Zero Energy Home: How Does It Work?
January 26, 2011 · 1 Comment
A zero energy home (ZEH) is one where all of the energy needs for the household are supplied by alternative means. It does not mean a home that uses no electricity. Solar panels and solar water heating systems are generally the form of energy employed by these homes, because they are residential. Residential wind turbines are uncommon in most communities neighborhoods.
A zero energy home needs some sort of back-up. It is not actually an “off the grid” home. The sun is not always shining, and sometimes a home’s energy needs drastically increase for a variety of reasons (a cold snap, a heat wave, or an increase in laundry). In fact, zero energy homes remain connected to the utility grid, and often engage in net metering.
Net metering means both the energy you use from the grid and the amount you put back into the grid are measured. Because an electric meter can spin forward or backward, the homeowner gets credit for the energy he or she puts into the grid, which is a good safeguard against those times when you need back-up.
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Bamboo Compost Pail
January 13, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Where to buy: www.amazon.com
An eco-conscious lifestyle starts at home. Composting is a great way to keep landfills to a minimum and turn food scraps into something useful again. The Bamboo Compost Pail is a product that can live happily on your kitchen counter for you to collect your discarded vegetable and fruit scraps. It looks modern and stylish, but also has a great purpose. It starts to break down the food scraps before you take them to your garden compost.
It comes with a removable liner with carrying handles. The lid has a dual charcoal filter to keep composting food odors and flies out of your home. Replacement filters need to be purchased separately.
Composting should be part of every eco-friendly household. A counter compost pail makes it easier to collect scraps before taking them outside. In my opinion, the Bamboo Compost Pail is a very useful but also nice looking product and definitely worth investing in.
Wasteful Products You Can Live Without
January 3, 2011 · 1 Comment
You may have all kinds of disposable, wasteful items in your home and not even realize it. Because wastefulness has become the norm these days, it’s easy to overlook some of the items in your home that are not only wasteful, but unnecessary. Here is a list of some of the products that you can live without, and some less-wasteful alternatives.
