Navigation

Make Your Move More Earth-Friendly

February 19, 2019 0

NOTE FROM SWEET GREENS: Thank you for supporting the companies that keep Sweet Greens in business.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

There are a number of ways to reduce your carbon footprint on the planet. One way is to have a green home. You can even make your move easier on the environment as well by hiring a moving company. If you are making a long distance move hiring a moving company, such as North American Van Lines, it is much more cost efficient and is also easier on the environment since you will be moving all of your belongings at once rather than having to make multiple trips in a personal vehicle. That saves a substantial amount of gas and will also make your move go much more quickly.

What a Green Home Has to Offer

In order for your home to be considered a “green” home there are a number of things that you need it to have. Your appliances should be Energy Star compliant. Energy Star appliances use much less energy than appliances that do not have the sticker on them. Your home should also be built with materials that have been locally sourced, renewable, or non-toxic. You could even use materials that have been repurposed such as old barn wood. You may also choose to have your home situated in a certain way so that you can make the most out of what mother nature has to offer. For example, if your home faces the south, you can get the full benefits of solar heat that the sun gives off, and you will not have to turn on your lights and heat on as often. This is a more green way to live and will also save you money on your utilities.

Enjoy the Benefits of Green Features

The sun also has therapeutic benefits, so you will be able to enjoy a better mood and happier outlook on life. You can also cut down on your water usage by utilizing a rainwater recapture system or by using more efficient plumbing fixtures. Even if you implement a few green features into your home, you will gain the benefits that a green home has to offer. You can gradually add more green features of your home but a great place to stay is with your appliances since you use them often and you can save a lot of energy consumption in that area quite easily.

Ways to Make Your Home More “Green”

Other ways to consume less energy are to get an on-demand water heater and to install triple-paned windows. You should also replace your regular bulbs with LED lights. Be sure also to unplug anything that you are not using such as your printer, computer, and television as they can still drain power when they are not in use.

Take a Load Off and Hire a Moving Company

Hiring a moving company for your move will make moving less stressful, and you will not have to worry about moving those large items on your own. You can also focus on other things while your movers take care of the heavy lifting. Moving a few items on your own is no big deal, but when you are moving far away from your old home, and you are moving an entire household, it is just simply too much to do on your own. Not only will it take much longer but you are more likely to injure yourself and to break things as you hurry and try to get everything done on your own.

It is just not worth the headache. Plus, hiring a moving company can save you money as you will not have to take as much time off of work to get moved. You also won’t have to get all of your moving supplies or make multiple trips with your vehicle to get the move completed.

It can also be helpful to stay organized so that you spend less time hunting around for things once you get to your new place. You can do this by properly planning boxes to their corresponding rooms. So, if things belong in the kitchen, you should label it as such. Try to pack similar items together as well so that you can put things away more quickly since you unpack. A little planning will save time and your sanity.

Happy Love Day + 5 Ways Eco-Friendly Ways To Celebrate

February 14, 2019 0

Hello, Friends! Happy Valentine’s Day. Are you excited to celebrate with someone you love? Me too! I can’t wait. Looking for eco-friendly ways to green the holiday – here are 5 to get you started.

#1: Sweet Tooth!
Dip and lick romance with sweet chocolate fondue for two or give the gift of chocolate love with hand dipped organic strawberries. Please choose fair-trade and nibble on.

#2: Think Outside of the Box!
Turn up the heat with a beautiful organic meal in an unusual spot such as in bed, on a rug next to the fireplace, or arrange pillows for seating anywhere unusual and romantic.

#3: Bubbles!
Pamper your Valentine with a bubble bath for two complete with organic flower petals, organic bath salts, candlelight and your favorite biodynamic wine, of course.

#4: Get Gifted!
With fresh cut flowers having such a high carbon footprint, replace fresh cut roses for your princess with a beautiful potted plant, an acre of trees, or a fabulous journal. (She can record her thoughts on your romantic night)

#5: Cook Together!
For him, make a promise to cook a sexy organic meal together this Valentine’s Day, or better yet, make yourself the meal yourself and surprise him when he gets home!

What eco-friendly Valentine’s Day surprises do you have up your sleeve?

How to Keep Your Home Warm While Saving Energy

January 18, 2019 0

NOTE FROM SWEET GREENS: Thank you for supporting the companies that keep Sweet Greens in business.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

With the temperatures dropping outside, it’s important to keep your home warm and cozy. But if you keep the heat cranked up to the max, there’s a good chance your energy bill is going to increase drastically. Fortunately, you don’t have to freeze to save energy this winter. We’ve compiled a list of a few simple ways to keep warm and reduce your energy use all winter long.

First, if you have yet to invest in a programmable thermostat, now is the time to do so. Having a programmable thermostat will allow you to set the temperature to go lower when you’re not home or sleeping. While this may seem like it doesn’t do much, lowering the heat even just a few degrees can make a big difference. But it’s important to use it wisely and ensure you’re not trying to cool down or heat up your home with a huge difference in temperature. This actually uses more energy. So be mindful when you’re programming the temperature settings.

Next, it’s important to take a look at your windows. Drafty windows are one of the biggest causes of energy waste in homes. And if your windows are more than 15 years old, you could be at risk of dealing with drafty windows. So check your windows for any air leaks — if you find any, invest in new windows or at the very least, seal the drafts. Along with your windows themselves, it can be beneficial to utilize your curtains. On sunny days, open the curtains up and let the light in to help heat your home. And when the sun goes away, shut the curtains for added insulation between the room and the cold windows.

If you experience unusually high heating bills, you may want to consider taking a look at your home’s insulation. Having proper insulation is extremely important for keeping heated air inside your home. Because heat rises, about 40% of heat loss occurs through the attic. So it couldn’t hurt to hire someone to take a look at your home’s insulation and replace it as necessary. Insulation can wear down over time and can even be ruined by pests. In this case, it’s better to be safe than sorry and have it replaced if needed. If pests, such as mice, rats, or squirrels in attic are a continuous problem, you may need to call in pest controllers to eradicate them, otherwise, it will cost you money in replacing the insulation every year.

And lastly, it’s important to keep your heating systems maintained. Fortunately, scheduling annual inspections can be an easy way to make sure everything is in good working condition. But if you notice anything wrong with your furnace, heat pump, or another heater, it’s important to get it taken care of as soon as possible. When heating systems have to work harder to run, they use more energy. Additionally, you should check your other systems too for damage or leaks. This includes systems like your hot water heater. Without household leaks wasting about 900 billion gallons of water each year, it’s essential to make sure your systems are running as efficiently as possible.

Saving energy in your home doesn’t have to be hard. Keep these few simple tips in mind and you’ll be toasty warm with a low energy bill all winter.

Planning To Move? Donate Your Stuff!

November 30, 2018 0

NOTE FROM SWEET GREENS: Thank you for supporting the companies that keep Sweet Greens in business.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

At some point in life, all of use will move at least once. I mean we have to move out of our parents’ house, right? When you do move, deciding what to do with all of your stuff can be a hassle. What do you take? What do you get rid of? We sure do not want to take everything we own with us, because we will just be accumulating more for our new place. Donating your things is a great way to get rid of the things you do not need. You may not need them, but someone else may. But what should you donate? Should you just throw the junk away? That depends greatly on what it is.

You may be moving just across the street, or you may be moving all the way across the country. If you are moving across the country, you do not want to haul more stuff with you than you really need to. You should try to donate as much as possible before asking for help from places like Allied Van Lines. Most people hope to get rid of enough stuff so that they only have to rent one van to move them. Sometimes this happens and sometimes it does not.

It is always good to donate kid’s toys. Toys are something that a lot of parents cannot afford for their kids but really want their kids to have. When you donate toys, you are not only helping out the parent, but you are making a child very happy. Toys, games, bikes, and even game stations are great to donate if you no longer need them. If a parent can pick these things up for free or cheap around the holidays, it will really help them out financially. It will also allow their child to have a wonderful holiday and allow the parent to lose some stress while they watch their child enjoy the “new-to-them” toy. You can also donate household goods and clothes. Anything you are not using can be donated. You will help out lots of people by donating things and it will make you feel great about yourself.

There are many different ways you can donate. You can donate to charities, you can donate to local thrift shops, you can donate to a family that has suffered a tragedy, such as a house fire, or you can donate to local centers in your area that help out families. You can donate to churches! Churches are always helping out families when they are going through tough times. Talk with people in your community and find out where you can lend a hand.

You do not have to wait until you are moving to donate stuff. People need stuff daily. You can donate more than just toys, clothes, and things like that. Donate things that you know people will use every day. Things like toilet paper, paper towels, food, toiletries, used furniture, and all things like this. These types of things will help people out so much. We do not think about these types of items when we think about donations, but these are the products that people need the most. You can even donate your time. Maybe help is needed at a local food pantry, or a local church is offering free daycare for needy families. Lend a hand. Donate an hour or two of your time to help out.

Whether you are moving or not, if you have some extra stuff laying around your house that you no longer need, donate it. Help out a family in need. If you have some extra money this week and you can buy a few toiletries or a few cans of food, do it. It does not cost anything to donate what you have. You never know when a family may really need it. Helping out other families will make you feel great too. You may be the family on the receiving end one day so try to help out whenever you can!

Is It Time To Revamp Your HVAC System?

November 7, 2018 0

 

NOTE FROM SWEET GREENS: Thank you for supporting the companies that keep Sweet Greens in business.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

When you own a home, you have to provide your family with a place to live their greatest moments. The home must be warm and cozy and have an eco-friendly design with high-performance features. The good news is that making upgrades to your home can offer potential savings and create energy-efficient options.

For example, a homeowner can choose between adding insulation to their house or move towards an updated HVAC system. If you’re looking for a way to feel better about your home and conserve energy, then you’ve come to the right place.

Upgrade Your HVAC System To Help Reduce Energy Cost

Deciding to upgrade your heating and cooling system can help you reduce cost and make the home energy efficient. Here are a few options:

Ice-powered Air Conditioning Unit

This unit works by making sure that the water is frozen in a tank overnight. By using electrical energy during the night versus the daytime, a homeowner can have enough cooling during the day and reduce costs for peak hours.

Thermal Air Conditioning Units

These units are different and new to technology, but should take off in the next few years. The systems are supplemented with natural gas and solar energy. They provide more cooling capabilities than the traditional AC units and eliminate electricity costs.

 Heat Pumps

Dual heat pumps provide a great option for comfort. They are a combination of a gas furnace and an electric heat pump. When it gets cold outside, the gas heater will take over until the temperature rises above 35 degrees. Even though the cost is very expensive, purchasing the system itself can last for several years.

Floor Heating

This type of heating will give you the opportunity to experience warmth from the ground up. It will offer you radiant heat versus hot air heating throughout your home. However, it is very important to have the proper amount of insulation in your home so that you can increase energy efficiency by 30%.

Ductless

The majority of homes will have a hidden maze of ductwork underneath. If a particular ductless system is used to deliver conditioned air, then it will typically increase energy efficiency by 40% versus central heating.

However, you may have come across a few homes that are considered “smart homes.” These homes make it easy to move into and can be very convenient. They offer already automated appliances with technological advancements.

For example, you can leave your home and never have to worry about turning off your heating or cooling system. If you forget, then you can make a quick adjustment with your mobile device through an app.

A few other high-tech features would include scroll compressors, variable speed motors, smart control sensors, and dual heat exchangers. However, be advised that it doesn’t matter what system you use if your insulation system is faulty.

Sometimes insulation upgrades are a necessity. It can have a significant impact on your energy cost. By replacing your insulation or increasing it in your home, you will be able to reduce your energy bills. Remember, older homes sometimes lack the proper insulation, interfering with efficiency and savings.

Every type of insulation is different.

Spray foam – You can choose a spray foam type of insulation. The foam will seal gaps in leaks by hardening into a solid.

Fiberglass batts – If you’re looking for an inexpensive option, then you can choose fiberglass batts. They are a cheap type of insulation that can be stapled. When it is installed correctly, it can offer a quick fix.

Reflective barriers -Reflective barriers are usually found in the attic. They are used to reduce heat and cold and offer barriers that reflect the sun rays. This option is only available for homes that are generally in the sun a lot. You could choose this option, but make sure to speak to a representative for more guidance.

The cost of installation can vary depending on the size of your home and the design. An average attic cost can range from $400 to $1800. However, this small investment is a great price to pay if you are concerned about saving energy and reducing costs on your home.

You can also check with your state tax department to see if there are any rebates available for insulation upgrades. However, federal tax credits expired a few years ago. You may still be able to check with your local districts to determine if there are any incentives.

Older posts Newer posts