Launder Correctly to Reduce Dust Mites Posted by Marian T → March 06, 2011 at 11:42 PM under Home Living Tips We spend a great deal of time in the bedroom with direct skin contact with bed linens where dust mites thrive. Bedding – sheets, blankets and bed covers – should be washed weekly in hot water (130-140 degrees F.) to kill dust mites. Cold water will not always remove the allergens. Pillows should also be washed frequently and replaced regularly. Follow the washing instructions on the label. Towels and Bathmats Even though the humidity of the bathroom helps reduce dry skin, dust mites can still thrive. Towels and bathmats should be washed in hot water after two or three uses . Stuffed Toys If you have a child with allergies, stuffed toys should be washed frequently – especially if the child sleeps with the toy. Curtains and Household Fabrics In addition to regular vacuuming and dusting, all fabrics that can be washed should be done frequently including throw rugs and curtains. Also try to dry all laundry on a clothesline outside in the fresh air and sunshine if you can, rather than in a clothes dryer. This is healthier and saves on your power bills. 0 Comments
Folding Frame Clothesline is great for the balcony or any small space Posted by Leonie S → March 05, 2011 at 8:06 PM under Clotheslines and Laundry The Hills Supa Fold 70 Folding Frame is a totally new and revolutionary design in folding frame clotheslines. Hills Clotheslines have specifically designed the Supa Fold 70 for smaller living spaces such as flats, units and townhouses. With a handy 23 feet of drying line space, the Supa Fold 70 clothesline has proven to be a very popular product for those in need of dry laundry, but with limited space. Its powder coated steel design assures the utmost quality in strength and finish, plus the Supa Fold 70 is not only easy to assemble and install, but the design allows it to fold away neatly when not in use. For more information on this and other useful products go to: http://www.urbanclotheslines.com/hills-supafold-70-folding-frame-clothesline 0 Comments
Floating Solar Panels Designed for Inland Bodies of Water Posted by Jarrod M → March 04, 2011 at 7:46 PM under Alternative Energy Home Living Tips News and Events Israel-based Solaris Synergy and French EDF Group are planning to develop a new system of floating solar panels, called AQUASUN, which has the possibility of being installed on the surface of existing bodies of water. The panels use silicon cells, which unlike other types, are less expensive but also prone to inefficiency caused by overheating. However,this is not a problem as the water on which they’re floating acts as a cooling system. Users have the option to add or remove panels in order to tailor the power output to their requirements. A single modular panel is capable of generating around 200 kW of clean energy. This kind of system will not be installed in ecologically-sensitive areas or in open seas, but rather on reservoirs already in use for agriculture and industrial purposes. The water will not become stagnant because the panels are designed to allow oxygen to permeate through. So far, the companies have released a prototype that has been presented at the 4th International Eilat-Eilot Renewable Energy Conference in Israel. The designers have great plans for the future. They’re planning to install AQUASUN for a nine-month test period on a basin at a hydro-electric facility in southeastern France by the end of September. 0 Comments
Republicans recycle an old idea: the foam plastic coffee cup Posted by Chris H → March 03, 2011 at 12:19 AM under Environment It’s a pity that this recycling iniative seems to have been overturned because of politics! Polystyrene makes comeback in US Congress building after Republicans reverse green initiatives brought in by Democrats A bit like the Republican party, they are white, seemingly indestructible and bad for the environment. But after an absence of four years, foam plastic coffee cups have made a comeback in the basement coffee shop of the United States Congress building after Republicans began reversing a series of in-house green initiatives undertaken by Democrats. The about-turn was announced by a press aide to John Boehner, the speaker of the House of Representatives, who tweeted on Monday morning: “The new majority – plasticware is back”. When the Democrats held the house, the former speaker Nancy Pelosi put the cafeterias at the centre of a plan to hugely reduce the carbon footprint of Congress. The ancient power plant in Washington DC a few blocks from the Capitol building, which provides heating and cooling for Congress and the supreme court, was converted from coal to natural gas. Compact fluorescent lighting and energy-efficient vending machines were introduced. In the cafeterias, polystyrene packaging was replaced with trays and utensils made of biodegradable corn starch. Four separate stations were installed for recycling and sorting. A healthier menu was also introduced in 2008, offering cage-free eggs and antibiotic-free beef. Items deemed compostable waste, such as coffee cups, were sent to a pulper in a lower basement, which squeezed out all the liquid before dispatching the material by truck to a commercial composting site in the suburbs of Washington DC. To read the full article go to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/28/republicans-foam-coffee-cup-environmentally-bad 0 Comments
BMW to Make At Least 30,000 i3 Electric Cars Posted by Sam T → March 02, 2011 at 11:33 PM under Alternative Energy Home Living Tips News and Events German car maker BMW has recently announced that it plans to sell around 30,000 units of its i3 electric car in order to serve the growing market. BMW’s newest two models, i3 and i8, will be launched by the end of 2013.“We are targeting volume production for the i3,” said Ian Robertson, BMW’s global sales and marketing boss. The i8 two-door coupe is based on the 2009 BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept study. It also combines the fuel consumption and emissions of a small car with the the performance of a sports car. Whilst BMW has not officially announced the price of the i3, but according to some sources, it will have a price of about 40,000 euros in Europe. “As with all BMW Group products, the BMW i3 will be a premium car,” Robertson said. The i8 and i3 also will share parts for powertrain electronics, electric motors and lithium ion batteries. The models will be built in BMW’s plant in Leipzig, Germany. After their official launch, the automaker will expand its BMW “i” lineup to include more vehicles. 0 Comments
Kiss Red Wine Stains goodbye! Posted by Brian C → March 01, 2011 at 10:53 PM under Home Living Tips Here is how you get rid of red wine stains. Pour cold water onto the stained area as quickly as possible. Blot with a cloth and sprinkle salt onto the red wine stain. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes. Rinse with cold water while rubbing out the red wine stain. Repeat steps 1-3 until no more red wine stain can be removed. Rub with liquid laundry detergent and allow to stand for several minutes before rinsing thoroughly with cold water. Apply a spot stain remover stick, spray, or gel and wash according to clothing directions with liquid laundry detergent. Cheers & Good Luck! 0 Comments
Reduce, reuse & recycle Posted by Gavin S → February 28, 2011 at 10:06 PM under Environment Here are some really useful ideas to help reduce waste. Recycling Bins – Always have recycling bins available and labeled with the appropriate recycling stickers No More Plastic Grocery Bags – A reusable canvas shopping bag is a great alternative to plastic shopping bags that fill up the landfills. Reusable Water Bottles – Invest in a reusable water bottle and coffee mug. Save money while reducing waste in the landfills. Paperless Reading – Read books, magazines and newspapers on an iPad, Kindle or PC. Save the trees with eBooks and eReading Devices. Rechargeable Batteries – Save money and reduce waste by using rechargeable batteries. Buy Recycled – Buy products made from recycled materials help you to save the planet while shopping Donate Clothing – Never throw out clothing! Donate old clothes to your local thrift stores. Bed Sheets – Use old sheets for drop cloths when painting Crafts – Recycle egg cartons, old Christmas cards and Kleenex boxes for craft supplies. 0 Comments
Fresh (air) is best! Posted by Gary M → February 27, 2011 at 9:48 PM under Clotheslines and Laundry Drying your washing in the fresh air is healthier and cheaper too. There are many types of clotheslines and airers to choose from. If you feel that your laundry won’t come out as soft as in the clothes dryer, there are a few ways to solve that problem.. Use a liquid fabric softener in the wash and toss the laundry in the heat of the dryer for the first 10 minutes, then line dry. If you don’t use liquid softener, dry in the clothes dryer for 10 minutes, then remove and hang on the line. The sun has a natural bleaching affect on some fabrics, so if you are concerned about that, leave items turned inside out, or dry in the shade. Clothing hung outside, especially on a breezy day, smell wonderful – you just can’t beat it! 0 Comments
Green Laundry Tips For Every Household Posted by Erin S → February 26, 2011 at 12:26 AM under Home Living Tips Washers, dryers and dry cleaning make doing laundry easy, but they can be tough on the environment. With a few simple changes, you can reduce your environmental impact and trim your utility bills. If laundry day doesn’t seem like a big deal, consider this: On average, an American household washes almost 400 loads of laundry a year, according to Energy Star. Your laundry days add up, so it’s worth thinking about how you can minimize your household’s impact. The less energy and water you use when washing your clothes, the better. Use your washer’s energy-saver setting if available. Washing your clothes with cold water will both slash energy costs (as you no longer have to pay to get the water hot!) and keep your clothes brighter longer – a double bargain for the earth and for your pocketbook. Also, cleaning your lint tray will keep your dryer working efficiently. When it comes to loading your laundry machines, make sure you’re working with full loads. Filling your washer and dryer with clothes will help laundry day fly by faster and reduce energy use at the same time. Consider not using your clothes dryer and use a clothesline instead. There are many different types of lines available designed to suit every type of home – either indoors or outside. 0 Comments
Atlantic City’s Offshore Wind Farm Might be First in the US to Finish Construction Posted by Carole K → February 25, 2011 at 12:17 AM under Alternative Energy News and Events Fisherman’s Energy of New Jersey became the first offshore wind farm in New Jersey to apply for the state’s new renewable energy credit program, making it likely that it will be the first offshore wind farm in the state (and the country) to get on the grid. New Jersey passed a law just last week requiring utility companies to buy credits from offshore wind farms — they already have a similar solar program in place — which will give wind developers the financial means to build their turbines. The program should help to jump start the offshore wind market in New Jersey and sendclean energy soaring through the Garden State’s grid. 0 Comments
