Triaxis Energy

Emissions Calculators

world_carbon_footprint Very few of us know how big our own emissions output is let alone the amount of garbage we throw out per year. However there are some neat tools available online which will show you roughly how big your carbon footprint is for you and/or your family.

Many sites offer these calculators which I believe are great eye openers. They calculate things like heat, hydro, fuel economy, money saved with alternative fueled vehicles, etc.. Pretty Interesting.

I knew my fuel economy on my pickup truck was not so great but I was surprised to find out how terrible it really is. It is frustrating to find out some of these things to because I drive a light truck with a V6 and it’s getting worse fuel economy than a newer full size truck with a V8. Ridiculous!

Well if anything at least they may help you to realize where your can start trying to make cutbacks and save a little money plus your Carbon Footprint will be reduced. Check some of these calulators out at http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/tools-outils-eng.cfm

How To Sharpen A Reel Mower

Reel Mower Maintenance Not everyone is familiar with Reel Mowers and their unique and simple operation. Most of us are used to seeing big gas powered push lawnmowers, tractors or electric mowers which do the job they are designed for, and do it well but are still expensive to buy.

Although all those types of lawn mowers are great products they are full of lots of moving parts and the price to buy and maintain them properly can be expensive. Reel Mowers on the other hand are a time proven design which have very few moving parts, no big engine to maintain or fill with gas and they are quiet. These mowers are making a big comeback with the onset of green thinking and rebate programs.

What many people who have bought these mowers are wondering though is “How do I sharpen this thing”. It’s a typical question that owners have but it is an easy process. Many lawn equipment places don’t offer Reel Mower sharpening which is surprising too. Reel Mower Sharpening Kit

Shown to the right is a Reel Mower sharpening kit. Sharpening Reel Mowers is simple but many people are intimidated by it because they can’t figure out how to do it (being used to sharpening conventional rotary mower blades with a file or just don’t know period). However, Reel Mowers are sharpened with a lapping abrasive paste not a file. Just place the mower on a workbench and remove a wheel. With the wheel off you attach the kit’s handle onto the axle and then apply the lapping paste to the blades edges. Then you simply turn the handle to rotate the blades and the lapping paste sharpens the blades against the bar. You want to sharpen the blades until fresh metal edges are exposed all around them and they are sharp. If the blades are not sharpening then adjust the bar closer so it is rubbing the blades more. This will give the paste a better chance to make contact between the bar and the blades.

So don’t throw out your Reel Mower if you get frustrated by not knowing how to sharpen it. It is an easy process that just requires a bit of time and elbow grease to complete.

Cheap Laminate Flooring

laminate-floor-cutaway Most of us enjoy hardwood flooring in our homes as it is a very pleasant looking material. Carpet is another common flooring type which is comfortable and safer for children. Vinyl flooring is good for in kitchen and bathrooms for water resistance and is warm on the feet when compared to ceramic or porcelain tile and even marble and granite.

Laminate flooring on the other hand is a inexpensive way to go if you wish to redo your home flooring on a budget. You can pay ridiculous amounts for hardwood and tile and even more for marble and granite. If you are a good shopper you can find these products at discount prices but generally nowhere near as good as laminate. Laminate flooring consists of laminated sections of wood or a particle board core, veneer or simulated wood grain material and a hard wear layer or finish.

Laminates are a long wearing product which you can get for excellent prices around 99 cents to $3.00 average depending on the pattern you choose. This is an excellent choice when compared to the wear of carpet and the expensive refinishing cost of hardwood. If your laminate floor ever wears out you can replace it for a fraction of the cost of hardwood plus it easy to install. There are different methods of installation with different types of laminate. You can nail, glue or even snap your floors together and have an entire floor of your house done in a day.

Check this stuff out at your local building center. It’s a great product which also helps reduce the amount of trees cut down for the purpose of flooring. We use enough wood as it is but if you still want a decent wood like floor take a look at laminate floors.

Whale Wars

whale-wars-lg Once every so many years there comes a television show or movie that really opens your eyes. Recently I was over at a neighbors house and I caught an episode of a truly unique program called “Whale Wars”.

You may have heard of this program as it is a lot more intense than some of our regular run of the mill reality shows. Typically I am not to fond of reality shows as they are generally just fodder for the masses. Sure these programs usually show you what its like in the daily life of… but they are still just boring filler television. Whale Wars is something different altogether.

I was just glued to the television while this “Whale Wars” was on. It’s a David and Goliath style television series about an organization called the “Sea Shepherd Conservation Society” whose duty is to protect whales from commercial whalers. Their ship formally named the “Robert Hunter” (after one of the co-founders of Greenpeace) was renamed by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society after the late Steve Irwin (the Crocodile Hunter). Steve Irwin was considering joining the ship on a voyage to Antarctica shortly before his death.

Led by Captain Paul Watson, the crew of the “Steve Irwin” do more than just take pictures of whales in an attempt to raise awareness. They confront commercial Japanese whaling ships on the open sea in an attempt to halt whaling head on. Whale Wars shows the crew of the “Steve Irwin” in actual assaults on these ships with chemical stink bombs and they get hit back with flash bang grenades from the Japanese ships. In one episode Captain Paul Watson is allegedly shot but survives due to his bulletproof vest.

This television show is absolutely amazing. It is a series which depicts real people putting themselves in harms way for a noble cause. Very few television shows I have ever seen come even close to the activities appearing in this program. The crew of the “Steve Irwin” even goes as far in one episode as to boarding one of the Japanese whaling vessels and two of their crew members intentionally allow themselves to be taken hostage which raised a big stink around the world. With all the action in this show you will not be disappointed. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is truly fighting the good fight.

The Magnificent Sequoia Tree

Sequoia-Kings Canyon Sequoia trees or Sequoia sempervirens are the largest trees in the world and are the among the oldest and tallest trees alive today. Commonly referred to as “Coast Redwood” and “California Redwood” they are a magnificent species of trees which can live for up to 2200 years. Native to the coastal California and southwestern Oregon states, many of these sleeping giants are protected in state parks.

Logging over the centuries has decimated many of these trees but they are now safe within national parks. These awe inspiring trees are absolutely enormous with the tallest Sequoia reaching 115.55 meters or 379.1 feet tall. It is located in Redwood National Park in northern California and the tree is named “Hyperion”.

Although logging of these trees continues to this day most of it now is being limited to smaller secondary growth trees to help protect the older more dominent ones. Redwood is a valuable wood due to it’s resistance to rot and decay. It is also a tree which is resistant to forest fires due to the lack of resin or sap.

There are different countries and territories which grow redwood trees for their own logging which is preferable to logging old growth Sequoias. Although the fact still remains that these trees are an excellent species to behold and they are being destroyed.

There are ways though which you can enjoy these spectacular trees for yourself. Visiting these National Redwood Parks are a great way to see these trees in their own natural ecosystem and makes for some great photos. You can also buy seed kits online which you can grow at home and plant in your yard. The Jonsteen Tree Company sells tree all kinds of unique tree growing kits like the Giant Sequoia tree and you can even buy saplings. Visit these guys at “www.jonsteen.com”. Planting your own trees is a fun and educational process that we should all enjoy.

Eliminate Waste With Reusable Coffe Mugs

i-am-not-a-paper-cup All of us young and old have been to a coffee shop in our time and have bought hot drinks in paper or even styrofoam cups. They add up rather quickly at the landfill and it’s time we start fixing the problem.

Coffee shops aside from other fast food restaurants are a heavy contributor to waste due to the usage of disposable cups. I can’t even imagine how many cups get wasted per year just because people need their caffeine fix. It’s actually quite ridiculous how much we waste but there are alternatives to this situation.

We have all seen’em and many of us have used them. Reusable coffee mugs are an excellent choice if you are a frequent coffee drinker as most people are. They are not discarded after emptying piling up in our landfills or blowing down our streets because people have no time or interest to discard them properly. Reusable coffee mugs last a long time and keep drinks hotter for longer periods of time since they are insulated. This goes a long way when you travel or are quite busy and can’t take the time to drink your coffee while it’s still hot. I prefer tea myself but the same still holds true.

There are tons of these reusable mugs out there and they are pretty cheap. I found this company that designs a reusable coffee mug that looks like a regular paper cup as shown above. It’s made by Decor Craft Inc. or (DCI). It’s a pretty cool and quite funny reusable mug. This I think is more of a mug for around the house as I it is made from porcelain with a silicone top but you can still use it in your car or at work.

Some coffee shops will even give you a discount on your coffee by using your own cup since you’re not using theirs and costing them money. Hey who doesn’t like saving money? Now your local shop may not offer this incentive but it is worthwhile asking. Just think about it. You can help reduce waste and possibly save money. I think it’s a fair choice.

The Switch To 4-Stroke

honda_bf90 When I was growing up I remember going to the cottage in the summer time and boating. It was a big part of our vacation. I remember the sights, sounds and the smell… oh yes the smell. The smell of two-stroke exhaust. It was a very distinctive scent. Ah yes, 2-stroke engines. Mixed oil and gas burnt together and exhausted in the water leaving a oily water pattern in the lake and smelling quite unique. Although worse for the environment 2-stroke engines were the choice for many different applications.

Most of that is behind us nowadays. The 4-stroke engine has taken over the outboard market as well as many others. Dirt bikes, Lawnmowers and other power equipment have made the change to cleaner burning 4-stroke engine technology. Although I miss 2-stroke dirt bikes and outboard motors I understand that the environment is better off with the new “straight gas” burning engines.

2-stroke engines were a choice engine for many different applications for a few reasons. For one, they were cheaper to produce since they required less material and time to build. Two, they were easier to work on if they broke down since they were less complicated than 4-strokes. Three, they were lighter than 4-strokes since they had fewer components and Four, because they could operate at any angle or position since they did not use a oil bath in the crank case to lubricate the cylinder. They could run upside down even because 2-stroke engine cylinders are lubricated by the oil mixed in with the gas whereas a 4-stroke would burn out when the oil didn’t splash on the cylinder walls. 2007_sea_doo_rxp_215_hp1

Even companies such as Seadoo which most people associate with the one and only personal watercraft (PWC) have eliminated 2 strokes from their lineup. PWC’s have long been powered by 2-stroke engines mainly due to the fact that they can roll and jump around without worrying about engine troubles. Now Seadoos are cleaner burning machines with the 4-Tec Rotax engines. As always BRP has done their homework on these machines.

The main reason for the change to 4-stroke engines is obvious. Cleaner burning. However the benefits don’t end there. No more oily residue in the water from outboard boat motors which was a trademark of the 2-strokes of yesteryear. They don’t smell as bad as 2-strokes when they are running. Plus one of the biggest advantages to 4-strokes is that they put out way more torque than a 2-stroke ever could. This is a bonus when you are trying to push a larger heavier boat like a sailboat.

So even though they are cheaper to produce and so on the environmental benefits won out in the end. I must say it is sad to see 2-strokes gone from competition motocross as I am a big fan but on the other hand it is good to see our lakes getting a break from the oil pollution left behind from 2-stroke outboard motors. If you’re in the market for a boat, lawnmower or a dirt bike, try and buy one with a 4-stroke engine for all our benefit.

Some Cool Related Sites

In my constant efforts to write about new eco-friendly products and ways to save money I am always on the lookout for other people and websites who write about the same types of things to help further expand my knowledge and in turn bring it to your attention as the reader.

I have found some interesting websites that you should check out:

http://fixbio.comThis site has some neat articles on saving money at the pump, green tips and more.

http://www.our-energy.comThis site is an excellent resource for types of clean renewable energy and even non-renewable energy. Plus it has a crude oil price meter if you are interested.

Blue Anti Moisture And Mold Gypsum Board

humitek This is a relatively new gypsum board product available which is an excellent material for installing in bathrooms and kitchens where there is lots of moisture.

Kitchens and bathrooms are the most humid areas of the home and with humidity comes the possibility of water and mold damage. After you take a hot shower the bathroom becomes a sauna with all that water vapor in the air which can condense on walls and penetrate into the drywall/gypsum board. If this type of activity continues over time it can lead to mold growth and none of us wants mold in our homes. Mold can be a source of several health problems, the leading problem being respiratory troubles. Black mold is the worst of them all and can even kill healthy people with prolonged exposure.

There are ways to prevent the growth of mold, some as simple as taking cooler showers eliminating the amount of water vapour in the air in your bathroom. Although some areas like kitchens can’t avoid these issues as easily. With boiling pots and steaming dishwashers fairly constant processes taking place water vapour and condensation are eminent. If you are deciding to Reno your bathroom or kitchen or either consider using this new blue board product available at your hardware store. The blue board gypsum board is an excellent product which have a fire retardant moisture and mold resistant gypsum core. An excellent product which stands up to the continuous moisture levels in kitchens and bathrooms. It is slightly more expensive per sheet than regular gypsum board but the health benefits make it a worthy purchase.

All considering standard gypsum board can survive in these damp environments but will fail with excessive exposure to water vapour or especially direct water contact. So if you’re doing a Reno in a bathroom or kitchen consider it for your health.

Long Lasting Steel Roofing

steel_roof1 Steel roofing is not a new technology but has advanced from simple old flat sheeting like you see on barns and sheds.

There are all different types of steel roofing material available today and the manufacturers have made some fine looking products. Shown in the picture to the left is just a simple ribbed design that is extremely common but still looks great and is functional. The reason steel roofs are such an excellent choice is that they are long lasting, durable, less maintenance than tar shingle roofing and they also shed snow well in the winter time. Snow buildup can be a killer in the winter in northern areas especially. Snow can collapse roofs if too much builds up and isn’t removed. Shingled roofs are prone to this problem whereas steel roofing can shed snow quite well by itself.

There are many different colours and styles of steel roofing available from ribbed to steel shingle to tar simulated steel shingles. These simulated tar shingles are really neat because you get the look of a tar shingled roof but with the durability of steel. metroshngl To the right is an example of this type of system installed and to look at it it’s not much different looking than an actual tar shingled roof. These products are not always made from steel and can be made from aluminum among other metals but steel is the most common.

The problem with regular tar shingles is that they wear out relatively fast when compared to steel roofing. The manufacturers even put 15, 25 and 30 year warranties on these tar shingles but they rarely last that long unless in prime conditions. Even if you get warranty work like that done then you still have to take the time to have your roof redone. A steel roof will far outlast these old roofs plus steel roofing is easily recyclable in many different ways.

Considering having your roof redone? Then consider steel roofing. It outlasts tar shingled roofing, looks good, wears well and comes in more designs and colours than tar shingles.