattress can work as a bed for a large dog. Old towels are handy for cleaning up pet messes. Don't use your good ones!
New Items – Yes, new-with-tags items can be found at the Goodwill and Salvation Army stores, as local retailers will sometimes donate goods they couldn't sell and take the charitable tax deduction instead. These are hit or miss deals, and change constantly. Usually, there is a "New Goods" section.
Toys, Books, Movies, Music – Some stores have sections for these items, and you can find some good stuff when you search through the very eclectic selection.
How to Thrift Store Shop:
1. Go often. Find the stores you like the best, and go often (I like to stop in once a week). This doesn't mean you need to buy something every time you are there, but these stores restock frequently, and it is literally never the same selection twice. Find out what days of the week they usually put out the newest items, to get the first dibs on the best stuff.
2. Keep a running list of the types of things you want to find, to help you stay focused. It can be overwhelming to walk into a large thrift store with so many items and such low prices. It is easy to kill a few hours in there, and walk out with way too much stuff and a headache! (I know this from personal experience).
3. Inspect the item carefully. Thrift store sales are as-is, and it is the purchasers responsibility to determine if the item is good for their purposes.
4. Remember to donate your goods! As long as you are making the trip to the thrift store, such as Goodwill or Salvation Army, take along a bag or a box of stuff to donate. Do this at least a couple times a year, and get your tax-deductible receipt. Now, not only are you saving money on what you buy, but you are getting your home decluttered and getting a tax deduction. It's an all around win-win situation.
5. Have fun! Get your shopping fix without blowing your budget, and enjoy your treasure hunting experience.
October 5, 2009
June 9, 2009
Save Money by Making Your Own Soda!
SODA-CLUB: AN INTRODUCTION
Sleek and stylish, the home soda maker is a countertop appliance about the size of a coffeemaker that transforms water into fresh, fizzy seltzer/sparkling water at the push of a button. Soda makers operate without batteries, electricity or plumbing, so they are simple to use in a kitchen and great for bringing along on a boat, RV or to a second home. Making seltzer and soda takes just seconds and requires no clean-up.
A reusable, one-liter carbonating bottle (provided by Soda-Club) is filled with water and screwed into the machine fitting. A CO2 carbonator, housed inside the soda maker, adds carbonation at the touch of a button – as much or as little as the consumer prefers. After carbonating the water, the soda drinker simply adds a capful from one of over 25 sodamix flavors to make his or her favorite, great-tasting soda.
Despite recently arriving in the US market, Soda-Club is the global leader of in-home carbonation. Over the past decade, Soda-Club’s home soda makers and soda-making accessories have been sold into over 10 million households in 18 countries around the world. In fact, it is estimated that over 800 million liters of water are carbonated with Soda-Club’s system worldwide each year.
BENEFITS OF FRESHLY MADE SODA AND SELTZER
With a home soda maker, a household will save in many ways - save trips to the store, save lugging and storage, save the environment, save sugar and sodium…and save money!
With Soda-Club, soda stays fizzy, thanks to a special hermetic seal in the carbonating bottle caps. That means no more flat, wasted soda. A home soda maker and concentrated sodamix flavors means no more lugging and storing soda. Each bottle of sodamix is about the size of a can of soda but contains enough syrup to make 12 one-liter bottles (about 36 cans) of soda. So, Soda-Club is great for families and for anyone with tight space, including RVers, boaters, college students and urban dwellers.
Soda-Club seltzer/sparkling water has several advantages over store-bought. First, the carbonation can be customized. Secondly, seltzer/sparkling water made with a Soda-Club machine contains no sodium, unlike many store-bought brands. A Soda-Club household will save as much as 50% over store-bought seltzer/sparkling water.
Soda-Club sodas are a sensible alternative to store-bought sodas. Soda-Club’s regular sodamix flavors have 2/3 less sugar, calories, carbs and sodium than regular store-bought soda. Diet flavors are of course sugar-free, contain less sodium than store-bought diet flavors and contain no aspartame – all diet flavors are sweetened with Splenda® brand sweetener.
And finally, soda and seltzer households will save money with Soda-Club. Seltzer starts at just 17 cents per liter; soda starts at just 42 cents per liter. Soda-Club even offers an Energy Drink sodamix that consumers can make for about 25 cents per serving (compared to $1.99 per serving in the store.) Soda-Club is an even greater value when you consider that you’ll stop pouring money down the drain with flat, wasted bottles of store-bought soda. And no more lost deposit fees for customers in bottle bill states. Plus, you’ll help the environment by cutting down on all those cases of store-bought cans and bottles.
The above text copied from SodaClub site, for your information.
Shop SodaClub by clicking on banner below!
Sleek and stylish, the home soda maker is a countertop appliance about the size of a coffeemaker that transforms water into fresh, fizzy seltzer/sparkling water at the push of a button. Soda makers operate without batteries, electricity or plumbing, so they are simple to use in a kitchen and great for bringing along on a boat, RV or to a second home. Making seltzer and soda takes just seconds and requires no clean-up.
A reusable, one-liter carbonating bottle (provided by Soda-Club) is filled with water and screwed into the machine fitting. A CO2 carbonator, housed inside the soda maker, adds carbonation at the touch of a button – as much or as little as the consumer prefers. After carbonating the water, the soda drinker simply adds a capful from one of over 25 sodamix flavors to make his or her favorite, great-tasting soda.
Despite recently arriving in the US market, Soda-Club is the global leader of in-home carbonation. Over the past decade, Soda-Club’s home soda makers and soda-making accessories have been sold into over 10 million households in 18 countries around the world. In fact, it is estimated that over 800 million liters of water are carbonated with Soda-Club’s system worldwide each year.
BENEFITS OF FRESHLY MADE SODA AND SELTZER
With a home soda maker, a household will save in many ways - save trips to the store, save lugging and storage, save the environment, save sugar and sodium…and save money!
With Soda-Club, soda stays fizzy, thanks to a special hermetic seal in the carbonating bottle caps. That means no more flat, wasted soda. A home soda maker and concentrated sodamix flavors means no more lugging and storing soda. Each bottle of sodamix is about the size of a can of soda but contains enough syrup to make 12 one-liter bottles (about 36 cans) of soda. So, Soda-Club is great for families and for anyone with tight space, including RVers, boaters, college students and urban dwellers.
Soda-Club seltzer/sparkling water has several advantages over store-bought. First, the carbonation can be customized. Secondly, seltzer/sparkling water made with a Soda-Club machine contains no sodium, unlike many store-bought brands. A Soda-Club household will save as much as 50% over store-bought seltzer/sparkling water.
Soda-Club sodas are a sensible alternative to store-bought sodas. Soda-Club’s regular sodamix flavors have 2/3 less sugar, calories, carbs and sodium than regular store-bought soda. Diet flavors are of course sugar-free, contain less sodium than store-bought diet flavors and contain no aspartame – all diet flavors are sweetened with Splenda® brand sweetener.
And finally, soda and seltzer households will save money with Soda-Club. Seltzer starts at just 17 cents per liter; soda starts at just 42 cents per liter. Soda-Club even offers an Energy Drink sodamix that consumers can make for about 25 cents per serving (compared to $1.99 per serving in the store.) Soda-Club is an even greater value when you consider that you’ll stop pouring money down the drain with flat, wasted bottles of store-bought soda. And no more lost deposit fees for customers in bottle bill states. Plus, you’ll help the environment by cutting down on all those cases of store-bought cans and bottles.
The above text copied from SodaClub site, for your information.
Shop SodaClub by clicking on banner below!
May 28, 2009
What to Do with Doggie Doo?
I learned something today! Always a good day when that happens. While green cleaning, and listening to one of my favorite Podcasts from Itunes, "The Dog Trainer's Quick and Dirty Tips", Episode 008, I was suprised to learn about the environmental impact of our poochies poo!
Now, I had actually considered the fact that picking up dog poo with plastic bags and then throwing it in the trash probably wasn't the greenest way to do it. I mean, I could just imagine my dog's poop being forever "preserved" in a landfill somewhere and it gave me the creeps. So...I was thrilled when I found these biodegradable doggie bags at a pet store. They were pricey, considering their job, but I figured I needed to make this change.
Then "The Dog Trainer" explained how to decide what to do with the poo. In summary, she says that if your trash goes to a traditional landfill, it will be buried in an anaerobic environment and will not break down, likely, in our lifetime. Therefore, if I plan to throw the poo in the trash, and this is where it goes, there is no point in using those expensive "biodegradeable" bags that simply won't break down in a landfill, because virtually nothing does. And, of course, using regular plastic bags doesn't help things either. Why am I going to use a petroleum-based product for a task as remedial as handling doggie doo? Also, should the landfill fail to be air tight/water tight, the bacteria from the feces could escape into our ground water. Yuck! So, what are greener and safer options?
According to The Dog Trainer, if you have a backyard, you may be able to incorporate it into your composte and use on non-food plants in your yard. However, you have to check with local ordinances to see if this is even allowed. The simplest, best way (and I could kick myself for not thinking of it) is to do the same thing with the dog poo as we'd do with our own - FLUSH IT down the toilet. Use common sense, and not too much at once and not the petrified (hardened) stuff. You can use trash paper or a scooper to pick it up and toss it in the bowl. The toilet water goes to a waste treatment plant meant for handling this kind of waste, without harming the environment or the health of the community.
Now, I had actually considered the fact that picking up dog poo with plastic bags and then throwing it in the trash probably wasn't the greenest way to do it. I mean, I could just imagine my dog's poop being forever "preserved" in a landfill somewhere and it gave me the creeps. So...I was thrilled when I found these biodegradable doggie bags at a pet store. They were pricey, considering their job, but I figured I needed to make this change.
Then "The Dog Trainer" explained how to decide what to do with the poo. In summary, she says that if your trash goes to a traditional landfill, it will be buried in an anaerobic environment and will not break down, likely, in our lifetime. Therefore, if I plan to throw the poo in the trash, and this is where it goes, there is no point in using those expensive "biodegradeable" bags that simply won't break down in a landfill, because virtually nothing does. And, of course, using regular plastic bags doesn't help things either. Why am I going to use a petroleum-based product for a task as remedial as handling doggie doo? Also, should the landfill fail to be air tight/water tight, the bacteria from the feces could escape into our ground water. Yuck! So, what are greener and safer options?
According to The Dog Trainer, if you have a backyard, you may be able to incorporate it into your composte and use on non-food plants in your yard. However, you have to check with local ordinances to see if this is even allowed. The simplest, best way (and I could kick myself for not thinking of it) is to do the same thing with the dog poo as we'd do with our own - FLUSH IT down the toilet. Use common sense, and not too much at once and not the petrified (hardened) stuff. You can use trash paper or a scooper to pick it up and toss it in the bowl. The toilet water goes to a waste treatment plant meant for handling this kind of waste, without harming the environment or the health of the community.
May 14, 2009
Greener Grocery Shopping - at Aldi's
Aldi Food Stores are a different kind of grocery shopping experience. Growing in popularity, they offer "select brand" instead of "national brand" groceries at deeply discounted prices. You can save up to 50% on your grocery bill, shopping at Aldi. As well, you will find it to be a "greener" way to shop because of the way an Aldi store operates.
Here are some tips for shopping at Aldi:
First of all - BRING A QUARTER. The shopping carts are outside the store, linked together buy a chain and a lock that will only open when you put in a quarter. Don't worry! You get your quarter back when you take the cart back and lock it back up. This eliminates the need for employees to fetch carts in the parking lot.
Secondly - BRING YOUR OWN BAGS! As you shop you may pick up emptied boxes from around the store to use (similar to Costco) and you can purchase bags at the checkout, if you forgot to bring your own. They have paper bags, heavy-duty handled plastic bags, and the popular fabric "green" bags for sale. The price for paper and plastic is nominal; I think it was 6 cents a bag at my store. But, we greenies like to bring our own bags anyway, and it is refreshing to find a store that encourages the practice.
Third - DON'T GO NUTS! It is easy to get carried away, when you notice how extremely low many of the prices are, and end up running out to get a second cart! They aren't going anywhere! Take a list the first time, to help with self-control.
Fourth - Find out when your local store gets it's weekly shipment. This is the day the special items of the week get in, as well as they will have the most grocery items in stock. The weekly special items can go fast. This information is available on their website.
I think I am about Aldi's biggest fan. I actually discovered it many years ago, but have not always lived near one. I am happy to find there are 18 Aldi stores in Maryland, and one that I know of in nearby Hanover, PA.
Visit the Aldi Foods website to learn more about what they offer, and find a store near you. http://www.aldifoods.com/. Have fun, and shop smarter!
Here are some tips for shopping at Aldi:
First of all - BRING A QUARTER. The shopping carts are outside the store, linked together buy a chain and a lock that will only open when you put in a quarter. Don't worry! You get your quarter back when you take the cart back and lock it back up. This eliminates the need for employees to fetch carts in the parking lot.
Secondly - BRING YOUR OWN BAGS! As you shop you may pick up emptied boxes from around the store to use (similar to Costco) and you can purchase bags at the checkout, if you forgot to bring your own. They have paper bags, heavy-duty handled plastic bags, and the popular fabric "green" bags for sale. The price for paper and plastic is nominal; I think it was 6 cents a bag at my store. But, we greenies like to bring our own bags anyway, and it is refreshing to find a store that encourages the practice.
Third - DON'T GO NUTS! It is easy to get carried away, when you notice how extremely low many of the prices are, and end up running out to get a second cart! They aren't going anywhere! Take a list the first time, to help with self-control.
Fourth - Find out when your local store gets it's weekly shipment. This is the day the special items of the week get in, as well as they will have the most grocery items in stock. The weekly special items can go fast. This information is available on their website.
I think I am about Aldi's biggest fan. I actually discovered it many years ago, but have not always lived near one. I am happy to find there are 18 Aldi stores in Maryland, and one that I know of in nearby Hanover, PA.
Visit the Aldi Foods website to learn more about what they offer, and find a store near you. http://www.aldifoods.com/. Have fun, and shop smarter!
May 13, 2009
Garlic Shrimp Pasta Salad
A favorite recipe of mine for summer:
Garlic Shrimp Pasta Salad
2 1/2 cups dry macaroni
1 6 oz. can tiny shrimp or 1 cup cooked small shrimp (the smaller the better)
3 tbsp. olive-oil based mayonnaise
1 tsp. hot sauce
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. cooking white wine
2 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
1 tbsp. chopped garlic (ready made, packed in olive oil)
Fresh cracked black pepper to taste
Cook the pasta in boiling salted water for 10 minutes or until tender. Meanwhile, mix the remaining ingredients in a large glass mixing bowl. (No added salt is required, as the Old Bay and the cooking wine are salty.) Drain pasta and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Add to the dressing in the mixing bowl and stir until combined. Refrigerate at least 1 hour to allow flavors to combine.
Serves 6-8 as a side dish.
Garlic Shrimp Pasta Salad
2 1/2 cups dry macaroni
1 6 oz. can tiny shrimp or 1 cup cooked small shrimp (the smaller the better)
3 tbsp. olive-oil based mayonnaise
1 tsp. hot sauce
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. cooking white wine
2 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
1 tbsp. chopped garlic (ready made, packed in olive oil)
Fresh cracked black pepper to taste
Cook the pasta in boiling salted water for 10 minutes or until tender. Meanwhile, mix the remaining ingredients in a large glass mixing bowl. (No added salt is required, as the Old Bay and the cooking wine are salty.) Drain pasta and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Add to the dressing in the mixing bowl and stir until combined. Refrigerate at least 1 hour to allow flavors to combine.
Serves 6-8 as a side dish.
May 8, 2009
Beverages to Go - Greener Choices
The greenest way to have your favorite beverage to-go is to make a big batch and use your own portable beverage containers (thermos, aluminum bottle, plastic if you must). If you stock up on a enough of these containers you can make a big batch of your favorite drink, and pour into your ready containers, and keep on hand, ready to go, in your fridge. Excellent beverages for making in big batches are ice tea, sweet tea, green tea, lemonade, half fruit juice/half water (homemade flavored water!), iced coffee (mix in sugar and cream or flavored creamer while warm), but you can use anything that doesn't require carbonation as most portable containers don't do a very good job of keeping carbonation in.
Now, if you are not the perfect model of a "greenie" (very few people are) you will run into the occasional temptation to grab a drink on the go at a convenience store or grocery store. If you want to buy a convenient drink to go - what are your greener choices? For one thing, you could keep a few clean to go beverage containers in your car (with your green shopping bags, of course) and use the fountain drink machine. Most convenience stores allow you to bring your own drink container and often give you a discounted price on the beverage for doing so. You can also try doing this at fast food restaurants.
Sans drink container, my first choice is whatever I can find in an aluminum can. Aluminum cans, unlike plastic bottles, recycle readily and aluminum can be recycled over and over, infinitely, so I understand. Plastic bottles, even the types your recycling center will accept, have limited after-cycling uses, and plastic apparently breaks down into less usable product when recycled over and over. Another bonus to aluminum cans is that if you save them up and take a trip to your local metal recycling center a few times a year, you can get some cold hard cash for your aluminum. Keep a trash can just for collecting aluminum cans at home, and invest in a can crusher (saves a lot of time). Save up your cans until you have a sizable load, as heavier loads usually get a better payout price when you turn them in for cash.
I was about to blog about my frustration with finding something other than sodas, and sickeningly sweet beverages, available in aluminum cans. Then I had to make a quick trip to my local organic foods store for cleaning supplies, and noticed they carried quite a selection of more appealing, healthier beverages in cans. Fabulous! Now I can keep an assortment of sodas as well as healthier drinks on hand at home, grab and go when I need them, and save up the cans for some cool cash back. I like to use my can money to throw a little cook-out party in summer. Cost of admission? - BYOB, in cans! Thanks for your donation! ;-)
When it comes to recycling, glass bottles would be the next best choice, I believe. However, I don't see a huge come-back of this as I'd imagine shipping these would be a nightmare due to breakage. However, I would like to see it if it can be done. Also, retailers could start offering BYOC (bring your own container) beverage service. No waste! Much less packaging needed for the bulk beverage stations, and the large jugs or kegs, or whatever they use, can be sent back to the producer and cleaned and refilled over and over! I've heard of a few small retailers doing this, like out in California, but haven't found one in Maryland that I know of. If you know of anyone doing this, please let me know!
Thoughts? Comments? Any other ideas for greener alternatives for beverages on the go? I'd love to hear from you!
Now, if you are not the perfect model of a "greenie" (very few people are) you will run into the occasional temptation to grab a drink on the go at a convenience store or grocery store. If you want to buy a convenient drink to go - what are your greener choices? For one thing, you could keep a few clean to go beverage containers in your car (with your green shopping bags, of course) and use the fountain drink machine. Most convenience stores allow you to bring your own drink container and often give you a discounted price on the beverage for doing so. You can also try doing this at fast food restaurants.
Sans drink container, my first choice is whatever I can find in an aluminum can. Aluminum cans, unlike plastic bottles, recycle readily and aluminum can be recycled over and over, infinitely, so I understand. Plastic bottles, even the types your recycling center will accept, have limited after-cycling uses, and plastic apparently breaks down into less usable product when recycled over and over. Another bonus to aluminum cans is that if you save them up and take a trip to your local metal recycling center a few times a year, you can get some cold hard cash for your aluminum. Keep a trash can just for collecting aluminum cans at home, and invest in a can crusher (saves a lot of time). Save up your cans until you have a sizable load, as heavier loads usually get a better payout price when you turn them in for cash.
I was about to blog about my frustration with finding something other than sodas, and sickeningly sweet beverages, available in aluminum cans. Then I had to make a quick trip to my local organic foods store for cleaning supplies, and noticed they carried quite a selection of more appealing, healthier beverages in cans. Fabulous! Now I can keep an assortment of sodas as well as healthier drinks on hand at home, grab and go when I need them, and save up the cans for some cool cash back. I like to use my can money to throw a little cook-out party in summer. Cost of admission? - BYOB, in cans! Thanks for your donation! ;-)
When it comes to recycling, glass bottles would be the next best choice, I believe. However, I don't see a huge come-back of this as I'd imagine shipping these would be a nightmare due to breakage. However, I would like to see it if it can be done. Also, retailers could start offering BYOC (bring your own container) beverage service. No waste! Much less packaging needed for the bulk beverage stations, and the large jugs or kegs, or whatever they use, can be sent back to the producer and cleaned and refilled over and over! I've heard of a few small retailers doing this, like out in California, but haven't found one in Maryland that I know of. If you know of anyone doing this, please let me know!
Thoughts? Comments? Any other ideas for greener alternatives for beverages on the go? I'd love to hear from you!
May 6, 2009
What happened to the milk man?
When I am pondering a better, greener way to accomplish something or to have something, I often find the simplest answers in old school ways of doing things. For example, what happened to the milk man? Before the plastic era, milk was delivered to homes in glass returnable bottles, by a local company, with milk from local farms. Fabulous idea! Could other beverages be added to this service, such as fruit juices? Fresh fruit juices and milk spoil quickly, and require frequent trips to the store in order to keep in stock at home. Wouldn't it make sense for a milk delivery service to plan out efficient routes for their drivers, reaching more homes, and ultimately requiring less fuel per beverage sold than all of those clients going out to get their milk and juice at a store? They'd do very well, fuel wise, with the use of electric or hybrid vehicles for delivery, as in stop-and-go driving these get the best milage. If I got wind of a local entreprenuer starting up such a business, I would likely be one of the first in line for this service. Any other ideas?
March 24, 2009
Sometimes It’s Not Easy Being Green
It may be an overwhelming and disheartening experience for those who have a genuine interest in learning how to green their lifestyle when they attempt to search for clear-cut information about what exactly to do. The fact is there can be no clear-cut guide that works for everyone, because the best decisions any one person can make are as unique to them as their lifestyle, their priorities, their physical home (type of community, type of home, state and local laws and services, internal home environment), their financial situation, and resources available to them.
For example, if you have a home owners association, you may not be allowed to put solar PV panels on your roof at this time. If you live in a small condo or apartment, you may not have the space to do so. If you do not own land, you don’t have the option to grow trees in order to shade your house in the summer. If your community does not offer free recycling pick up services, and you have to drive a significant distance to drop off your recycling, then you are required to spend precious time and money (and fossil fuels from the use of your vehicle) in order to complete this simple task - and you have to ask yourself if it’s worth it. If your home was built with entirely electric power, you’d have to purchase very expensive new heating/cooling equipment and new appliances to even have the option of switching some of your power needs over to natural gas or propane. If your car or truck is a gas guzzler and last year’s gasoline price spikes made you seriously wish for a more fuel efficient vehicle, you may not have had money to run out and buy the newest “green” vehicle on the market. If you live in a rural area, there likely is NO public transportation option for you to get to work.
I could go on and on, but you get the picture. Not everyone can do everything they have heard about to green their lifestyle. The important thing, in my opinion, is that you do the things that make sense to you and that work for your unique situation.
In general, when considering what actions make the most sense for your life think about the basic three topics of green living – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. I would add to that “Energy Efficiency”, as any changes you make to reduce your energy use and costs, will have an immediate money-saving impact for you and a significant reduction in pollution and greenhouse gases in the environment.
Many “green” choices are not new ideas. Think about simple steps you can take today. Every little step counts! Some examples to get you started:
– Stop buying “stuff” that you don’t really need, and start saving your wallet as well as cut back on the waste and pollution resulting from production of many commercial goods.
– Start shopping consignment shops and thrift stores. A savvy shopper can find some great things! It’s fun and you will be saving money as well as the environment when you don’t purchase as many new goods.
– Try to run errands in one trip instead of a dozen little trips a week.
– Buy in bulk and in concentrate as much as possible. Less packaging per product means less waste.
– Cook from scratch! Yes, just like granny used to do. You will have more control over the ingredients, avoid artificial additives, and enjoy much better tasting meals.
– Get crafty! If you can DIY it (do-it-yourself) such as refurbish an old piece of furniture, sew a fabulous dress for summer, or plant your own herb garden; then you’ve gained a pleasurable hobby (with many mental health benefits to you) as well as reduced commercial waste.
Then develop a long-term plan for some bigger changes you’d like to implement – perhaps that newer, more fuel efficient vehicle, or that solar water heater system, or getting rid of that toxic wall-to-wall carpet and installing a non-toxic, eco-friendly flooring choice, such as bamboo, cork, or recovered hard wood floors in your home.
March 4, 2009
A Newer, Greener Lighting Alternative - LED Bulbs
LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs are the newest technology in energy efficient lighting and are likely to replace CFL’s in the near future as the greenest and most economical choice for lighting. Compared to CFL bulbs, LED bulbs are significantly more energy efficient, they last up to 10 times longer, and they contain no mercury. All pluses in my book.
As LED bulbs are a newer technology, they are currently not as readily available and are more expensive to purchase than CFL bulbs. However, over time, your energy savings will be significant. Not to mention, your piece of mind regarding the benefits to the environment, including reducing the amount of toxic mercury leaks into our waterways.
You may think of LED’s as tiny, bright, harsh lights that you’ve seen used in newer flashlights and toys and such. Lately, however, there is an increasing selection of household use bulbs, compatible with your existing fixtures and lamps, that also offer choices in the color qualities of the light. For example, a “warm white” LED bulb for an accent lamp will emit a soft, flattering glow, similar to what you are used to with conventional incandescent bulbs. Other colors for household use include cool white for practical lighting and amber, which won’t attract bugs to outdoor lamps. They also come in fun colors such as red, blue, green, for more amusing uses such as party lights and mood lighting.
Suggestions for LED bulb use:
Outdoor Accent Lighting: Look for solar-powered LED lights. (No cost energy!) These come in all kinds of decorative forms and uses, such as walkway lighting, hanging lanterns and paper lanterns, table top accent lamps, and rope and string lights. These can readily be found at very reasonable prices both online and in home and garden stores.
Closets and Cabinet Lighting: Small, inexpensive LED lights can be found for use in closets and under cabinet lighting, where frequent brief lighting is needed, and frequent on/off switches will happen. There are battery powered as well as hard wired options for these as well.
Accent Lighting: Lamps placed in areas that can easily be struck and broken by accident, especially if you have pets or children, are a good place to start replacing your CFL’s with LED’s in order to reduce your risk of mercury exposure from CFL‘s. Keep your CFL’s in the ceiling mounted light fixtures, canister and track lighting for now, if the expense of replacing all of these is too prohibitive.
Party Lighting: As LED technology is still a novelty, many just-for-fun LED lighting options are out there. Check party and wedding décor stores. Fun choices I’ve found include tea lights, votives, fiber optic centerpieces, fiber optic framed art, glowing ice cubes and glowing glassware. More and more innovative, fun uses of LED’s seem to appear every day!
As LED bulbs are a newer technology, they are currently not as readily available and are more expensive to purchase than CFL bulbs. However, over time, your energy savings will be significant. Not to mention, your piece of mind regarding the benefits to the environment, including reducing the amount of toxic mercury leaks into our waterways.
You may think of LED’s as tiny, bright, harsh lights that you’ve seen used in newer flashlights and toys and such. Lately, however, there is an increasing selection of household use bulbs, compatible with your existing fixtures and lamps, that also offer choices in the color qualities of the light. For example, a “warm white” LED bulb for an accent lamp will emit a soft, flattering glow, similar to what you are used to with conventional incandescent bulbs. Other colors for household use include cool white for practical lighting and amber, which won’t attract bugs to outdoor lamps. They also come in fun colors such as red, blue, green, for more amusing uses such as party lights and mood lighting.
Suggestions for LED bulb use:
Outdoor Accent Lighting: Look for solar-powered LED lights. (No cost energy!) These come in all kinds of decorative forms and uses, such as walkway lighting, hanging lanterns and paper lanterns, table top accent lamps, and rope and string lights. These can readily be found at very reasonable prices both online and in home and garden stores.
Closets and Cabinet Lighting: Small, inexpensive LED lights can be found for use in closets and under cabinet lighting, where frequent brief lighting is needed, and frequent on/off switches will happen. There are battery powered as well as hard wired options for these as well.
Accent Lighting: Lamps placed in areas that can easily be struck and broken by accident, especially if you have pets or children, are a good place to start replacing your CFL’s with LED’s in order to reduce your risk of mercury exposure from CFL‘s. Keep your CFL’s in the ceiling mounted light fixtures, canister and track lighting for now, if the expense of replacing all of these is too prohibitive.
Party Lighting: As LED technology is still a novelty, many just-for-fun LED lighting options are out there. Check party and wedding décor stores. Fun choices I’ve found include tea lights, votives, fiber optic centerpieces, fiber optic framed art, glowing ice cubes and glowing glassware. More and more innovative, fun uses of LED’s seem to appear every day!
The Problems with CFL Bulbs
CFL bulbs contain small amounts of mercury which is a highly toxic heavy metal. Exposure to mercury at certain levels, for certain periods of time, can result in neurological damage with severe, even deadly consequences. While manufacturers and the EPA claim that if a single CFL bulb breaks, the amount of mercury released is not likely to result in a dangerous exposure level, doesn’t it make you a bit nervous?
Have you ever asked yourself what happens to all the mercury when the bulbs are thrown away? Of course, on the packaging of these bulbs you will find information for proper disposal of them and proper clean up if a bulb breaks in your home. Generally, clean up is a careful, tedious process, and disposal requires you to take the bulb, in the proper packaging, in the trunk of your car or truck bed, to your local residential hazardous waste recycling facility. If you get it there, the mercury is dealt with and recycled, and does not end up in the waste stream to contaminate the environment and our water supply. However, what about the people (what do you suppose the percentage is?) who don’t know enough or care enough about mercury levels in the environment, who may be inclined to throw these bulbs in the regular trash? If the regular trash goes to a landfill, the mercury will then seep into the soil and ground water and eventually out to our rivers, lakes, and oceans, contaminating not only the water supply, but also the vegetation and seafood we consume. If the regular trash is incinerated the mercury evaporates into the air, and we breathe it in. If the mercury levels in the air are high enough for long enough, this will result in a dangerous exposure level to all in the area. Also, airborne mercury will eventually deposit into soil and water.
There are other problems with CFL bulbs. They are sensitive to frequent on/off usage. Their lifespan is shortened when turned on and off frequently, as in for spot lighting uses in closets or under cabinets. Many people who are “going green” or at least looking to save some green on their energy bills, like to use timers and dimmers with their lighting, to save even more energy. The problem is, not all CFL’s are compatible with these devices. Special CFL bulbs must be purchased for use with many timers and dimmers.
Reduce The Risk:
1. Start replacing CFL bulbs with LED bulbs in your accent lamps that can easily be hit and broken, especially if you have children or pets. Or, go back to conventional incandescent bulbs for these. Keep the CFL bulb use to ceiling mounted light fixtures, that cannot easily be broken during normal daily activity.
2. Find out where your local residential hazardous waste recycling facility is and keep this information handy. You are responsible for getting this toxic waste to the right facility.
3. Read the directions on the package on how to properly clean up a breakage. Post this information someplace where you can quickly find it BEFORE you experience a CFL bulb break.
Have you ever asked yourself what happens to all the mercury when the bulbs are thrown away? Of course, on the packaging of these bulbs you will find information for proper disposal of them and proper clean up if a bulb breaks in your home. Generally, clean up is a careful, tedious process, and disposal requires you to take the bulb, in the proper packaging, in the trunk of your car or truck bed, to your local residential hazardous waste recycling facility. If you get it there, the mercury is dealt with and recycled, and does not end up in the waste stream to contaminate the environment and our water supply. However, what about the people (what do you suppose the percentage is?) who don’t know enough or care enough about mercury levels in the environment, who may be inclined to throw these bulbs in the regular trash? If the regular trash goes to a landfill, the mercury will then seep into the soil and ground water and eventually out to our rivers, lakes, and oceans, contaminating not only the water supply, but also the vegetation and seafood we consume. If the regular trash is incinerated the mercury evaporates into the air, and we breathe it in. If the mercury levels in the air are high enough for long enough, this will result in a dangerous exposure level to all in the area. Also, airborne mercury will eventually deposit into soil and water.
There are other problems with CFL bulbs. They are sensitive to frequent on/off usage. Their lifespan is shortened when turned on and off frequently, as in for spot lighting uses in closets or under cabinets. Many people who are “going green” or at least looking to save some green on their energy bills, like to use timers and dimmers with their lighting, to save even more energy. The problem is, not all CFL’s are compatible with these devices. Special CFL bulbs must be purchased for use with many timers and dimmers.
Reduce The Risk:
1. Start replacing CFL bulbs with LED bulbs in your accent lamps that can easily be hit and broken, especially if you have children or pets. Or, go back to conventional incandescent bulbs for these. Keep the CFL bulb use to ceiling mounted light fixtures, that cannot easily be broken during normal daily activity.
2. Find out where your local residential hazardous waste recycling facility is and keep this information handy. You are responsible for getting this toxic waste to the right facility.
3. Read the directions on the package on how to properly clean up a breakage. Post this information someplace where you can quickly find it BEFORE you experience a CFL bulb break.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
