by
Travis
22. April 2009 15:41
Earth Day is a very special day that is celebrated on April 22nd every year. Earth Day was actually founded by a United States Senator by the name of Gaylord Nelson in 1970 as an environmental teach-in (a kind of educational forum). This special day is not only celebrated here in the United States, but is now celebrated by countries all over the world. Essentially, that day, April 22nd of 1970, marks the beginning of the modern environmental movement. As such, this is a day that is indeed worthy of celebration, education, and awareness. At its inception in 1970, there were over 20 million Americans who participated, including thousands of colleges and universities who staged protests against the deterioration of the environment. That first Earth Day in 1970 also saw the birth of the Earth Day Network, an organization that promotes environmental citizenship and year-round progressive action worldwide. Through this network, activists can connect change in local, national, and global policies. Earth Day Network's international network reaches over 17,000 organizations in 174 countries, while the domestic program engages 5,000 groups and over 25,000 educators coordinating millions of community development and environmental protection activities throughout the year.
While the Earth Day Network and billions of others are making their contributions, you can be doing the same. You do not need to stage a protest or clean up an oil spill to take part in Earth Day. While we should be aware of our environment every day, Earth Day is a special time to heighten this awareness. Do you usually drive to work? On Earth Day, take the bus. Do you usually pack your lunch in a plastic bag? Pack it in a reusable bag on Earth Day. Do you usually throw that newspaper in the garbage? On Earth Day take that extra step to make sure it gets recycled. Whatever you do, just be aware that this is a special day for our planet, and billions of people worldwide recognize that and celebrate the world in which we all live. So have a Happy Earth Day and...until next year!
by
Travis
15. April 2009 17:43
Reduce your carbon footprint. Make a positive contribution to the environment. Help out your family, friends, and community. Save money on your monthly utility bills! The Greenovations Complete Home Audit offers you all of these things and many many more. Consider, just for a moment, the amount of electricity, water, and gas that your household uses. Now, consider the amount of money that you spend every month on these utilities. Although it is a difficult reality to accept, the price that we all pay for utilities will only be going up in the future, with no apparent end in sight. Do we all want to see our wallets, purses, and bank accounts drained of more money than they have to be? Absolutely not! So what is the solution? The Greenovations Complete Home Energy Audit, of course. For a small fee, you and your family could enjoy significant monthly savings on your utility bills, both now and throughout your future. What is more, after only a short time, the savings that you accumulate will have already paid for your initial investment in the audit and continue to bring you additional savings on top of that! As if that weren't enough, on top of that, you will be doing a tremendous service for your family's health and well-being, you will be making a lasting positive contribution to the environment, and you will be saving the planet. So what are you waiting for? Head back to the main page and start today!
by
Travis
18. December 2008 07:33
Residential taxpayers in California who take out a loan to purchase and install energy efficient products and equipment can sit comfortably, knowing that 100% of the interest paid on that load is tax deductible. More specifically, the deduction is for loans from a publicly-owned utility company for the purchase of energy-efficient heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, lighting, solar, advanced metering of energy usage, windows, zone heating products, insulation, and weatherization systems. If you are a customer of a publicly-owned utility company who does not offer customer financing, you may still be able to deduct interest from a home equity or home improvement loan used to purchase energy-efficient products and equipment. While this is all true for California residents, do not hesitate to contact your local city or state agency to find similar savings in your area.
by
Travis
17. December 2008 11:43
Ask yourself a quick question: Do you pay money for water to fall from the sky? Hopefully you answered "No", but if you didn't, you need to demand your money back immediately! Yes, it is true, rain water is absolutely FREE. So, then, it would just make sense to collect as much of it as we can. You can go about this in many different ways. It can be anything from putting a couple of containers out when it rains, to having Rain Collection Barrels installed in your home. The water that you collect from the sky can serve so many purposes, including watering your garden or washing your car. When you watch the news and hear that it is going to rain tomorrow, just take a minute to stick that water pitcher out on your patio. You could also go the more permanent route and just have Rain Collection Barrels installed. They come in various capacities and styles to suit your collection needs. Give your hose a rest and use the gift that nature provides!
by
dale
16. December 2008 15:08
The heat from the sun that is absorbed through windows and roofs can greatly contribute to increased air conditioner use. A simple change in your landscape design can dramatically reduce your cooling costs. The process of landscape shading and evapotranspiration (the process of a plant actively moving and releasing water vapor) from trees can reduce surrounding air temperatures by up to 9 degrees! For virtually all of your shading needs, in any climate, and for all seasons, a landscape can be designed to incorporate shade and evapotranspiration by using trees, shrubs, and plants of various sizes, densities, and shapes. Again, it may seem self-explanatory, but the less you use your air conditioner, the less power you use, and that leads to less power that your plant has to generate. Check out more about landscape shading and much more at the U.S. Department of Energy's website: www.energy.gov
by
dale
16. December 2008 14:49
Do you live in an area that can get awfully cold and windy in those Winter months? Even if you live in a temperate climate, a landscape windbreak can provide a much needed reduction in heating costs, especially during those chilly Winters. A landscape windbreak actually does just what it sounds like it does, it is a landscaping addition that literally "breaks the wind" that can so often pummel your house creating a potentially icy interior. Effectively reducing the wind chill factor near your house, these windbreaks prevent you from having to turn that dial up to make that heat kick in. Most often these windbreaks are constructed from trees and shrubs with low crowns that can effectively block the wind close to the ground. In addition to blocking the wind, planting such a windbreak creates a "dead air" space between it and your house, which can act as insulation in both the Summer and Winter. Check out what the U.S. Department of Energy has to say about the benefits of Landscape Windbreaks at their website: www.energy.gov
by
dale
13. December 2008 04:20
When using automatic timers for the sprinklers on your lawn, check to see that the sprinklers are watering the lawn and not the sidewalk or the gutter. The last time I checked, neither of these grow. I walk my dog every morning and see my neighbors sprinklers running excessively, so much so that the water goes right down sidewalk and into the gutter. This is a very wasteful use of our natural resources. Have your handyman or your gardener check your sprinkler system to make sure that it is watering the area that needs to be watered. Don't get me wrong, automatic sprinklers are a great thing, but we tend to water our lawns and landscaping too much. Give your landscaping a chance to dry out. Set your timers to skip a day or two. In the Winter months, when it is not as hot and the days are shorter, your plants do not need as much water. Remember your plants are in a dormant state in the Winter. This is a good time to reduce the amount of water that we use on our outside landscaping. www.bewaterwise.com
by
dale
12. December 2008 07:35
Artificial Turf - Fake Grass - Astro Turf - Whatever you would like to call it, this stuff is great for the environment. Consider the following: No watering, No cutting the grass, No trash from grass clippings, No weeding necessary, No dead spots from the dogs, No chemicals to pollute the ground, No dying in the winter months, and No emissions from gas lawn movers. In addition to all of these positive effects on the environment, having this installed in your home can also possibly have a positive effect on your pocketbook. I have been reading some material lately that suggests there may be some water districts or agencies that are providing rebates if you remove your turf grass and install this artificial grass in your home. Check with your local water provider to see if you qualify for these rebates. This stuff looks fantastic and, in some homes where it has been installed, at first glance you can't even tell the difference between it and its living counterpart. Check out this website for more information: www.synlawn.com
by
dale
11. December 2008 07:15
Watering all of your landscaping with a slow, deep, and penetrating irrigation system could save you between 750 and 1,500 gallons of water per month. Most plants do best when they are allowed to dry out in between waterings. This is a great way to save our natural resources, and at the same time, save you money in the cost of your water bill. By using this irrigation system, your plants will flourish for the entirety of their lives.
by
dale
9. December 2008 14:55
This is a great thing that we should demand for all potted plants that we purchase. With biodegradable pots, how much waste would we save from entering the landfills if used a pot that could be planted directly in the ground? This produces absolutely no trash or waste. Recall for a moment that most of the existing pots are made of plastic and, as a result, just sit in the landfills and never decompose into the ecosystem. So the next time you are at the nusery ask for biodegradable pots. Wherever you are, be sure to tell the merchants what is important to us and what we want in our products. This is not only important for you personally, but for everyone else as well. The last thing to remember is that the biodegradable pots are made of recycled paper products. So, this is a win-win for all parties involved including yourself, the landfills, your fellow man, the ground you plant your plants in, and the Earth as a whole.
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