Neutral Existence Environmental Site

Reusing: The Art of the Lost “R”

2009-06-29T14:03:08+00:00

In elementary school, whenever it came to environmental science, they always drilled the “three R’s” into our heads. Like hordes of mini zombies, children the world over would repeat “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle….Reduce, Reuse,…

Build Your Own Converted Grain Bin Home

2009-06-26T13:50:09+00:00

For the past two years, I have lived in a grain bin at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage. Or more specifically, a converted grain bin home (pictured to the right). It is insulated with straw bales, has a wood stove…

Green Education - What Nature Can Teach Our Kids

2009-06-22T13:56:41+00:00

Kids today have huge advantages with regard to learning through technology; however, many kids are very - sometimes almost completely - disconnected from nature. Having all the technological advantages for education doesn’t mean that…

Heat Your Home and Save Energy With a Super Efficient Wood Buring Rocket Stove

2009-06-15T16:05:35+00:00

If done responsibly and efficiently, wood heat can keep your home warm without you having to spend hundreds of dollars every month. A rocket stove is a super efficient type of DIY wood stove that can be built using reclaimed and salvaged materials.…

Zero Carbon Activities for Kids

2009-06-01T18:06:02+00:00

Kids’ entertainment is a massive industry and has a massive impact on the environment. Vast quantities of children’s toys and games are manufactured in the U.S. and also imported, particularly from China. Many are made from non-recyclable…

All Dried Up: Water Scarcity a Growing Issue

2009-05-17T18:35:46+00:00

A UN report released in March projects that half the world will face acute water shortages by 2030. Water scarcity is an ever-growing issue that will only become more prevalent with global warming and climate change. Water shortages, and potential…

Shopping for a Green Home Entertainment System

2009-05-15T21:21:21+00:00

So you’ve finally decided to buckle down and get that 50 inch HD TV with Blu-Ray DVD player and surround sound system. Great! Having a home theater is a great way to enjoy your favorite movies with friends and family, and the high definition…

Stay Cool! Eco-friendly Cooling Tips for Your Apartment/Condo

2009-05-08T13:44:57+00:00

As the summer months approach and the weather heats up, you may find yourself dreading that A/C thermostat. Turning up your A/C is not only energy inefficient, but it is also costly. Luckily, living in a small apartment or condo affords you several…

How to Eat Green with Your Kids

2009-05-06T03:39:57+00:00

Learning how to “eat green” with your kids can be a fun, educational adventure which could have a big impact on your family carbon footprint. Eco-friendly eating is not as simple as just buying expensive organic foods from your supermarket.…

How To Plant a Space Saving Herb Spiral for Your Garden

2009-04-23T20:31:10+00:00

Do you want to enjoy fresh herbs throughout the season, but you don’t have a lot of garden space to spare? After all, there’s tomatoes, peppers, greens, onions, garlic, and a wealth of other vegetables taking up precious gardening space.…

Happy Earth Day 2009

2009-04-22T12:34:46+00:00

Hello everyone, I just wanted to take a few minutes to say Happy Earth Day and to thank all of our loyal visitors, readers, subscribers and clients. When we originally started this site over 2 years ago, the goal was to make a difference in…

A Vegetarian Diet For One Day Can Help Stop Global Warming

2009-04-18T17:16:44+00:00

Americans consume a huge amount of meat. So much so that livestock is now one of the leading contributors to global warming, responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions as measured in a carbon dioxide equivalent. A recent United Nations…

Gettin’ wiggly with it - Worm Composting

2009-04-13T04:15:52+00:00

In my household, we recycle everything - cans, plastic, paper, paperboard, wine corks, batteries, electronics, and other items we no longer want or need that could benefit someone else I donate to local homeless and animal shelters. On average,…

Environmentally Conscious Print-House

2009-04-10T14:22:47+00:00

We usually do reviews on specific products, but today I wanted to take a stab at a specific industry and focus on one particular business who is doing their part to make this industry a little greener. We were asked recently to provide physical…

Save Energy and the Environment with a Straw Bale Home

2009-04-09T12:49:03+00:00

There are many concerns about how we can prevent global warming and save energy in our daily lives. In every aspect of modern life, whether it be transportation,…

Fun in the Sun: Powering Your RV with Solar

2009-03-27T06:09:26+00:00

Living in Portland, Oregon, the sun is not something we take for granted seeing how we average only 144 sunny days a year. When the sun does decide to shine down and grace us with its presence, we get out there and soak it up (with appropriate SPF…

Earth Hour 2009 Is Just Around The Corner

2009-03-26T13:26:06+00:00

Earth Hour 2009 is just around the corner and it is an important day for you to voice your opinion and show what you stand for. If you are not familiar with Earth Hour, here is a brief history on the event: Earth Hour is an annual international event…

Earth Sheltered Home: Green Building Construction Work Exchange

2009-03-23T13:25:43+00:00

Do you want to gain valuable hands-on green building experience this summer? Do you want to learn all about building an earth sheltered home…

Ways to Prevent Global Warming While Traveling

2009-03-20T03:20:05+00:00

Travel, and the human thirst for it, presents a tough problem to people like you who want to take bold steps to reduce their impact on global warming. Here, we’ll discuss how your long-distance travel contributes to rising global temperatures,…

Passive Solar Design Can Help Stop Global Warming

2009-03-16T18:46:32+00:00

There are many ways to prevent global warming through building more energy efficient homes. Conventional houses are large, poorly…

How to Size an Inline Tankless Water Heater

2009-03-11T18:22:10+00:00

Tankless water heaters come in many different shapes and sizes and there really is no "one size fits all" solution. Every home and every end user is different, so the sizing of a tankless inline water heater should be calculated to fit the needs of each…

Change a Lightbulb, Change the World

2009-03-10T14:34:02+00:00

There is something about “springing forward” into daylight savings time that makes me want to jump head first into spring. For me, this usually means spring cleaning, but also a time to start fresh; an opportunity to turn over a new green…

How To Acquire Recycled Building Materials and Lumber For Your Home

2009-03-09T04:49:33+00:00

Do you want a more ecological way to obtain building materials, such as lumber, doors, windows, and bricks for your home? Some of the most sustainable sources for material are soon-to-be demolished homes. You can save money from buying new lumber,…