 Older houses are full of of drafts and in colder months can seriously affect your heating costs. There are many different types of products available that you can use to seal these drafts such as fiberglass or lava rock insulation, styrofoam, cellophane (around windows), tuck tape, etc… One of the best products you can use is expanding foam.
Expanding foam is similar to an A + B foam except it is premixed and expands after being released from the spray can. It is very much like styrofoam but being in a liquid state you can get into some pretty tight spots with ease and seal them. This type of product is generally used around windows and doors but can be used for any exterior or interior drafts since not all drafts in the home are from external sources.
Basements or cellars and attics for example are prime locations for cold air to lurk. Now typically cold air does not rise but a basement or cellar can be one giant cold zone and then act like a an exterior wall that needs to be insulated. Attics are the same but heat loss is more of an issue in cold seasons since hot air rises and will radiate out of uninsulated ceilings wasting heat and money.
Areas around pipes and electrical wiring traveling between floors should be insulated with this foam to prevent air flow between cold and warm zones. These are the areas people don’t think so much about when sealing up their homes for the winter since they are inside. Making sure your attic is insulated is one of the most important steps you can take towards keeping your house warm in the winter but make sure you still seal any cracks or openings where you might see air flow becoming an issue for heat loss. You can pick this type of insulating foam up at your local hardware store or Walmart. It’s pretty common stuff and there many companies that make it. So let’s keep the warm in and the cold out.
 Lots of power is wasted just by appliances sitting around your home. By unplugging them when you’re not using them you can save a fair amount on your hydro bill. It has been said that up to 40% of wasted energy on your energy bill is caused by plugged in appliances around the home even when not in use.
Unfortunately your beer fridge is one of those things that wastes electricity because they’re usually older fridges that are not energy efficient and you don’t fill them to capacity. If you must have one then consider buying a new smaller bar fridge. They use less power and are easier find a place for. They are other things for example: TV’s not being used in the home use power to run the internal clocks or the standby light even still draws power. Computers, Alarm clocks, Stereos, night lights, etc… If it’s plugged in it’s still using power or at least wasting it.
If we all take a look at how much energy we use then we can get a better knowledge of where we can save some. Every little bit counts and unless you produce your own via Solar or Wind Power then you’re just burning up fossil fuels. We all know they won’t last forever.
 If anyone ever told you Beer never did anyone any good…. THEIR WRONG! This is a new product from Cansolair called the RA 240 Solar Max. It’s made from 240 recycled aluminum beer cans. This is an excellent new technology from Newfoundland, Canada that is proving to be quite a hot product.
The Solar Max is an awesome device which collects radiation from the sun and turns it into heat for your home. It is designed to offset the cost of heating in your home during the daytime. What’s even neater about this product is that it is made out of beer cans. A 1000 square foot area can be heated comfortably during the day with only 15 minutes of sunlight per hour. It is essentially the same as having 2 kilowatts of heat circulating your home.
Though similar to a Solar Panel system it has a much lighter price tag. Remembering that this product does not produce electricity to use in your home but heat instead it is a fair price at $2695.00 when compared to an equivalent 2 kilowatt Solar Panel system around $16,000 – $20,000. What’s also nice about the Solar Max is that it does not require a lot of space on your home and is a clean cut looking unit. Cansolair estimates that they save approximately 33,000 lbs of pollutants from being released into the atmosphere with each unit. I love beer and I have to say it’s never been so environmentally friendly to do it!
 Hemp is one of the world’s most versatile plants and despite the fact that it used to be a major industry in North America it is not as popular today. The main reason is likely because of it’s relation to Marijuana. Although both are in the same family (Cannabis) Hemp does not posses significant amounts of the psychoactive drug Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to make it a drug form. Hemp only contains approximately 0.3% THC.
Hemp has been in use for thousands of years and is more benificial than people may think. Hemp has been used to make things such as rope, paper, concrete, textiles, fuel and more. For example the Declaration of Independence was printed on Hemp paper. In Europe and China Hemp hurds are mixed with lime to produce concrete called Hempcrete which also acts like a insulator and moisture regulator. In 1941 the Ford motor company designed an automobile with plastic body panels made from 70% cellulose fibers from Hemp. These body panels were 10 times more dent resistant than steel. Even Mercedes Benz uses Hemp fibre in their production of car door panels. Hemp also produces a stronger source of paper than wood pulp. Pretty amazing.
Environmentally Hemp is more versatile than the wood pulp industry. A little comparison: 1 acre of land used to grow Hemp over the course of 20 years produces the same amount of pulp fiber as 4.1 acres of Trees. The production of wood pulp to make paper also is a very nasty process which involves chemical separation and bleaching which produces bi-products such as dioxins which are quite harmful to the environment. Hemp pulp production can substitute chlorine bleaching safely with hydrogen peroxide. Also Hemp production requires less time and resources to grow and manufacture into paper than trees. More forests could be saved by switching to Hemp as a source of paper.
Although Hemp has been proven superior to wood in paper production in the past big money and the wood industry in general have managed to keep it’s production limited. Years ago a newspaper publisher by the name of William Randolph Hearst who owned millions of acres of prime timber land used his publishing power to spread fear about the evils of Hemp and its relation to Marijuana. In 1937 Pierre DuPont who held rights to the sulphuric acid wood pulp paper process patented the nylon rope made from synthetic petrochemicals. DuPont along with his backup Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon were able to institute The Marijuana Tax Act severely crippling the Hemp industry with heavy taxes. This was mainly done to help protect the interests of big money in the timber, petrochemical and cotton industries. But hey, they never hurt anybody right? It’s an excellent plant with great production potential and I think we should increase it’s usage over timber. Better for us and the Environment.
 1. Trees Produce Oxygen: Everyone needs Oxygen to breathe. It’s no question why that’s important.
2. Trees Absorb Carbon Dioxide: We exhale Carbon Dioxide and Trees produce Oxygen. It’s a symbiotic relationship. Without each other there would be an imbalance in which the other would suffer or perish.
3. Trees Clean The Soil: They absorb chemicals and toxins from the soil in which they grow thus cleansing it like natural soil filters. This makes soil safer and healthier for other plants and animals to be around.
4. Trees Prevent Erosion: By planting trees in loose soil areas we can stabilize them and prevent water from storms and flooding from washing the soil away.
5. Trees Provide Shade: Everyone has at one point in their life went and stood or sat under a tree on a hot summer day. They also reduce Air Conditioning bills when planted around homes partially blocking them from full exposure to the sun.
6. Trees Are Sound Barriers: Trees help to aid in eliminating harsh noise in their environment like insulation or sound proofing materials.
7. Trees Make Good Fences Naturally: When planted close together or even in a hedge they provide privacy like a fence and grow larger all the time keeping out prying eyes.
8. Trees Protect Animals: Birds are often drawn to trees that provide a sense of security and safe haven for their nests. Plant spiny type trees like Hawthorn to keep birds around and larger animals like squirrels and raccoons out.
9. Trees Increase Property Value: It’s pretty safe to say that most people want a nice view of a landscape around their home to make it more pleasing to be around. This in turn helps to draw potential buyers to a home.
10. Planting A Tree Is A Rewarding Experience: By planting trees you learn more and more how they help the environment and grow. Also by planting trees you help to replace trees harvested for lumber and keep Oxygen levels up while keeping Carbon Dioxide Levels Down.
 Some new products I recently stumbled upon being sold now are made from Bamboo and Soy. The only difference is these products are not used for flooring or consumption but instead for clothing.
The idea of using other materials for clothing aside from cotton and wool are quite common. For years we have worn shirts made from things such as Polyester, Hemp, Cotton, Wool and of course Silk. Many types of fabric are blends of different materials some of which are even made from recycled pop bottles.
Hemp has been used to make clothing for a very long time. It is also been used to make medicine for thousands of years. It’s a very versatile material. Soy is a relatively new material being used to make clothing. It is made from leftover materials from other Soy product manufacturing processes like Tofu. It is soft and resistant to UV rays and bacteria which not many other materials are. When discarded it is biodegradable which helps to eliminate waste. Bamboo is pretty neat too. In it’s natural state it is a very strong plant that is believe it or not part of the Grass Family not a tree. It is regarded as a very comfortable material. Bamboo fabric is produced in two ways: 1. Mechanically and 2. Chemically. Mechanically it is crushed and the mushy bamboo can then be spun “Mechanically” into fiber. The Chemical method is more toxic however and unfortunately more common as it is less time consuming to produce. So Chemically produced Bamboo is not always a good choice but Mechanically produced Bamboo or “Bamboo Linen” can still be found if you are determined enough.
These are just some of the materials being used to make clothing that can be considered natural but sometimes we have to beware of the manufacturing processes used to make them. As technology progresses so will the different types of materials we will be wearing in the future.
 This my friends is the most affordable of the high end electric cars available in the near future. Let me introduce you to the Tesla S-series. This car is by far the greatest North American car ever built for under $50,000 US. Why?, you may ask. Well simply put… It’s 100% electric.
Unlike all the other major car companies around this day and age who have been fighting to keep internal combustion engine vehicles at the top of their sales list Tesla Motors solely builds electric cars. At this time they only sell the Tesla Roadster which is currently the highest performance electric car sold in the world. Although the price tag on a Roadster is around $100,000 US which makes it only available to wealthier people the S-series will be selling for $49,000 US and up which is a far cry from the Roadsters pricing.
Now you wanna talk performance? The S-series can go from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds. It has a top speed of 120 mph and can travel up to 300 miles on a single charge depending on the battery pack selected. Now let me remind you that this is an electric car not gas powered. Electric cars have always been associated with low speed and short range but not anymore. The Tesla Roadster on the other hand can go from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds and travel at a top speed of 125 mph. Range is around 220 miles but don’t forget this is Tesla’s first car model.
Still not convinced? Consider this: The cost to operate the S-series vehicle is about $5.00 to drive 230 miles. The battery can charge up 80% in as little as 45min. It’s silent and pollutant free. There are less moving parts, no more oil changes, and only a single speed gearbox. Without shifting the car accelerates faster than a typical car with a multi-speed transmission. They are even twice as efficient as Hybrids. No more stops to the gas station is also a definite plus.
Now the S-series line won’t be available to the end of 2011 but they are constantly evolving their designs and coming up with the latest and greatest battery designs. Tesla motors doesn’t build cars… it builds Weapons! Well not real weapons, just some badass cars. For more info check out www.teslamotors.com.
 A lush and healthy lawn is one of the most beautiful and calming sights to behold. Golf courses for example make their money by maintaining a natural clean environment for Golfers to play in. Even if you have never played golf in your life you must still enjoy seeing such a green and healthy course in its prime.
A well manicured lawn has many benefits aside from just looking great. Grass provides oxygen for us to breathe while absorbing carbon dioxide. Did you know that it takes only 625 square feet of grass to supply a human being with sufficient oxygen for one day? It’s pretty amazing stuff. An average residential lawn is approximately 5000 square feet. This can provide eight people with their daily oxygen supply. Just to give you a comparison, it would take about two 100 foot tall trees to produce the same amount of oxygen.
A healthy lawn also helps to maintain a cooler climate. In the summer time when it’s hot you can feel the difference between a asphalt driveway and a green lawn. A lawn can maintain a 75 °F temperature while a road may be around 100 °F. Therefore eight front lawns could cool as much as about 70 tonnes of air conditioning or roughly enough to cool up to 23 homes. Grass also provides a natural barrier for sound absorbing loud surrounding noise. A great advantage in the city when compared to parking lot. Grass roots provide excellent soil binders. While a typical dirt hillside may wash out in a rainstorm grass roots hold it together like a knit blanket preventing erosion. Grass also works like a air filter absorbing dust and debris from blowing around loosely.
Well maintained lawns are always nice to relax in during the summer. Have a BBQ and sit outside in a nice reclining chair catching some rays absorbing all that vitamin D from the sun. It encourages us to stay outside and relax and can help to relieve stress. It has been said that some patients in hospitals heal faster after an operation when they have a room with a nice view of a landscape. It can also add value to your home. A green lush lawn is always an appealing feature to future home buyers. So with all these benefits you can’t help but be encouraged to take care of your lawn.
 Tired of pushing around that old heavy gas powered lawn mower? It’s heavy, won’t start and you always have to fill it up with gas? Maybe it’s time your try something new.
Well Reel mowers aren’t exactly new. They’re actually the original lawnmower that’s been around for decades. Your parents probably even owned one of these puppies. They were a great innovation back when they were created which kept grass healthy, short and looking great. The same still holds true today.
With gas powered mowers people are lugging around a big heavy gas consuming polluting machine. They’re not always convenient either. Reel mowers on the other hand are clean, light and low maintenance plus they give you a better and cleaner cut than a gas mower. You see, with a gas mower the blades chop grass which leads to “split ends” but for grass. This causes the grass to lose more moisture drying out faster and becoming more susceptible to disease. Reel mowers eliminate this effect because they shear grass. They don’t chop it. This allows grass to retain it’s moisture and stay healthy and good looking. After all isn’t the idea is to have a good looking lawn?
Reel mowers are an excellent addition to any lawn care program. while they produce a better cut and are a cleaner alternative to gas mowers they are also cheaper. You can pick one of these up for under $100. Better than a gas mower that’s for sure. The only downside to reel mowers is that they don’t cut well in deep grass. Although you can use a gas mower slowly in tall grass a Reel mower will not be able to swing the grass into it’s blades. All considered I like the Reel mower better myself especially if you have a small yard. What’s the sense in having a large fossil fuel burning mower for only a couple hundred square feet of grass. Also note that you shouldn’t remove more than a third of the length of your grass per cut to keep it healthy. This prevents it from losing too much moisture and keeping it taller helps to choke out weeds.
 High Efficiency Showerheads are a necessity when it comes to saving money around the house. Water bills can be reduced by a substantial amount when using these products over a regular Showerhead.
Think about this, showering makes up about 17% of the water usage in the United Sates. If that’s so then think of how many Billions no, Trillions of gallons of water are used each year just to keep ourselves clean. That’s a ridiculous amount of water. Even more interesting is to think about how many of the showers use regular water wasting showerheads.
Conventional showerheads have had a flow rate of up to and including 5.5 gallons per minute (gpm) whereas models today have a flow rate of around 2.5 gpm or less. Lower flow rates are emerging as the technology becomes more advanced. there are two types of high Efficiency Showerheads: Aerating and Laminar-Flow. As shown in the picture, a High Efficiency Showerhead works on the principle of pressurizing the water and in some cases mixing it with air creating a lighter soft spray. This is an Aerating Showerhead. Laminar-Flow Showerheads spray a solid stream of water.
The fact that High Efficiency Showerheads pressurize water instead of just pouring it out like a broken pipe is what makes them so great. Have you ever turned on a hose and put your thumb over the end to get the water to spray further? That’s the idea. By tightening the flow you are not just hosing out water, you’re making the hose more efficient. It’s now using pressure rather than gravity in conjunction with the water to clean. Now by switching to one of these units which are not expensive, you can save water and your pocket book won’t be so light at the end of the month.
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