Plow & Hearth - Solar Power Article-
Our sun, a fairly average star when you come
right down to it, has been blazing away for nearly 4 billion years now,
and will probably be doing the same that long from now. Every year it
delivers about 1 ½ billion billion (that's 1.52 x 10 to the 18th!)
kilowatt-hours (kWh) to planet Earth---over than 1,000 times more energy
than is needed to meet all current human requirements. The average U.S.
household, for purposes of comparison, consumes about 8,500 kWh per
year.
Right here in the United States we receive more
energy from the sun in 40 minutes than we do from all the fossil fuels
(coal, oil, and natural gas) we burn for an entire year! And with those
fossil fuels being depleted 100,000 times as fast as they're being
created---both oil and gas are forecast to be effectively depleted by
mid-century---photovoltaic electricity begins to look like the obvious
solution....read
more
Energy Vampires are electronics (like
TVs, DVD players and cell phone chargers) that still use energy even when
they're turned off.
This wasted power can add up to 20 percent to your energy bill. The best
way to cut down on energy-sucking is to unplug your appliances when
they're not in use, or plug them all into a power strip and turn that off.
If all that switching is too much of a hassle at least unplug your cell
phone charger when it's not in use.
Solar
Pillar Light
( 35-229)
This solar pathway light emits diffused light for general illumination
and also has a mini LED spot to light a dark
stair
or uneven ground. Works in the garden or lawn with included ground stake.
Water Conservation - How
To Make A Difference In 15 Minutes
You can start water conservation in your home
today. Here are some tips to save water:
Don't let the water run needlessly when
washing dishes, shaving, or brushing your teeth.
Take shorter showers... keeping showers less
than 5 minutes can save up to 1,000 gallons per month.
Plug the bathtub before turning the water on,
and then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
Fix leaky faucets: Just one drip a second can
waste 2,000 gallons of water per year.
If practical, try to run the dishwasher or
washing machine only when completely full.
If you live in an older home, consider
replacing your plumbing with low-flow fixtures and low-flush
toilets.
Water your lawn only when necessary and
consider landscaping with native plants adaptable to your
climate's conditions.
Place a bucket in the shower to catch excess
water to later water plants. This also works when washing dishes
or vegetables in the sink.
Use the garbage disposal minimally and
compost instead.
Ultra-Bright Double Spotlight
( 35-071)Most solar lights are meant to provide soft accent lighting, but these Double Solar Spotlights are true work lights. Two swiveling spotlights, each packed with 6 bright blue-white LEDs, are connected
Made of flexible, puncture-resistant
laminated polyester, this ingenious rain barrel holds up to 45 gallons
of water. The wide top zips open for easy dipping, and a mesh screen
keeps debris out.
Deluxe Rain Barrel
Do your garden a big favor: collect pure, chemical-free rainwater to
help plants thrive. Our largest rain barrel comes complete with lots of
great features that you'd usually pay extra for.
Whether your travels take you to a faraway
land or just across town, the Sidney mary jane from The North Face
serves as a comfortable companion. This simply styled, eco-friendly shoe
features a metal-free suede and nubuck leather upper with a bamboo
textile lining and a wooden button closure. The recycled rubber outsole
promises reliable traction, while the cork EVA midsole with plant
cellulose fiber heel cushioning offers lasting support.
Water
Conservation - Highest
volume water uses inside the home include:
Toilet: 26.7%
Clothes Washer: 21.7%
Shower: 16.8%
Faucets: 15.7%
Leaks: 13.7%
It's so simple to conserve water and dramatically
help the environment... and your checkbook.
Remembering to conserve water throughout your
daily routine will eventually turn into such an
ingrained habit that you
won't even have to think about it.
Each degree you turn down the
heat saves 3 percent of heating costs, while each degree you raise
the temperature of your air conditioner saves 3-4 percent of
cooling costs. By changing the temperature by two degrees all year
you can save about 2,000 pounds of C02 a year.
Opt-out of junk mail. Contact the
companies or organizations that currently send you junk mail and
ask that you be removed from their list. This one tip will save
TONS of trash from going to the landfill every year.
Take your own cloth bag to the
grocery store and spare the waste of using store-provided paper or
plastic ones.
Only run the dishwasher and
washing machine when you've got a full load.
Use alkaline manganese batteries
because they are free of toxic heavy metals. Better yet, use
rechargeable batteries and save some money.
Buy seasonal produce items grown
or produced within 100 miles and you'll reduce the amount of
diesel fuel needed to ship food. You can get fresher food and help
small-scale agriculture by shopping at neighborhood farmers'
markets.
Recycle cans, bottles, plastic
bags and newspapers. Support recycling by purchasing items that
are reusable and/or recyclable. When you recycle, you send less
trash to the landfill and you help save resources that would be
used in manufacturing non-recycled products.
Switch to cold water washing and
save 80 percent on energy used for laundry and save an estimated
$60 a year. Hang dry your clothes instead of using the dryer and
save 700 pounds of C02 a year.
Turn off the lights when you
aren't using them and reduce your direct lighting energy use by 45
percent.
Switch to compact fluorescent
from regular incandescent bulbs and use 60 percent less energy per
bulb and save 300 pounds of C02 a year.
Wrap your water heater in an
insulation blanket and save 1,000 pounds of C02 a year.
Insulate your hot water pipes.
Keep your tires inflated to
improve gas mileage by three percent. Every gallon you save also
saves 20 pounds of C02 emissions.
Take shorter showers. Showers
account for 2/3 of all water heating costs. Save 350 lbs. of
carbon dioxide and $99 per year.
Plant a tree. Trees suck up
carbon dioxide and make clean air for us to breathe. Save 2,000
lbs. of carbon dioxide per year.
Reduce carbon dioxide emissions
by staying at or within the speed limit. Plus, driving an
appropriate speed increases driver safety and saves money on gas
costs.
Choose products that come with
little packaging and buy refills when you can. You will also cut
down on waste production and energy use!
When it is time for a new car,
choose a more fuel efficient vehicle. You can save 3,000 pounds of
carbon dioxide every year if your new car gets only 3 miles per
gallon more than your current one.
Be sure you're recycling at home.
You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide a year by recycling
half of the waste your household generates.
Choose biodegradable and
eco-friendly detergents and household cleaners made from natural
ingredients instead of harsh chemicals.
