Make Your Wallet Greener

Make Your Business Green

2008-03-31T14:27:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed how incredibly inefficient businesses are when it comes to energy? You would think that places that are about the bottom line would try to do everything they could do reduce how much energy they use. Most likely the issue is that when you go to work, you do not have as much ownership over the energy bills or how others use their energy.

I work in a hospital that is incredibly inefficient. I mean, do we really need to run ventilators *all* night long? Of course I'm kidding, but when I walk around the place during my 30 hour work shifts, you notice how much energy is being wasted throughout the place.

It would be great if you could try get a hold of energy bills for your place of employment and then implement simply energy saving principles and follow the energy bills and any difference goes back to employees or something of that nature. I mean the money is just getting wasted.

Most of the time, the changes does not even take asking your boss for some money to change things. Frankly, just shut off the lights when they are not being used. Shut off bathroom lights. Shut off your office lights when you have a window and the sun is shining. Shut off your computer when you leave is a huge thing. Shut off machines not being used in general. I suppose everyone's business is different and uses energy different, but I'm sure you could walk around and find huge drains on energy.

Then there is the stuff that takes a little up-front money but pays for itself over a few years. This will involve either some fancy pie graphs or a great powerpoint with animation and sound to convince your boss to do it.
-Maybe if you business is solid and going to be around, go to LED lights.
-Washing machines at your place? Go frontloaders.
-Encourage natural lighting.
-Discourage formal dress codes so that people can wear what they want and they can adapt
to lowering the temp on the termostat in the winter and raising it a bit in the summer.
-You could go with gray water systems, use low flow toilets, or on-demand water heaters.
-How much paper does your job waste? ...and on stupid memos no less. Use both sides and
send things electronically when you can. That saves both paper, ink and
printer upkeep/replacement. oh and sanity.

Other suggestions??

There is a great podcast about this kind of stuff in on NOW/PBS that just came out. Give a listen.

What kind of car should I drive next?

2008-03-10T13:24:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, what kind of car should I get next? Please don't say a minivan. Just because I have kids doesn't mean I am doomed to that fate. Anyway, I have been trying to look to see what would be the most environmentally friendly car out there in America. (all the good cars are overseas). Lately I have been looking into whether Diesel is the way to go. Yup, good old, black smoke producing diesel. I figure I should get to see the exhaust I am producing. Really, the days of the old, toxic diesel engine are fading because of recent new laws saying the engine needs to meet stricter exhaust standards. So, if my kids won't get asthma because of the engine, can I save them from too warm of weather, so to speak? Possibly. Diesel claims a 20% more efficient engine. This is taking into consideration that it takes more energy to produce diesel. The other nice thing is that cars tend to last a bit longer with diesel which will reduce greenhouse gases because you don't have to build as many new cars.

However, an interesting article on http://www.grinningplanet.com/2005/04-12/diesel-vs-gasoline-article.htm would suggest that gas is still a good way to go based on refining and day-to-day use. I don't know how scientific this chart is, but it does come from the Union of Concerned Scientist. I imagine them to be a bunch of guys at a big oval table with very furrowed brows. You?

I suppose I can change that car to biodiesel and smell Mcdonald's french fries all the time or I could get a hybrid. Oh, speaking of which, I just read a consumer report review that the Ford Escape Hybrid is a bad bad option. Hmmm Ford being a bad idea? Who would have thought it?

Broadband vs Dial-Up

2008-03-01T15:27:00.000-08:00

So I was just reading an interesting article about whether you should buy broadband internet or dial-up internet. The issue would be cost of the two vs speed. This article claimed that if you were to buy broadband you would save $30 a year in electricity because you would complete your searches quicker, type your emails quicker, download everything quicker and get off the computer quicker. The key to this was also turning off your computer quicker. So you save money by getting the better product. I'm not going to argue with how much money you would save because that would be different for everyone. However, we can all agree that we need to turn our computers off when we are done with them and are not going to use them for awhile. No need to leave them on all night long or while we are at work.

Vacation checklist

2008-02-27T12:47:00.000-08:00

Steps to take for my vacation
1. Turn down the water heater
2. Shut off power strips, unplug extra chargers
3. Make sure all lights are off (sometimes, the dimmer switch gets turned down, but not off.)
4. Turn the heat way down. The cat will do fine, she has fur.
5. Make sure the computer and all accessories are off.
6. Turn down the fridge if you emptied it before the trip. Likely even if you didn't empty it, it should stay rather cold because no one is opening the door. The cat can't get in there because she has no opposable thumbs.
7. Don't forget my son.

Just try to think about the most common things in your house that are running often and that your electricity/gas bill is mostly due to heating/air conditioning. Or things you don't need when your gone.

Walmart and Its Straight Noodles

2008-02-26T10:32:00.000-08:00

This has nothing to do with saving money but I was just reading an interview with Walmart's head of sustainability. They have been working with companies to reduce packaging. I ran across this cool quote

" TreeHugger: I can't resist, I have to ask you about the Hamburger Helper thing.

Andy: Sure. Well, you know, it's an example of a small change that has a tremendous ripple effect. So with Hamburger Helper, based on this lens of sustainability, they took a look at the Hamburger Helper noodles, and they figured out a way to basically straightened out those noodles.

Our CEO, Lee Scott, likes to say that very few people that he's spoken with buy Hamburger Helper because of the noodles. So the straighter noodles, customers actually like them better. It also reduces the size of the box, so we have better availability on shelf level by getting more product on the shelf. And finally, just that change alone from straightening out those noodles results in 500 trucks off the road every year that were previously on the road shipping that larger box.

It's just a perfect example where, as you get this to live in the business, and everyone asks different questions, and everyone's driving toward creating more value for the customer, you open up possibilities that weren't on the table a year ago."

All you have to do is straighten the noodles!

The rest of the interview is at : http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/11/the_th_interview_andy_and_matt.php

PSI and better gas mileage

2008-02-19T20:43:00.000-08:00

So I have been driving the old Honda lately and I've noticed my fuel economy tank. I hadn't changed my driving habits, I just had a oil change, they even 'filled up my tires'. Couldn't figure it out. However, my tires still looked low, so I checked them out and they were all at 30 but the max for my tires is 40 psi. I put another 5 back in my tires and Bam!-the gas mileage is back to normal.

here's a little pearl
"Gas mileage can be improved by 3.3 percent by keeping tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 Pounds per Square Inch (psi) drop in pressure of all four tires."

I must have changed something else too, but either way, we're back on track. You can all stop worrying now...

Coffee Mugs

2008-02-11T12:30:00.000-08:00

I have made a concerted effort to carry a coffee mug with me to the coffee shop to get my frequent cup of coffee. There are a couple of reasons why.

1. I need a hot cup of coffee, I can not understand why people sip on the same cup of coffee all day. If it doesn't burn my throat going down, then it's no good. Why would that women sue McDonalds over a hot cup of coffee? I would sue them if it wasn't hot enough! The travel coffee mug ensures that my cup of coffee will stay hot for hours (exaggeration...) and therefore, I can relish in the caffeine and bitter flavor for as long as I can.

2. I tend to be a fast walker. I like to be on the go. Some people would tend to say that I even 'have my panties in a bundle' at times. In general, I like to be on the move. All of this go-go-go leads to a propensity of spilling coffee all over my hand. I need a spill proof mug.

3. Why get a disposable cup when I have a mug that I can reuse? I applaud coffeehouses that use recycled sleeves and cups, but wouldn't no cup be better than a recycled cup? I suppose some people like to have that disposable cup because it shows off that they were able to go to a Starbucks and order a drink. So if you are into coffee for status, then skip this conversation. But, if you want to save the environment and save money, then take a mug with you to your local coffeehouse. (The saving money thing is because you get a discount on your coffee if you bring your own mug.)

On caveat: You should be savy about your mug. You will need to know how much liquid your coffee mug holds. Most baristas are clueless to volume and liquid measurements and will charge you for a large cup of coffee because the mug looks big. My mug only holds a small cups worth of coffee and I expect to be charged accordingly.

Did this post have an angry tone to it? I should go get some coffee and chill out.

Oh! Here is my favorite mug. It's the OXO Good Grips LiquiSeal. It's got a button on top that needs pressed to be able to drink. No spill, no unnecessary heat loss. Fantastic!

Tax savings for "greening" your home

2008-02-03T13:18:00.000-08:00

So I just got done with my taxes, which was quite fun this year. I love deductions! Anyway, I was reminded of all the deductions/credits you can get if you improve the energy efficiency of your home. On line 50 of the 1040 there is a Residential Energy Credit. It may be too late for this year, but make sure you save all your reciepts for buying insulation/windows/doors/furnace/hot water heaters and the such. Refer to the 1040 publication for all details. There is the opportunity for credits for buying an alternative fuel vehicle (form 8910), credit for alcohol for fuel, getting an electric car. I think that's it for the most part.

SAVE THOSE RECIEPTS!

Hot Water Heater Blanket

2008-02-01T08:55:00.000-08:00

I installed a hot water heater blanket this weekend. I picked it up for 15 dollars and it had a R-11 value. I was told you want at least R-8.

What's the savings? Well, the Washington State University Cooperative Extension claims a savings of around $20 dollars per year. Efficiency Vermont (www.efficiencyvermont.com) says you will get 550 kilowatts of savings per year (roughly the same if you use about 6 cents/kilowatt)

Insulating your hot water heater is probably not necessary if you have a newer, efficient model or if you hot water heater is in a small closet since that will give some insulation. Mine is in the middle of my cold, cold basement and you can feel the warmth on the hot water heater.

Go to http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=13070
to learn how to install a hot water heater blanket and pay special attention if you have a gas type.

Speaking of Hot Water heaters, I just learned a gas heater will cost about 13 dollars/month and an electric can cost up to 45 dollars per month for a family of 3! (this, according to a San Diego gas electric company. Careful with what anyone from California tells you. :) So returning to our conversation about using less water and more cold water is quite important.

Frontloader Washing Machines

2008-01-21T20:07:00.001-08:00

I thought I would drop a more detailed word on front loaders since it has been discussed with friend who just bought a new home. He was in the market for a new washer and was trying to find the best buy (he's a savvy, savvy shopper)

First things first, typically when you buy a washing machine, you practically buy it for life. Ok, maybe 15-20 years, but that's a long time. So make your buy smart and one that has a good track record. This new homeowner guy says he wasn't satisfied with the track record of frontloaders, which I can not comment on. I can, however, talk about the fantastic savings you get with one. Now they will end up costing around 500-700 dollars more than top loaders, but a lot of communities (like Denver) have great rebates to buy them. They will use 30-60% less water and can hold a lot more clothes. They also spin at around 1000 rpm rather than the typical 600 rpms of a top loader, so your clothes are more dry and need less dry time. With all this combined, some people (you know, people) claim that you can save 100 dollars a year with a frontloader. Heck, you only need to own it for 5 years till you see the savings. That's not too bad folks.

Of course, I probably exaggerated all the statistics to prove my point. But it's my blog!

Oh and no need for a matching dryer for the front loader. It's not needed since your clothes won't require that much heat to dry anyway. Or, you could just skip it and put up a clothes line. I have this great retractable line, so the neighbors don't get all fussy about it.

Canvas Bags for Groceries

2008-01-19T09:18:00.000-08:00

So this probably is not directly about saving money and more about the environment, but I suppose when you stop to think about it, you could be saving some money...

The tip would be to use canvas bags to do your grocery/retail shopping. They are sturdy and won't rip through when you are walking with 15 pounds of chocolate in your bag during a recent impulse buy. You do get a discount on your groceries when you use canvas bags. (5 cents per bag is probably not exciting to most people though.) I would reckon though that if everyone used their own bags, then groceries could theoretically become cheaper too. According to reusablebags.com, the US uses 380 billion bags/wraps a year which ends up costing retailers 4 billion dollars a year.

But Matt, don't canvas bags have an environmental impact too? Well, yes that is a very astute observation, Matt. Well done! But the Sierra Club suggests that you just have to use that reusable bag 11 times to make the environmental impact less then disposable (paper or plastic). Which really makes the whole paper vs. plastic conversation worthless.

Where to get all of these canvas bags?
1. Trade shows. There are always tons of them and free!!!
2. www.themissionwear.com This is a fantastic organization just down the street from me that employs women with a history of drug abuse/jail time/prostitution and helps them learn a skill and work. Super cool!
3. I already made mention of reusablebags.com

Washing in Cold Water

2008-01-15T21:12:00.000-08:00

Did you know that 90% of the energy used to wash your clothes is spent just heating the water? That's what "my people" are telling me. The Rocky Mountain Institute even estimates that you could save an average of 60 bucks just washing in cold water.

But will it clean?
HA! of course it will. How many of us are truly getting dirty during our day. I'd said, maybe a peanut sauce stain here, some body grease there and that's about it. Cold water will do. I have been washing our clothes in cold water and it's been great. I do wash diapers in warm water with a heavier rinse, and they come out spectacular. I've abandoned hot water completely.

Give it a go, see what happens. I can just see the carbon dioxide waste just disappearing. :)

www.newdream.org recently had a big push for this. Check it out.

Water reduction

2008-01-10T19:41:00.000-08:00

No post in awhile. That's because my high costing, environmental impacting son tends to suck up my spare time, which is ok. I have been thinking about what to talk about when it struck me as I was doing my 100th load of his laundry this week. (I think that's an exaggeration, but one load feels like 100).

Here in Colorado we have a water issue. Turns out we don't have a lot. Some people at one point were talking about piping it in from Wyoming. I don't know if they know about the Pacific Ocean, but I think they do. :)

So we are encouraged to not use a lot of water which I try to do by the following:
1. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth
2. Never turn the faucet all the way on when washing dishes or washing hands. I find that a quarter of that amount is just fine
3. Pack that dishwasher full and try not to hand wash a lot of dishes
Scientists at the University of Bonn in Germany who studied the issue
found that the dishwasher uses only half the energy, one-sixth of the
water, and less soap than hand-washing an identical set of dirty dishes.
4. Don't rinse dishes before they go in a dishwasher.
5. Low flow shower head
6. Don't flush your toilet every time you use it.
I'm kidding.
7. I would love to install a urinal in my house. Definitely less water used.
8. I would also love to make use of gray water. This is water that goes from your faucet and after used goes to be used in the toilet.
9. Drink more saltwater.
10. more showers, less baths
11. Front-loader washing machines utilize less water for bigger loads.
12. Plant gardens that are appropriate for the environment and don't need watered a lot. Skip the grass, which although feels great to walk on, sucks water like no one's buisness.
13. Only go to car washes that recycle the water. Never go to hand car washes which wastes a ton of water. Automatic wash companies are better...typically. In Colorado if they are good, they will get certified by the water company.

LED Christmas Lights

2008-01-01T14:56:00.000-08:00

Hey, now would be the time to find some LED Christmas Lights at a deal for next years tree. LED are the future, man. They're hip and cool, get on board now. Of course, they're probably on sale now too, so I can actually afford them. Anyone know of the best deals right now?

The Smart Strip from November's post

2007-12-25T20:17:00.000-08:00

I just got it, I use, I love it!

ziplock bags

2007-12-25T20:08:00.000-08:00

Am I the only one who saves ziplock bags? I learned this from my mom who is hardly conscious of the environment, but was indeed cheap when need be. Anywho, I refuse to throw away ziplock bags. I am probably not saving *that* much money, but why buy more of these plastic bags to throw away, when it's super easy to wash and reuse? My wife tends not to enjoy them waiting to be washed on our counter, but I just know in my heart of hearts that she gets all warm inside when she opens the drawer and gets an old ziplock to throw some carrot sticks in. I have made it a rule to throw out ziplocks that have contained raw chicken. I thought that was a decent enough rule, but otherwise, it's fair game.
I even found a good use for old ziplocks to help organize all of the cords that go to my computer. Each usb/plug that is not constantly in use has a ziplock bag to keep it organized. You then throw them all in a bin and hide them out of sight. No more tangled cords! No more lost IPods! Genius!

BTW, my wife really never eats carrot sticks.

Insulation

2007-12-16T14:00:00.000-08:00

I tend to just walk around my house and try to figure out where the air is seeping in. Odd, but remember that most of this money saving stuff is a game for me. Therefore, I am constantly working on improving the ability for my furnace to keep the house warm and the air conditioner to keep the house cool.

I live in a townhome with really only 2 external walls, so my ability to seal and insulate is much easier then others. Still, I did discover several things when checking out my basement:
1. Most of the duct work going to the 2nd floor was uninsulated
2. When you put your hand next to the furnace, you could feel tons of air leaking.
3. The basement ceiling is uninsulated and makes the kitchen above very cold. (my basement is not heated.)

So, I checked out my friendly DOE website
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/insulation_sealing.html
and I made some corrections. The nice thing about the website is that you can find the insulation with the correct R-value for your climate. R-value basically being the ability to prevent heat transfer.

Now, I have my ducts insulated, my furnace sealed properly. I also insulated the pipes coming from the water heater. I still need to buy a water heater blanket and the insulation for the ceiling in the basement, but I will get that done soon.

What tips do you all have?

Programmable Thermostat

2007-12-07T10:24:00.000-08:00

I have a programmable thermostat now. I really just wanted to do some handywork in the house, so I got one. I think it was on sell for about 40 dollars. It's not a fancy touchscreen like my friend Dan's, but it will do. The nice thing is it has a feature that allows you to know how long it has been since you last changed your air filter on your furnance (another money saving idea).

I've read that the savings you reap from this is when you set the temp down 10 degrees lower than where you normally have it and leave it there for 8 hours. This should give you a 10-15% savings. In other words, 1% savings for each degree lower for 8 hours. It is nice to have the temp automatically drop low when we are gone in the day and it is back to comfortable when we roll in the door at night. I even can make weekend vs weekday programs.

Computers are great!

In case you are going to bring up the point about the furnance overworking to warm the house back up...
According to the Feds,
"The fuel required to reheat a building to a comfortable temperature is roughly equal to the fuel saved as the building drops to the lower temperature."

This is a statement based on lowering the temperature for at least 8 hours and having a conventional furnace.

OH! Be careful throwing your old manual thermostats away. MERCURY! eek!

Save Mileage, Stop Road Rage

2007-12-05T18:41:00.000-08:00

I've been working on patience. I have a lot of areas in my life were my patience could be better, but that's probably material for another blog. Today is about a patience pattern that I could develop that would actually save me money. Should I be searching for patience based on money? Again probably material for another blog.

Anyway, I need to cut the road rage. I need to chill out big time on the road. I'm not the kind of guy who is going to hunt down a driver who cuts me off, but I do drive aggressive and tend to jump lanes, just to get in front of that one car, so I can get to a place 5 seconds faster. Part of the problem is that I am competing against people everyday in my mind, so I have to race in the car. Yes, I know, they have no clue I'm racing them.

I'm also competing against my odometer. I've noticed that when I chill out and accelerate slow and brake slow, I see a few miles per gallon improvement. I'm working on not letting my car idle either. In the morning in these frosty Denver mornings, I let the car idle for around 30 seconds or slow and then drive very gently till the car is warm. I probably should also go check my tire pressure and get those spark plugs changed like I have intended to for the past 3 months.

Of course the best way to save gas mileage is to walk. ha.

Here's the list of resources:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/drive.shtml
http://www.epinions.com/content_4502364292
http://www.mpgplus.com/

one of those 'heady' websites from a Scandanavian-
http://home.wanadoo.nl/~kroone/gas/gas.html

Power Strip- Smart Strip LCG4

2007-11-25T15:24:00.000-08:00

So I have been discussing the Phantom Power idea and one way to decrease the ability of items in your house of always drawing power is to put them on a power strip. The hard thing is my power strips are difficult to get to and cause me to contort in uncomfortable ways.

I think I have the solution!

I have found the Smart Strip LCG4 which can be found at: http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Bits-Ltd./Item/LCG4/

All you do is plug your main computer into the control plug and all of the peripheral devices the computer uses into the spare plugs. (my computer has 5 other power sucking items-go PC!) Now, when you turn off the main computer, all the other ones will turn off with it. No need to have an ugly power strip in plain site and no need to hurt yourself (Chiropractors are expensive). The makers seem to claim that it will pay for itself in 6 weeks. That remains to be seen, but I love the idea!

Scooter nation

2007-11-24T10:12:00.000-08:00

rough average cost of a 150cc scooter- $2000
mpg - roughly- 70
tank size 2.5 gallons

My Honda Civic mpg in the city- 30

I drive an avg of 150 miles a week, so 5 gallons a week or considering $3 gas- $15 a week for gas.

If in a scooter, that would be 2.14 gallons per week or $6.40.

I would save 8.60 cents a week if I solely drove a scooter.
The scooter would pay for itself in 4 and a half years. WHAT! That's a stinkin long time.
I have tried to see if other people got the same estimate, and generally this is true, but if you got a smaller engine, you would get a lot better mpg.

Anywho, I probably would not use a scooter full time though and would still drive the car around. Plus you can't put a car seat on a scooter.
You should also consider the price of insurance, car maintenance and other hidden costs of owning a car or scooter to see if it is right for you.

As for me, I think I am going to figure out how to build my own bicycle and start using that!

More on Phantom Power

2007-11-19T13:23:00.001-08:00

Here are some suggestions and discussion on reducing energy cost and phantom power. I should note there is some discussion with a un-named friend that dimmer switches can also draw phantom power, but I have yet to find proof of this other than this is true for older dimmer switches, but I will find the answer even if it means finding my old Physics professor!

http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/lighting.html
I don't know who this guy is, but I like his hair!
http://www.westarenergy.com/corp_com/contentmgt.nsf/publishedpages/residential%20energy%20myths

http://www.northernontariowires.com/conservation_tips.htm

A bit on the topic of mercury in CFLs.
There is a small amount of mercury in every CFL. I say that like a small amount is ok...it's not ok, but the companies that make CFL's have committed to lower mercury content. Also, coal-fire plants are the largest producers of mercury so check out this bit o' information...

"Coal power plants are "the largest uncontrolled industrial source of mercury emissions in Canada".^[35] According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), (when coal power is used) the mercury released from powering an incandescent lamp for five years exceeds the total of (a) the mercury released by powering a comparably luminous CFL for the same period and (b) the mercury contained in the lamp.^[36] It should be noted, however that the "EPA is implementing policies to reduce airborne mercury emissions. Under regulations issued in 2005, coal-fired power plants will need to reduce their emissions by 70 percent by 2018."^[37].
-from the wikipedia page on CFLs.

I heard Wikipedia never lies, so you gotta believe it!

Essentially, just recycle your lightbulbs properly and we get to have babies with their nervous systems properly developed.

Cloth Diapers

2007-11-18T14:27:00.000-08:00

So more about baby butts...
This is a topic particularly important to my life since I have been reduced to trying to contain my son's inability to control his bowel/bladder/saliva/reflux.

But of concern here is diapers.
What should one do when it comes to diapers? This is a big decision and I am not going to get into all the details but here are three articles that I feel give a balanced view of the issue (I found articles that were sponsored by the disposable diaper industry...not quite balanced.)

http://www.mswmanagement.com/mw_0209_beyond.html
http://www.checnet.org/healthehouse/education/articles-detail.asp?Main_ID=554
http://www.babyloveproducts.com/data/environmentalconsid.html

Here is how we do it to try to minimize our impact: We do cloth diapers all day. They are cotton-based, but I may look into getting hemp-based diapers. We end up washing our diapers every 3 days or so. They do not require a hot wash, we use the warm cycle and we use Charlie's Soap which has a low environmental impact. They all come out looking great. We have a clothes line in the back to get them bleached by the sun, otherwise we will dry them on the rack in the basement. Occasionally, we will need to dry them in the dryer.

There are clear environmental issues with both disposable and cloth but I feel the better of the two is cloth.
OH! by the way, Cloth is sooooooooooooo much cheaper!

I have seen analysis that says you will end of spending around $2500 for 30 months of disposable diapers. If you do cloth, you can end up spending around $700-1000 for 30 months of diapering. Whoa. Cloth diapering services will also end up being cheaper than disposable.

I think that we will end up spending probably around 1000-1200 on cloth for our son, however, most all of the diapers that we have will be able to be used again for the next kid. So for each child we are spending around $600.

Here is the website of the diaper company we use. They are great for questions and their prices are very comparable to other websites.
www.babycottonbottoms.com

Household Cleaners

2007-11-17T10:51:00.000-08:00

I have taken great joy in making my own household cleaners, though I still do not have great joy in actually doing the cleaning. The cleaners are typically made from a few basic ingredients: olive oil, vinegar, borax, and baking soda. Simple enough and you are making cleaners that are a lot easier on the environment. No weird chemical names here! Here are the easiest recipes I have gathered and begun to use. I will include the websites that I have used to find them.

Furniture Polish
1/4 c Olive Oil
4 Tbsps Vinegar
2 tsps Lemon Juice

Store this in the fridge. I also add some orange essential oil for a better smell. You have to frequently shake the mixture when you use it as the oil and vinegar will separate.

Disinfectant
Water
3 Tbsps Soap- you can use castila soap which is the most gentle on the environment (find it with the highest percentage of olive oil, otherwise it can have other stuff added to it.
20-30 drops of tea tree oil (anti-microbial)

All-Purpose Household Cleaner
2 Tbsps Vinegar
1 tsp Borax
1 c Hot Water

Stir them into the bottle, then add water to top of bottle with 1/8c dish washing detergent and 15 drops essential oil for smell

Butt Wipes ( for your baby that is)
1/2 tsp baby soap/shampoo
1 tbsp Olive Oil
2-3 drops lavender oil (optional for antimicrobial action)
2-3 drops Tea Tree Oil (optional for antimicrobial action)
10 drops Grapefruit Seed extract (optional for rashes)

Mix with 3 cups warm water
Dip cloth wipes in the mixture and use. We typically dip 20 wipes at a time and store them in a air tight container for use as needed. They work a whole lot better than the store disposable kind!

Window Cleaner
Club Soda
or
2/3 Water
1/3 Rubbing Alcohol
1 Tsbp Ammonia

Toilet Bowel Cleaner
Mix Borax with Lemon Juice and make a paste. Rub into the bowl and leave for up to 2 hours.

I was going to start making my own laundry soap, but I have found the most fantastic soap! It's Charlies Soap at www.charliesoap.com. It is equally good for cloth diapers as your own clothes. Plus it's cheap! I think it works out to around 9 cents a load and they do not charge shipping costs.

You need to make sure you have plenty of bottles for these cleaners, so as you are using up your old cleaners, save the bottles!

Here are some websites about making your own cleaners:
http://www.diylife.com/2007/10/01/thrifty-living-make-your-own-laundry-detergent/
http://www.diylife.com/2007/08/17/baking-soda-a-cleaner-of-my-choice/
http://www.totallyfrugal.com/forums/archive/index.php/f-29.html
This website by the way has a lot of tools to live cheap and simply!
http://www.mormonchic.com/dealdiva/homemade_cleaners.asp
This website is my total inspiration. The Mormons can make a case for a good deal.
This site will let you know how much money you could save.
www.babycottonbottoms.com
This is where we learned of the Butt Wipes. (There has got to be a better name for them though.)
http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/120/diy

Phantom Power

2007-11-08T14:05:00.000-08:00

This is something that I have recently stumbled upon in my quest to to beat my previous month's electricity bill. The idea seems to becoming more of a common issue, but essentially items in your house that are plugged in may have the ability to draw energy even if they are off. I personally prefer the much scarier term of "Vampire Energy". Items that have the potential to do this are items that have electronic clocks (VCRs, microwaves, stoves, etc), chargers that remain plugged in when not in use (as I understand, not all will continue to draw power, but some can), video game systems, and the list can go on.

Here are some links to read about the issue:

http://www.midlandpower.com/aspx/news/default.aspx?NewsID=969
http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/appliances/index.cfm/mytopic=10040

Calculate the potential waste of energy your appliances :

http://www.mygreenelectronics.org/EnergyCalculator.aspx

So it's probably not realilistic to put your TV and VCR on a power strip and then have to reset the clock every time you want to program it to tape (do people still record on VCR...am I the only one?), but there are steps you can do to save some money and protect the environment. Please post Phantom energy you have found in your house or work...