Eco Green News, Technology, DIY Project and Hacks

Something that you can do to help the earth is to build your own compost pile. This can be done easily with some chicken wire or reused materials. Just make a small 4×4x4 box in your backyard. Making a small opening at the bottom is a good idea so that older compost can be raked out from the bottom to use in the garden. Leave an opening in the top, or make a lid, so that new materials such as leaves, cut grass, vegetables, and coffee grinds can be added to the compost. Be sure that your compost bin has holes so that your compost can get fresh air. Of coarse, if you are not the do-it-yourself type, you can always purchase a compost bin and still get the same benefits.

This seems like a silly post, but one great way to save energy is to walk or ride your bike whenever possible. Next time you are going to the corner store, try walking. You will help Planet Earth as well as yourself. You may even have a nice time.

Another way to save energy in the home is to use thermal curtains. These curtains are made of thick material, much like those used in hotel rooms, and they help keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. They also reflect light and help prevent furniture to become faded from exposure to the sun.

Fluorescent light bulbs save energy and are an easy change to make in your home. It makes sense to make the change. It is easy and cost effective. The bulbs come in all shapes and sizes and are sold at most stores. The following information is from the Energy Star website.

If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.

• ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.
• Save about $30 or more in electricity costs over each bulb’s lifetime.
• Produce about 75 percent less heat, so they’re safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling.

Reuse as many items as you can. This can be as easy as using a reusable water bottle instead of disposable bottled water. There are so many things that can be reused if you just use your imagination. Refurbish your old furniture or fixtures. Rinse out containers and use them again. Reusing is easy, will help the environment, and will save you money.

Reduce the amount you consume. Maybe you don’t need to buy 10 plastic measuring cups just because they are 50 cents each. Another way to reduce waste is to buy products in bulk containers (however, this does not apply if you are then repackaging at home). Basically, just try using less. It may just pay off in more ways than one.

One easy way to help the environment is to recycle. Most cities have programs or places where you can recycle. It is an easy way to reduce waste in landfills.

Another way to recycle is to donate unused items. Give away items that can be reused instead of throwing them away. If your out-dated coffee post still works, give it away or sell it at a yard sale. If you are remodeling your home, give away wood or old fixtures instead of filling up your dumpster. As the saying goes “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

This website was designed to promote and discuss alternative energy and other eco-friendly options.