CasaSugar

Casa Verde: Jon and Kate Plus 8 Go Green

CasaSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 05:30:00 -0700

This Sunday, the Gosselin clan of Jon and Kate Plus 8 will welcome Planet Green's Renovation Nation host Steve Thomas into their home to retrofit it with some eco-friendly upgrades. Steve and his crew will help install electric solar panels and solar thermal panels onto the house, as well as solar powered lights along the driveway. They'll also build a picnic table for the family using reclaimed wood. Of course, the kids will also lend a hand (or 16) with the projects, and learn a few things about being green. Unfortunately, the hefty needs of the large household are not helping the family's carbon footprint! Catch the special at 9 p.m. EDT this Sunday, April 19, on TLC.
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This Just In: Adrian Grenier's Alter Eco Premieres Tonight

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:15:01 -0700

If you're a long-time CasaSugar reader, you already know that Adrian Grenier used green insulation when he renovated his Brooklyn brownstone. But did you know the eco-minded actor has his own green television series? Grenier's new show, Alter Eco, premiers tonight at 9 on Planet Green. The 13-part series will follow Grenier and his team as they green building projects all over Los Angeles, including overhauling a club using salvaged materials. I love Grenier's down-to-earth attitude about greening one's lifestyle. In an interview with Ecorazzi, he said, "If everyone just became a little more aware of his or her own personal impact on the earth, real change would ultimately result." Find out more about Planet Green here.

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Ask an Expert: Cheap and Easy Home Improvement Projects

CasaSugar — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:00:38 -0800

In October, I asked Lou Manfredini (better known as "Ace Hardware’s Helpful Hardware Man") to give CasaSugar tips on keeping your homes cozy and efficient during the Winter months. Lou had such great advice that I asked him if he could answer some other reader-inspired questions about home fixes and improvements. Check out his answers!

CasaSugar: What are some easy home projects that tool-shy readers should attempt to fix or upgrade their homes?

Lou: Simple things that can really make a difference are projects like changing and upgrading your furnace filters. Clogged filters will force your furnace to run longer which means more money spent on energy costs. And by upgrading to Ace pleated furnace filters you can trap 10 times more of the airborne particulate that flows through your unit than the standard blue fiberglass filters. Also at around $5-$6 a filter it’s over 50 percent less per filter than leading consumer brands. Another project is to change six of the most used light bulbs in your home to compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs), which will save you over $60 a year on electrical energy costs. You can also put a face lift on your kitchen cabinets with a small bottle of Howard’s-Restore-A-Finish and #0000 steel wool. This “face peel” for your cabinets will bring the life back into the wood. Finally, refresh your hardwood floors with Bona X Hardwood floor refresher. After you clean the floor you apply the urethane coating and spread it out with a synthetic sheepskin pad. Leave the home for about two hours and the shine will look brand new - no sanding, low odor, and it’s a waterborne product.

For the rest of Lou's answers, read more.

CasaSugar: What is the number one cheap and effective way that readers can change their homes, using Ace Hardware?

Lou: Paint, For about $25.00 a good gallon of Ace paint and a few tools can be purchased which will change the look of a bedroom or even a small kitchen or dinning room. Adding some color will creating a whole new look in the matter of a day or so. Another way that consumers can be more “green” is by shopping locally. We like to say that most of America is within 5 miles of an Ace hardware store, which are all locally owned and operated and help their community by giving back every step of the way. Not only are we competitively priced against the big boxes but I can say with 100 percent assurance that we are the most helpful place on the planet when it comes to your home improvement needs.

CasaSugar: Are there any painting tools that you recommend that would help make readers’ painting projects easier?

Lou: One thing to keep in mind when it comes to painting is that the quality of the tools you use as well as the quality of the paint is critical. If you have made the decision to paint yourself you will be saving hundreds if not thousands of dollars depending on the size of the project. With that in mind, buy higher quality brushes, roller frames and covers, ladders and so on. In this category you get what you pay for, and using cheaper tools will make the job harder and not give you the look you are trying for.

Check back tomorrow for the rest of Lou's tips!

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How-To: Be the Hostess With the Eco Mostess

CasaSugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:00:38 -0700

Want to learn how to make your Summer soirees a little more eco friendly? Elizabeth Rogers, the best-selling author of The Green Book, recently gave me some tips for throwing parties that won't negatively impact the planet. So many times when we're busy organizing a backyard bash or a big dinner party, we forget the impact that all of our disposable cups and plastic party favors can have on the environment. But not to fear! Just because you're keeping the earth in mind doesn't mean that your party has to be any less fun. In fact, it can be even more so - and these tips are even budget friendly! Elizabeth recommends that, "While preparing for your party, stop by a local swap meet or thrift store for fun vintage items you can reuse all summer long."

Want to hear Elizabeth's smart entertaining tips? Then read more.

Instead of running through dozens of plastic cups and paper plates, vintage glass-wear and dishes found at swap meets, will add a unique touch to your dinner party. Using dishes already in existence instead of buying brand new ones or disposable is 100% eco friendly. Plus they can be reused all summer long, saving you upwards of $100 in disposable paper, plastic and Styrofoam products.
Approximately 70 million bottles of water are drunk in America everyday and, because petroleum is used to manufacture these bottles, the impact on the environment is significant. For your party use vintage glass pitchers filled with filtered water. My favorite is PUR because it adds an extra level of filtration, so it has a crisp taste. Your guests will love the vintage feel, and you’ll be saving yourself the cost of buying all those plastic water bottles.
Vintage tablecloths and napkins, found on your swap meet excursion, are a more fashionable way to set your table than paper or plastic throw-away table covers. Antique lace will lend a summery elegance to your party, and after a quick spin through the washing machine it will be ready for your next soiree. Paper napkins and paper towels are two of the reasons paper waste in the US has jumped from 30 million tons to 84 million tons a year since the '60s. So, as well as being more durable, cloth napkins will prevent your party from ending in the trash.
Centerpieces are a sophisticated finishing touch, when decorating for your party. Instead of buying cut flowers that travel in gas-guzzling cooler trucks, and will be wilted and gone before the end of the week, potted plants are a beautiful alternative. Potted orchids require little care and will look stunning in your home after the party has ended. The cost of purchasing several potted plants for your table tends to be less than purchasing bouquets of cut flowers from a florist or the grocery store, plus the flowers will be ready to shine again at your next party.
Light your party with soy candles in Mason jars. You’ll save on electricity, plus soy candles don’t emit carbon or smoke as they burn and purchasing soy candles supports soy farmers. Mason jars, have been used for canning since the 1850’s and these antique glass jars can be purchased for a few dollars at local flee markets. The soft candlelight will lend a charming Midsummer Night’s Eve quality to the evening.

For more excellent tips, as well as to learn more about Elizabeth and The Green Book, check out her website.

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This Just In: Sierra Club Partners With Green Works

CasaSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:58:37 -0700

The Sierra Club, a noted and well-respected environmental nonprofit, has recently partnered with Clorox Green Works, a new green household cleaning line, to promote the line of cleaners. Explaining its decision, the Sierra Club writes,

The bottom line is that these products are environmentally conscious, affordable, work well, and will be available to millions of people. They can help alter consumer behavior overall and will support the good work of the Sierra Club. It is our chance to use the power of our name to create an opportunity for people to do the right thing that hasn't really existed before on a large scale. And that is a great opportunity for Sierra Club and for the planet.

This is basically what I wrote in my Casa Beta post, and I agree with the Sierra Club - if we can get green cleaners in the hands of a majority of consumers, all the better.

Link Time! (Special Earth Day Selections)

CasaSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:00:40 -0700

Grist has 10 green gadgets to lust over. I actually registered for this Solio Charger.
YumSugar has a great Earth Day quiz for you to try.
Apartment Therapy takes a look at vertical farming.
Danny Seo shares a peek of his green kitchen reno.
Design Happens looks at 20 ways to save the planet.
Inhabitat shows off Australia's greenest development.
Photojojo has some green photography tips.
Treehugger reports on some shocking facts about space garbage.
YouGrowGirl chats about early Spring planting.

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How-To: Eco-Proofing Your Laundry Routine

CasaSugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:15:33 -0700

If you're concerned about your or your family's laundry habits, take a look at this list of tips for eco-proofing your laundry routine. Whether you're curious about laundry detergents, water temperatures, or green choices for washing machines, I've got you covered.

Wash your laundry in cold water. Pretreat stains to ensure that your clothes will get clean in one cycle.
Hydrogen peroxide is effective on blood stains, while rubbing alcohol is good for ink, and Vaseline will aid in removing lipstick stains.
Washing clothing in cold water has many benefits, including helping to reduce wear and tear on the fabric.
Most of the energy used to wash clothes is taken up in heating the water - yet another reason to run your load on cold.
If you can afford it, invest in an energy-efficient washer. If it says Energy Star on the label, it's guaranteed to save water, power, and money.

To get your full laundry load of tips, read more.

Get rid of the chlorine bleach. Instead, use a bleach alternative to get your whites white.
You can make your own laundry detergent that's guaranteed to go easy on the water supply and the planet.
If that's too much work, here's a good natural detergent. I'd also recommend detergents such as the ones from Method or this one from Seventh Generation.
Only wash clothes when you have a full load. It takes the same amount of energy to run smaller loads as it does a large load, and running large loads reduces your water use as well.
Switching from your dryer to line drying can save about $100 a year.
However, if you do use your dryer, always make sure that the lint trap is clean. This will help to save energy and will get your clothes dry faster.
If you use dryer sheets, you can actually reuse them.
Better yet, make your own dryer sheets!

How do you eco-proof your laundry routine?
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Casa Verde: Know Your Plastics

CasaSugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 05:30:42 -0700

You may have noticed some numbers surrounded by chasing-arrow symbols on consumer packaging like water bottles, plastic bags, bottle caps, toys, etc. If you have, good! That's step one. But, do you know what they mean? Contrary to what you may think, these icons do not mean that the products can be recycled, or that they're made of recycled plastic; they actually identify which types of plastic a product is made of. Once you know this, you can determine if it can be recycled or not. Unfortunately, not all plastic can be recycled. Most recycling centers accept types one and two, types four and five are less commonly recycled, and types six and seven are rarely, if not virtually never, recycled. For a rundown, read more.

Type 1 (PETE): Polyethylene Terephthalate. Soft drink and water bottles, some waterproof packaging. Commonly recycled.

Type 2 (HDPE): High-Density Polyethylene. Milk, detergent, and oil bottles, toys, and some plastic bags. Commonly recycled.

Type 3 (V): Vinyl/Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). Food wrap, vegetable oil bottles, construction materials, shower curtains. Not recyclable, can leach chemical additives and is known to offgass in the air!

To find out the rest, read more.
Type 4 (LDPE): Low-Density Polyethylene. Many plastic bags, squeezable bottles, garment bags. Recycled at most centers but not curbside programs.

Type 5 (PP): Polypropylene. Refrigerated containers, some bags, most bottle tops, some carpets, some food wrap. Recycled at most centers but not curbside programs.

Type 6 (PS): Polystyrene. Throwaway utensils, meat-packing, take-out containers, protective packing. Recycled at some centers but not curbside programs, and banned in some cities.

Type 7 (OTHER): Composite plastic. Nalgene bottles, milk cartons, toothpaste tubes. Can't be recycled, must be landfilled.

That wasn't so hard, was it? Now if you can just keep these in mind when shopping and stick to more commonly recycled products and packaging, you can help trim down those landfills. Of course, avoiding plastic all together would be best, but we all know that's a pretty difficult task as it stands.

For more details, check out the Consumer Recycling Guide, Planet Green, and the Plastics Web.

Casa Verde: Consumer Consequences

CasaSugar — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:05:57 -0700

We've all heard a lot about sustainability, carbon footprints, and greening our lifestyles, but have you ever actually calculated how many resources your lifestyle requires? If you're curious, do as I did and play Consumer Consequences. This easy-to-use, fun platform seems more like a game than a survey, and at the end you'll know how many planets would be needed to support your habits. In my case it was 2.1 - which is a lot, but still a lot lower than the American average!

After you play the game, let me know what your results were by commenting below, and also leave suggestions about how you might change your habits to reduce your score. My biggest offenses seem to be diet-related: I eat meat, drink coffee daily, and drink wine nightly. Oh boy - I don't know if I can compromise much on those last two.

How-To: Making Your Wedding a Little Greener

CasaSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:30:30 -0700

Unfortunately, just because you're holding your wedding ceremony in the great outdoors that doesn't mean your celebration is good for the planet. If you want some ideas for cutting down on the environmental impact of your big day, take a look at my tips.

For a Greener Wedding

Who doesn't love flowers? You can keep your flowers eco by buying organic blooms or buying the flowers locally.
When considering where to hold your wedding, think about where most of your guests are located. Midwest? East Coast? The Southwest? Then, consider holding your ceremony there. It will cut down on travel expenses as well as the environmental cost of planes, trains, and automobiles.
You can now buy compostable cups, plates, and utensils for your shindig. This means that your guests' plates will end up enriching the soil instead of sitting in a landfill.
If guests are traveling from a long distance, ask them to offset the carbon produced from their travel. It's cheap, quick, and easy. In lieu of wedding favors, which are often thrown away or forgotten, you could also offset your entire wedding guest list's carbon output. You could have a message telling them about the carbon offset "gift" printed up on wildflower seed cards that are left on each guest's plate. Make sure the guests take the cards home and plant them.

For the rest of my tips, just read more.

Instead of cut flowers, arrange small potted flowers in groupings on reception tables. Encourage guests to take the plants home to their garden at the end of the party.
Keep your registry eco-oriented, with gifts from green designers, artists, and furniture stores. Crate and Barrel and Ikea are two big retailers that have consistently scored high marks in terms of environmental responsibility.
Print your invitations on recycled paper that use nontoxic, soy-based inks.

Anyone else have some great ideas to make your wedding greener? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

For all of our wedding coverage check out IDoSugar.
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