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	Electricity / Energy

	Not wasting energy is a good green habit, and it will save you money too. Many electronic appliances draw power even when they are on standby, devices like the Kill-a-Watt will help you find your "energy vampires" so that you can unplug them when not in use. A device that draws 20 Watts in standby is costing you about $20 a year, and that's just for the time you're not using it!

	Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor				Blue Line Innovations PowerCost Monitor				Smart Strip With Autoswitching Technology
	Connect your appliances into the Kill A Watt, and assess how efficient they are. A large LCD display counts consumption by the Kilowatt-hour just like utility companies. GoodGreenHome says We love this device! It's so easy to use. Just plug it into the socket and then plug in any appliance e.g. cellphone charger, toaster, TV, basement refrigerator. It will tell you how many Watts the device is drawing at that point in time. Very helpful for figuring out which appliances draw power - and how much it's costing - when they are left on standby, and which ones don't. (For devices like refrigerators where the compressor cycles on and off you need to leave it plugged in e.g. for 24 hours, and it will tell you the total power drawn in that time period).				The PowerCost Monitor is a powerful real-time direct feedback display device that measures home electricity usage. It tells at a glance, in real-time, how much electricity your home is using in dollars and cents and in kW. GoodGreenHome says We also love this device! The Kill-a-Watt helps you figure out the power usage at each individual socket. The PowerCost Monitor attaches to your electric utility meter, and the display unit (that you can keep in the house, e.g. on the kitchen countertop) then displays in real-time how much it's costing you for the electricity in ALL your house. Studies show that having that real-time feedback (like the mpg indicator in your car) can help reduce electricity consumption 6-10%.				Seven outlets work together, autoswitching your devices on/off automatically, to save you money on your electric bills. GoodGreenHome says This device is designed to automatically turn off appliances that would otherwise be in standby (e.g. DVD, game console) when the "control" appliance is turned off (e.g. TV). There are 2 "always on" outlets for devices like the cable box that do need to be on 24hrs. We've heard mixed things about this device. Though we love the concept, some people experience difficulty with some devices. We're researching this and will report back, if you have experience good or bad we'd love to know.


	Energizer Multi-Battery Charger				Sony AAA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries (4-Pack)				Sony AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries (4-Pack)
	Charges multiple combinations of AA, AAA, C, D, & 9V NIMH batteries up to 4 at a time (only two 9v at a time). Automatically detects type of battery to be charged. Features charge status indicator. GoodGreenHome says We once ran an experiment at home and collected all the used batteries for TV remotes, computer mouse, etc.. and after 6 months is was a pretty big bag. Even recycling is suboptimal as some types of batteries may not actually get reused. It bothers us to think of the metals and energy used to make a battery that is only used once. Better to reduce your usage of disposable batteries altogether by using rechargeable. We like this charger because it's very sturdy and charges all the different battery types. Combined with the pre-charged batteries below and there's no reason to buy batteries again, and it only costs about 1 cent to recharge two AAs so it saves money too. (Remember: when it is time to get new rechargeable batteries it is especially important to recycle them).				Sony Cycle Energy rechargeable batteries do not require initial charging and have a very low self discharge rate. They maintain 85 percent of their charge after one year and can be recharged up to 1,000 times. GoodGreenHome says What more can we say. As good as regular batteries, they work out of the box... but you can use them again and again another 1000 times.				Sony Cycle Energy rechargeable batteries do not require initial charging and have a very low self discharge rate. They maintain 85 percent of their charge after one year and can be recharged up to 1,000 times. GoodGreenHome says What more can we say. As good as regular batteries, they work out of the box... but you can use them again and again another 1000 times.


	AA Rechargeable Batteries				Accutire MS-4350B Programmable Digital Tire Gauge				De-Mite Laundry Additive
	This NiMH AA cell can be used in normal battery applications and can be recharged simply by plugging into a USB port. GoodGreenHome says This is a really fun little battery, that's especially handy for use in your computer mouse or other peripherals. You don't ever need to worry about having the charger around as any USB port will do.				Accutire's programmable digital tire gauge is an easy-to-use, multi-featured gauge with an extra large, blue, backlit LCD screen and ergonomic styling. GoodGreenHome says Fueleconomy.gov says that "you can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer." That works out to saving about 10 cents / gallon, and just as important it's safer!				Use this laundry additive along with your regular detergent to remove allergens in your bedding, clothing and other washable fabrics in all wash temperatures. Only 3/4 oz. is necessary to rid your laundry load of dust mite allergens, one of the single greatest sources of allergies. GoodGreenHome says We haven't tried this yet so would love your feedback .The idea is that you can wash bed linens in cold wash to save energy, and still get rid of dust mites.


	Lighting

	Replacing one 100 watt standard incandescent bulb with a 28 watt CFL bulb that produces the same amount of light will save almost $90 over the life of the bulb! So even though are more expensive upfront, they actually end up costing you much less. And the savings add up, for you and for the planet. According to Energy Star "if every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars."

	GE 15 Watt Dimmable Fluorescent Spiral Bulb 3-Pack				TCP 16 Watt A-Lamp				GE 15 Watt Dimmable Floodlight
	This Compact Fluorescent Spiral Bulb provides the equivalent of 60 watts of light while consuming just 15 watts of energy. Dimmable To 20% Of Maximum Light Output. GoodGreenHome says We've ordered some of these for testing and will report back. We had good luck with other 60 Watt equivalent GE CFLs we tested, this was the closest match we could find on Amazon.				16W Medium Base A-Lamp 2700K 8000 Hour Energy Star Certified Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) - 60W Incandescent Equivalent GoodGreenHome says We've ordered one of these for testing and will report back. CFLs come in a range of light colors, 2700K is our favorite for replacing incandescents for mood lighting. The lower the color, the "warmer" the light. Most CFLs are over 3000K, so this one should be a nice warm light. FYI "Daylight" CFLs are usually around 5500K.				GE 15 Watt (65W equivalent) Energy Smart Floodlight Dimmable R30 Light Bulb 3 Count GoodGreenHome says We haven't yet found a dimmable floodlight that we love. This is the best thing we've found so far, but the dimmability is limited, from 100% down to about 50%. They take a couple of minutes to warm up, but once they get there the light is pretty good. Definitely not as "warm" as a traditional incandescent though, but great for basements with recessed lighting where you want good broad light. We'll stay on the lookout for great recessed lights as incandescent alternatives and will update this store with more choices as they become available.


	TCP 9 Watt (40 Watt Equivalent) Torpedo, Candelabra Base				TCP 9 Watt (40 Watt Equivalent) G25 Globe, Candelabra Base				GE 11 Watt (40 Watt Equivalent) G25 Globe, Candelabra Base, 3-Pack
	This Compact Fluorescent bulb with a Candelabra Base provides 8,000 Hours Average Life. GoodGreenHome says This bulb works really well in lamps with shades that need Torpedo style bulbs. The base of the bulb is bulky and may be visible in lamps or chandeliers that don't have shades.				This CFL bulb provides the equivalent of 40 Watts while consuming only 9 Watts. GoodGreenHome says We found CFLs worked really well for bathroom vanities. The TCP bulb has a narrower base so worked fine to replace incandescents. (We tested the 60 Watt equivalent, not available on Amazon).				GE 11 Watt (40 Watt equivalent) Energy Smart G25 Globe CFL 6 Year Life Light Bulb 3-Pack. GoodGreenHome says We liked the light of this GE even more than the TCP. However, it has a bulkier base so may not fit in all cases, in which case the TCP would be a good alternative. (We tested the 60 Watt equivalent, not available on Amazon).


	First Alert Motion Sensing Light Socket
	The First Alert motion sensing light socket turns the light on when you enter a room or open a closet, and then turns it off after you leave. The hands-free motion sensor screws right into a standard, uncovered light socket, just like a light bulb. No additional wiring is required. GoodGreenHome says If you find you tend to leave the lights on then this could be a great solution for certain rooms like utility or laundry rooms. Of course, it's cheaper and and a good green habit to remember to turn the lights off when you leave a room...


	Water

	It takes lots of energy and chemicals to process and to pump water to your home, and water availability is increasingly an issue. Using water more efficiently is an essential part of a green home, here are some ideas to get started. (By the way, water rates are often tiered meaning the more you use the higher the rate. So a 20% reduction in water usage could save you even more than 20% on your bill).

	Miracle Seal Tape Thread Sealer 4-Pack				Empire Plumbing Wrench				evolve Chrome Tree Frog Showerhead
	Teflon Tape Thread Sealer GoodGreenHome says This is the tape you need to wrap around the threat when you put on a showerhead. You can pick this up at the hardware store and get a single roll, they only have the 4-pack on Amazon.				Empire Level Plumbing Wrench Soft Jaws won't mar or scratch polished, stainless, or chrome surfaces. GoodGreenHome says When switching out showerheads you can use some masking tape on the wrench grips or a rag to make sure you don't scratch. We're also going to be testing this handy looking wrench and will report back.				Evolve showerheads stop the flow to a trickle when the water reaches a comfortable 95 degrees. This way your hot water is no longer running down the drain while you’re away from the shower. Using an evolve showerhead can save a yearly average of 2,700 gallons of water, the fossil-fueled energy it takes to heat it—and up to $75 off your utility bill. GoodGreenHome says We really like evolve shower heads. They come with the shower-start technology that avoids wasting hot water built in, look good and work great. The Tree frog is standard flow at 2.5 gallons per minute, not low-flow. (Not for use with tankless water heaters).


	evolve Chrome Roadrunner Showerhead				evolve Ladybug Showerhead Adapter				Niagara Conservation Water Saver Massaging Showerhead
	Evolve showerheads stop the flow to a trickle when the water reaches a comfortable 95 degrees. This way your hot water is no longer running down the drain while you’re away from the shower. Using an evolve showerhead can save a yearly average of 2,700 gallons of water, the fossil-fueled energy it takes to heat it—and up to $75 off your utility bill. GoodGreenHome says This is similar to the Tree Frog, but it's actually low flow, just 1.59 gallons per minute. It felt almost as good as the Tree Frog while saving a lot of water and energy.				Evolve showerheads stop the flow to a trickle when the water reaches a comfortable 95 degrees. This way your hot water’s no longer running down the drain while you’re away from the shower. This adapter is compatible with virtually all showerheads. Just place the evolve Ladybug Showerhead Adapter in between your showerhead and shower arm. It’s that simple. GoodGreenHome says With the Ladybug you can keep using your existing showerhead and get the benefits of knowing when your shower is ready and not wasting hot water. (Not for use with tankless water heaters).				The 2.0 gpm adjustable spray of this showerhead delivers a broad, rain-like spray or a focused, pulsating massaging spray. GoodGreenHome says Low-flow showerheads save both water and energy (to heat the water). We felt this 2 gallon per minute shower worked great.


	Niagara Conservation 2915-V Earth Massage Soak & Soap Showerhead				Niagara Conservation's Toilet Leak Dye Kit
	This 1.5 GPM showerhead includes a soak and soap valve that reduces flow to trickle as you soap up. GoodGreenHome says This even lower flow 1.5 gallon per minute shower worked well.				Use these toilet leak tablets to find out if you have a leak in your toilet. Simply drop tablet in tank. Wait several minutes. If color appears in the bowl you have a leak. Nontoxic. GoodGreenHome says You can also get these free at some local hardware stores.


	Waste & Recycling

	Of the 75% of our trash that could be recycled, only 31% actually is (the other 69% is burned or landfilled). How much trash leaves your house on garbage collection day and what could you do to reduce it?

	Happy Farmer Kitchen Composter				Happy Farmer Bokashi				BioBag Kitchen Trash Bags
	Unique in house product used to recycle kitchen scraps into an organic compost soil conditioner. This system ferments and pickles your food waste in less than half the time of conventional composting methods w/o odors. Bokashi sold seperately. GoodGreenHome says We're currently testing this composting system compared to the two alternatives, garden composting and vermicomposting (worm composting). If you've tried it we'd love your feedback				Happy Farmer Bokashi is an all-purpose beneficial microbial inoculant. Bokashi is a Japanese word that means "fermented organic matter." It can be used as a soil amendment to increase the nutrient level and microbial diversity of the soil for application. GoodGreenHome says This is the stuff you need to put in with the food scraps in the composter.				These biodegradable tall kitchen trash bags are certified for use in organic agriculture. GoodGreenHome says We love the idea of not adding extra plastic to landfills, and the fact that they are made from a renewable resource.


	BioBag Biodegradable Dog Waste Bags
	These dog waste bags are biodegradable and compostable. Recently rated #1 by Whole Dog Journal. GoodGreenHome says Same idea as the Kitchen Trash Bags but for doggie doo doo.


	Books & Videos

	These are some of our favorite resources if you want to learn more.

	Save Energy Save Money				Squeaky Green: The Method Guide to Detoxing Your Home				Kilowatt Ours
	Filled with 201 do-it-yourself projects, tips, and ideas. GoodGreenHome says As well as useful DIY projects it also has pictures of the blower door test and infra-red imaging we use during the energy audit part of the Greenvan service.				Packed with helpful tips and surprising facts, Squeaky Green is a totally informative and completely entertaining room-by-room guide to giving dirty the boot. Squeaky Green is rehab for chemically dependant homes. GoodGreenHome says We love this book!! Simple, practical and with a great sense of humor. Full of really important advice on creating a healthy home.				Kilowatt Ours reveals the consequences of our coal powered economy. Filmmaker Jeff Barrie takes viewers on a journey from the coal mines of West Virginia to the solar panel fields of Florida, as he discovers solutions to America's energy related problems. GoodGreenHome says Go behind the scenes to see where electricity comes from, fascinating and important movie.


	Trashed
	Trashed is a provocative investigation of one of the fastest growing industries in North America: the garbage business. GoodGreenHome says This is a behind the scenes look at what happens when garbage leaves your house. Also recommended.

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