The Greenie-Weenie | How to Live Green

Gray-Water Systems: Going Green, Literally!

2011-07-28T19:00:00.000-07:00

You may be asking yourself what exactly is a "gray-water" system? It's simply a plumbing system that you install in your home to reroute all the water you use for your shower, laundry, sinks, etc. to the landscaping outside.

What normally happens in traditional plumbing systems, water is used and drained into the sewer system for recycling. Now, normally this isn't a bad thing, but according to the Environmental Protection Agency, this type of water accounts for 54% of an entire household's use. That's an astounding amount of water that can be used for the benefit of everything green outside the house. As an added bonus, you're saving money on your water bill by cutting out the extra you spend watering your lawn. At the end of the day, you're already accustomed to showers (I hope!), laundry, washing dishes and the like - so why not use that water for something that will benefit us all as a whole? Some installation services even claim that you can save as much as 30-40% on your monthly water bill using this system! It's a win-win!

Normally, installing a gray-water system will require the administrative headache by apply for and receiving the appropriate permits (as with anything in extreme home improvements). I live in California, and being the green-friendly state that it is, approved legislation to allow homeowners to install these systems without all the permits and associated red tape.

Gray-water systems are a viable option in an effort to go green and live an environment friendly lifestyle. The average cost of these systems are initially steep -- after all, you're making a significant change but the kits themselves can range from $600 and up. However, unless you're an avid DIY you will have to hire a company to install the kit for you. Those prices can vary depending on who you go with and is outside the scope of this article. However, after an initial investment, you could look towards reducing your water bill significantly, and helping out the environment all at the same time!

Until next time: Stay Green!

Save Money and the Environment when Commuting

2011-07-25T23:20:00.000-07:00

I live in California where gas prices are continuously in flux and are generally higher than what I'm used to seeing around the nation. I'm an American. I commute. I love my car (who doesn't?). If you're like me (and I'm assuming you are), then the thought of ditching your car and depending on public transportation is a definite no-go.

However, I've come to the realization that saving money on gas and making some small sacrifices can go a long way, not only for the wallet, but for the environment as well. Here are some quick tips on how to reduce your spending for gasoline, as well as reducing your carbon footprint:

1. Car Pool! HOV lanes, or how ever they're described in your neck of the woods. Utilize them! The less cars on the roads equal less traffic. Less traffic equals a shorter commute time. A shorter commute time equals less emissions. It's a win, win. Plus, you might sneak a quick nap if you're not the one driving!

2. Bicycle! Yes I said it. The good ol' bicycle. What was once a modern invention for transportation in the good ol' days is now just a recreation toy. However, more and more socialites and hipsters are riding around on these things to get to and from work. The beauty behind these bad boys: You don't have to worry about parking, you'll enjoy the work out, and you're lessening your carbon footprint.

3. Public transportation. Yes I know what I said earlier. But for some this is an absolute must, especially in crowded metro areas. However, if you live the burbs, then find out if your county has a rail system and then link that with local bus routes to reduce your footprint.

There's not a lot of scientific data to throw around here folks, just some plain old common sense. You will have to make some adjustments and sacrifices, but even once or twice a week can make a huge difference when you're looking to save money and help the environment on your daily commute. Until next time!

Bottled Water - Not Living Green

2008-12-18T22:10:00.000-08:00

More and more, Americans are drinking water from disposable plastic bottles. Who could blame them? With news feeds about our obese society and how we fair against our more slender European counterparts, it's no wonder the "healthy" biz has been on the rise for a couple of years now.

Unfortunately, American's aren't being very smart about it. Google how many water bottles are tossed to rubbish piles across our great nation and you'll be surprised to read that as many 40 million bottles own real estate there. With a little investment of time and some money, there is a cheap way to help you live green and become more eco-friendly year round.

BRITA Water filtration system comes with an array of water pitchers, filters and faucet filtration systems that not only allows you to filter your home's tap water, but also help you reduce waste by eliminating the purchase of water bottles. No more lugging cases and cases of water from your grocery store back to the house. These lightweight, simple and easy to use filters provide the same quality water you will find in your local grocery store. Best of all, the filters are also recyclable.

You initially spend $30.00 to purchase one of their pitchers on the right, but you reuse that pitcher on a daily basis. You purchase the filter as well, and you've completed the process of eliminating plastic bottle waste. BRITA's system is eqiupped with a sensor to remind you when it's time to replace the filters. Would you rather recycle one filter, or cases of empty plastic bottles on a monthly basis?

Like I said, make a small investment initially to help your household become more eco-friendly and start living green.

Visit www.brita.com to find out more information on pricing and different products this company provides. I've been a proud user of BRITA since 2001, and I've never looked back!

Staying Green this Holiday Season

2008-12-18T12:18:00.000-08:00

The holidays are coming up fast, and as people scramble through department stores and other shopping venues, it's important to remember to step outside yourself and realize and think what you can do to eliminate waste. Here's some Christmas enviornment-friendly tips to get you started:

1. Use timers on your holiday lights! No matter what state you live in, electricity bills can be an expensive monthly venture - especially during the holiday season. If you budgeted for holiday spending - don't be thrown off by the sudden increase in your electricity bill. You can search for light timers on Google or Amazon.com. They are relatively expensive compared to the price you may end up forking over in January.

2. Recycle those present boxes and wrapping paper! If you have children, the wrapping paper will more than likely be torn to shreds. However, you can still horde all that torn paper and turn it in to your local recycling center. With present boxes, you can either salvage them and save them for birthdays, special occasions, or for the next holiday season.

These may sound patronizing, but in reality, when we get caught up in the moment, we forget that these few simple steps and others that I'll post separately can help immensely year round with reducing waste and helping our environment. Additionally, it'll also save you some money in the long run, or may even put some extra coin in your pocket (recycling).

Until next time, keep reading and remember, your comments or ideas are always welcomed!

Living Green is at your Fingertips

2008-12-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

Living "green" doesn't mean you have to go out of your way to find the products you need to reduce waste.

I stumbled across this online store http://www.green-living.com/ and it markets "green-friendly" products that we use every day.

Definitely worth the time to visit and scan around the wares and help you come to your own conclusion as to what may be available in your local market to help reduce waste.

Obama's New Enviornmental Team

2008-12-18T05:39:00.000-08:00

It appears change is on the horizon - and for good cause! The article I've linked here describe's President-elect Obama's Enviornmental Team - or Green Team as the article refers to.

Definitely a breath of fresh air, and a great read. Enjoy!

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20081229/hertsgaard?rel=rightsideaccordian

Make a Difference from Home! 7 Easy Things!

2008-12-17T19:53:00.000-08:00

Turn off equipment like televisions and stereos when you're not using them. That little red standby light means they're still using power - and that means a contribution to global warming.
Save water:
- turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.
- collect the water used to wash vegetables and salad to water your houseplants.
Call your local government to see if they have a disposal location for used car batteries and other hazardous household wastes.
Recycle your paper, glass, plastics and other waste. Call your local government to find out if they offer a collection service.
Use rechargeable batteries.
Send e-greetings instead of paper cards.
Help reduce the world's rubbish dumps - don't use "throw-away" products like paper plates and napkins, and plastic knives, forks, and cups.

That's it - 7 easy steps to not only make a difference, but if you think about it - could potentially save you some money in the long run. How much to batteries cost for those toys? If you could store all the excess water coming from your sink's spout while you were brushing your teeth - how much would it be? Care to take a guess?

These are just some of the things we can do around the house on a daily basis. Sadly, we don't realize we're being wasteful. Keep resourcefulness in the forefront of your mind! Take it to work too - imagine all the waste going on in your place of employment?

Food for thought.

Welcome!

2008-12-17T19:25:00.000-08:00

The hype is out there. Matter of fact, this was a subject of great debate during this year's Presidential campaigns. If you're not conscientious regarding our environment, oil consumption, or the strain on our world as a whole - then you're simply behind the power curve.

The Greenie-Weenie is an "AmeriGreen" promoting blog that informs readers on ways they can participate on becoming more and more "green," but without the hassle of over extending yourself or committing fully to the cause.

I'm certainly not a fanatic, but instead, I became interested in learning how I could possibly contribute to reducing waste without reducing my pocket book. This blog is simply an attempt to inform, teach and provide the tools necessary for you to contribute. I am in no way affiliated with any corporation or other company.

Stay tuned to this blog for more information...oh, and contribute!