Going Green
Use Rain Monitors In Your Yard To Prevent Water Waste And Save Money
August 3, 2009 by MikeRosen · Leave a Comment
There are 32 million acres of ”lawn” nationwide — enough to blanket New York in its entirety. It’s no wonder that lawns have become the most irrigated crop in the country.
It’s estimated that one-third of residential water use is directed to front and back yards, illustrating how watering a lawn can be expensive to both homeowners [...]
Reduce Hot Water Waste With The Right Showerhead
July 20, 2009 by MikeRosen · Leave a Comment
In the past few years, thankfully the home appliance “green” movement has gone mainstream.
Thanks to new products carrying affordable price tags, today’s eco-conscious homeowners are finding it easier to protect both the environment and their household budgets at the same time.
One such earth-friendly product is the Roadrunner low-flow showerhead from Evolve.
The Roadrunner is an interesting [...]
A Cleaner, Eco-Friendly Paint For Your Home
January 5, 2009 by MikeRosen · Leave a Comment
Poor indoor air quality is linked to Sick Building Syndrome, a combination of ailments with more than 50 seemingly separate and unrelated symptoms, including:
Dizziness and nausea
Headache
Symptoms related to Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Personality changes
Avoiding sickness like this – as explained by The Today Show — may be as simple as choosing the right paint for your home.
Most “standard” [...]
Not Caulking Your Windows Leaks As Much As Air Leaving One Of Them Open
November 10, 2008 by MikeRosen · Leave a Comment
If the amount of air that leaked from a typical home’s gaps and cracks was measured, it would equal the amount of air that leaves through an open window.
This is why so many Home & Garden experts recommend a recaulking of your home prior to the Winter – a solid caulk job can reduce a [...]
Why LED Light Bulbs May Be Better Than Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
October 27, 2008 by MikeRosen · 1 Comment
Now that you’ve replaced your home’s energy-hogging light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones, meet the next wave of environmentally-friendly home lighting — LED.
Though nearly 10 times as expensive as compact fluorescent bulbs, LED lights hold several advantages as a green alternative:
LED bulbs consume up to 1/30th of the energy of a CFL
LED bulbs contain [...]
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs Require Special Handling And Disposal
August 25, 2008 by MikeRosen · Leave a Comment
As compact fluorescent bulbs gain favor across the country, it’s important to remember that they contain mercury and mercury is harmful to humans.
Because even though CFLs contain small amounts of mercury — less than 4 milligrams per bulb — it’s still enough mercury to cause brain damage.
If you’re interested, this 4-minute video from the University [...]
Does Your Toilet Leak The Equivalent Of An 80-Minute Shower Each Day?
August 11, 2008 by MikeRosen · Leave a Comment
Any plumber will tell you — toilets are among the least efficient appliances in a person’s home. 20 percent of them leak up to 200 gallons of water per day – the equivalent of an 80-minute shower.
At an average cost of $2 per 1,000 gallons, the EPA estimates that homeowners literally flush $146 of water down [...]
How To Make Sure You Don’t Waste Money Over-Watering Your Lawn
May 27, 2008 by MikeRosen · Leave a Comment
At 32 million acres, homeowner lawns are the most irrigated crop in the United States.
That’s more acreage than the state of Pennsylvania.
Water is not free, however, and the 7 billion gallons deposited on lawns each day comes at a high cost to homeowners and to the environment.
Installing a basic rain monitoring device is [...]
How U.S. Homes Lose $4 Billion To Vampires Each Year
May 19, 2008 by MikeRosen · Leave a Comment
Sometimes, turning electronics off doesn’t really turn them “off”.
Because of clocks, battery chargers, and other LED displays, devices in Standby Mode slowly suck energy from the national power grid and have earned the nickname “Energy Vampires”.
Some examples of standby energy include:
Clock displays on home applicances
Computers in Hibernation Mode
Battery rechargers
Communication between base units and portable units [...]
Home Trends: Radiant Heating
April 7, 2008 by MikeRosen · Leave a Comment
For it’s simplicity, comfort, and “green” status, radiant heating is a growing trend in home building.
Radiant heating is the process by which a room’s temperature is controlled using warm (or cold) water flowing through plastic tubing. The tubes are typically installed under the room’s flooring, but are also applied in walls and ceilings on occasion.
Radiant [...]
