greenandprosper.com

Alternatives to Lawns:

Having a beautifl green lawn is becomng more costly every day to you and the environment. A nice awn needs lots of water, harmful chemicals to fertilize and the gas used inlawn mowers adds to carbon pollution.

By thinking outside the box, you can replace some or all of your lawn with low maintenance substitutes:

• Ground Cover
• Clover
• Ornamental Grasses
• Flower beds and shrubs

For more information, check out Lawn Replacements.

Natural Fences

Use shrubs, trees or bamboo to create a natural wall for privacy around your yard instead of wood or metal fences. This will attract birds and absorb C02 as well.

Your local nursery will have native plants that will work best for your yard.

Also, you can check out Bamboo Fencer for more information on using bamboo as a natural fence.

Or consider a more elaborate and beautiful idea:

Suburban Hedgerows

Hedgerows are natural barriers made up of different kinds of trees, and evergreens plus any other small plants that you want to add. The idea of the suburban hedgerow is to have it look like the “edge” of a forest. In three to five years as the trees mature, they will make a barrier that gives privacy, and is beautiful, changing with every season. Mother Earth News has a great article on suburban hedgerows.  

A great resource for natural lawn and garden products and ideas is Planet Natural. They have organic fertilizers composting bins, seeds and much, much more.

Consider making it an Eco-Vacation

Green travel can range from just having a higher awareness of how you use resources when on vacation (water, electricity, gas etc.), buying carbon offsets to offset plane travel to staying in green hotels and walking and biking instead of using a car.

Some great resources are:

• Fodor’s Green Travel - guide to 100 of the eco-friendliest hotels and lodges around the world.
• Volunteer: A Traveler’s Guide - a book that helps you give back to the place you visit.
• Lonely Planet Code Green - has 82 eco-trips.
• Online User Forums - has advice from other travelers.
• Green Travel Hub - you can book travel and check out articles on this international site; ith 20% of profits go to eco-orgs.

Whatever you do on your vacation, have a fantastic time!

After upgrading your light bulbs, start looking at the energy consumed by your appliances, TVs, computers, microwaves when you are not using them.

Anything you have plugged into the wall and are not using is draining energy and costing you money

That means all of your appliances, computers, printers, cell phones, hair dryers, TVs use energy, and cost you money even when they are turned off. Computer printers and entertainment systems are some of the biggest energy wasters. Anything with a digital display, remote control or an AC adapter drains power.

It has been estimated that the average home has about 40 such appliances and electronics that leak energy when not is use. This accounts for 75% of the electricity used by home electronics which is about 85 of the total electricity being used by your home. That might not sound like a lot but it is enough to power your home for a month!

A recent study by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory shows that the average California home pays between $50 -$70 every year to power electronics that are not being used. Eliminating this standby or “leaking” electricity could save homeowners between 6 - 26% on their average monthly electicity bill.

Phantom Energy

75% of the power used to run home electronics is used when they are TURNED OFF. Amazing!

Become an energy manager and turn off or unplug all electronics, cell phone chargers and such while they are not in use.

When you are ready to replace your current electronics with energy efficient equipment, look for Energy Star Power Managed equipment, (it is no more expensive than standard electronics), and you can easily save $100 a year on your bill. That is found money! By using an Energy Saving Smart Strip with Auto Switching Technology you can turn off many electronics with just one switch.

http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Strip-Autoswitching-Technology-LCG5/dp/B000L9635G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1203884636&sr=1-2

The refrigerator not only uses the most energy in the home, it is also on 24/7, so when the time comes to upgrade, buy an energy efficient one.

With Energy Star Appliances You Can Save:

Item                                                    Cost                 Savings/YearCentral Air Conditioning                   $2500             $95Low-Flow Showerheads (2)              $63                  $63Washing Machine                             $1100              $58Refrigerator                                       $1000              $43CFL Bulbs                                           $323                $32Dishwasher                                        $500               $10TOTAL                                                                    =$301SOURCE: ACEEE

• Unplug appliances, cell phone chargers etc when you are not using them
• Using circuit breakers, which can either be automatic (timed) or have swithces
• Or buy an energy-saving power strip designed to not use energy when power is turned off (around $30).
• Combine several electronics on one circuit breaker with multiple sockets - an easy solution for your home entertainment products.
• Set your computer into sleep mode after 15 minutes of inactivity and turn it off when you are done.

 More information on standby power use can be found at:

http://eetd.lbl.gov/leaking/

With a little awareness and effort, you save money and help the environment J

• Get Free of hazardous chemicals
• Same you money and time each month
• Cleaner water means better health 

While pool chemicals such as chlorine control the growth of algae and bacteria they are dangerous to humans. Chlorine is toxic, and years ago chlorine was used to kill typhoid and cholera, and chlorine was able to kill typhoid by bonding to organic substances, such as bacteria. In addition, other side effects of swimming in chlorine can be red, burning eyes, itchy skin, bleached out hair and chemical pool odors.

Learn why many experts agree that chlorine can be dangerous for you.

Fortunately we do have options to using chlorine to keep our swimming pools clean.

The natural oxygen ECOsmart pool purification system uses a non-chemical oxidation process to purify pools.

The salt water chlorinators contains a salt cell and the water is sanitized through a special process called electrolysis. 

Mineral based purification systems use elemental minerals that combine with a small amount of chlorine to prevent bacteria growth and eliminate contaminants.

Natural Swimming Pools It is so great to know that there are viable options to using chlorine to keep your pool and or spa clean.

Which have been popular in Europe for some time. They are a swimming pool that is part pool, part pond, that rely on aquatic plants and the balance of nature to keep harmful organisms and scum at bay. They are actually quite beautiful, like a small lake in your backyard. And they cost about the same as a traditional pool.

May you float many peaceful hours away floating on your pool or soaking in your hot tub!

It is very exiting to see that solar technology is becoming more and more accessible. Solar is really exploding, because of new breakthroughs in solar technology, rising electricity costs and tax rebates and incentives to installing solar.

Solar electricity provides clean, renewable energy with very little environmental impact.  By reducing our consumption of oil, gas, and coal, solar protects our environment and lowers or even eliminates our electrical bill.

Who wouldn’t want to go off the “grid” if it was affordable?

There are now beginning to be different options to financing a solar electric system. Used to be you would have to pay cash or take out a home equity loan to pay for the system. But now there are several different financing options that cost less than your monthly electric bill.  You pay a monthly fee which is much less than your electric bill, and if you produce more electricity than you use (you will J), your electric meter runs backwards! At the end of the year, you will get a statement from your utility showing whether you owe them any money. A friend of mine owns a 3 bedroom house in Central California and his electric bill is $75 for the year!

Check out:

www.solarcity.com

www.sunrun.com

www.cleanpowerfinance.com

Installing solar electric systems also increases the value to your home, especially in a slow housing market. According to a study by ICF Consulting, solar can add $20 of home value for every $1 of yearly energy cost savings.  It is estimated that $1,500 in annual electric bill savings from solar will equate to $30,000 in additional resell value.! To get a rough estimate of the savings, cost and size of solar system you might need for your house go to  FindSolar.

Solar Electric Systems:

• Reduce monthly electricity bills. 
•  Protects from future electricity rate increases and runaway fossil fuel prices. 
•  Preserve our natural environment, air quality, and limited water supplies.
•  Provide greater energy security over the long term. 

 Consider going solar and smile when the next power outage happens and you are the only one on your block with electricity J

As a new gardener, I was trying to keep up with the weeds in my garden. But I fell behind more often than not, especially with the stubborn weeds that grow in between the bricks in my driveway and sidewalk. I was especially not fond of bending down for hours pulling them out, not to mention the damage to my hands.

I began to ask around for solutions, I knew of course about the very effective and very toxic pesticide, but did not want to use them because of how damaging they are to the environment and also to animals like my cats.

I began to look for some natural solutions and a friend of mine told me about spraying with vinegar. I did and it worked! I have come across a product that uses clove oil, vinegar and lemon juice, called BurnOut Weed Killer.

So next time you are overwhelmed with weeds in your patio, walkway or driveway remember you have options to using toxic sprays. J

It turns out that many sunscreens while preventing your skin from turning red, have toxic ingredients, some even carcinogenic.  The CDC found the sunscreen ingredient oxybenzone is found in 97% of Americans tested. This is not good, since oxybenzone has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, cellular damage and low birth weight. The Environmental Working Group (an advocacy and research organization), found oxybenzone in 600 U.S. sunscreens. The Cosmetics Database gives detailed information about which sun blocks are safe and effective and which are not.

There is a new study by the EWG which found that only 16% of the sunscreens on the market were safe and effective. They analyzed 783 products and only 125 blocked both UVA and UVB radiation, remained stable in sunlight and contained few if any ingredients that are known or suspected of being health hazards. The study found that many of the sunscreens advertised benefits that they did not have.

According to the EWG, the Food and Drug Administration has never set safety standards for sunscreen lotions. So, in place of FDA standards, the EWG has created a searchable database that helps you find the safest and most effective sunscreens.

Among the safest, most effective sunscreen identified by the EWG was UV Natural. You can find many good sunscreens at your local natural food store.

Another thing to consider when using sunscreens is it harmful to the ocean and fish? Some ingredients such as Paraben, cinnamate, benzophenone and a camphor derivative,   in popular sunscreens cause harm to coral that fish need to live, according to a study, in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. They also found that swimmers leave anywhere from 4,000 to 6,000 metric tons of sunscreen in the ocean.

So be sure to look at the ingredients in the sunscreen before you buy it, is it safe for you and the planet?

Excerpted from SayUncle.Org article on 10 Hybrids that will get you a tax credit: Mazda Tribute, Honda Civic and more.  

Given the fact that the standard hybrid costs anywhere than $6K to $10K more than a comparable non-hybrid model, what kind of incentive is there for us to fork over the extra cash (aside from the bonus of getting 40+ miles per gallon)?

Well, you asked, the IRS answered. There is a wonderful little write-off called the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit, which can reduce your tax liability by up to $4,000 (for certain models). Now, this credit does have a time limit on it, fortunately it’s a time limit that takes into effect how long it takes car manufacturers to meet a certain quota of sold hybrid vehicles. So for all you early adopters out there, you may be able to ride this credit wave for a while. (Although if you’re in the market for a hybrid, you should know that Toyota has already hit the quota of 60,000 vehicles sold.) Needless to say, investing in a hybrid car can save you money, although it would take a while to make up the extra $5-10K in gas savings alone, so this credit could give you a much quicker return on that investment.

Currently there are 10 car lines with qualified hybrid vehicles. Here’s a list of makes and models that qualify for the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit (AMVC) from the IRS Newsroom. This reflects a decrease in the credit amount as of Oct. 1, 2006, due to the manufacturers meeting quarterly sales of 60,000 qualified hybrid cars. This credit amount does not phase out. The full amount of the alternative fuel vehicle credit would be available for vehicles purchased on or before December 31, 2010. Model Year 2008

• Ford Escape 2WD Hybrid - $3,000
• Ford Escape 4WD Hybrid - $2,200
• Mazda Tribute 2WD Hybrid - $3,000
• Mazda Tribute 4WD Hybrd - $2,200
• Mercury Mariner 2WD Hybrid - $3,000
• Mercury Mariner 4WD Hybrid - $2,200 Model Year 2007
• Chevrolet Silverado 2WD Hybrid Pickup Truck - $250
• Chevrolet Silverado 4WD Hybrid Pickup Truck - $650
• Ford Escape Hybrid 2WD - $2,600
• Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD - $1,950
• GMC Sierra 2WD Hybrid Pickup Truck - $250
• GMC Sierra 4WD Hybrid Pickup Truck - $650
• Honda Accord Hybrid AT - $1,300
• Honda Accord Hybrid Navi AT - $1,300
• Honda Civic GX - $4,000
• Honda Civic Hybrid CVT - $2,100
• Lexus GS 450h - $775
• Lexus RX 400h 2WD and 4WD - $1,100
• Mercury Mariner 4WD Hybrid - $1,950
• Nissan Altima Hybrid - $2,350
• Saturn Aura Hybrid - $1,300
• Saturn Vue Green Line - $650
• Toyota Camry Hybrid - $1,300
• Toyota Prius - $1,575
• Toyota Highlander Hybrid 2WD and 4WD - $1,300 Model Year 2006
• Chevrolet Silverado 2WD Hybrid Pickup Truck - $250
• Chevrolet Silverado 4WD Hybrid Pickup Truck - $650
• Ford Escape Hybrid (Front) 2WD - $2,600
• Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD - $1,950
• GMC Sierra 2WD Hybrid Pickup Truck - $250
• GMC Sierra 4WD Hybrid Pickup Truck - $650
• Honda Accord Hybrid AT w/updated calibration and Navi AT w/updated calibration - $1,300*
• Honda Civic GX - $4,000
• Honda Civic Hybrid CVT - $2,100
• Honda Insight CVT - $1,450
• Lexus RX400h 2WD - $1,100
• Lexus RX400h 4WD - $1,100
• Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD - $1,950
• Toyota Highlander 2WD Hybrid - $1,300
• Toyota Highlander 4WD Hybrid - $1,300
• Toyota Prius - $1,575 * 2006 Honda Accord Hybrid AT and Navi AT without updated calibration qualify for a credit of $650. Model Year 2005
• Ford Escape 2 WD Hybrid - $2,600
• Ford Escape 4 WD Hybrid - $1,950
• Honda Accord Hybrid AT and Navi AT - $650
• Honda Civic GX - $4,000
• Honda Civic Hybrid MT and CVT - $1,700
• Honda Insight CVT - $1,450
• Toyota Prius - $1,575

It is a wonderful new way to read that is fun, saves trees and your budget. Kindle is a wireless, mobile reading device, like an ipod for books. You just turn it on and read; books newspapers, magazines and blogs, wherever you are.

You can download a book in less than a minute at a cost of only $9.99, a significant savings if you buy a lot of books.

The Kindle weighs only 10.3 oz, less than the average paperback. So, no more lugging books on your vacation. Now you can just download them to your Kindle and read.

I am currently preparing to move to a new home and am wishing I had all my books on a Kindle so I don’t have to haul them .

When I first heard about the Kindle, I thought that it would be just like reading from a comuter screen, but with the new technology, it is like reading a real book, there is no glare, and the electronic ink looks just like paper, and is just as easy to read when your are inside as it is when you are outside in the sun.

I also like to highlight and write notes in the margins of books, and it allows you to do both. Even better, there is no learning curve on operating the Kindle, if you can read, you can use the Kindle. You just take it out of the box and turn it on.

Now, when a friend thells you about a great book, you don’t have to go to the bookstore or order it online and wait for it to be shipped to you. You can have it in less than a nimute with the Kindle.

Here are some of the features:

Revolutionary electronic-paper display provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper.

• Simple to use: no computer, no cables, no syncings.
• Wireless connectivity enables you to shop the Kindle Store directly from your Kindle - whether you’re in the back of a taxi, at the airport, or in bed.
• More than 110,000 books available, including more than 90 of the 112 current New York Times Best Sellers
• Free book sampls. Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy.
• Long battery life. Leave wireless on and recharge approximately every other day. Turn wireless off and read for a week or more before recharging. Fully recharges in 2 hours.
• No monthly wireless bills, service plans or commitments - we take care of the woreless delivery so you can simply click, buy and read.
• Includes free wireless access to the planet’s most exhaustive and up-to-date excyclopedia -Wikipedia.org

Beginning in November, there will be new televisions coming out that are 30% more efficient. These TVs will have the Energy Star label and will  not only be more efficient when in use, but also they will lose less energy when turned off. TVs (like all electronics and appliances) drain energy when they are turned off but still plugged in.

Years ago when televisions were turned on, it would take time for the picture to form. With TVs today, this delay has been eliminated because TVs now remain in a standby mode when turned off, so the television will turn on more quickly. The standby mode uses electriciy all the time and as a result costs you money, and the bigger the TV the more money lost.

According to The Wall Street Journal ”a 42-inch plasma TV can use more electricity than a full-size refrigerator - even when the TV is only used a few hours a day.”

It used to be that the refrigerator used the most energy in the home, but now, as the large TVs are becoming more common, it is the TV that demands the most electriciy. Costing up to $200 per year according an estimate made by the Wall Street Journal.

“After the new specifications go into effect” according to the EPA, “if all TVs sold in the United States meet the Energy Star requirements, the savings in energy costs will grow to about $1 billion annually and greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by the equivalent of about 1 million cars” Amazing!

Currently, Americans have more than 27 million TVs, and it is estimated that by 2008, it could be close to 36 million, according to the EPA. With so many TVs, little things like using a TV with an Energy Star label and unplugging your TV when it is not being used really can have a tremendous impact not only on your pocketbook but also on the environment.

 Go to Energy Star’s web site to learn more about these new TV standards.