http://www.informationbirmingham.com/public-work.aspx

http://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/NatchezTrace/

Reduce your energy use

Here are several suggestions to get you well on your way to saving money and living well all while giving Mother Earth a break!

• Figure out how much energy you are currently using. TVA and NES have partnered to offer a “do-it-yourself” home energy audit.  Go online and fill out the audit and you’ll receive a free Energy Conservation Kit in the mail. From there, you can set goals to reduce your energy use. Its kind of like putting your house on a diet!

• Replace all the conventional lighting in your home with compact fluorescent (CF) bulbs. They cost more initially but use 65-75% less electricity than an incandescent bulb and last 8-15 times longer. Remember to properly recycle CF bulbs, as well as any other fluorescent bulb, as they contain trace amounts of mercury.
• Invest in a programmable thermostat or turn the AC off when you leave the house. Keep your thermostat set to no less than 78 degrees in the summer and no more than 72 degrees in the winter. If you are too hot, use a small fan near you instead of cooling the whole house. In the winter, use a small space heater to warm the immediate area to your liking… and wear a sweater!
• Set your water heater to 120 degrees. This temperature is sufficient for household needs, is recommended for safety against scalding and will ensure your heater a longer lifespan.
• Unplug all electronic devices that are not in use. Cell phone chargers draw electricity even when your phone is no longer plugged into it. Don’t pay for this waste of energy! Any item that has a remote is pulling a little bit of electricity even if it is not “on”. These devices are ready to be “on” with a touch of a button, thus constant electrical usage is needed to provide this convenience. Keep electronics you use daily plugged into one power strip; other electronics that you use less frequently can go on a separate power strip that is turned off after use. Evading this “phantom load” will save you a bit everyday!

Slow the Paper Waste Stream

Step 1. Got junk mail? You do have control over it -- you can opt-out. Its a privacy issue, but it is also a waste of paper and resources if you have no interest in these solicitations. Just let them know the mountains of paper is not welcome in your mail box. More information is available at http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/protect.shtm

Step 2. Saving trees is easy thanks to the internet. Paying bills online cuts down on paper consumption and saves the cost of paying for checks and stamps. Credit card companies are advertising it helps prevent identity thief too. Contact companies that send monthly bills and ask them to change your monthly payments to online billing. Save some bucks and a few trees! You will have less to shred and recycle too! Win, win, win, win, win!

Step 3. While you are surfing the internet and come across something you want to read later, don’t print it! Save it as a portable document file (pdf), read it offline, forward it to someone and save it for all eternity in your neat and dust-free file cabinet in your computer.

Watch the video:  Green thumbs sprout from weather and economic patterns

I was thrilled when I watched this report on Knoxville’s NBC WBIR this morning featuring my dear friend Tom Whisman.

I first met Tom over 13 years ago, while a student at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.  I met Tom through his partner Joe (they have now been together going on 40 years!).  Over the years, Joe and Tom have become my surrogate “gay” family.  Explaining my holiday plans each year goes something like this; “well, we go to my parents for a few days, and then we go to our ’second family’ in Knoxville for a few days – the second family is much more fun!”

Tom is one of my main inspirations for experimenting with gardening.  All those years ago, before even contemplating things like plant productivity and trees species, I would stroll through Tom’s serene gardens, pondering their beauty.  His style is more English than French, and he has traveled extensively to visit gardens all around the US and Europe for inspiration and has a library filled with books on the subject.

During our visits, his delicious dinners feature whatever vegetables are in season.  I have to admit that my love of cooking was also birthed in Tom and Joe’s beautiful home.

I have a lot to be thankful for – my wonderful and talented Knoxville family is certainly up there at the top.

Link to the full article:  http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=96057

You like your brands and you are a loyal customer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be green while you get what you want.

Buying in bulk not only saves a lot of money, but since more product is bundled together, less packaging is needed, thus less waste. If you have some excess storage space or a friend to split the goods with, invest in a wholesale warehouse membership and start buying in bulk. You can stock up on non-perishable items like toilet paper, toothpaste, deodorant, paper towels, and CF (compact fluorescent) light bulbs.  And where else can you find the 12 pound bags of baking soda and multiple gallon jugs of vinegar (see previous post) you’ll need for cleaning?

Some stores also offer a wide variety of fresh and frozen foods organic foods at prices that will pay for your membership in just a few weeks!

Revolutionize your cleaning

How many cleaners are under your sink? Dozens? Bet that cost you a bundle! Plus you have that haunting possibility of poisoning nagging in the back of your head… there is a better way.

Most household commercial cleaners come with scary labels warning against touching, inhaling or ingesting the contents. Why risk your health to clean the house? Natural cleaners work great, are easy on the pocketbook and won’t knock you out with lingering fumes. The basics include baking soda and white vinegar (bought in bulk of course).  Cheap, cheap, CHEAP!!! All you have to do is add a little water to some baking soda, make a paste and rub it on your sinks and surfaces, then wipe it away to clean up quick. Vinegar knocks the spunk out of a dirty garbage can, leaves laundry fresh and puts a gleam on your dishes.

http://www.armhammer.com/myhome/

http://www.heinzvinegar.com/tips

It has been almost three months now since planting the first round of veggies (tomatoes, peppers, basil, mint, thyme, chives, eggplant, okra, fennel, an assortment of lettuces and arugula). The experience has offered countless hours of literally watching my garden grow. I have yet to really enjoy much edible produce from the effort though.  The problem with a small plot is that you don’t necessarily get that much in return.  I consider it more of an experimental garden – a type of showcase for the idea of gardening rather than an actual source of food. I don’t mean to downplay the experience however. It has been a tremendously rewarding, providing me with a profound happiness in the overall endeavor.

So far, I’ve harvested three eggplants and three okra, and of course, lettuces, mint and basil.  I should have tomatoes and bell peppers ready in the next week or so.  Far from self sustaining, but fun never-the-less

The best part of my efforts is that it inspired my neighbors to follow suit.  They took my basic design, which blended well with the architectural style of our townhouse, and altered it to fit their own aesthetics.  Hopefully, over time, everyone in our complex will follow our lead.

For more information on planning an urban garden, visit

http://www.urbangardeninghelp.com/

Red Light:

I don’t recycle. I commute daily in the biggest vehicle I can fit in my garage. I drive my car everywhere even to the gym to workout, to get the mail and to walk the dog. I circle the parking lot several times to find the closest spot. I often complain about the inconveniences of modern life – thank goodness for drive-thrus! I buy, buy, buy and trash my old or used stuff.  Off to the landfill! I don’t have time to recycle and I don’t like spending extra dollars on organic products. What’s the point?  I am really busy, plus I could really care less.

Yellow Light:

I’ve heard of the environmental movement and I think it is important, but things get hectic and I forget sometimes. I try to recycle but I get overwhelmed. If a recycling bin is convenient, I will use it, otherwise I’ll toss it in the trash. Whoopsie! I tried to take the bus once, but missed it. I will do what’s right… if it’s easy. I could probably do more, but will that really make difference? What do all these acronyms mean anyway??? BPA, CFC, EV, ICE, CFL, GPM, KwH…

Green Light:

I get it, I love it, I want some more of it.  I am totally committed to living a green lifestyle! I try to live my life in a way that inspires others to do the same.  I find ways to cut down on trash, recycle or compost my waste and donate my used goods to charity. I purchase organic produce and support the local economy by purchasing from area farmers.  I use pubic transit whenever possible, carpool or drive a hybrid.  I am committed to making sure that my impact on the planet is as minimal as possible. If there is something else I can do, I want to hear about it.

Future blogs will discuss how you – regardless if you are a person favoring the tendencies of a red, yellow or green – can work towards greener days!