Why should you be concerned with saving water? After all, the earth has the same amount of water on it that it did billions of years ago. True, however, that water is not always accessible. 98% of our water is in oceans, , leaving only .5 of the water on earth accessible to people and animals for drinking. The U.S.
1) Low flow faucet aerators. This is the easiest way to cut back on water consumption. There should be aerators already on all of your sinks, and they control how much water comes out of your faucet.
Kitchen sinks require a slightly higher GPM, usually around 1.5-2.2 for low-flow. You still want to cut back on the water used for simple dish and hand washing, so by all means get a lower-flow aerator, but waiting longer to fill up the sink to do dishes, or a pot to boil water on the stove, can be annoying. Same goes for bathtub faucets-- there's no real reason for low-flow in that situation.
2) Low flow showerheads. While it's hard to save water on baths (aside from using a smaller tub), showers are a great place to cut back on water consumption.
3) When you don't need water, turn off that faucet! This should be fairly obvious, but it's easy to forget you have the water running. You don't keep the faucet on while you brush your teeth, or the entire time you're doing the dishes. Use only what you need.
4) Be conscious of your water consumption while bathing. There are loads of ways to reduce water consumption while bathing! Take showers instead of baths, take shorter showers, and don't keep the water running while you're not in the shower (hop in the moment it's hot enough!) I try to do things like washing my face and shaving my legs outside the shower, since I don't need the faucet/shower on constantly during those activities. It's also easier to sit on the edge of the tub to shave your legs with a little pool of water to rinse the razor instead of trying to do it in the shower. It's a small change, but by saving just 5 minutes in the shower, you'll be saving 7.5 gallons of water for a 1.5 GPM low-flow showerhead, and (remember, 2.5 GPM is still lower than most older showerheads).
5) It's okay to use that dishwasher. Energy*Star dishwashers are tough to beat on water consumption, and often only use around 5 gallons of water per load. This is a significant amount of savings compared to washing your dishes by hand.
6) Buy a low-flow, dual flush toilet when the time comes. Flushing your toilet is one of the biggest culprits of wasted water. Toilets made prior to 1980 use 5-7 gallons of water per flush. New toilets According to Niagra Conservation, If a family of four replaced a 3.5-gallon per flush toilet made between 1980 and 1994 with the Niagara Flapperless® 1.6 GPF toilet, they will save 20,805 gallons of water A YEAR! That's a lot of potable water you'd be saving!
Don't want to pay for low-flow aerators and showerheads? If you live in Linn or Black Hawke County, IA, you don't have to! Installing low-flow fixtures is a part of our free weatherization service. We also install CFLs, will caulk your windows, seal your ducts, insulate your outlets, and much more! Click here to sign up for your free weatherization.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Spring has sprung, and that means farmers' markets are opening up for the season. Right now options are a little limited, but the markets will only get fuller and busier as the season goes on. Eating local food is a great way to support local economy, reduce pollution through food transportation, and get healthy fruits and veggies into your diet.
Farmers' Markets, from City of Cedar Rapids:
8TH AVENUE CITY (formerly Riverside Roundhouse)
Location: 8th Avenue and 2nd Street SE city parking lot on the south side of 8th Avenue, Cedar Rapids
Phone: (319) 286-5731
Dates: May 1 - October 23 (except these Saturdays 6/5, 6/19, 7/3, 7/17, 8/7, 8/21, 9/4, 9/18)
Hours:
Tuesdays 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Saturdays 7:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Farmers' Markets, from City of Cedar Rapids:
8TH AVENUE CITY (formerly Riverside Roundhouse)
Location: 8th Avenue and 2nd Street SE city parking lot on the south side of 8th Avenue, Cedar Rapids
Phone: (319) 286-5731
Dates: May 1 - October 23 (except these Saturdays 6/5, 6/19, 7/3, 7/17, 8/7, 8/21, 9/4, 9/18)
Hours:
Tuesdays 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Saturdays 7:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Simplify to Use Less, Spend Less, Waste Less
One of the best ways to go green, save money, and enhance your quality of life, is to simply use less. Minimalism and simplicity are big buzzwords right now, especially among the eco-concious, but the concept can be confusing and alienating. It doesn't mean denying yourself things that bring you pleasure; it's about freeing yourself from clutter and focusing on what's important.
So what does that mean exactly? Here are some easy steps to help simplify your life:
1. Avoid trying to buy your way out of a problem. Since we live in a consumerist society, we are taught by advertisements that by simply buying a new product, we can buy our way out of our problems. Instead, think about what your problem is, and if it can be solved another way, with resources you already have. Many products are aimed at serving only one specific purpose, in order to make money, but often that purpose can be served by another, more general product you may already own.
2. Ask yourself, "do I really need this?" When you step into a room, think before you automatically flip on that light switch. Open the window first, and see if the lighting is adequate to complete whatever task you need to accomplish. When you go to the store, make sure everything in your cart are things you need, or things that you know will bring you joy. A new shirt may be nice for awhile, but does it really fit perfectly? Are you sure you don't already have one like it? Be critical of your purchases and actions, and you'll find yourself saving resources and money.
3. Get rid of clutter. Keep your living and work spaces free from anything you don't use or need. Get rid of things that don't bring you joy. Donate or recycle these things.
4. Just use less. Be mindful of what you use, and how you use it. Instead of dumping half the bottle of dish soap into a dirty pan, put in only what you need to get it clean, and you'll buy dish soap less often. Don't buy disposable dishware just to get out of doing the dishes. Drink filtered tap water stored in a reusable bottle instead of buying individual water bottles. Use less, spend less, waste less.
This all may sound hard. Here are some benefits:
1. Spend less money. The less you buy, the less you spend. Since I've started thinking critically about my purchases, I've found I buy less, but I don't notice that I have less. Meaning, I've only eliminated things that I never really needed in the first place. For example, I've found I could eliminate most of the cleaners under my sink by switching to a few eco-friendly all-purpose cleaners, so I no longer buy specific products for every kind of surface and stain. Saves space under the sink, my home is still clean, and I save money by buying less.
2. Less clutter. Think of all the junk that's accumulated in your home that you don't really use or need anymore. Wouldn't it be nice if it were all gone, and you only had what you needed, and it was all easy to find? Most people try to solve this program with organizing, keeping everything with the mindset of "I might possibly, maybe use this in the future". The problem with this is that the clutter is never really gone, and as soon as anything gets out of place, the mess is back. Instead, keep only what you know you will use again. This benefit of less clutter works in tandem with step one. Chances are, a lot of that stuff you've accumulated, you didn't really need to buy in the first place, and by not buying it anymore, you have less clutter (and more money).
3. Better for the environment. Of course, this blog is about being green, and it should be obvious that by using less, you're, well, using less. Less resources, less pollution, fewer trucks on the road, etc. Most everything we buy is made overseas in factories that pollute the earth (remember, environmental policies are not the same in all countries), and then shipped long distances to get to you. Instead, save your money, and invest it into things you support and care about.
4. You'll be satisfied with less. This is counter-intuitive to how most Americans think-- we always want more, more, more. Unfortunately, we can't always afford more. As we have more stuff, we need more storage and bigger houses, but as the recent housing market collapse has proven, we might not be able to afford a bigger house. If you have less and use less, you'll find yourself needing and wanting less, and will be less likely to exceed your income.
5. Own things of higher quality. Instead of buying many cheap things that break or quickly become unnecessary/obsolete, buy fewer, higher quality, durable, beautiful items that will last for a long time, and will bring you more joy. With the money you save from buying less, you can save up for the things you really do want, without all of the debt and guilt.
6. Your living spaces will be more calm, organized, and stress-free. It's wonderfully satisfying to know where everything is, and to not have piles of junk to distract you. Free up surfaces of clutter, and instead put up art, heirlooms, and things that you enjoy seeing everyday.
Of course, minimalism and simplicity can mean different things for everybody. Some may find it possible to live with nothing more than they can carry on their backs. This is a little extreme for most people, but it doesn't mean you can't declutter your life a bit. Maybe it means saving up to buy a really nice pair that actually fit, instead of accumulating a bunch of jeans that almost barely fit. Maybe it means buying only the groceries you know you will use, so that nothing has the chance to spoil, and you can save up for higher quality, local, organic ingredients. There are a lot of ways to interpret this concept, so find our what works for you!
Fortunately, there are a lot of resources about these concepts available on the internet already. Here are some of my favorites:
Zen Habits - Probably the most renowned resource on simplified living available on the web, with many guest authors. Great tips for how to simplify all aspects of your life, live more sustainably, and find purpose and joy in what you do. By Leo Babauta.
mnmlist - From the same author as Zen Habits (Leo Babauta), but for the more hardcore minimalist. Many readers may find some of it a bit extreme, but some good information nonetheless.
Unclutterer - A great blog about getting and staying organized. By getting organized and getting rid of clutter, you know where all of your things are, and avoid buying things you may already own, but can't find.
So what does that mean exactly? Here are some easy steps to help simplify your life:
1. Avoid trying to buy your way out of a problem. Since we live in a consumerist society, we are taught by advertisements that by simply buying a new product, we can buy our way out of our problems. Instead, think about what your problem is, and if it can be solved another way, with resources you already have. Many products are aimed at serving only one specific purpose, in order to make money, but often that purpose can be served by another, more general product you may already own.
2. Ask yourself, "do I really need this?" When you step into a room, think before you automatically flip on that light switch. Open the window first, and see if the lighting is adequate to complete whatever task you need to accomplish. When you go to the store, make sure everything in your cart are things you need, or things that you know will bring you joy. A new shirt may be nice for awhile, but does it really fit perfectly? Are you sure you don't already have one like it? Be critical of your purchases and actions, and you'll find yourself saving resources and money.
3. Get rid of clutter. Keep your living and work spaces free from anything you don't use or need. Get rid of things that don't bring you joy. Donate or recycle these things.
4. Just use less. Be mindful of what you use, and how you use it. Instead of dumping half the bottle of dish soap into a dirty pan, put in only what you need to get it clean, and you'll buy dish soap less often. Don't buy disposable dishware just to get out of doing the dishes. Drink filtered tap water stored in a reusable bottle instead of buying individual water bottles. Use less, spend less, waste less.
This all may sound hard. Here are some benefits:
1. Spend less money. The less you buy, the less you spend. Since I've started thinking critically about my purchases, I've found I buy less, but I don't notice that I have less. Meaning, I've only eliminated things that I never really needed in the first place. For example, I've found I could eliminate most of the cleaners under my sink by switching to a few eco-friendly all-purpose cleaners, so I no longer buy specific products for every kind of surface and stain. Saves space under the sink, my home is still clean, and I save money by buying less.
2. Less clutter. Think of all the junk that's accumulated in your home that you don't really use or need anymore. Wouldn't it be nice if it were all gone, and you only had what you needed, and it was all easy to find? Most people try to solve this program with organizing, keeping everything with the mindset of "I might possibly, maybe use this in the future". The problem with this is that the clutter is never really gone, and as soon as anything gets out of place, the mess is back. Instead, keep only what you know you will use again. This benefit of less clutter works in tandem with step one. Chances are, a lot of that stuff you've accumulated, you didn't really need to buy in the first place, and by not buying it anymore, you have less clutter (and more money).
3. Better for the environment. Of course, this blog is about being green, and it should be obvious that by using less, you're, well, using less. Less resources, less pollution, fewer trucks on the road, etc. Most everything we buy is made overseas in factories that pollute the earth (remember, environmental policies are not the same in all countries), and then shipped long distances to get to you. Instead, save your money, and invest it into things you support and care about.
4. You'll be satisfied with less. This is counter-intuitive to how most Americans think-- we always want more, more, more. Unfortunately, we can't always afford more. As we have more stuff, we need more storage and bigger houses, but as the recent housing market collapse has proven, we might not be able to afford a bigger house. If you have less and use less, you'll find yourself needing and wanting less, and will be less likely to exceed your income.
5. Own things of higher quality. Instead of buying many cheap things that break or quickly become unnecessary/obsolete, buy fewer, higher quality, durable, beautiful items that will last for a long time, and will bring you more joy. With the money you save from buying less, you can save up for the things you really do want, without all of the debt and guilt.
6. Your living spaces will be more calm, organized, and stress-free. It's wonderfully satisfying to know where everything is, and to not have piles of junk to distract you. Free up surfaces of clutter, and instead put up art, heirlooms, and things that you enjoy seeing everyday.
Of course, minimalism and simplicity can mean different things for everybody. Some may find it possible to live with nothing more than they can carry on their backs. This is a little extreme for most people, but it doesn't mean you can't declutter your life a bit. Maybe it means saving up to buy a really nice pair that actually fit, instead of accumulating a bunch of jeans that almost barely fit. Maybe it means buying only the groceries you know you will use, so that nothing has the chance to spoil, and you can save up for higher quality, local, organic ingredients. There are a lot of ways to interpret this concept, so find our what works for you!
Fortunately, there are a lot of resources about these concepts available on the internet already. Here are some of my favorites:
Zen Habits - Probably the most renowned resource on simplified living available on the web, with many guest authors. Great tips for how to simplify all aspects of your life, live more sustainably, and find purpose and joy in what you do. By Leo Babauta.
mnmlist - From the same author as Zen Habits (Leo Babauta), but for the more hardcore minimalist. Many readers may find some of it a bit extreme, but some good information nonetheless.
Unclutterer - A great blog about getting and staying organized. By getting organized and getting rid of clutter, you know where all of your things are, and avoid buying things you may already own, but can't find.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Planting Trees & Shrubs for Energy Efficiency
Did you know that you can save energy and money just by planting trees and shrubs strategically on your lot? It's true, so why not save on those energy bills while sprucing up your yard? Trees and shrubs also absorb CO2 and emit oxygen back into the atmosphere, so you're helping the planet in several ways.
How does it work? Trees provide shade, and that means your house stays cooler. And, by planting deciduous trees that lose their leaves in cold months, you can ensure that this cooling effect occurs only in the summer months when your air conditioning bills are high, and not in the winter when you want that solar gain. Trees and shrubs can also block wind, which means your home stays warmer in the winter.
Check out this information from Trees Forever, a non-profit group in Marion, IA:
Trees Forever even offers a fun tool for figuring out where to plant trees on your lot: Windbreak and Shade Tree Locator.
Why not green your yard and green your life?
How does it work? Trees provide shade, and that means your house stays cooler. And, by planting deciduous trees that lose their leaves in cold months, you can ensure that this cooling effect occurs only in the summer months when your air conditioning bills are high, and not in the winter when you want that solar gain. Trees and shrubs can also block wind, which means your home stays warmer in the winter.
Check out this information from Trees Forever, a non-profit group in Marion, IA:
Research conducted by the US Department of Energy (DOE) has shown that proper placement of trees and shrubs around buildings can reduce summer energy needs as much as 50%. In addition, planting windbreaks can reduce your winter heating cost by 10% for urban communities and up to 40% for farmsteads. In fact, the DOE has estimated that properly placing as few as three trees can save the average household between $100 and $250 annually in energy costs. Energy Efficiency - Trees Forever
Trees Forever even offers a fun tool for figuring out where to plant trees on your lot: Windbreak and Shade Tree Locator.
Why not green your yard and green your life?
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