Laundry Savers: Refresh'n Dryer Towel
Monday, December 29, 2008
As conscious consumers we can always find better ways to cut down on the use of our natural resources, notably water and energy. Doing laundry consumes 33 gallons of water and running the dryer uses 875 killowatt hours of electricity a year, so if there is any way to use less water and energy it's good for your bank account as well as for the planet.
I tried a brand-new product called Refresh'n that freshens your slightly worn clothes or clothes that have been stored away without having to wash them. I used the Refresh'n dryer towel on my sweaters that have been packed away all spring and summer.
What you do is wet the Refresh'n dryer towel, place your clothes in your dryer, and then place the Refresh'n towel over your clothes. Turn on your dryer, and let it work for 10-15 minutes. When I took my sweaters out I was amazed at how fresh they smelled and how all of the creases and wrinkles from being packed away for so long vanished in such a short period of time. Take a look at the Refresh'n commercial.
At $9.95 for one towel that can be used 25 times it is a great way of freshening up those clothes that you've barely worn or are extremely wrinkled to help reduce how much water and energy you use.
On the Net: www.refreshn.net
Labels: awareness, cleaning, energy, green
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 12:00 AM,
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Greening Your Christmas Tree
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Kim Carlson, eco-savvy entrepreneur, green business author and eco-chic lifestyle expert, believes you can enjoy your holiday season and keep the planet in mind at the same time. When it comes to your Christmas tree, Kim recommends the following tips to go green.
- Look for ways to recycle your tree post-Holidays instead of sending it to a landfill. Check with your community solid waste department and find out if they collect and mulch trees. The chippings from mulched trees can be used for hiking trails and beachfront erosion barriers. Also, consider buying a potted tree and planting it when the festivities have come to an end.
Try beeswax candles instead of synthetic ones. - Replace conventional holiday light strings with LEDs - at least two billion kilowatt-hours of electricity could be saved in a month which would be enough to power 200,000 homes for a year. ( Rockefeller Center switched to LED in 2007).
- Turn off or unplug holiday lights during the day. Leaving them on 24 hours a day will quadruple your energy costs – and create four times the pollution.
Labels: energy, green, waste-free
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 8:28 AM,
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Stop Wasting Vampire Power: Tips to Save Valuable Energy
Thursday, October 30, 2008
We're all guilty of wasting too much energy and some of us waste more than others, to be sure.
That said, have you ever heard of "vampire power?"
"Vampire Power" is the electricity that consumer electronics and appliances use while they are switched off or in a standby mode. Did you know roughly $4 billion annually across the United States is spent on electricity lost to "vampire power," according to the International Energy Agency. And that 40 percent of all electricity used to power electronics in the average American home, such as TVs, DVD players and computers, is consumed while these products are turned off, according to the Department of Energy.
That's right. Off!
Best Buy is officially declaring today, October 30, 2008, National Vampire Power Awareness Day. Most of us want to cut down on our energy bills as well as save more energy. Here's what you can do starting today.
1. Use a power strip: Plug your chargers into a power strip and when you're not using those chargers, turn the power strip off.
2. Get unplugged: All of your chargers (cell phone, MP3, laptop, and even electric toothbrushes) continue to draw electricity even when the device is not charging. When the device has been completely charged unplug the charger from the wall.
3. Turn your computer off: Completely shut down your computer and printer when not in use. If you are unable to do so, at least make sure the computer goes into a low-power sleep, standby or hibernate mode. And watch out for those screen savers; graphic intense screen savers can actually waste power.
4. Look for the Star: Upgrade electronics and appliances to Energy Star-rated models, which draw less power than the average when in "off" mode.
For more tips and advice on ridding vampires from your home, visit your local Best Buy store or check out www.vampireawarenessday.com .
Labels: awareness, energy, green, waste-free
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 6:16 AM,
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Go Green by Saving Energy
Friday, August 29, 2008
Saving as much energy as we can is one easy and smart way to go green, reduce emissions, and reduce environmental impact, and another simple way to save on our monthly energy bills.Owens Corning has created a new line of energy-efficient windows called Solace(TM) Windows, a fiberglass-reinforced window. Solace(TM) Windows join the family of energy-efficient remodeling solutions for homes including the Owens Corning Basement Finishing System(TM) and SunSuites(TM) Sunroom.
"With homeowners thinking 'don't move....improve,' Owens Corning is bringing to market a solution that improves the look of your home, and at the same time helps reduce energy costs," said Bill LeBaron, president, Owens Corning Construction Services. (source)
On the Net: www.solacewindows.com
Labels: energy
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 8:15 AM,
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