Green Living Home

How to Prevent Indoor Air Quality Problems: 4 Tips

2011-10-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

Preventhng indoor air quality problems from occurring is the best way to protect the health of everyone that uses the space in question - whether the area is a home or an office. All types of buildings can have air that is contaminated by air pollutants and harmful particles that can cause a number of respiratory illnesses and other health problems. It's important to take steps to keep air as clean and pure as possible in any structure.

Tips to Prevent Problems with Indoor Air Quality

Knowing - and following - a few simple methods to prevent indoor air quality problems can reduce the risks of poor air quality harming the health of the individuals who live and work in a particular building.

1. Keep Air Vents and Grilles Clear

It is important to keep all air vents and grilles clear and free from obstructions. That is because the air vents and grilles are needed to circulate the air throughout the building and through the heating and cooling system. If they are blocked, the air in the indoor areas can become stagnant with high levels of air pollutants due to poor ventilation. Blocked grills can also put mechanical systems under strain, potentially causing costly repairs and higher energy bills.

2. Avoid Smoking in Indoor Spaces

Environmental tobacco smoke is one of the most harmful air pollutants that can be encountered in interior air. Tobacco smoke can cause a wide variety of illnesses and health conditions for both the smoker and anyone else that inhales the smoke from tobacco products.

Banning smoking in indoor areas and creating a designated area outside away from the doors and windows of the building is the best way to eliminate tobacco smoke from the indoor air.

3. Install High Quality Air Filters

Installing high quality air filters in the heating and cooling system of the building will help to reduce the number of airborne contaminants in the indoor air. Choose high quality filters that are capable of removing a wide variety of contaminants from the air as it passes through the filter, including dust, animal dander, mold, viruses, and harmful particulates.

Make sure that the high quality air filter purchased is the right size for your heating and cooling unit so that it will work effectively and improve the quality of the indoor air.

4. Dispose of Trash Properly

Neglecting to dispose of trash properly can have a negative effect on the quality of the air in an interior space. Decaying food products can disperse mold and other harmful contaminants into the air. Chemical products can release chemical agents that can be dangerous when ingested or inhaled. It is important to dispose of all trash properly and promptly remove the trash from indoor areas to maintain good air quality in the indoor space.

Understanding the Importance of Indoor Air Quality

The quality of the indoor air can impact the comfort, health, and well-being of everyone that uses the building. Poor quality air can quickly affect the most vulnerable among us, such as seniors, infants, and those with a weakened immune system. Healthy individuals may develop health complications or respiratory illnesses from repeated or long-term exposure.

10 Water Saving Tips for Your Home

2011-10-03T08:02:00.000-07:00

Conserving water is good for the environment, good for the hydrological cycle, and good for your pocketbook. What's not to love about conserving water? It's not hard to do; with a few minor changes in the way you use water, you'll find yourself recycling and saving it without much thought. Follow these tips on lowering your water consumption and rest easy knowing you're doing what you can to battle the water shortage.

1. Check your faucets. indoors and out, for leaks and drips. A dripping faucet can waste up to 20 gallons of water each day.

2. Only flush your toilet when really necessary. Don't blot your lipstick with a Kleenex and then flush it, and don't flush just to get rid of a cigarette butt or a piece of fuzz. Remember the old hippie adage, "If it's yellow, let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down." You may not want to let your pee sit in the toilet until you go Number Two, but follow the general spirit and don't flush wantonly; each time you push the handle, up to 7 gallons of water go down the drain.

3. Save over ten gallons of water a day by placing a couple of water bottles filled with sand or pebbles and water in your toilet tank. Make sure at least 3 gallons of water remain in the tank for proper flushing.

4. Don't let the water run while you're doing your grooming. To brush your teeth, wet your toothbrush, turn the water off, brush your teeth, then turn the water back on to rinse. When shaving, fill the sink with a couple of inches of water to rinse your razor rather than keeping a steady stream of water coming from the faucet.

5. Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator. Running the tap until the water is cold enough to drink wastes several gallons a day.

6. Save 1,000 gallons of water each month by only running your washing machine and dishwasher when full.

7. Plant drought-resistant plants in your garden and home, and group your plants according to how much water they need to avoid using water that your plants don't need.

8. Put a 4-inch layer of mulch around trees and plants to help them retain moisture so you don't have to water as often.

9. Don't set your sprinkler system to automatically turn on. Turn it on by hand when you're ready to water so you don't end up with the sprinklers on during a rain storm or when the ground is already wet.

10. Set your lawn mower blade to a high setting. The higher the grass, the more moisture it retains and the less you'll need to water.

These water conservation ideas are only the beginning. Once you get these down, consider more serious measures to save water, such as installing a rain barrel, replacing toilets and insulating your water pipes. Look into a water education program for hundreds of additional water saving tips.

Water Conservation Begins at Home

2011-09-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Turning on our taps only to have nothing emerge isn't something that many of us think about. We're grown up with a never-ending supply of water; or so we thought. Drive through any Texas town and you'll see vast areas of dried lakes and reservoirs. Ask a resident of California what it's like to have a hose pipe ban. Water is not something to be taken for granted.

Conserving water is something that we can all do on an individual and household basis. If we don't start paying close attention to how we are using our water, we may soon find ourrelves in very limited supply. Here are ways that you can reduce your water consumption at home, at school and in the office:

1 Turn It Off
Turning your water off when you brush your teeth, shampoo your hair or even wash your hands can save hundreds of gallons of water per year if you have a family of four. Teach your children to turn the tap off when they aren't actually using the water.

2 Set a Timer
Taking a shower will consume less water than filling the tub for a bath. Put an egg timer next to the tub and set it for five minutes. Once you've gotten yourself down to a five minute shower with no problem, set it for two minutes. Taking a two minute shower will, again, save hundreds of gallons of water a year.

3 Wash Full Loads
There is no easier way to waste water than to wash half loads of dishes and clothes. Don't turn your washing machines on until you have a full load. Better still: purchase appliances that allow you to adjust the amount of water that you use. That way, if you have small loads or don't have a large family, you can use the appropriate amount of water.

4 Low Flow Heads
Install low flow taps and shower heads in the house. You won't notice a difference in water pressure but you will use less water!

5 Put a Brick in the Toilet
It doesn't make sense to replace your toilet when you can just put a brick in the tank. Doing so will reduce the amount of water it takes to fill your tank and thereby reduces the amount of water going down the drain when you flush. Don't have a brick? Fill two or three water bottles with water or sand and use them instead!

Conserving water on a personal basis is not only great for the environment but will ensure that we have water to use freely for decades to come. Using less water won't cost you a thing and takes very little effort. Start conserving today to ensure water availability tomorrow.

Water Saving Tips - How You Can Help Conserve Water

2011-09-10T07:59:00.000-07:00

Water is a requirement for life of every living thing on the Earth. A whopping 70 percent of the Earth is covered with water but 97 percent of it is salt water. Only three percent is fresh water and a lot of that is frozen in the form of glaciers. We are left with approximately one percent of fresh water for sustaining life. Human water consumption is using up the fresh water supply before the Earth's hydrological cycle can naturally clean, recycle and restore it.

Follow these easy water saving tips to help reduce this planet's water shortages:

• Leaking faucets and toilets can waste tens of thousands of gallons of water in just a month. Make sure none of the faucets or toilets in your home have any leaks. Check them often to insure there is no dripping or leakage of water anywhere.

• Each flush of an older toilet uses about three and a half to six and a half gallons of water. Never use the toilet as a trash receptacle and only flush when necessary. Install a newer low-flow toilet that uses less than two gallons per flush to conserve water.

• Take shorter showers. A five minute shower using a showerhead that flows at five gallons per minute uses 25 gallons but ten minute showers will double that amount. Install a water-saving showerhead with a flow rate of two and a half gallons per minute and cut your water consumption by half per shower.

• Filling an average bathtub takes around 30 to 40 gallons of water. Try filling the tub only halfway instead.

• Scrape the food off your dishes so they need less rinsing and only run the dishwasher when it is full. If you must wash your dishes by hand, fill one basin with soapy water to wash in and turn on the water at a very low flow when you need to rinse. Never leave the sink running the whole time you wash dishes.

• Turn off the sink while you are brushing your teeth or shaving. Only turn on the water when you need to rinse. You will save several gallons of water per minute this way.

• When you are washing your hands, turn off the faucet while you are lathering up the soap. Turn the sink back on when you are ready and rinse them as quickly as possible.

• Only run your washing machine when you have a full load of dirty clothes to wash.

• Water your lawn only when absolutely necessary. Watering your grass and trees less often with more water at once will cut down on water usage.

Benefits of Sustainable Homes

2011-09-02T07:59:00.000-07:00

There are limitless benefits of building green. As more sustainable practices are perfected and information becomes much more advanced and readily available, the costs of building green homes and buildings will soon become mainstream and much more affordable for everyone. This will have great impacts on our standard and quality of life, as well as improve environmental conditions. It can even be an investment and end up saving you money in the long term.

Building materials and our infrastructures have a profound influence on our environment and use of limited natural resources and especially on the environment, which has a direct impact on our quality of life. Human health should be our number one priority when designing residential spaces. In my opinion, waste should be considered a felony because you are affecting not only your well being, but of everyone that calls earth their home. Harmful building methods are a pressing issue that should be confronted from the start. We have all the means to develop sustainable building methods and the ability to explore more eco-friendly building materials. Finding new ways to integrate green construction principles will be at the forefront of architecture in the upcoming year.

Government officials, design teams, construction corporations, and architects need to establish a common goal of building sustainable homes. Perhaps even more important, the joint efforts of consumers and eco-minded home buyers will truly jumpstart the green home industry. Together, we can really unleash the benefits of green building.

The most obvious benefit is the direct impact on the environment. Protecting the biodiversity of our ecosystem, raising the standards of air and water qualities, the ways of transporting building resources, and creating better building technologies will all play a crucial role in sustaining our limited resources. By reducing by products of building materials and recycling at all possible situations is a great way of conserving our delicate ecosystem.

Anyone on the market to buy a new home should consider the many benefits of a green home. Toxin-free building materials help guard against disease, allergies, and increase the quality of air inside your home. You will also experience fewer issues with mildew or toxic mold. At the heart of design, you can have natural ventilation without the added cost of mechanical machines to filter out stale air. Calculating all the costs associated with owning a maintaining a home, wouldn't you want a home that is as self-sufficient as it can be? This will help you save money on your electrical bill.

In the long run, a cost efficient home is at the priority of every home-buyer these days, taking in consideration all the costs of owning a home, a green home is comparable to and in some circumstances cheaper than owning a standard home.

Solar Energy Is More Than Just Free Energy For Living Off The Grid

2011-08-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

Take a drive through any big city and see for yourself how reliant we have become on electricity. Most things we do, whether it be at our jobs on the computer or at home watching television are somewhat linked to the use of electricity. At times you just ask yourself if it is ever enough!

We Have Options
There are some people out there that have become quite concerned that we are so reliant on the Major Power Companies. I feel it is important for us to be self sufficient so I researched solar panels and their uses for an end result of living off the grid.The main details of your research should show you how to live off the grid using solar power. To build your own solar panels, requires a lot less skill than most people think and the costs are also very reasonable.

Solar Power 101
So now we can get into some of the details about solar panels and more specifically how they function. Solar cells convert the radiant energy from the sun into a form of electricity that we are able to use for power. The combination of more than one array of photovoltaic cells in a grid like pattern is called a solar panel. When the sun is out, it gives off solar radiation which is picked up by the solar panels and electrical energy is produced. This energy can be also be stored in a battery for use later on.

How Much Electrical Energy Can Be Produced By These Cells?
The amount of electrical energy produced is determined by the quality of the cells in the array, the types of materials that the cells have been created from and the amount (i.e. time) of solar exposure. One unfortunate fact about solar panels, more specifically solar cells, is that they become less efficient over time with use. Another obvious factor is the number of cells that you have connected together within the panel or panels. With that in mind, we can create a simple solar panel to power up a cell phone or create a very large solar cell array to power all the appliances in your home. When you get to this stage of solar electricity, you can then start living off the grid.

The next step for you is to find a diy solar project. There are many available and the good ones will actually give you the step by step process for creating your first solar panel. Now you need to find some reference materials. Search the internet for living off the grid or visit your local library. These resources will give you lots of material to review before you start out on that first project. Remember to start small and once you've mastered the building techniques, move on to larger scale projects. Good luck and have fun building your solar cells. You deserve to give yourself a pat on the back for doing your part to make the environment a better place.

Sheepskin Rugs for a Healthy Home

2011-08-16T07:57:00.000-07:00

Home health and comfort is important to everyone. If you or someone in your family has allergies, it is important to try to keep the environment as clean and clear as possible. Choosing your home decor items carefully can enhance your home environment and provide a healthier living situation for your family.

Natural sheepskin rugs have long been used for warmth in homes. One of the most important animal skins associated with Biblical references was sheepskin. When lambs were used for sacrifices or food, the pelts were used for clothing and bedding. The wool provided soft cushions for sleeping and warmth during cold winters. Shepherds and travelers used the sheepskins for cloaks or coats to ward off the chill.

In modern times, we are not only concerned with warmth and comfort; we also desire to create a healthy environment. Because sheepskin is naturally hypo-allergenic, common allergens do not "lodge" in the fibers. Wool has a unique quality that repels small dust and dirt particles, so sheepskin rugs are easily cleaned by frequent shaking. Therefore, the use of sheepskin wool rugs in one's home helps to keep the air cleaner and healthier, especially for those who suffer from allergies.

Modern leather tanning and curing methods have been developed to support a clean environment. Most wool processing establishments now make use of environmentally safe products for softening and preserving the wool and sheepskins. They recycle water and have developed some innovative water purification systems. Natural sheepskin rugs and wool products do not introduce harsh chemicals into your home, thus providing safer and cleaner air for your family.

Another health benefit of using sheepskin rugs and wool is their healing effect on skin lesions. Using a sheepskin pad under bedridden patients can alleviate bedsores. Medical bed pads have been developed that provide the cushioning comfort of wool with the ease of washing in a washing machine. The natural lanolin in wool often aids in healing and/or relieving itching and minor skin ailments.

Sheepskin wool possesses another unique quality of temperature regulation for the human body. It traps warmth around the body in cool weather, and provides a cooling effect during warm weather. Wrapping up in a soft sheepskin in the winter will keep the body warm and cozy. Use the same sheepskin in summer as a floor covering that will provide cool comfort for bare feet.

Lowering the allergen levels in your home by introducing natural sheepskin rugs and wool products will improve air quality for your family. Long-lasting, environmentally friendly wool rugs and other wool products, used in rooms throughout the home, will also provide luxurious soft texture of natural fibers for comfort in any season.

12V Solar Batteries and Solar Chargers

2011-08-09T07:56:00.000-07:00

12V solar batteries come in many different configurations because they serve many different uses. You can get a charger in different wattages, typically 15 watt or 18 watt. The higher the wattage the faster it can recharge the device. One of the principal advantages of using a 12V solar battery charger is that you can eliminate most of the specialty chargers designed for individual appliances such as cell phones, cars, laptops, and iPods. Something else you might consider would be a charge controller that prevents the rechargeable device from overcharging while being recharged. The charge controller usually has a light indicator indicating when it has finished charging.

There are many specialized types of chargers. 12V marine chargers are in widespread use. They can last for years. Solar cell phone chargers enable you to keep your cell phone charged without being near an electrical outlet. Another type of specialized charger sits on your car's dashboard. It plugs in through the cigarette lighter and keeps the car battery from discharging over time. Other 12V solar battery chargers fit in digital cameras and camcorders, even laptops, if the batteries inside them are rechargeable. To figure out how long it will take to recharge, find the amperage hours of the battery in the device you want to recharge and divide it by the amperage hours, rounding up by 10%. Another rule of thumb is that your 12V solar battery charger should recharge the device in less than 20 hours of direct sunlight. That is direct sunlight, not just it being sunshiny outside.

It is also important to know what the application will be for any solar powered batteries that you buy. Some batteries designs are set up for quick discharge followed by a long recharge (like car batteries). Other battery designs favor long hours of continuous use (batteries that power trolling motors, for example). The use to which the solar battery is applied will drive the decision about which solar battery recharger you decide to use.

Because solar batteries produce direct current rather than alternating current, their design is for 12V or 24V DC current. A common use is using solar power for a home. Inverters convert the 12V or 24V solar power to 115V AC power for the home. The solar batteries receive their charge from the solar panels and supply constant power to the home when it is too cloudy for the solar panels to produce power.

Renewable Energy Vs Non Renewable Energy: An Assessment Of Both Forms Of Energy Production

2011-08-05T07:54:00.000-07:00

There have been a lot of intense arguments for and against these two forms of energy production. This is because energy plays a very crucial role in our day to day living. Just imagine a live without essentials such as cars, lamps, refrigerators, etc which need energy to work. I sure bet it's not a kind of life we crave, having seen the important roles these essentials play in our existence. However, it's important to state that these two types of energy production have their advantages and disadvantages. This article aims to give an assessment of both forms of energy production.

First off, we start with the non renewable sources of energy production...

Non renewable energy is energy that comes from the ground and is not replaced in a relatively short amount of time. It's also a source of energy which cannot be used again and again. Fossil fuels are the main category of non renewable energy and they include; coal, oil and natural gas.

The major advantage of this form of energy production is that the energy sources like coal and oil are naturally present in the earth and mining them is relatively easy because of existing technology. And aside being relatively easy to mine, it's cheap and as a result, they seem widely available and affordable.

On the other hand, one of the major drawbacks of non renewable energy is that it is limited in supply and will one day be depleted. This is very much so because fossil fuels are formed from plants and animals that lived hundreds of million years ago and became buried under the surface of the earth where they transformed into combustible material which we now use. To get new fossil fuels would mean having to wait another hundred million years. Obviously, at the rate of our energy consumption, these fuels cannot occur fast enough to meet our current or future energy demands.

Another major disadvantage of non renewable energy is that it is a major contributor to climate change as a result of carbon emissions from fossil fuels. In addition to this is the fact that fossil fuel mining and oil production cause irreparable damage to our environment, destroying ecosystems while they are been mined and polluting streams and lakes, killing its inhabitants.

Talking about renewable energy now...

Renewable energy is the energy that comes from renewable resources that create their own energy. These include natural energy such as bio fuel, biomass, tidal power, wind power, solar power, hydro power, geothermal, wave power.

The advantages of this form of energy production are that it is non - polluting, renewable and efficient. In addition, is the fact that it can be produced with homemade systems.

Its major drawback is that there's a little bit of challenge in developing the capability to effectively and economically capture, store and use the energy when needed.

Cost is also a drawback for renewable source of energy production but that is changing at the moment.

Also, it's important to mention that not all renewable energy sources produce clean energy. Wood is renewable but if you burn it in a fire place, it can be highly polluting. It releases the same amount of carbon if burned or left to naturally decompose.

Now, putting it all into perspective, we would agree that non renewable sources of energy are going into extinction and as a result, considering new forms of energy won't just be good for the environment, it will be absolutely vital in years to come.