HAPPY EARTH DAY!!!

The very first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970 by over 20 million people in the United States. Almost 40 years later, Earth Day is a global celebration, marked by billions of people throughout the world. The theme of this year's Earth Day is The Green Generation. Throughout the country and the world, Earth Day Celebrations include clean-ups, concerts, festivals, educational programs and political rallies. Earth Day has also been chosen as the opening date for "Earth" a movie created by Disneynature to highlight the beauty of our planet and the threat posed to it by global warming.

How will you celebrate Earth Day? In no particular order, Green Homes offers the following suggestions:

• Walk, ride your bike, car pool or take public transportation to school or work. For this one day, see if you can avoid using your car at all.


• Limit your use of electronics and appliances - how about letting your hair dry naturally instead of plugging in that hair dryer? Maybe you can cut back your screen time by a half an hour, an hour or maybe keep those screens dark for the day.


• Hug a tree. Or plant one. If your yard doesn't have room, have one planted in the rain forest.


• Try to have a least one waste-free meal. Don't use any disposables: china plates and cloth napkins can make even the most lowly meal seem special. Send your children's lunches in reusable containers. Fill a thermos instead of packing a plastic water bottle or juice box. If you buy coffee on the go, bring your own travel mug.


• Recycle everything you can.


• Wash your clothes in cold water. If it's nice out, dry them on a clothes line.


• Don't waste water. Take a shorter shower. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth. Save a flush - if it's yellow, let it mellow!


• Save a tree. Use both sides of paper. Don't print from your computer unless you really need to.


• Write your elected officials to let them know the environment is important to you.


• Go to see "Earth".


• Unplug electronics you are not using. (This includes everything from your electric toothbrush to your coffeemaker to your flat screen TV.)
  
• Change a light bulb. Try the new generation CFLs or LEDs.


• Adjust the thermostat. If it's cold, throw on a sweater; or better yet, cuddle! If it's hot, throw open the window.


• Get the on-line version of your favorite newspaper.


• Turn off the lights when you leave the room.


• Use green, non-toxic cleaning products.


• Talk to your friends about ways you can reduce your environmental impact.
  
• Form a Green Team at your work place or school.


• Clean up the environment around you. Clear the garbage and debris from your local park, bike path or beach. Create a more beautiful and healthy environment for the people and wildlife in your community.


• Say "No, thank you" when offered a plastic bag. Bring your own reusable bag, buy one at the store, or just carry your items in your arms.


• Take an environmental pledge. Consider it a New Year's Resolution in April. What can you pledge to do this year to help the planet?


• Enjoy nature. Visit a local nature preserve or just appreciate the beauty in your own backyard.

We hope these suggestions help you commemorate Earth Day 2009. There are literally thousands of ways you can help your planet today and every day. Let us know what you are doing. We would love to read your suggestions and ideas. Our motto is "A Greener Planet Starts at home", but it can really start anywhere you are - at home, at work, at school or on the beach. Become part of the Green Generation!

Happy Earth Day from Green Homes!

Baby, It's Cold Inside!

Brrr...Why is it so cold in here? It's winter, we get that it's cold outside. But our homes should be cozy, snug and warm, right? Well, ideally. But in reality, many of us have drafty, under-insulated homes. What's the problem? Air flow. This month, continue your New Year's goals and resolve to "Go Green" by reducing air loss in your home.

Step Two. February's GO GREEN Challenge: Keep heated air from leaking out of your house.

1) Dodge the draft. It would be great if we could replace all our old windows and doors with energy efficient ones. Ultimately, that should be your goal. For now, make the best of your old windows and doors by eliminating drafts wherever possible. Simple measures like drawing curtains to add a layer of insulation are completely cost free. Other, effective measures have very modest price tags. Use draft guards to eliminate under door drafts and place a draft-blocking "snake" on your window sill. Plastic sheeting on windows is very effective in cutting heat loss. You can find many of these products at local stores or on-line through ImprovementsCatalog

2) Shut (and lock) that window! You wouldn't leave a window wide open in the middle of winter, would you? Well, if you are neglecting to close your fireplace flue, that's exactly what you're doing! Additionally, just closing your windows isn't enough. Most windows won't completely seal out air flow unless they are closed and locked. Check the locks on all your windows to ensure that cold air isn't seeping in.

3) Strip ease. When you stand next to your window, does your hair blow in the breeze? That really shouldn't be happening. Check the weather stripping on your windows and doors. They may need replacing or beefing up. Weather stripping is easy to install yourself (or ask your handyman) and readily available in many different sizes and shapes from your local hardware store or Home Depot.

4) Insulation Nation! The federal government will support your efforts to reduce energy use. A tax credit is available for energy efficient home improvements such as insulation, roofs, windows and HVAC. Increasing insulation is one of the best ways to reduce air flow, thus preventing energy loss and saving you money. The U.S. Department of Energy offers detailed information on how to check your home for leaks and properly increase your insulation. If do-it-yourself is not your thing, ask your handyman or contractor. Green Homes can also assist you in identifying leaks as well as in finding qualified professionals to increase your insulation.

5)Think small, save big. Even small leaks can cause increased energy use and correspondingly increased heating and cooling bills. Seal mail slots, insulate light switches and outlets that feel cold to the touch. Little advances in making your home more air tight can add up to big savings!

6) Schedule an eco-audit. A Green Homes eco-audit can identify the areas in which you are experiencing air loss. We thoroughly audit your entire home, checking insulation levels and identifying air leaks. Our detailed report includes a checklist you (or a handyman) can use to remedy the deficiencies. Contact us at http://www.greenhomesllc.net/.

New Year's Resolution

It's that time of year again;  resolution time.    Resolutions are an interesting phenomenon.  Their intent is positive but, I find, there are many who avoid the whole idea because they don't want to risk failure.  Or endure change.

We find this same fear of change and failure is what often prevents people from even attempting to 'go green.' "Won't I have to spend a lot of money to go green?"  "Will I have to lose all my creature comforts?"    "Will I have to make my own clothing from my recycled six-pack-holders?"  The answer to each is a resounding NO.  Going green is easy.    It's doable.  And even your smallest efforts make a difference.   

So at GreenHomes we're keeping it simple this year.  

2009 New Year's Resolution:

GO GREEN

There, that wasn't so hard, was it?  And that's the key:  it's NOT so hard.  In fact, it's easy.  And we're going to help you, step by step, with simple, practical steps you can take to lighten your carbon load and ease your guilty conscience.  

Step One.  January's GO GREEN Challenge:  Wash your clothes in cold water.  

Did you know:

• The washing machine accounts for about 25% of a household’s hot water usage. 
  
• Eighty percent of the electricity used by your washing machine goes towards heating the water. 
  
• Washing your clothes in cold water can cut your washing machine’s energy usage by 50%.  
  
• Unless your clothes are heavily soiled, cold water will do just fine.  
  

In the old days, our detergents required warm water to work effectively.  Detergents now are soluble in cold water so heating it is just not necessary.  Try it!  

Here are some other tips from Green Homes to green your laundry 

• Only run the washing machine with a full load.
  
•  Line dry clothes whenever possible.
  
• When using the dryer, don’t over dry – use your dryer’s moisture sensor setting. 
  
• Use the medium or lower temperature setting for your dryer. A lower setting will be     easier on your clothes and your energy bill.
  
• Always dry a full load and clean the lint trap before each load. It  improves the air circulation, drying your clothes faster.
  
• Choose a green detergent - like Shaklee's Get Clean laundry detergent
  

           http://www.shaklee.net/greenhomes

So there you have it - Green Homes' resolution and first challenge of 2009.  GO GREEN!