Get ready for green living with these five new environmentally friendly home
innovations. Thanks to the growing interest in living green, great new products
have been coming out of the proverbial woodwork. There are many new green
environmentally friendly home innovations that are unique, stylish, and of
course, helpful to the environment. Whether you have been living green for many
years now, or whether you recently made the choice to live with less impact on
the environment, chances are you will find what you most want by checking out
the latest round of green catalogs.

There are many catalogs out now that allows you to shop for products that offer
you an easy way to live in a more environmentally friendly matter. With the
threat of global climate change becoming more prescient each year, it has become
clear that even those of us who would not describe themselves as
environmentalists will have to make some adjustments in the coming years as
global warming becomes an even more urgent cause. Thankfully, there are
scores of cool new products and innovations that can help the transition that
much more easy for you and your family. Here are five environmentally friendly
home innovations that will keep you content and green.

1. Solar Lights. Solar lights are the latest things to use in landscaping your
yard. Not only are they lovely to look at, they are very environmentally
friendly. Solar lights can be staked to the ground wherever you wish to place
them in or around your property. They contain strong solar panels that absorb
the light’s warm energy all day and then radiate it back at night in a smooth,
soothing glow of light. There are many different models to choose from.

2. Backyard Composters. The new backyard composters make it easier than every to
recycle your yard waste and kitchen scarps. Simply put all of your waste as
indicated into the large spinner and turn to aerate the soil. Keep the compost
slightly wet and spins the waste often for the best and fastest results.

3. Composting toilets. If you are really into keeping the earth waste-free, you
may be interested in the new composting toilets that are geared toward the
environmentally friendly crowd. These fine toilets work just like regular
toilets, except that they compost much of your waste.

4. Solar Flashlight and Radio. Every household needs a good radio and
flashlight. Why not get both in a cozy package that is not only convenient, but
also very environmentally friendly? The solar flashlight and radio package
allows you to charge the device simply by letting it sit in the sun. You can
also turn the crank whenever you need an extra dose of power.

5. Rain Harvesting Barrels. Indigenous people in many parts of the world,
especially the dry places, have long done rain harvesting. Rain harvesting
barrels work no matter where you live. They are a great way to be much less
wasteful of one of the earth’s most important natural resources–the
rain. This is especially important in desert areas that do not receive much
rainfall each year. With an ongoing drought, it makes sense to conserve and safe
water whenever possible.

These are just five of many of the fine products that are currently available
for those among us who want to live a more reasonable and environmentally
friendly lifestyle. It is now easier than ever to make a positive impact on
this world. This happens when you live greener each day, taking each green day
one by one. Simply making one small change each week can help make a big
difference in the world.

Let’s start taking care of our environment, just click GLOBAL WARMING [http://environmentalist101.com]

Author: Walter Schneider
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Now is a great time to get into the habit of watering efficiently in your garden.

A simple way to water garden plants more efficiently is to use a soaker hose. Rather than spray water up into the air, it delivers water directly to the ground. It’s slow, of course, but you lose much less water to evaporation. You turn the water on a very low setting, so even though it takes more time to water the plants you’re using less water. Just set a timer so you don’t forget what you’re doing.

Another step you may be able to take is to catch rain water. Some states have very strict rules about rain water capture, so you have to do research to ensure that your rain barrel system is legal. But if you can legally capture the water, it’s a wonderful way to keep watering your garden.

It’s also a good idea to look at garden plants that are right for the climate in your area. You don’t want a garden that needs tons of water if you live in an area that is prone to droughts or water restrictions. Know the planting zone you live in and pay attention to that when you buy seeds and plants. And don’t ignore any local issues that may make it wise to be still more cautious with your garden.

Mulching the soil around your plants also allows you to water less. The mulch will help slow evaporation, so once again you can save water.

If you’re planting a food garden, there’s only so much you can do about water use. There aren’t many people who can successfully plan a xeriscape vegetable garden. You’re probably going to need to use water to get a good harvest.

But if it’s more decorative, take a good look at native plants. Look at drought resistant plants if you live where that’s likely to be a problem. Really think about what’s going into your soil.

This kind of planning is a help in decreasing how much water you use for the more decorative parts of your garden. Plants whose water needs are more in line with what comes naturally to the area will thrive with much less effort on your part. You can find beautiful native plants in most areas.

Don’t give up entirely on gardening if you have the space just because you want to save water. Gardening is a wonderful way to keep in touch with nature and to help children to really appreciate nature. You can maintain a lovely garden and be wise in your water use.

Stephanie Foster blogs at http://www.greensahm.com/ about raising an eco friendly family. Learn about the benefits of gardening with your kids at her site.

Author: Stephanie Foster
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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You see, conserving water is not only great for the environment, it’s also a big money saver and one where relatively small (and painless) changes can have huge impacts on your wallet!

Perhaps this sounds like a great idea to you (after all, why wouldn’t it?) but you may be less sure how to make it happen. In order to avoid overwhelm, I suggest you begin your conservation efforts outside, since many experts agree that landscaping accounts for more than 50% of a typical homeowner’s water usage.

Next, use the following six tips to help guide you; while there are many more, these are among my favorites because they’re all trouble-free, very affordable (or free) and they’ll save you loads of money.

1. Use gutters, grates, and channel drains to collect storm water. Then redirect it to capture apparatus like rain barrels, catch basins, and cisterns. This is a great way to have plenty of clean, fresh water for your plants, flowers, and grass. And you can also use it to wash off your deck or patio and give your auto a good cleaning.

2. Avoid watering your plants, flower, and grass during the hottest part of the day (10 am – 4 pm). Rather, water them in the early morning or wait until evening. This will cut back on the amount of water wasted due to evaporation.

3. Fix leaking hoses, sprinkler heads, and outside faucets fast. This is one of the easiest ways to save lots and lots of water 24/7, so take the time (5-10 minutes) to continually – and regularly – check to make sure nothing’s dripping.

4. Stop spraying and start sweeping. Trade in your hose for a broom and sweep away dead leaves, sticks, dirt, and other outdoorsy “stuff.” It does a perfectly acceptable job and it’s a “kinder” way to treat your wooden furniture. And if you need a little more “elbow grease” use household cleaners like Windex to help you get up those tougher spots.

5. Purchase a smart water controller. Water controllers are one of the most valuable outdoor gadgets around (what’s more they’re inexpensive little gems and you can buy them at places like Home Depot). They’re similar to traditional automatic “set-it-and-forget-it” sprinkler systems – only better. Why? Because they have internal sensors that collect soil and atmospheric information (real time) and virtual (web-based) weather data, which are used to automate and optimize watering schedules. These calculations are performed daily and also ensure that the exact right amount of water needed is delivered to your plants. And that means your plants won’t die of thirst or drown.

6. Rain sensors = Good Sense. Rain sensors often work hand-in-hand with water controllers (they’re sold separately or along with the controllers) in that they can add another “dimension” to your water-saving efforts (and they’re also very inexpensive and can even be wired to existing irrigation systems).

Here’s why… Rain sensors contain disks that enlarge when they come contact with moisture. When this happens a negative wire is tripped, and this stops the pump relay’s operation, and prevents the system from functioning; that is, until the disk dries out (which is close to the same drying rate as soil.) These are also readily available at places like Home Depot or you can order them on the Internet. If possible, however, I suggest that you check them out in person. This way you can discuss options with someone knowledgeable and get the one that best suits your needs (it’s also easier to exchange them if needed).

As I said earlier, these are just a few of the many ways you can help lessen the demand for fresh water (it starts one person at a time) and thereby, help yourself, your community, and the world. As a result, you’ll feel better, save money, and still enjoy a beautiful yard. So, why wait another minute, when there’s never been a better day to start? I promise, it will be one of the best decisions you ever made.

Tiffany Guerra, BA, MS, is an environmentalist, strategic marketing manager, and a freelance writer. Tiffany is passionate about helping people reduce their carbon footprints using practical, affordable, and uncomplicated methods. As such, she regularly contributes articles on topics such as the benefits of green spaces, the conservation of water, and more, to her company’s website ( http://www.NDSPro.com ) and other online publications. If you’d like to learn more about ways to use landscaping to conserve water, add value to your home, and save money visit: http://www.ndspro.com/articles/library/7-money-saving-ways-to-conserve-water-outside-and-be-kinder-to-mother-earth/.

Author: Tiffany Guerra
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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If you were to teach your kids how turning off the lights in their room when they are out is important. Explain to them that electricity actually uses a lot of energy and makes the Earth hot. Remember to use simple words as I have here and not overcomplicated words so that they can understand. The next part in helping to teach global warming for kids is to help remind them what a difference they are making by turning off their lights in their room and how you are doing it too.

Remember to repeat your teaching, best by example, as repeated teaching makes memory and good habits are base on memory. So what they remember, they will practice and do. I believe this method of teaching global warming for kids to be productive and fruitful.

The next thing you can teach them as was with lights can be on the other appliances in the house. You could start with refrigerator. It should be simple enough to explain to them how refrigerator also uses electricity in their light bulbs. Then you could go on to explain how electricity is used in refrigerator to keep it cold. So leaving the light bulbs on when the fridge is open causes the refrigerator to become less cold and for it to be colder the refrigerator will expand more electricity for this. Thus like the explanation on how light uses electricity, it is the same for refrigerator. As electricity takes up a lot of energy this makes the Earth hot. Remember when teaching global warming for kids to understand, you have to use simple words they already know.

Another helpful topic on teaching global warming for kids by example would be about water usage. Teach them how turning off the tap water while brushing their teeth helps save water. Explain to them how it takes up a lot of energy to bring in water into the house as energy is used to make the water clean and warm. The increase of energy usage will makes the Earth hotter. You should do the same for yourself by turning off the water when brushing your teeth as you want to be a role model for the kids.

Other household related habit that is suitable for teaching global warming for kids can is learning about recycling. Try to teach your kids to recycle all the tin cans, glass bottles and paper waste that are no longer needed. Explain to them how recycling actually helps save energy and this helps make Earth cooler.

If you are interested in teaching global warming for kids to help make Earth cooler, there is still another thing or two you could teach them that they could do. If you have the time, place and you understand gardening, you could plant some trees. Then you could teach them how to do it too and have them help plant trees as well. It is possible for them to find this exciting and enjoyable especially if they are not strongly rooted in any hobby yet. You may then explain to them how trees help eat up all the stinky and black smokes that make our mother Earth hot.

If it is practical, have them walk or ride a bike if they are headed to a destination nearby. If you happen to be wanting to go to a place close by, you could walk or ride your bike with them there instead of taking your family car. Remember, cars puff out smokes that make the Earth hotter. You may also like to teach your kids how taking buses and trains help reduce the contribution of smokes that makes Earth hot.

Get more information and materials to teach your kids at Global Warming For Kids

Author: James Marny
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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But the benefit to conserving water isn’t just saving water. There’s many benefits to it over and above that.

The biggest one is electricity. Many don’t know just how heavy water really is. In order to pump water to your house, a city uses a whopping 10% of all electricity used! Using less water, fixing leaks, putting in low flow shower heads and faucets, these things don’t just save water, they save electricity too.

Less water means less fossil fuels. If you use less water, you use less electricity, which means fossil fuel generating plants burn less fossil fuel which means less carbon emissions.

Less electricity used also means less energy required to dig the fossil fuels out of the ground, too.

So what are some tips to save water, there bye using less electricity and less fossil fuels?

RAIN BARRELS – Using rain barrels in your backyard to collect water and use it to water your plants and grass. This method uses 0 electricity and produces 0 carbon emissions. Thousands of gallons a year are used for your yard. If everyone collected rain water, it would be like taking thousands of cars off the road every year.

FIX LEAKS – Taps dripping? Outside faucet won’t quite turn off? A dripping tap can fill a bathtub in less than a week. Fix the drip, save the water, consume less energy.

SHORT SHOWERS – Taking a short shower is especially hard for a teenager, but you as a parent must educate your children. They will be around when you are gone and they must understand the concept of saving – because in the future there will be less, not more.

LOW FLOW DEVICES – Low flow showerheads, tap aerators and toilet dams are cheap and will save you hundreds of dollars in water consumption, as well as saving electricity.

FLUSH THE TOILET – only when you need to. It might be a bit gross, but this is only mental. This technique is recommended for urine only!

By taking steps to conserve water, you are conserving energy and adding less carbon to the atmosphere. Doing your part has never been easier.

Mike Mandell works at a water treatment facility in Canada. As well, he runs a website providing free information and advice about drinking water, water treatment, pumps and equipment, and anything else to do with water. Visit him at http://www.truthofwater.com

Author: Mike Mandell
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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But, once the dog days of summer hit, and the weekly rain showers do not make their way to your new crops, they might begin to look a little worn as they begin to dry out and become parched in the hot sun. Water becomes more important and your responsibility to keep them from dying is more apparent.

Large rain buckets or rain-barrels are easily setup to collect life giving rain water during those times when storms pass through. Harvesting rain is something that every person should be thinking of as they begin their quest to add gardens to their backyards.

Usually the basic question on many minds is “How do I get started and how hard is it to do?” Having a strategy and plan are crucial in creating a sustainable collection, storage and distribution system for your home. These systems can be very elaborate and expensive, but in most cases, keeping it simple is preferable as funds are usually limited.

The 3 basic areas of a rain harvesting system are: Collection, Storage and Distribution. Rain buckets are the large containers that can be designed specifically for the purpose of collecting the rain and can be as simple as vinyl or plastic trash cans. When located near downspouts, these rain buckets can collect water that land on the roof. Since the roof has the largest surface area, it is common practice to place your rain bucket near the house or shed where the downspouts channel the water from the house.

Once you know where you want to locate the rain bucket, the next question often asked is “How do I get the rain into the bucket?” Typically, this is done by cutting off part of the down spout so that the end sits a bit higher than the bucket itself. Cut a hole in the lid and cover the opening with a very thin wire mesh. This mesh will allow the rainwater to enter, but prevent insects such as mosquitoes from nesting in the water.

Cut an 8-10 inch piece of the 1″ PVC pipe. Apply PVC Cement liberally around one end and the female to male hose bib adapter. Twist slightly and let set for about 10 minutes. While this is setting, take your electric drill with a 1″ spade bit and drill a hole about 6 inches from the bottom of the bucket. Insert the 1″ by 8″ PVC pipe with a hose thread exposed. Seal the hole with PVC cement and let set for about 10 minutes to prevent leakage. Once set, you’ll be able to hook up a standard garden hose to the exposed PVC Pipe. The pressure from the amount of water contained inside the rain bucket will allow you to water your plants without much difficulty.

In summary, a large Rain Bucket is an easy way to begin conserving water to provide your garden with essential life giving fluid whenever needed. Since the water had been collected and stored from the previous rainstorms, you will not have to worry about the bill.

A gallon storage container can be used to store just about anything. From a containment drum for capturing rain from your rooftop, to storing food. Multi-gallon containers are versatile for any job.

Author: Robert Owens
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Right Plant, Right Place Choosing native plant material is an eco-friendly way to minimize water consumption as well as long-term maintenance. Plants should be grouped according to sun/shade requirements. Be aware of areas around your property where drainage alters normal watering levels.

Adding Compost

Compost is nutrient-rich and will break down harmful organisms within the soil. The compost will retain moisture levels around your plants and within existing soil. Compost can be created with the leaf and stem waste from your landscape and then can be used to retain the water. This is a great way to make your landscape truly renewable.

Drip Irrigation/Hand Watering/Harvesting rain in barrels

Drip irrigation systems are an effective way to provide accurate watering at a slow rate for new plant material, raised beds, and edible gardens. Drip irrigation systems can apply 1-4 gallons of water per hour, providing uniform soil saturation. Water use is also minimized when watering your garden/lawn by hand. You should have a spray nozzle that evenly distributes water throughout your garden/lawn. Watering levels should be adjusted according to the plant or grass type. Another way to minimize on water consumption is to collect new rainfall in barrels. You can apply the stored water to smaller gardens or install a more advanced system for lawn care.

Mulch

Use of mulch helps slow water evaporation and is proven to minimize water consumption. Too much mulch should be avoided. Three inches should be the maximum depth for spreading mulch around plants. Water-wise mulches include: pine straw, pine bark, chipped or shredded hardwood. Organic mulches used in edible gardens include: peat moss, seaweed, sawdust, dry composted manure, bark chips, and straw.

Garden supplies such as rain barrels, drip irrigation devices/systems, hand-controlled spray nozzles, and other products may be found at your local garden and nursery center.

Charlie Allen
BS Horticultural Science, NC State University
MBA, Business Administration, Methodist University
Operations Manager
Green Biz Nursery and Landscaping, Inc
http://www.greenbiznursery.com

Author: Charlie Allen
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Before you drop a hundred grand on solar panels, or decide to erect a wind farm in your backyard, or go out a buy that two door spec that gets fifty miles to the gallon, let’s start with what you can do right now to reduce your carbon footprint without spending any extra money that may not have. Most of the time the best solutions, are the simple ones that are right in front of you.

Start with the basic recycling of your food waste. This is about as basic as it gets. You simply take your food waste and bury it about 18 inches below the surface in your garden. By doing this you are replenishing your soil with nutrients by feeding the underlying ecosystem with organic material. They ingest your food scraps and turn it into compost. Second, by not putting your food scraps in the trash you are eliminating landfill space being taken up. Total cost to you, zero, so you are ahead of the game and the benefits of recycling your food waste is tremendous.

Next, grow your favorite vegetables. It doesn’t matter if you have a traditional garden, a raised bed garden or you simply grow plants out of pots. By growing the vegetables you love to eat it and having that ability to prepare them in your own kitchen at a moment’s notice has been shown to reduce drive time to restaurants and supermarkets. That helps reduce the amount of fuel you use in your car. Far fetched? Hardly! Studies have shown that if people have food on hand they are less likely to go out. Throw in learning the art of canning or preserving your vegetable harvest and you can have vegetables all year round grown right from your own backyard.

You can also harvest rain water through the use of a rain barrel eliminating the amount of water you use to water your vegetable plants. A rain barrel can be anything that holds water. It can be a plastic container, a garbage can and so on. Just make sure you drill a hole to add a spigot so you can use the water by filling up a watering can or getting even more advanced and attach a garden hose. All you do is divert the water from your homes down spouts into your barrel and Everytime it rains you reduce the amount of water your are taking from the municipal supply.

Home vegetable gardeners have been using green techniques for years and long before the “green” revolution. So before you spend a lot of money on trendy “green” things, start off small with the things you can do in your own backyard to reduce your carbon footprint.

About the Author
Mike is the author of the book Vegetable Gardening for the Average Person: A guide to vegetable gardening for the rest of us, available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and where ever gardening books are sold. He can be reached at his website: AveragePersonGardening.com where you can sign up for his free newsletter and he will send you a pack of vegetable seeds to get your home vegetable garden started.

Author: Michael C Podlesny
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Paying attention to your water usage is your first defense to save. Water your garden as sparingly as possible, by planting plants that grow as a native in your area you will be able to water less frequently. Be aware of your water sources this can determine your watering frequency.

Try these tips to conserve. Place a rain barrel under the spout of your drain pipe off your roof, by collecting rain water you are re-using the use of other sources such as city water. Keep in mind, you should make sure to keep a screen or lid on the top of the barrel to keep out debris (such as leaves, twigs) as well as mosquito’s that could breed in the barrel making it a insect problem area. Some barrels will come with a faucet at the bottom making it easier to have access to the rain water.

If you have a large enough backyard consider getting a cistern, which is a large storage holding tank for holding rain water but can also be used to collect grey water, or water that has already been used for washing, laundry, dishes and bath water, this water can be used to water plants and cut down on your usage of city and public water.

Water your plants or yard during the early morning before the sun comes up or after the sun sets to avoid evaporation associated with the hot sun rays.

Use a soaker hose rather than a sprinkler. Sprinklers can run large volumes of water in a short period of time, make sure that you measure your water usage by placing a plate in your and measure how much water you have used in a period of time.

Resist the temptation to water your lawn because it looks brown, by over-watering you weaken your lawns roots structure because the roots look for water at it’s surface.

By following these tips you will conserve your usage and save the planet as well which has a limited amount of water available.

Marquis Van De Mark is a financial adviser that writes on topics of interest.

http://www.webergenesisgrill.net

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Author: Marquis Van De Mark
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The most common way to capture rainwater is to use a barrel or a bucket. Today’s rain barrels are more advanced and so much more than a simple barrel that collects rainwater. Some rain barrels have a screen on the top to keep leaves and other debris out of the water. Others have a tap on the barrel, which you can use to fill up your watering can. Simply place the barrel underneath the downspout from the gutters on your house and collect fresh water each time it rains.

Let’s take a closer look at the different types of water and the benefits of using rainwater in your garden.

Types of water:

Rainwater: Water that falls from the sky during a rainstorm.

Grey Water: Water that has already been used for domestic uses, such as washing clothes and dishes or from taking showers and baths.

Hard Water: Water that has high mineral contents, especially calcium and magnesium, and is hard to lather soap in.

Soft Water: Is the opposite of hard water. It has low levels of calcium and magnesium and is very easy to lather soap in.

Benefits:

Save money on your water bill. It may not seem like you are using a lot of water but it is easy to loose track or to really know how much water you are using when it comes out of a hose. Keep track of your water bills for a summer, then next summer switch over to rainwater and see how much your water bill is lowered.

Better for your plants. Rainwater is naturally filtered so that it doesn’t contain minerals or harsh chemicals, both of which plants are sensitive to.

No restrictions. Most municipalities these days have watering restrictions that limit when and how often you can water your garden. But there are no restrictions on collecting rainwater and when you are allowed to use it.

Helps to save municipal costs and resources. By using rainwater, less demand is placed on municipally treated water. Less demand means that less energy is needed to treat both incoming water and outgoing (sewage) water. As well, less demand means that there will be less operating and maintenance costs of water treatment plants. If that doesn’t convince you, then consider the fact that lower municipal costs means lower taxes.

Please visit http://www.thegardenersescape.com/ for more gardening tips and free design plans. Let us help you plan your garden escape today and escape to your own world … where it is all about you!

Author: Joanne Jones
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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