Back to School and Going Green: Environmentally-Friendly Options for the Kids
Children may complain that summer never lasts long enough, but back-to-school time is here. And that usually means shopping for essentials such as notebooks, pens, backpacks, and, of course, the ingredients for those PBJ’s.
All of that purchasing usually involves driving around, spending time and money to find your oldest daughter the perfect purple purse. [...]
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Hybrids and Plug-In Hybrids: Green Cars of Today and Tomorrow
Question: what is a green vehicle but not an alternative fuel vehicle?
Answer: a hybrid car.
Hybrids are cars that have two motors or engines: a conventional gasoline engine and an electric motor. In a typical hybrid, like the Toyota Prius, the gasoline engine is primary—it provides most of the power. The electric motor provides additional power [...]
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Living Green and Saving Money: Gray Water Recycling
Like many consumers, you probably included “save money” and “make my home environmentally friendly” on your 2009 Resolutions List. We’ve passed the mid-year mark for 2009. And that means it’s time to review and renew those resolutions!
One way to achieve both goals is gray water recycling. It sounds sort of, well, dismal, doesn’t [...]
Saving Money on Heating Oil and Energy Bills with a Home Energy Audit
by Joanne Eglash
Establishing a goal to make your home more energy-efficient is a win-win proposition. First, you’ll reduce your bills, resulting in extra money in lean times. You may even earn tax credits. Second, you’ll help the environment by making your home eco-friendly, contributing to the nation-wide effort to “go green.” What’s not to [...]
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Heating Oil Emissions are Cleaner than You Think
by Greg Burt
Over 8 million American households, mostly in the Northeastern states, rely on heating oil to keep warm in winter. Proponents of alternative fuels, such as natural gas, wood (including pellets) and electricity have often tried to make the case that home heating oil is a “dirty fuel.” Electric power, in particular, has [...]
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Using Solar Energy at Home: Is it Practical?
by Carol Sonenklar
From California to Maine, electricity rates are rising. In some parts of the country, increases are in the double digits. This development will undoubtedly cause many people to consider the benefits of solar energy for their homes. Although solar remains a small player in the U.S. energy industry, representing about one percent [...]
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Living Green in the Kitchen
by Joanne Eglash
Eating your green veggies benefits your health – and eco-friendly, “go-green” cooking benefits the body, budget, and planet. Now that’s mighty tasty!
Finding a green vegetable that your entire family enjoys, however, probably wasn’t an easy task. George H.W. Bush infamously disliked broccoli, for example. The average child isn’t an instant fan of [...]
DIY Home Energy Conservation Projects that Will Save You Big Bucks
by Carol Sonenklar
No matter what the temperature, making sure your home is energy efficient will save you money all year round. If you live in a warm climate, you’ll be turning on your air conditioner soon. Improvements in your house’s infrastructure will help now with electricity bills and later, with heating oil bills. Taking [...]
Read More » Biodiesel Heating Oil
Heating oil customers have the option to buy a biofuel blend, which includes fuel sourced from sustainable resources, and petroleum. Though 100% pure, renewable biodiesel fuel is already out there, the large-scale production needed to replace No. 2 heating oil is nowhere near ready. But in the past several years, immense progress has rendered the concept feasible.
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Obama’s First 100 Days: An Energy Report Card
by Carol Sonenklar
President Obama reiterated his energy policy and goals on Earth Day, in a speech in Newton, Iowa. On the heels of the Administration’s 100th-day-in-office mark, we wanted to see what progress was being made on achieving these goals.
So how’s he doing?
Pretty well, by any measure. Here’s a list of the Administration’s key [...]
