Eco Build: Greening Up My New Home, by Renee Heath

I was lucky enough to grow up in a house my dad built.  And my husband was fortunate as well to have a home constructed by his dad’s two hands.  So it only felt right that we carry on the tradition and develop our own property.  Little did we know what we were getting into…all the decisions (and money)!

From flooring types to paint selections and beyond, we’re spoiled with choice in this country.  What has helped us narrow down the options during our construction process are the following two sentences:

• Will this help our family live healthier and greener?
• Can we afford the selection, and if not, does it make sense to spend extra money now to save cash later?

I thought I would share the questions we are still working through to get your brain ticking over and to hopefully get your input as well as to what we should do before breaking ground!

Recycled Materials

New Jersey gets hot summers, cold winters and everything in between.  So we asked ourselves how we can set up for lower energy bills.  Insulation was the first thing that came to mind.  We found that the cheapest option out there is fiberglass insulation.  Economical but scary to think you have to wear gloves and a mask to install it as to not breathe in any glass fibers!  We really like recycled blue jeans and newspapers lagging for inside of the walls.  I still have to compare what the difference in the “R factor” would be compared to fiberglass.

A different option for the roof, we are looking into blown foam insulation made from a soy renewable product.  Then there’s insulating duct work, pipes and water heater, oh my!

Click here for seven ways to insulate your home

Renewable Energy

New Jersey also has the most amount of people per square foot of land than any other state in America!  So we want to make sure we consume the least amount of natural resources as possible.  We are researching three forms of renewable energy: geo-thermal, solar panels and wind turbine.

Geo thermal is a great option for a natural cooling and heating system.  Love using the earth’s consistent underground temperature to virtually heat our home for free!  This will lower our green house emissions for sure!  We know our winters might get too cold, so we are contemplating a wood pellet stove to top up our heat as it emits less harmful pollutants compared to oil or gas.  Programmable thermostat installed is a no brainer but not sure I can convince hubby to go >78 degrees in summer and <68 degrees in winter.

Solar panel water heater is a want at this point and not a must have.  I already know we need to keep whatever kind of water heater we go with around 120 degrees to be green.  And we want low-flow shower heads too!

Wind turbine for electric is another on tier two/nice-to-have right now.  Plus, need to see if my neighbors agree with seeing a large fan spinning around all day and night.

Energy Efficient Products

Heat Map

I love seeing heat maps of houses showing where heat escapes; windows are always a major culprit.  We want dual-pane low-e windows (blocks radiant heat and prevents heat from escaping). Expensive but efficient, so think this is our spend-more-money-now to-save-later option.  Also there are thermal shades/shutters, weather stripping and window treatments, but to be honest, my eyes went crossed at this point!  I am still just getting my head around the NFRC (National Fenestration Research Council) window labeling system!

Any thought on our above options?  I know I took an energy slant as we are in pre-construction phase, but beyond formal building, there are options for fixtures, furnishing and finishing.  Do you have ideas on all-natural carpet, no-VOC paints and formaldehyde free furniture?

Note: Renee is Applegate’s Digital Social Media Manager, and you can follow her on Twitter @reneerants. Full disclosure: Applegate is one of our favorite sponsors at Practically Green; check out their Healthy Green lunch badge and enter their Sausage Contest!!

Does this Back to School season have you thinking about freshening up your interiors? Today’s guest blogger introduces us to makeover experts in Colorado Springs for solutions on materials & finishes that make any room a great place to learn and create – at home, at school at work.

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When I was asked to write an article about interior makeovers for Practically GreenI immediately knew I wanted to talk to Allyson Buck and Sarah Heinbaugh of Interilife Sustainable Interiors.

Just think about the rooms where kids spend most of their time. Many of the design choices we make can have very serious health implications, so it’s really important to choose nontoxic products. Paint, carpets and flooring can offgas dangerous chemicals that you do not want to breathe.  Luckily, there are healthier options, so you can create a great interiorwithout compromising anyone’s health.

Since times are tough economically I asked Allyson which 3 areas would be cheapest, easiest and have the greatest impact.  All of her are amazing for both the design and the health of your interior space — and can be completed without hiring expensive professionals!

Paint – Paint is cheap, easy and covers the largest surface area.  It is the most impactful change you can make to a room.  It’s the first thing people notice when they enter – both the way it looks and the way it smells when it’s new. If you only buy one nontoxic product for your makeover project, this is the one to make.

Allyson recommends using Mythic Paint.  Mythic is a No-VOC premium paint with No-VOC pigments. People are often concerned that Mythic costs more than paint from, say, Home Depot.  However, Allyson says to make sure you are comparing paints of equal quality. Yes, Home Depot paints are about ½ the price of Mythic. But Home Depot paints aren’t premium paints and they aren’t No-VOC. They aren’t going to last as long as Mythic.  They aren’t going to hold up to crayon drawings on the walls, the rocking chair hitting the wall and all the rest of the wear and tear young children put on a wall.

If you compare the price of Mythic to a premium paint such as Benjamin Moore (still not No-VOC) Mythic is actually cheaper. And, you get the added benefit of it not releasing toxic fumes. Who can put a price tag on that!

Mythic paint is so safe you can touch it up while your baby is sleeping in the same room with no fear of toxic fumes.  A few years ago you could only get No-VOC paint in a limited pallet of earth tones.  Now Mythic comes in a wide selection of colors and it can be color-matched to your favorite color from another brand or your décor.

Flooring – The next easiest thing to change is your flooring.  Carpeting holds dust, allergens, heavy metals and anything else you track into your home.  Even the best vacuum can’t remove everything from carpet.   Babies crawl around, play and lay down right next to the particles in the carpet.  They put their hands and all their toys in their mouths exposing them to anything that’s in your carpet.  Experts often recommend hard flooring, especially with young children around.

Allyson says if you use floating, snap together Marmoleum tiles you can change the entire look of your floor very easily and with minimal tools.  They come in a wide selection of colors giving you many options.  And, when your baby grows up and wants something more grown up you can just pull them up and donate them to your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore or sell them on Craigslist so they can be used again on someone else’s project.

Marmoleum is true linoleum, made from linseed oil.  It is certified asthma and allergy friendly.  The top layer of the tiles is Marmoleum and the bottom is cork.  In the middle is MDF which is free of added urea formaldehyde, which is a carcinogen.

Wool area rugs – Allyson says the next easiest & most affordable way to have a big green impact upon your room is by adding 100% wool area rugs.  The rugs they carry and recommend are made by INDI B and have a cotton backing and are naturally dyed.  Wool rugs are very durable and these come in a wide selection of colors and designs.  When you are done with them they are easy to get rid of.  You can sell them on Craigslist or donate them to a store like Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

We love this 5 x 7' rug from IndiB!

Going nontoxic in these 3 areas can have a huge impact upon the design of your nursery without negatively harming your baby’s health.  Allyson says no matter what green design products you use remember that there are no products that are perfect ecologically or socially.  Try not to get caught up in looking for perfection.  Find the best product you can that meets your design needs, lifestyle and budget.

If you are in Colorado you can visit Interilife’s store in Colorado Springs for each of these products and more.  For other parts of the country go to the individual websites for a list of distributors or to purchase online.

Danika Carter is the beauty editor for Greenwala.

Shopping on eBay is inherently green, according to JD Norton, eBay’s Green Team Community Manager. Their mantra: “The greenest product is the one that already exists.”

Practically Green’s 5-point action elaborates: Buy something used from eBay.

Reusing anything and everything is a lovely way to stop waste at the source; every time you buy secondhand—from a table to a t-shirt–you’re avoiding (or at least delaying) that specific item’s entry into the waste collection and disposal system. Our groaning landfills will thank you.

Reusing has additional environmental benefits including reducing demand for the resources (natural and otherwise) that go into the manufacture and transport of anything new.

Note PG’s product recommendation:

eBayGreen's JD Norton

“Joining” eBay Green is easy: simply enter your eBay credentials, and you’re in a realm of content and shopping ideas that will solve everything on your to-do list: Pre-Owned, Resource-Saving, and Sustainable.

Wonderful packing boxes emerged from a company-wide Innovation Expo competition last year: “Basically, it’s an environmentally friendly, durable box that’s been designed to be used over and over and over again. That might sound like a pretty simple concept, but we think the idea is actually pretty powerful – especially in a marketplace like eBay where many of our buyers are also sellers and sellers are also buyers.” Check out the inside of this box:  

When you receive one of these boxes, log its ID# on the site and find out where it’s been!

• For parents: a back to school focus “We understand – all your kid’s pants have suddenly become Capris, so their request for new jeans is definitely justified. But, consider all options before heading to the mall. Save the planet and your wallet some resources and buy pre-owned girls‘ or boys’ jeans.”
• For golf nuts: this happy eBay seller merchandized 10 million+ “gently used” golf balls on eBay in 2010.
• See more Member Profiles here.      

I took the plunge: I ventured into the vast eBayGreen Inventory — vintage family board games, Coclico shoes vetted by Splendora, copper braising pots, LP records, furniture, Gucci handbags, clutches made from coffee-bean sacks, LED or CFL lightbulbs — and before I knew it I was hooked. I could not stop myself from placing a bid on a 1979 version of Chutes and Ladders!

Three clicks later I had to have this Aurora Borealis crystal vintage brooch and earrings! I offered $7.50 and I swear they look exactly like Schlumberger originals. 

Here’s a great concept: JD points out that eBay Motors is a terrific place to shop for energy-efficient vehicles. YES, all you green car buffs: they have Chevy Volts, Tesla, Priuses, and Mercedes S series.“There’s a huge selection – we separate out Certified Pre-owned, Alternative Fuel, and Collector (aka Vintage) Cars. There’s lots of electric cars…. We even sell wind turbines.”

Would you like some old doors to make into a headboard?  

These “Castle Doors from Seventeenth Century Austria” would be terrific!!

Zem Joaquin, the founder of ecofabulous, is our favorite eBay spokesperson. See Zem’s eBay inspirations here, including DIY Coffee bag tote and creative eco gift wrapping; and check out her Practically Green action plan! (Wonder how she’s coming on the rainwater harvesting system…. maybe there’s one here on eBay?)

JD says there are major plans afoot for eBay Green — coming SOON! — and we can barely wait to see them and share them with you. For now, we’re impressed by the 2400 employees who form 25 eBay Green Teams worldwide — and I’m really looking forward to playing Chutes and Ladders again – decked out in my Aurora Borealis brooch!!!

Follow eBay Green on Twitter @eBayGreen and follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eBayGreen

We love all ingenious ideas for reducing, reusing, and recycling Stuff*. Especially when it comes to baby gear, which tends to be carefully chosen, gifted in sweet beloved tears, pricey — and quickly outgrown!

Daniel and Michelle Lehmann decided to make a business out of it, and here’s their story. Join their reCrib.com community on Facebook and follow them on Twitter @reCrib.

Daniel, Michelle, and their family

* Practically Green suggestions:

• Buy antique or secondhand furniture and home goods
• Get something on Freecycle, instead of buying it
• Buy something used on eBay or Craig’s list

The reCrib Story, by Founder Daniel Lehmann

Picture this – strollers, cribs, changing tables, bouncy seats, excersaucers, swings, car seats, table and chairs, toddler beds, walkers, toys, toys and more toys: all in one NYC apartment that doesn’t seem to be growing. But two kids that are.

Yes, I’m talking about the fun world of baby and kids gear, which at some point, if you are a new parent, takes over your life.  Lots of it, lots of money, and a limited time for use.

My wife and I used to think of ourselves as design junkies (and still do) but our living room was transformed into a playroom before our eyes somehow.

It was a year ago and we were moving to a new apartment. Here was our chance to de-clutter. I brought our endless collection of kid stuff into our basement and noticed that every family’s storage area in the building was filled with more kid stuff. Stroller upon stroller, bike upon bike. I thought: I’m ending this cycle, and I marched upstairs to find the best site for baby and kids gear. Except that it didn’t exist. And so we set out to create it. A website for parents to buy and sell the best (and the best-designed) baby and kids gear. A place to recycle your kid stuff, regain your space, recoup your costs.

The baby and kid gear world has changed in many ways for the better. So much of it looks so good, is well-designed, with more and more of it green. Designers caught on to the fact that parents wanted to enjoy looking at this stuff that adorns their home and followed suit with beautiful pieces that are as coveted as the must-have hybrid car or designer shoe. That’s good for the eyes.  Not so good for the wallet. These items are now often as expensive as our grown-up furniture, wheels and toys.  The worst part is that you use it for MAYBE two years.

This life phase screams for recycling. At the low end of the spectrum, a bouncy seat is used for a few months; at the high end, a changing table is used for two years. That’s it. So you spend all this money, and poof, your kids are in preschool and no longer use it all.

With reCrib, we created a place where parents who want the best brands for their kids – as well as to be environmentally responsible – can meet like-minded parents. Soon after launch, there was much abuzz about reCrib on the mom and family blogs.  People were immediately into it, and we soon saw new postings every day, and we heard story after story about this or that easy and exciting sale.

It’s been so much fun starting a business with my wife and focusing on an idea we are passionate about — and even more fun seeing how happy it actually makes people who use it.  It feels good to know that something that meant so much to your family at one time, is now being happily used by another.  It’s just as rewarding to score a great bargain, a top brand for more than half the price. And it certainly feels good to know that you are doing a very simple yet smart thing for our planet.

www.recrib.com

“If I could snap my fingers and Vivaterra my whole house, I would,” says our Founder Susan Hunt Stevens — and we listen when Susan talks about design because 1) she’s completely redone her house, 2) she has a graduate degree in Sustainable Design, and 3) she is very very particular/thoughtful/thorough.

After all, Practically Green has twelve Home Design actions; the Healthy Home badge rewards you for completing any eight of them.

Pressed to name her favorite Vivaterra purchase, Susan picks the Lotus Flower Chandelier. Her dining table has three of these hanging overhead!

You can find out more about Vivaterra here. We decided to get in touch with the creative brain behind it, Bonnie Trust Dahan. Bonnie has written several lifestyle books including Living with the Seasons: Creating a Natural Home and Garden House, Bringing the Outdoors In. She’s a veteran of Banana Republic and Smith & Hawken, and she is passionate that “we do not have to sacrifice style for natural resources.” Her mantra: “Distinctive design that’s eco of course.”

The main thing is, you don’t buy something that’s disposable. And if you don’t need it any more, swap it. Put it on Craig’s list. Your trash is someone else’s treasure. As a last resort: donate it.

We asked Bonnie for three easy tips on how to revive your home this season.

“First: use vivid color. I don’t mean BIG. Accents are fine. It’s easy because vivid color works in every room: kitchen, bath, bedroom. For kitchen, bright plates and glassware. In the bath: change out your shower curtain. Look at this one made of an authentic spinnaker sailcloth! In the bedroom: Pick out a fresh toss pillow or coverlet. Just change the top of your bed! And please don’t neglect the utility closet! You can use color in even this ugliest room you can think of! Who would mind sweeping with this broom, or mopping with that bucket? See? Suddenly all that color makes you happy!”

Cheerful Chore Tools

Spinnaker sailcloth shower curtain

“Second, assuming you can, make the outdoors another room. Even if you live in a tiny apartment, you might have a fire escape: put a plant out there! This can be inspiring, and it will brighten your life. I encourage people to show personality, have fun.”

Fun? “Try some temple bells or a gong!”

A couple of Bonnie’s favorites that had us drooling:

But don't leave it out in the rain!!

“Very very chic teak chair, very oversized and comfy. It folds, it’s easy to move around, it can be left outdoors.”

One last concept: “Rotate your collections every season. By ‘collection’ I mean small things that are easy to put away. You might have a set of placemats and napkins you use for winter, in deep jewel tones… Switch them out for the warmer months! And please, please! Change the soap in your bathroom!”

A final indulgence, plant-dyed towels….

Botany pairs with beauty in these towels. Kusaki-zome, a Japanese technique that extracts pastel pigments from plants – chamomile, larkspur and olive leaves – creates an exquisite tonality of hues. Super-sized and dappled with slightly raised puffs, these color-safe, organic cotton Japanese originals offer extreme absorbency and sublime softness.

Join Vivaterra on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vivaterra and follow them on Twitter @vivaterra, sign up for the newsletter, and request the catalog. Perfect hammock reading.

Today’s guest blogger is a home-comforts guru, and today she writes on a simple, effective concept: RE-USE. Vicky Sanderson’s approach is an ideal end-of-the-week reflection… and we hope’ll you enjoy it. You might even be inspired to check out our terrific new Healthy Home badge sponsored by Mythic Paint!

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Looking for a simple way to start a greener life? It’s easy. Just watch what you buy!

It would be hard to find anyone who doesn’t want to live a greener life. But it might be equally difficult to find consensus about what that means. Does living green require, for example, reducing energy use and switching to a carbon-neutral alternative fuel? Is it about ensuring that the home is free of materials that off-gas, and eliminating chemical cleaners?  Downsizing from a McMansion to a smaller-footprint home? Buying only sustainably grown, organic foods? Or do we have to hit all those buttons at once to be green?

There are so many angles from which our environmental challenges can be attacked that making choices can be confusing — even overwhelming. But there’s a universally earth-friendly action that’s easy to understand — and execute. It’s simply to consume less. When you can’t do without, consider refreshing and reusing an item you already have, or buying second-hand. When it comes to home design, doing so can be a shortcut to one-of-a-kind décor that makes a personal style statement. Here are three simple ideas for making do with what you’ve got:

Vintage linen makes excellent hand-towels, and looks pretty in a distressed wooden box

Two of my pet peeves are liquid soap and disposable hand towels. But if there’s lots of traffic in a main-floor powder room, you need to keep guests clean — and green. My solution is to buy large vintage linen napkins, and plunk them in an old wooden tool box.  No real need to iron them — just line-dry them in the sun (which kills bacteria!). I add prettily wrapped or boxed soap.  The boxes are then used on my vanity to hold hairpins, tweezers and lipsticks – all that necessary but slightly unsightly girlie stuff, which I stack on a tray, made from an old cabinet face and two handles from Stanley’s excellent hardware collection.

Flickering candlelight adds atmosphere to any space — indoor or out. But you don’t have to spend on matching tea-light holders or candlesticks to get your glow on. Use old Mason jars, which you can pretty up with stick-on words or graphics. Tea-lights also look wonderful in vintage glassware (especially cut glass or crystal), so rather than throwing out your mis-matched stemware, toss a tea-light in each and group them for a great effect.

Mason jars with stick-ons from WallTalk www.walktalk.ca

In many homes, there’s a stash of old picture frames tucked away somewhere, just wasting time. Next time you need a mirror, see if you can’t find something from your collection that’s about the right size and shape. Paint it out if you like, preferably using leftover low- or no-Voc paint. Then get your local hardware store to cut a piece of mirror glass and pop it in. Presto Chango — you’ve got an inexpensive, and unique, vintage mirror. If you have to replace older decorative interior doors, consider turning them into full-length mirrors. And if you have to tear out old cornices or decorative friezes, why not give them a second life as, say, a handsome shelf?

A mirror made from a fireplace insert from Artefacts www.artefacts.ca

An old door becomes a glam full-length mirror. Picture courtesy of Artefacts

Author bio:

Home product specialist Vicky Sanderson writes a weekly column called Hot Home Products for The Toronto Star. Recent pieces include Manly Gifts for a Special Father: Dad Deserves more than a Hand-made Card and a Tie; and Fired Up: Celebrating the Barbecue. Vicky blogs at On the House on all things home and decor related. She’s a popular speaker and expert, and you can follow her on Twitter @VickySanderson

Lightbulbs: A Picture Says a Thousand Words.

Credit: F. Martin Ramin

Steamy hot weather in Boston: it’s easier than ever to realize that the hotter the bulb to the touch, the more inefficient it must be.

We’ve blogged on inefficient bulbs previously (thank you, Brian Clark Howard), and we have three actions that give you points for switching yours to CFL or LED.

Frankly, we’re still conflicted.

Conventional “Edison” incandescents are inefficient, we know that. OUT. CFLs are more efficient, and they aren’t all THAT expensive. But they contain mercury, which is hard to recycle and dangerous on contact.

If price were no object, we’d outfit the whole house in LEDs…. BUT: the price is more what you expect to pay for a pair of decent shoes, not a lightbulb. And the light quality is not perfect — is it, really?

As Practically Green’s Product Editor Rebecca Sama reasons,

Rebecca Sama

“LEDs are superior, but they do have a higher up-front cost. I suspect two years from now, the costs will come down and they will be more mainstream, but for the time being I lean towards explaining the pros/cons of each and letting the consumer/reader decide… it is incredibly exciting to see how the technology is taking off and all the ways that manufacturers and designers are incorporating LEDs into their light fixture designs.”

Last week we pounced on an illuminating (sorry) story by Gwendolyn Bounds in the Wall Street Journal:

“…most of today’s incandescent bulbs will be phased out (some specialty bulbs are exempt) by 2014 and replaced by more efficient alternatives. While cheap at 25 to 50 cents a pop, incandescent bulbs waste nearly all their energy in heat output.

“The light-bulb industry now faces a daunting task of re-educating shoppers who are still in the dark about their choices. A recent survey by General Electric Co. shows three-quarters of consumers have no idea about the new regulation and impending changes.”

The article was illustrated with an infographic that we reprint above, with permission from the iridescent photographer F. Martin Ramin.

More on Bounds here. And here’s tip from her re: the halogen-incandescent option pictured #2 from left in the photo above.

Wendy Bounds

Another point I think is worth making – and which has been lost in this whole debate - is that people don’t actually have to give up incandescent technology if they like that kind of light. They can use new incandescent/halogen bulbs which are currently on the market and meet the new standards. And they are relatively cheap at about $1.50 to $2 a bulb. So for folks who don’t like CFL and can’t afford LED, there’s another alternative that very much is like the bulb they are using now.

What do you think? Have you switched the bulbs in your house? Your office?

Drafty Eye-Sore Window Makeover, by Adria Saracino

My home used to have seriously old windows. They were extremely drafty―it was as if you were sitting in front of an air conditioner. In addition, our windows looked dingy from the inside and out, with peeling paint and rotting wood. Our home was an eye sore, and we all knew it.

Fortunately, we finally installed energy-efficient windows and immediately experienced the benefits of newer windows.

Since this is a topic close to my heart, I thought I would do my part in encouraging homeowners to replace their windows.

Note: PG Editor personally loves Kolbe energy-efficient windows

Did you know windows account for about 30% of a home’s total energy loss and are responsible for up to 25% of a homeowner’s total energy bill? Evidently, inefficient windows make our heating and cooling systems work hard and our wallets work harder. Since today celebrates Practically Green’s “Upgrade your Windows to Dual-Pane with Low-E or Better ” eco action, I thought it would be fitting to make a list of all the reasons we should switch out our windows to more efficient models.

The Top 10 Reasons to Install Energy-Efficient Windows

1. Reduces Energy Bills. Homeowners can save about $130 – $465 a year on their energy bills when they replace their home’s single-pane windows, according to Energy Star (varies depending on location).

2. Improves Resale Value. Though installing new windows is not cheap (it can set you back a minimum of $10,000), you can achieve as high as an 85% rate of return! Added with the cost savings on your energy bills, greening your home in this way practically pays itself off.

3. Offers Tax Incentives. You can claim a tax credit of up to $1,500 when you install energy-efficient windows and/or skylights. See the IRS website for more details.

4. Makes a Healthier Home. New eco windows reduce instances of frost and condensation because they create a warmer interior glass surface. Excessive condensation and fluctuations in temperature can cause mold, which can lead to allergies, sinus infections, rashes/irritations, or lung disease.

5. Provides More Efficient Lighting. Energy-efficient windows can also help you save on your lighting bills and expenditure. Low-E windows have a special coating that protects windows from solar heat gain without losing visibility. Older windows generally have a tinted glaze or shading to prevent solar heat gain.

6. Protects your Interior from Fading. Organic materials are susceptible to fading when exposed to excessive amounts of UV radiation. Newer windows have coatings that can reduce the UV transmitted by up to 75%. This means you can reduce instances of fading in carpets, artwork, upholstery, and wood.

7. Reduces Noise Pollution. Double-pane windows have a special design that can reduce the amount of noise heard from outside while indoors.

8. Increases Comfort. Energy-efficient windows not only reduce how hard your heating/cooling system needs to work, but it also ensures indoor temperatures are comfortable. For example, ever sit next to a drafty window? A situation like this makes it feel colder than it actually is insider your home. New windows without air leaks will make it more comfortable indoors.

9. Makes Cleaning Easier. Specially-designed coatings keep dirt and grime off of energy-efficient windows, making newer windows virtually self-cleaning.

10. Adds Curb Appeal. Since newer windows are easier to clean and come in more modern styles, they can make your home look shiny and new. Many older windows use a steel frame, which can make a home look outdated.

About today’s guest blogger: Adria Saracino is the Business Development Specialist and Blogging Coordinator for eLocal.com, a network of sites where homeowners can find local plumbing, roofing, and electrical contractors. She manages eLocal’s popular Blog-Off series, where homeowners can find insider home improvement answers from industry experts. You can follow eLocal.com on twitter @eLocalUSA. If you are looking for more from Adria, you can find her talking and tweeting about fashion through her personal fashion blog, The Emerald Closet (@Emerald_Closet).

Twitter Party Sponsor Bash

Tuesday, May 17, 9 to 10 PM EST

@practicallygrn

Healthy Green Living in all the Rooms of Your House!

TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE OUR VALUED LAUNCH SPONSORS:

Applegate @applegatefarms

Weleda @weleda

Mythic Paint @safepaint

Alexandra Zissu, Editorial Director, Practically Green; and author, most recently of Planet Home and The Butcher’s Guide to Well-Raised Meat @alexandrazissu

Please use #PracticallyGreen and #giveaway – we’ll have amazing prizes!! (see photos)

With extra special expert guests:

• Laurie David and her group from The Family Dinner: @famdinner
• 

  Weleda Gentle Cleansing Line, Wild Rose Smoothing Lotion, & Wild Rose Smoothing Night Cream

• Lauren Guite, EDF’s Moms Clean Air Force: @MomsCAF
• Sheila Hollender, Seventh Generation environmental health advocate: @SheilaHollender
• Franke James, author, Bothered by my Green Conscience: @frankejames
• Dr. Harvey Karp, HappiestBaby.com: @drharveykarp
• Holistic Moms Network:  Nancy Massotto, Founder: @HolisticMomsNet
• Kimberly Pinkson, Founder of EcoMom Alliance: @ecomom
• Toronto Star home columnist Vicky Sanderson: @vickysanderson
• Adria Saracino, eLocal, a national network of local resources for homeowners: @elocalusa
• Blogger Lynn Stone of SmilingGreenMom: @smilinggreenmom
  

  From Sheila Hollender & Seventh Generation: Healthy Home Starter Kit

  

  From Sheila Hollender & Seventh Generation: Fem Care Starter Kit

Applegate T-Shirts, Coloring Books, and $1 off Coupons

"Lunch Line" DVD, T-Shirt, and $1-off Coupons

Applegate: An amazing USB stick w/order form for 10 FREE products & special recipe cards

Two Gallons of Mythic Paint!

Pick your color from the Mythic Paint fan deck

Chicago Green Home Guru Laura Stukel shares this report about Payback on top household remodeling projects, home-energy upgrades such as Weather Stripping your windows — a perfect project in between hot and cold seasons.  Laura’s examples are based on the Chicago climate.  But the idea of getting remodeling to pay you back applies wherever you live.  See the final paragraph for tips on getting started in your area.

Each year, Remodeling Magazine and Realtor Magazine team up to produce the Cost vs. Value report.  The study looks at regional building permit data to estimate remodeling costs for more than 30 common home improvement projects.  Then, Realtors weigh in to estimate the value these projects add to a home’s market value.  It’s a handy report that gives homeowners some perspective on the best way to spend home improvement dollars each year.

But the report is missing one thing.  What about payback? Many of the project scopes could be tweaked just a little to include some energy efficiency improvements at the same time. It’s a super-smart time to add these steps while drywall is already off and walls are already open – you cut the dust and prices later over doing these same improvements as stand-alone projects. These upgraded projects would potentially add not just value, but offer savings through reduced energy costs.

The following lists show the Top 5 Chicagoland projects based on estimates of remodeling costs recouped at resale as reported in the Cost vs. Value report.

The second list uses energy data compiled by the Center for Neighborhood Technology/Energy, Efficient Windows Collaborative, ENERGY STAR and Keep Warm Illinois to show the top projects based on natural gas savings for a typical/average home in the Chicagoland area.

2010 Top  Chicagoland Home Improvement Projects:

• #1 Steel Entry Door Replacement – Cost recouped:  102.1% – Cost:  $1,218, Resale value:  $1,243
• #2 Garage Door Replacement – Cost recouped:  83.9% – Cost:  $1,291, Resale value:  $1,083
• #3 Siding Replacement (Fiber Cement) – Cost recouped:  80% – Cost:  $13,382, Resale value:  $10,707
• #4 Minor Kitchen Remodel – Cost recouped:  72.8%  - Cost:  $21,695, Resale value:  $15,790
• #5 Deck Addition (wood) – Cost recouped:  72.8% – Cost:  $10,973, Resale value:  $7,986

2010 Top Chicagoland Payback + Value Projects:

#1 Basement Remodel + air sealing + insulation.  Extra energy efficiency costs:  1% (Upgrade to air seal & insulate basement – $1,000-2,000; Tip: be sure to also upgrade home ventilation)

Potential average energy savings: 24%

BuildingGreenTV.com

#2 Attic Bedroom + air sealing + insulation.  Extra energy efficiency costs:  3% (Upgrade to air seal and insulate attic – $1,800-2,400; Tip: be sure to also upgrade home ventilation)

Potential average energy savings: 24%

#3 Window Replacement (wood) + air sealing.  Extra energy efficiency costs:  10% (Upgrade to air seal walls, attic, basement – $1,300-1,700; Tip: The savings comes from the caulk around the windows more than the new windows themselves!  And, be sure to also upgrade home ventilation.)

Potential average energy savings: 24%

#4 Siding Replacement (Fiber Cement) + air sealing + insulation.  Extra energy efficiency costs:  21% (Upgrade to air seal walls and insulate side walls -$3,500-4,500; Tip: The savings comes from sealing leaks in the walls more than the new siding itself!  And, be sure to also upgrade home ventilation.)

Potential average energy savings: 32%

FengShui Society

#5 Steel Entry Door Replacement + air sealing.  Extra energy efficiency costs:  17% (Upgrade to advanced weather-stripping – $250; Tip: Savings comes from buying a well-insulated door and then sealing it with effective weather-stripping!)

Potential average energy savings:  11%

These Chicago estimates paint the picture of how to plan remodeling projects to achieve savings paybacks as well.  To determine the best opportunities for your project  A home energy audit is a great place to start. Also, your local utility can provide information on any rebates or incentives that may apply. Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency can also help. http://www.dsireusa.org/

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If you live near Chicago, lucky you!! We advise you to call Laura asap:

Laura Reedy Stukel, REALTOR, NAR GREEN, EcoBroker Certified. Cell – 773-251-1631 Consulting Services:  Energy Efficiency powered by choice. Ask how you can qualify for a free energy audit to make your current or future home more comfortable, save energy and add value!

Check her out at www.notYETgreen.com. Follow her on FaceBook: Sage Living and on Twitter @NotYETGreen. See her progress on the GE EcoMagination Challenge: http://budurl.com/voteGEeco

Why I love LEDs, by Anna Hackman

How many of you want to switch out your current light bulbs to LEDs, the new cool lighting technology on the block?   Maybe you hate the color of your CFLs.   Perhaps the thought of mercury in your CFLs gives you the willies.  Or maybe your incandescent laden home with its high energy bills are burning a hole in your wallet.  For whatever reasons, LEDs have a bright future.

Why do I love LEDs?  Since 2007,  I became a convert to the LED technology when my eyes saw LED Lighting Fixture’s LR6’s downlight, (Cree has since bought the company.) The color was wonderful, the output was great, and best yet, I can say good bye to my energy hogging incandescent light bulbs and my ugly colored CFLs.  I have been a smitten puppy ever since.

The problem that I see with this new technology is the average Joe or Josephine really doesn’t understand what LEDs are all about.  Reading the Department of Energy’s Solid State Lighting website can give you a headache.   So, let me shed some light on why LEDs may be in your future, highlighting both the advantages and disadvantages of this new technology.

What is LED technology?

LED stands for light emitting diode.

“Basically, LEDs are just tiny light bulbs that fit easily into an electrical circuit. But unlike ordinary incandescent bulbs, they don’t have a filament that will burn out, and they don’t get especially hot. They are illuminated solely by the movement of electrons in a semiconductor material, and they last just as long as a standard transistor.” [Source]

The Advantages of LEDs:

Efficiency:

One of the advantage of an LED is its efficiency. The filament of an incandescent bulb must be heated to generate light.  This results in a lot of wasted heat.  Worse yet,  only 10-15% of the electricity consumed results in the light you see.  LEDs on the other hand use a higher percentage of the energy used to create its light.

Long Life:

According to the Department of Energy, LEDs have the longest life compared to the following traditional lighting:

If you have a high ceiling, LEDs could be a godsend for you.  Since their life expectancy is anywhere from 35,000 to 50,000 hours, you wouldn’t have to change hard to reach lights for a couple of years.

No Mercury:

One of the biggest concerns about fluorescent bulbs is that the bulbs contain mercury. CFLs contain on average 4 milligrams of mercury.  If the bulbs are broken, mercury vapor is released.  Mercury is a potential neurotoxin, and therefore especially dangerous for children and fetuses.

In addition, mercury can leach into our waterways when bulbs are disposed into our landfills rather than recycled. According to Association of Lighting and Mercury Recyclers,

“[g]eneral belief is that most of the breakage occurs in the container, as opposed to at the landfill, due to the fragile glass and compacting that occurs in containers. When these containers are also exposed to moisture from rain or other sources and they leak, or when they are washed out, mercury enters the environment. Studies have shown that when fluorescent lamps break in containers the mercury can hover for days, and eventually migrate downwind and back onto the land[2],[3].”

To put the mercury issue in perspective, the use of fluorescents over incandescent bulbs dramatically reduces mercury emissions from coal fired electrical plants. A worse case scenario according to Energy Star, the broken florescent bulbs could  ”add 0.12 metric tons, or 0.12 percent, to U.S. mercury emissions caused by humans.”

But in my mind, that small percentage is still a concern especially when there is another lighting option available.  Recycling all fluorescent bulbs should be mandatory.  (You can recycle your CFLs at Home Depot, Lowes, and Ikea.  See here for a list of lamp recyclers near you.)

Can be used in Cold Temperatures:

Fluorescent lamps and cold temperatures are not a mix made in heaven.   In order for florescent lamps to work in cold temperatures, the amalgam added lamp will take longer to brighten up.  In contrast, LEDs performance increases as temperatures drops, making it an ideal candidate for use in refrigeration.

Instant On:

One of my biggest complaints about fluorescent bulbs is that they have to warm up before they reach their full brightness.  LEDs on the other hand,  warm up instantaneously.

On and Off Cycling:

Turning on and off fluorescents lessens their lifespan.  According to a report by Rocky Mountain Institute in 2008,

“A study published in 1998 examined CFL performance for five different operating cycles. It found that when the length of time the lamps were on was reduced from 3 hours to 1 hour, the lamp lasted for 80 percent of its rated life. When reduced to 15 min and 5 min, the lamp lasted for 30 percent and 15 percent, respectively, of its rated life.²⁸ ”

Keep in mind: although turning off the bulbs may lessen their life, in most cases, the reduction in energy cost outweighs the bulb replacement.  (See this discussion of how to ascertain your energy savings from turning off your fluorescent bulbs.)  However, the advantages of LEDs are you can turn them off and on without shortening their life.  Just think about a traffic light which has LED bulbs in it.  Notice how the light’s constantly turning off and on?

Disadvantages of LEDs:

I would be remiss to not point out that there are disadvantages to LEDs.  My issues with LEDs are as follows:  Price, Heat, and of course, the Marketing Hype.

Price:

Recently I reviewed Lighting Science’s 60 watt comparable recess light bulb sold at Home Depot.  Although I loved the white halogen type light, would I splurge for multiple bulbs at a price tag of $40 a piece?  I figured the payoff would be about 4 years compared to a dimmable CFL.  However, prices are falling.  When I fell in love with the LR6 downlight in 2007, the cost of the bulb was $125! In a September, 2010 GreenTech Enterprise article, Bill Watkins, CEO of Bridgelux, predicted prices will continue to fall dramatically.

“To outfit a house with LED bulbs today could cost around $2,500, according to Bill Watkins, CEO of Bridgelux, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony that took place at the company’s manufacturing facility here. ”It will be down to $200 in three years,” he added.”

Heat:

Heat is a LED light bulb’s enemy. It converts 20-30% of its power into light but the remainder is converted to heat.  This heat is dissipated through a heat sink.

According to the Department of Energy,

“Excess heat directly affects both short-term and long-term LED performance. The shortterm (reversible) effects are color shift and reduced light output while the long-term effect is accelerated lumen depreciation and thus shortened useful life.”

However, not all heat sinks are created equal.

Fact vs Fiction:

In conjunction with this article, I interviewed three lighting experts about how to find the right bulb for commercial and residential applications. Think part two of the LED story. They walked me through on how to decipher the truth from the fiction.

Basically, not all LEDs produce the same type of light, nor last as long.  It is best to buy lighting from a store where you can return the lights. Test to see if you like the light output, the color of the light, and whether it dims with your switch.  As I mentioned above, I happen to like a white halogen light.  Others may not.

Join the Conversation:

• Have you bought any LEDs for your home and if so, which one do you like?
• Would you buy LEDs at this point in time?
• Are you uneasy about the marketing hype about LEDs?
• If you are a lighting expert, which ones do you recommend and why?

About today’s guest blogger: Anna Hackman is a sustainability consultant, mom of four boys (yes, no lamp allowed in the house), and the editor of Green Talk, a green living website that creates the conversation to live a greener lifestyle for home and business.  She is passionate about green living, green building, organic gardening, recycling, and green business. Tweet with her @greentalk, yak with her on the GT Facebook fan page, or just visit the blog.

manataka.org

Practically Green has scores of enticing Water actions, from Make your own sparkling water to Upgrade toilets that take more than 1.6 gallons per flush to standard toilets. You can check out them all of them here.

If you’d enjoy an infographic for facts on water conservation, please see this excellent recommended link from eLocal.com.

We asked our superb expert friend Jerelyn Wilson of BuildingGreen what she’d like to say on the subject of water conservation, and here’s her post.

Note: Please don’t miss the free links below to BuildingGreen’s related articles – especially the one about the Wilsons’ foot-controlled sink pedal.… and which our ecofabulous contributor Zem Joaquin so elegantly modeled on this blog post. (See Zem’s action plan here! … but we digress.)

foot pedal at Zem's kitchen sink

WATER CONSERVATION AT HOME

By Jerelyn Wilson

Water has always been precious to me. I remember dipping the long handled cup into my grandfather’s spring at his camp in the Bristol Hills of New York State. Sipping from the cup’s white enamel edge, the water was cold and tingling in my mouth. In the kitchen we had to prime the pump before any water came out – us kids always vying for who would get to pull the metal handle down and up five or six times. Even though we knew it was coming, we were always surprised when the water came rushing out.

Tresantiqcollect at etsy.com

In my own kitchen I’m often feeling such a sense of gratefulness that clean, clear water comes out of the tap. Maybe I’ve been to enough foreign countries where drinking water is such an issue that I am filled with awe by the good tasting, drinkable water that comes out of my tap. I don’t take my own tap water for granted. I’m happy to turn the faucet on and off as needed when I’m brushing my teeth. I wash my lettuce in a salad spinner and then water my plants with the gritty water once I take out the inner basket and before I spin the lettuce.

My husband, Alex, writes about green building products of all kinds and he’s often trying out some new product, personally testing it at home. I never know when I step into the shower if the showerhead will be the same as when I washed my hair a few days ago. My favorite water saving product is the foot pedal which we installed at our kitchen sink. They are a bit expensive and we got ours as a tester for free, but if I were building a new house or renovating a kitchen I’d find a way to get it into the plan. I love it. Turning the water on with my foot, or in our case with my left knee leaves both my hands free to rinse the carrots or wash the pots and pans. I can release my knee and the water turns off while I’m scrubbing, then press for the rinse. The funny thing is that when I go to a friend’s house and end up helping with the dishes, my knee automatically presses against the lower cabinet door. I have to laugh at myself.

But the real laugh comes when my daughter has friends over and they try to help themselves to a glass of water. “Hey, Fran, so what’s with your water?” “Oh,” she says, “you just have to snap your fingers.” And as she walks over to the sink she gives a good solid snap with her fingers, while surreptitiously pressing the pedal with her foot. Her friend looks awestruck and of course is unable to duplicate the trick!

There’s no question in my mind that the foot pedal saves water. How much? Well, that depends on the person. You can certainly can conserve water with the typical faucet set up, but the foot pedal makes it really easy.

“In a test performed by Pedal Valves, Inc. at a medical center kitchen, Footworks installed at three sinks saved a combined 285 gallons (1079 l) per day of hot water and 122 gallons (462 l) per day of cold water. The estimated annual savings in water, sewer, and natural gas costs was $1,159. Based on an estimated installed cost of $500 each, this would result in a payback period of less than 16 months. In a residential setting, payback is likely to take several years.”

You can check out two articles on our website, BuildingGreen.com. (It’s a subscription-based website, but I made sure these two articles are on the public side of our content.)

Thank you, Jerelyn!

Pedal Controls Save Water, Time (June 1999)

A Foot-control faucet for convenience and savings (December 2010)

If you’re interested in reviewing the actions on Jerelyn’s plan, click here.

(Note: please forgive the temporary glitch that produces a grammatical error on Jerelyn’s to-do list…. Any guesses? It’s partly on our end, partly because she’d like to encourage other couples to take green actions together!)

Hands down my personal favorite action: Switch to cloth napkins regularly.

But I have a confession: For me, this wasn’t a Switch. I grew up with cloth napkins. We did not use anything else! I grew up with a mother in pearls and tea at 4pm, and you can bet I grew up with cloth napkins. Just don’t ask me how they were washed, in what or on what setting. This was not a very green household, and lots of funky stuff went down the drain there….

Anyhow.

Fast forward to the 21st century: I think this Action is the EASIEST 20 POINTS on Practically Green! Our guest blogger Paige Rodgers wants to make it even easier for you. Paige is the Founder of Fabkins, and here’s her story:

I’m a mom of 2 girls, ages 6 and 9, and like many of us, I’m trying to balance work, family, friends, and me time. I’ve always worked as a parent. A few years in I got to a point where I wanted more control over my schedule and work, so I left the corporate world in 2007 to start something on my own. At the time, I had no idea what that would be, but a friend, Joyce, and I would brainstorm and research different ideas. A common theme was always eco-friendly and kid-oriented. An Inconvenient Truth had come out, and mom’s groups in our progressive town were all a-buzz with ways to live a greener life.

One day, Joyce called me. She’d been shopping for waste-free lunch components after her son’s preschool asked that parents pack lunches with all reusables. She’d found the containers, water bottles, and cutlery, but couldn’t find a napkin that wasn’t too big or too starchy. “Where are the cool kid napkins?” her son asked. As we talked about this, we pondered whether other families were challenged to find a small, cute, kid napkin for the lunchbox that could also be used for meals at home, or snack time out and about.

We decided to give it a try and a few months later, in August 2007, we launched Fabkins. Since then, the concept of packing waste-free has become more common as families realize the importance of reducing the waste from kids’ lunches. It adds up. The EPA reported that the average school-age child sends 67 pounds of waste to landfills each year. Multiply that by the thousands of school children out there and the impact is massive!

What I love about Fabkins is that we hear from parents all the time that we’ve made going waste-free fun and easy. We’re educating kids about the importance of doing little things – like replacing a paper napkin with a cloth one – for big impact. I’ve incorporated this idea into how I teach my kids about being environmentally responsible in our everyday lives. We turn off the sink when brushing our teeth, try to walk, bike or carpool as much as possible, compost and recycle, take reusable bags to the store, make or reuse wrapping paper, and turn off lights when we leave a room. We celebrate Earth Day every year by doing a park clean up with friends and talk about how we’re all in charge of cleaning up our Earth. They understand that they can do their part and play a role.

Now that Earth Day is upon us, we’ll again be cleaning up, and with Fabkins we’re going to give back. Fabkins has partnered with a group of amazing eco-friendly brands – Green Toys, Luna, Cleanwell, and Plum Organics – to offer a “Life’s a Picnic” kit that will be sold on Diapers.com from April 1 – end of May. Each kit is specially priced at a 25% discount and all profits from the sale of the kits will be donated to the non-profit Healthy Child Healthy World.

Focusing on the little things and giving back. As a mom, these are two ways that I can easily explain to show my kids: Actions count. But it’s hardly a perfect system. They’ll call me out for the actions I don’t take – I still drive an SUV, I love a long hot shower on a cold winter day, and sometimes I forget to bring bags to the grocery store. But maybe that’s the lesson in and of itself – we have to do the best we can, even if it’s not perfect.

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Go Paige!

Please find Fabkins on Facebook and on Twitter @GreenMyLunchbox. AND, please inspect the Life is a Picnic pack (photo)! Want it?! (Why wouldn’t you!) It’s one of the amazing prizes to be offered at our Practically Green Twitter party Thursday night! (9 to 10 pm EST, be there @practicallygrn!!)  

Fabkins has partnered with Green Toys, LUNA, Plum Organics, CleanWell to offer “Life is a Picnic” Eco-friendly Earth Day kit. Sold only on Diapers.com, all proceeds going to non-profit Healthy Child Healthy World.

#1: Get an energy audit

health.discovery.com

I can imagine getting an energy audit is a hard action to commit to for several reasons. For me, it’s because I have NO idea what to expect. Who wants to hire someone to give you bad news, right? The solution: do a home energy audit YOURSELF…at least to start. After going through a few of the steps yourself, you’ll feel a bit more comfortable with the process and be ready to hire a professional!

A few “do-it-yourself” energy audit resources:

• From The Fun Times Guide: How To Do A Home Energy Audit Yourself
• From The Daily Green: DIY Home Energy Audit
• From the U.S. Department of Energy: Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Assessments
• My personal favorite, a very fun VIDEO: Feeling Green – Energy Audit for the Whole Fam-Damly

#2: Install smart power strip to turn off TVs and computers completely

It’s harder to find a smart power strip than you’d think. There are a lot of power strips out there, but what makes them smart? I did quite a bit of research and found How Smart Power Strips Work by Nathan Chandler from How Stuff Works, which explains what constitutes a SMART power strip in plain and simple language…even I get it now! Read this article and have a better understanding of what you’re looking for so you can finally check this action off your list! Thanks, Nathan!

#3: Plant containers for herbs or vegetables

Build an Herb Garden Out of a Shipping Palette: This action is actually much easier than I thought, so, I started to poke around looking for creative ideas and suggestions to make it a bit more exciting! I came across this very cool video from our friend the Urban Organic Gardener! I’m definitely going to take on this project the next warm day… I am dying to see what it looks like finished!

#4: Compost Kitchen Food Waste

Nature Mill Indoor Composter – Pro Edition: This may not be the cheapest indoor composter, but it’s definitely one of the coolest! This product, reviewed on wired.com, is a must-have for someone dedicated to composting (or soon to be). Small and stylish, this composter has a filter to reduce the smell, a heavy-duty mixing bar, and much more! A product like this is a great investment for your family and your garden! Visit Nature Mills website and buy it online or learn where you can see one near you!

#5: Take shoes off at the door regularly

This action might be my favorite of all time! Why? Because it is SO easy and has such a HUGE impact. One of my favorite related products is the Boot Scraper! My family has been using one of these as long as I can remember and it’s SO cool (and it reminds me to take my shoes off after I scrape them)! Using a boot scraper will also eliminate a lot of the nasty things you might track in if you forget to take your shoes off. You can also find cute scrapers that the whole family will love (like the porcupine my family uses!).

#6: Unplug cell phone chargers and other appliances when not in use

If there’s one action on my plan that I simply cannot remember to do, it’s to unplug my cell phone charger. Who knows why, it is almost TOO easy to do; I simply do not have an excuse. Maybe because it just sits on my floor all day like a dead snake.

So, I figure why not buy myself something adorable to remind me to UNPLUG, right? I came across this awesome Hand Cell Phone Holder on Amazon for less than $20! You can even wrap the cord around the wrists like a bracelet, how can I not remember to unplug now?

genderacrossborders.com

STAY TUNED: More amazing Earth Month Actions to come!

Earth Month PG Picks by Sam Roach

News Picks:

21 Expert Organic Lawn Care Tips from the Daily Green and the founder of Safelawns.org! Paul Tukey’s piece will get you on the right track this season. I saw a presentation from Tukey last year at my University, and it changed me. His story is a heart-wrenching one, and I promise you will want to hear what he has to say. Read this article and be sure to visit safelawns.org to keep your family safe and your lawn beautiful!

Hiroko Masuike for The New York Times

Masters of Disguise Among Meatless Burgers: I can’t help it, but I love meat. That said, I certainly don’t mind a good veggie burger now and again. This article by Jeff Gordinier of The New York Times describes the evolution of the veggie burger from a disgrace to an absolute masterpiece. The article left my mouth watering and the idea of going vegetarian a bit more realistic. Thanks Jeff!

Photo: Jim Barker

Breakfast is not so gr-r-reat when your only option is Frosted Flakes: This is a really interesting article from Kristin Wartman of Grist discussing the controversy around the Share Your Breakfast campaign by Kellogg’s. Wartman is harsh in her critique of Kellogg’s and its products, but raises some great points. What’s your opinion?

Multi-Media Pick:

I recently came across an awesome flash mob video on Youtube with a focus on recycling. Ah, the beauty of greening the planet with a little public humiliation. Check it out and don’t forget to pat yourself on the back next time you recycle!

New and Cool Pick:

Want to collect rainwater but hate those unsightly barrels? Studio Bas van der Veer’s Raindrop is the solution! I haven’t seen a gardening gadget this cool in a long time; I only hope they become available in the U.S. soon (they have a mini version too)!

This week's PG Picks by Sam Roach

We have just two favors to ask today:

1) The very idea of having a mobile app of Practically Green is so exciting!! — and if we win the Green Awards we’ll use the prize $ to create it! Please have a look at Susan Hunt Stevens’s rogue video entry and vote for us! Thanks…(yes, you have to register, slightly annoying, but takes two secs)

2) Have you performed a green makeover on a room at your house — or do you know someone who has? A baby nursery? A kitchen? A cabana? Tell us about it! We’re producing a feature for a Major. Women’s. Magazine. (Promise… we can’t say which one yet, sorry!!). Click here for the details, and send your before and after photos to our fab intern Samantha Roach at intern@practicallygreen.com!

News Picks:

Maybe it’s Practically Green’s Boston roots, but I just couldn’t bring myself to write today’s post without featuring some sort of St. Patty’s Day article. Ten Ways To Go Green On St. Patrick’s Day from Ingrid Ostby of Ecorazzi will inspire you to have a truly green holiday. From thrift store accessories to using eco-friendly and natural food coloring, these tips are good all year round!

Harvesting the Power of the Mom Blogger: I guess we’re not the only ones that know the POWER of mom bloggers! This article by Pradnya Joshi of The New York Times displays the amazing depth and influence of the network of mom bloggers on the web. We certainly knew all about the amazing support system of strong and intelligent women, but this article is a good reminder!

Nutrition Keys: Will They Really Help Us Make Better Food Choices?

This is a great piece from Lori Alper of Modern Hippie Mag, and definitely something to think about. As Alper points out, nutrition keys aren’t providing any new information, but they may just change the way we shop. I am definitely a label-reader, but when I’m in a rush, I grab whatever is in front of me, and usually regret it. I’m a big believer that something is better than nothing, and if this system encourages a mother of three to buy the cereal with less sugar, then I’m all for it. What do you think?

My Little Seed: A Story of Eczema and Betrayal: This blog post from Healthy Child Healthy World by Paige Goldberg Tolmach is eye-opening to say the least. Doctors told Paige that her infant son’s eczema was genetic, but the diagnosis simply didn’t make sense. Refusing to accept their word, Paige did a lot of research and discovered that it was her own home that was making her son sick. From his crib mattress to his teething toys, Paige’s son was being poisoned. This article will force you to look into the chemicals your family might be ingesting.

Paige Goldberg Tolmach and her son, HCHW

Multi-Media Pick:

The Urban Farming Guys is the video blog sector of the nonprofit organization Rock Solid Urban Impact.

The Urban Farming Guys is composed of 20 families that uprooted from the suburbs and relocated to inner city Kansas City. Their objective? To teach the youth, and “cultivate the life of the innercity.” With community engagement and sustainable farming practices as their bread and butter, The Urban Farming Guys and Rock Solid Urban Impact are an experiment to keep your eye on. They are revolutionaries living their lives to improve others. Watch their videos and learn what YOU can do.

New and Cool Pick:

USBCELL AA Rechargeable Batteries:

I have a drawer in my house that has the sole purpose of collecting used AA batteries. I’m embarrassed to say I have NO idea how many are in there or how many actually work. I know I should recycle the old batteries, but I just can’t let go! I have finally found something to help. These batteries from Moixa Energy have a built in usb to make recharging easier than ever.

This week's PG Picks by Sam Roach

We love seeing home renovations, but particularly if there are GREEN and HEALTHY features. There is something just so satisfying about seeing something not only made more beautiful, but that also uses resources more efficiently and improves health. While renovations take resources, exploring lower impact options can also be really fun!

For example, when we renovated our home, we worked hard to keep everything we could as original as possible. Except the bathrooms.There was no getting around the fact that they were ugly water hogs with poor ventilation, no insulation, and serious mildew/mold.

So we tried to make the upgrades not only stylish, but green. Here’s how one has turned out!


Yes, we love how it looks. But what we love more is that the toilets are dual-flush, the lights are CFL’s, the shower/faucets are low-flow, the wall tile is recycled glass, the paint is low-VOC, and the ventilator fans are EnergyStar. We also insulated the walls, upgraded the windows and the tub is much smaller than normal so we use less water for the kids baths. And yes, even the toilet paper is recycled, much to my better half’s consternation. It’s not perfectly green (what is?!), but we’ve reduced our water usage by nearly half and these upgrades are a huge part of that.

We bet many of YOU have amazing green home upgrades and we’d love to see your best before and after photos of kitchens, bathrooms, nurseries, bedrooms, living rooms, pantries, laundry rooms or even green garages! We are going to show off our favorites on our blog and Facebook page over the next few weeks, but our MOST FAVORITE will also win a copy of Planet Home, the awesome book by our editorial director Alexandra Zissu and advisor Jeffrey Hollender.

You may also get a chance for your green room makeover to appear on the website of a major national women’s magazine! (Photo quality will matter for this so please send high resolution images and please try and have the same angle for before and after).

Here’s what you do to enter, it’s really simple:

1.  Email us before and after photos of your project.  Use the email intern at practicallygreen dot com.

2.  In the email, tell us what healthy green actions you took in your upgrade because as you know, healthy green stuff can sometimes be invisible.

3.  Make sure we have your contact information–email, phone.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.  And please feel free to share this with your friends who you know have done cool healthy, green stuff!  The deadline is a week from today:  Wednesday, March 23rd!

One of our favorite green mom bloggers is Lynn from SmilingGreenMom. Lynn is a great mom of two from Indiana who manages to combine a practical and serious passion for her family’s health, looking closely at diseases caused by toxins in household materials. Lynn’s positive attitude and fantastic wit has us hooked!

She recently shared 8 Ways to Green Your Spring with her readers and we are thrilled to share some of them with you too. We’ve also matched them with the relevant Practically Green actions so you can learn from Lynn and earn your points and badges from us!

Lynn’s Tip:

Hang your clothes outside: Your dryer is one of the biggest energy-suckers in your home! So now that the weather is getting nicer, save some money and the planet by hanging your clothes outside to dry! Let nature help you out on this one – it has so many benefits. If you do need/want to use your electric dryer, make sure to clean the lint trap regularly as this will really help with efficiency!  According to the California Energy Commission, A dryer is typically the second-biggest electricity-using appliance after the refrigerator, costing about $85 to operate annually.

ylcf.org

Related PG Actions:

Line-dry laundry seasonally

Line-dry laundry all year

Lynn’s Tip:

Clean Green: Dirty little dust bunnies have been seeking shelter in your home over the cold winter months as well – time to spruce things up and clean out! There are many “everyday” products being sold to us that can contain harmful chemicals – read labels, do your homework and stay informed. One of the best online resources to check for toxins in products and to get the inside scoop on safety is the EWG’s  (Environmental Working Group) Cosmetics Safety Database. Know your products. I personally use and love Dr Bronner’s, EcoStoreUSA, Celadon Road and a few others but I also love it when I  can make my own! Here’s my recipe for laundry soaplemons! and you can always use such natural ingredients as vinegar and

greenissexy.org

Related PG Actions:

Make your own cleaners, including laundry detergent

Switch to all-natural all-purpose cleaner

Lynn’s Tip:

Paint Low-Voc: Who doesn’t love a nice coat of paint to freshen things up? Just remember that many of the products we use are the source for a substantial portion of indoor air pollution, including our paints. “Though conventional paints have gotten less toxic over the years, many still release some level of volatile organic compounds, or “VOCs,” into the air in the form of a breathable gas. According to the American Lung Association, VOCs can cause a number of physical problems, such as eye and skin irritation, as well as lung and kidney damage. The best practice is to use paint that is low in, or does not contain, VOCs and low- or no-VOC paint is a quality, cost-effective painting option that is safe for the environment and the homeowner” (HGTVpro).

Mythic Paint

Related PG Actions:

Use Low to No-VOC paints

Lynn’s Tip:

Open Windows: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air is three times more polluted than outdoor air. Let the good in air and the bad stuff out! Easy enough

Related PG Action:

Take shoes off at the door regularly

Lynn’s Tip:

Garage Sale/Donate: One of my most favoritest things about spring is the cleaning up and clearing out! Spring time to many reminds us of simplifying and sorting…starting fresh and new! It’s a great time to go through your belongings and decide what you love, like and dislike. You might think of this as three piles – but you will only be making two. Keep what you love and out the door with all the rest. Have a garage sale, donate or give as hand-me-downs to someone in need! It’s a great way to clear the clutter while doing something nice too.

Related PG Actions:

Donate clothes to a charity

Lynn’s Tip:

Rain Barrel: Capture one of our greatest gifts from nature – pure lovely rainwater! Rain barrels are a great way to conserve resources while reducing the amount of well or municipal water we use. “Luckily, rainwater harvesting has gone mainstream, and it’s easy for homeowners to take advantage of recapturing “lost” water with a rain barrel. Your roof collects rainwater and funnels it through gutters or downspouts, where it can be collected. But be sure to leave room to provide easy access the spigot. When your plants need a drink, just use the water from the barrel instead of turning on the hose”(Earth911).

sustainstl.org

Related PG Action:

Install rain barrels and use for lawn and garden

Install a rainwater harvesting system

For Lynn’s full post and more like it visit: www.smilinggreenmom.com!

News Picks:

Photo Credit: Leah Nash for The New York Times

In New Food Culture, a Young Generation of Farmers Emerges: I love love love this article from Isolde Raftery of The New York Times! Featuring Tyler Jones, 30, and his wife Alicia, 27, of Corvallis, Oregon, this article examines a new generation who has chosen farming as their livelihood. With better agricultural practices driving their passion, the Joneses represent a much larger demographic. Read this article and learn more about the driving force behind a profession rising so quickly in popularity.

30 of the Best Garden Designs: Looking for a little motivation to get your garden going? Believe it or not, it’s not to early to start planning, raking, and hoeing. These absolutely beautiful gardens featured by iVillage will have you dying to get started. Pictured to the right is my personal favorite, #9. Check ‘em out and get started on those PG Points!

Apple Unveils Thinner, Lighter iPad 2 – But is it Greener?

This is a great article from Diane Pham and Mike Chino of Inhabitat, and as you might imagine, very timely. It seems as though everyone I know, whether they own one or not, is talking about the iPad and iPad2. But are they green? Pham and Chino break it down nicely. Check it out!

Multi-Media Pick:

‘How to recycle rain water for use at home’ by SmartPlanetCBS is a great video, featuring a husband/wife team that changed their lifestyle to save water. With commentary from their own rainwater expert, and great footage of their home, the type of rainwater harvesting system this couple used might be exactly what you and your family were looking for! Remember: this one can get you 150 PG Points. Wahoo!

New and Cool Pick:

If you’re like me, you’re always looking for a sweet new bag, and have I got a good one for you! Boston based Couture Planet makes their handbags out of old newspapers, that way your handbag is always one of a kind! They have tons of different styles and you can actually tell them if you prefer The New York Times, or The Boston Globe as well as your favorite section! Personally, I’d go for the Clutch in The New York Times Travel section, how about you?

This week's PG Picks created by Sam Roach