No, this is not the new car.

My wife and I came to the conclusion that we needed a new car for traveling when we retire. Being we try to live our lives to lesson our impact on the environment, we of course were looking at environmentally friendly options. We believe that you do not have to go overboard going green. We just make reasonable, common sense decisions that makes sense for us financially and within our means.

We were pleasantly surprised to find that even compared to 2 years ago that there are many more affordable options available. That, of course means you need to shop around for what fits into your life.

In 2009 my wife purchases a car specifically for her 120 mile round trip to and from work. She ended up buying a little red Honda Fit. It has been a great little car, but really too small for long distant travel and for my larger size. We took it back and forth across the country on our vacations and got extremely good fuel mileage. The car was rated at 33 highway and I don’t think we ever got less than 37 mpg the whole time we owned it. On trips through the mountains and everywhere driving we always got over 40 mpg.

So figuring in when we  were going to retire, how many miles we ran up on the fit, what we were going to do in retirement (traveling), wanting more room, and not wanting to break the bank we began the investigation. After several days on the internet and then checking out our local dealers we finally came up with a few we wanted to test drive.

Last week we went down to purchase our choice vehicle. We wanted a hybrid if we could afford it (check), within our budget (check), room to be comfortable and not get stiff and sore from riding (check) and got even better mileage than the Fit (check).

We bought a brand new Honda, Civic 4 door Sedan Hybrid with ECO control. It has a bunch of bells and whistles but was very affordable for $24,500. Rides like a dream. Estimated 44 mpg City and 44 mpg Highway, we now have right at one thousand miles and for the entire miles since we have owned it we are averaging 48.5 mpg.

We plan to keep this car for a while, so we matched the 100,000 mile ECO/MIS warranty for the entire car bumper to bumper.

We are looking forward to taking a cross country trip to see if we can break the 50 mpg threshold. We’re pretty sure that will be a reality.

So if you are needing a new car in the near future, start investigating your choices out there and find the perfect fit for your lifestyle and for the environment.

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In our chemical-laden world, indoor air pollution is a real problem, especially in the winter when doors and windows are shut. While it’s good to decrease energy costs by sealing leaks and drafts, an air-tight home can harbor very poor air.  Carpet and wallpaper adhesives, particleboard / flakeboard, and other building materials can emit (or “off-gas”) chemicals into the air. Even those who do not typically suffer from asthma and allergies can benefit from cleaner indoor air; it’s just better for everyone. Here are some tips for getting the best quality indoor air in your home.

1. Eliminate the source
If possible, get rid of whatever is causing the pollution. Take up carpet, strip wallpaper, and replace all with eco-friendly items. According to some home inspectors, carpet is one of the most significant sources of indoor air pollution.

2. Go for the green
Houseplants can improve air quality. They take in carbon monoxide and exude oxygen. Houseplants can also absorb chemicals such as ammonia, formaldehyde, xylene and toluene. Plant varieties that are particularly suited for this are peace lily, various palms (lady palm, parlor palm, and bamboo palm), and English ivy. For houseplants to make a difference, you’ll need to have one plant per 100 square feet or so.

3. Keep filters clean
Your heating and cooling system’s filters need to be changed regularly, at least every 90 days. During periods of heavy use, changing them every month is a good practice. This will also lower your energy bills. The entire unit should be kept clean, and if mold and/or algae are present a professional will need to clean out your system.

4. Ventilation and circulation
Air that is moving and fresh is not as likely to harbor pollutants. If you have kitchen and bathroom fans, run them periodically to remove air from the room and keep it circulating. Open windows and doors whenever weather permits, and consider a mechanical ventilation system that will remove indoor air via fans or ducts and replace it with outdoor air.

5. Have your home inspected
There are various organizations that specialize in home inspections with a focus on air quality. A professional home inspector can give you helpful details about exactly what pollutants are in your home and their source(s). They will also be able to give you advice on improving the air quality in your home.

6. Use non-toxic cleaners
Using chemical cleaners can put a lot of pollutants into the air. Try to use cleaners that are eco-friendly and do not contain bleach, ammonia, or other harsh chemicals. This includes laundry detergent, dishwashing soap, bathroom and kitchen cleaners, glass cleaners, and so forth.

Sometimes, the best way to improve your home’s air quality is to become aware – many of us have no idea as to what the chemical content is of our walls, floors, or household cleaners. Take some time to learn about some of the toxic substances in your everyday life, and take steps to eliminate them.

To Your Incredible Success!
Jay

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What do solar panels, windmills, cars, cell phones, cordless tools , and lawn tractors have in common?

One thing:  RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES.

So let me ask you this…

How would you like to extend the life of your batteries by 50% to 80%… and keep them as good as new for years and years… with almost zero effort?

It’s simple – with a process called “battery reconditioning”

Yes it is true. You can greatly extend the life of all your batteries.  However, you can actually grow a full blown business from these methods or just working on the weekends making a little extra cash.  You can even learn where and how to get “dead” batteries for free and “revive” them using a this very simple process!

Visit the website below – it will give you crucial information that can save you thousands of dollars when building your solar or wind power battery bank! (Explains the best ways to get deep cycle batteries for free!)

It’s simple – with a process called “battery reconditioning”

My husband Jay and I already use this process on all of our batteries. We have a lot of “toys” including motorcycles, tractors, cars, battery operated tools and such. But we’ve also decided that this process is so simple that we are going to start accumulating, reconditioning and selling them for big profit. If you collect these for FREE, spend a small amount of time reconditioning them, then sell them for profit you can make pretty good money in your spare time.

So once again I’m showing you that it is both good to do smart things to help the environment and make money at the same time. Making money by going green. This is a good way to make some extra cash in these hard cash flow times.

As usual, I only promote items that my husband and I use ourselves. If we try something and it doesn’t work, we don’t waste your time. Think of use as your personal guinea pigs on green products.

Keep Going Green!
Lynne

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Depending on your line of work and the layout of your home, you may be exposing yourself and your family to all sorts of toxic elements inherent in adhesives. Also, many adhesive products such as package tape are made from non-biodegradable plastic. Let’s take a look at some of the eco-friendly types of sealing products, and why they are better for your health and the environment than chemical adhesives.

- Package tape
Using brown paper tape rather than plastic package tape is better for the environment. It can be recycled or made from recycled paper, and it is as strong as its plastic counterpart.

- Carpet glue
There are significant health concerns surrounding the “off gassing” of carpet glue. Individuals with chemical sensitivities and allergies may find that they suffer attacks even when the carpet is “clean” because of the odorless fumes. In fact, carpet glue is implicated in “sick building syndrome,” an odd mix of symptoms that some people experience in office buildings or even in their own homes due to chemicals used in the construction of the building. There are eco-friendly alternatives to carpet glue, thankfully. Some homeowners simply tack their carpeting down without using adhesives at all.

- Glue
Wood glues, epoxies, and other adhesives can contain a significant amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are implicated in health problems that range from kidney and liver damage to cancer. However, there are water-based glues now on the market that contain very low amounts of VOCs, and some adhesives that contain no VOCs at all.

We all want our homes to be safe. Usually, that entails making sure the windows and doors are closed and locked, or that our alarm systems are set. But there are other ways to ensure our family’s safety, too, and that is by making informed decisions about eco-friendly products and conventional ones.

Keep Going Green!
Lynne

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My wife had gone into work night shift at the Pentagon and took extra clothes expecting to have to stay overnight, which turned into three nights. I manned the house and the animals thinking well of myself by installing a small propane fireplace so I could stay at the house and not have to find a place for the animals.

Bordum is a little word that has a major affect on someone who is stuck in a house with no tv, radio or COMPUTER! Very frustrating….but then a bright idea….get the laptop out and hook up the broadband…alas no phone coverage over land line or cell service. Grrrrrr. So obviously I did not make the webinar I was to attend at 1pm. But I did have a lot of time on my hands to practice my singing and guitar. I’m trying to improve so I can play with the big dogs on the porch in Arkansas. Now the dogs were getting bored.

Now finally adjusted to no connectivity, I started to figure out what I wanted to start clearing first, the sidewalk or 100 foot driveway….hmmmmmm I figured the sidewalk was a good choice. It was still snowing at this point, but Sunday Morning was a bright sunshiny day although very cold. The food in the freezer and refrigerator was getting warm, so I used the front porch as the freezer and back room which I built for the hot tub became my refrigerator.  While I was doing this, around 7:30 am a knock came at the door. A young guy wanted to clear my driveway for $40. Of course I said yes. Ok, two more problems solved, time for more bordum.

This was suppose to be a good weekend for me, wife working, a webinar at 1pm, ARCA Race t 4:30pm, and Budwieser Shootout in the evening on Saturday and the Superbowl on Sunday. Oh well, time for reflection and dosing off here and there.

My wife finally got out of the Pentagon parking lot Monday morning and was home by around 6:30 am. She went to bed and I continued to be bored until she got up and started complaining about no power, which I didn’t want to hear about. She gave me direction to go buy dinner and bring it home, so I did and we ate and just as we finished…TA DA! Power restored!

Monday night was a lot of catching up with my business, emails, FACEBOOK, and of course Farmville. I lost my whole crop…oh my.

The bottom line here is that no matter how well you plan, you have to allow for change and be able to role with what is delt you to succeed. While being snowed in with no power I managed to find a way to fix meals (gas grill worked great), stay warm (gas fireplace), keep the food safe (using the natural cold), improved my playing and singing (lots of time to do this that I can’t normally find). My webinar with Kim Roach was recorded, so I can download that this week, the ARCA and Budwieser Shootout will be replayed on SPEED Channel this week, and my team wasn’t in the superbowl but if I want to watch it, the NFL Channel is relaying that.

In reality, I didn’t miss a thing and found time to play with the dogs, and improve my music. While I did lose my crop in Farmville, it is not real and I planted anouther crop last night.

So like my good friend Don “Hoss” Waugh says “Every day is a good day. If you don’t believe it, try skipping one.”

Keep Grinning and Going Green!
Jay

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Global warming, is defines as the rise in the earth’s temperature, due to the increase in the emission of greenhouse gases. The vehicles on the road do contribute to global warming, but they are not the only cause. If just one car is taken off the road, it can reduce carbon emissions by as much as seven to eight hundred pounds!

There is irrefutable proof that cars have a negative impact on the environment, but we still keep on driving, as if there were nothing wrong.  Why is this so?  Many people feel that they have to completely give up their vehicles or buy a new, gas efficient one.  Of course, these methods are the best ways to go about reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that enters into the earth’s atmosphere, but it is important to remember that these options are not your only. 

You do not have to completely give up your vehicle to help in the fight against global warming.  You just need to limit its use.  You can limit your vehicles use by carpooling or using public transportation.  If you work close to where you live, you can walk or bike to work.

If you have to use your vehicle, make sure that it is properly maintained.  If the air filter is dirty, it will need to be replaced. You also need to make sure that your tires are properly inflated. If you do these two simple things, you can save money and help stop global warming. If you keep your tires properly inflated, you will get better gas mileage, as well as lessen the amount of pollutants that come from your vehicle.

Everyone should do their part to help limit the amount of carbon dioxide that enters the earth’s atmosphere from your vehicle.  Every step that you take to help in the fight against global warming, no matter how large or small, will help.

Keep Going Green!
Lynne

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Home-made recipes for window cleaners are not new; people had to clean their glass windows long before commercial sprays came along. But home-made window cleaner is a novel concept to many in this generation. This is one of those times that looking to the past can solve some of our current dilemmas.

Below are some inexpensive, easy-to-make recipes for effective window cleaners. You probably have some of these ingredients on hand. If not, these products are inexpensive and diluted with water so they last a long time.

1. Vinegar
No list of home-made cleaning products would be complete without some mention of vinegar. A germ killer and grease cutter, white vinegar (not apple cider, balsamic or other “fancy” vinegars) is responsible for those streak-free, clear results we all desire for our windows. You can clean windows with just vinegar and water -  1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon vinegar per 2 cups of water (going too heavy on the vinegar may cause fogging). Or, you can combine this ratio with:

2. Liquid soap
To the above vinegar-water solution, add 1/2 teaspoon castile soap or other biodegradable, natural liquid soap. Spray on, wipe with a soft cloth, and use a squeegee to scrape off the remaining cleaner. Simply using soap and water is an option, too. Mix 1 tablespoon castile soap, which is made from saponified vegetable oils and thus environmentally friendly, with 2 cups of water. Soak a sponge in this soapy water and apply liberally to windows. Use a squeegee to remove the excess and wipe dry with crumpled newspaper or a soft cloth.

3. Club soda
Perhaps you have heard of club soda’s ability to remove stains. It can also be used to wash windows. Combine 1 tablespoon white vinegar per cup of club soda and spray onto windows. Use a soft cloth or crumpled newspaper to get streak-free results.

Note that windows should be cleaned when the sun is not shining on them. If windows are warm and/or in direct sunlight, glass cleaner (home-made or commercial) will be likely to leave streaks or fogginess on the glass.

Keep Going Green!
Lynne

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Wood pellet stoves are smaller and more efficient then the wood burning stove. Because of there size, they can be placed in many areas of your home where a larger wood stove or fireplace would not be practical. Many of the styles are also designed to be hooked into your existing heating ducts and chimney, which means that you can quickly and efficiently heat your entire home.

Pellet stoves are easier to use than a wood stove. Wood stoves require that you cut and split wood and you have to store large quantities of wood. The pellet stove fuel comes in clean 40 pound bags that are free of insects and easy to store. Most consumers will use between 1 to 1.5 bags of pellets per day making it necessary to reload the pellet stove about once per day with a clean bag of pellets, as compared to walking out side to pick up another arm load of wood them carry the wood inside. Wood burning pellet stoves burn small pellets, usually only about an inch long, made from sawdust. The sawdust is subjected to a great deal of pressure which creates very compressed pellets that are lightweight and burn for a long time.

The pellet stove is available in many styles and designs that can fit any home decor. Some pellet stoves have a very traditional look with cast iron while others are more contemporary in design. Most of the newer pellet stoves are fully automatic, meaning that the stove can be operated just like a furnace, having the ability to be operated with a thermostat which turns the pellet stove off and on depending on the heat demand of the room.

In today’s economy, everyone is looking for a way to reduce their heating costs. The wood pellet stoves might be the answer that you are looking for. Although there are some costs involved with the purchase and installation of a wood pellet stove, you will find that it quickly pays for itself because heating with traditional fuels such as natural gas and oil is extremely expensive. Instead of logs, pellet stoves burn a renewable fuel made of ground, dried wood and other biomass wastes compressed into pellets. They are some of the cleanest-burning heating appliances available today and deliver high overall efficiency.

Keep Going Green!

Lynne

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1. Think about Future Generations If you have children don’t you want them to grow up in a world that is healthy and sustainable? One of the reasons we have problems today is that for a long time, people were short-sighted and didn’t think about the future.

2. Think about Your Own Future The fact is, many people living today may have to face the consequences of climate change, pollution, deforestation and other environmental issues. It’s not just your children you need to be concerned for –it’s yourself. Many of these issues are affecting the world right now. If you need evidence for this, just look at the frequency and severity of storms, tsunamis and other devastating weather events.

3. Green Is Healthier Many green activities, from eating more naturally, to using non-toxic household cleaners, to gardening organically are healthier for you. You can reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals by developing green habits.

4. Save Money You can also save money be driving less, using less heat and air conditioning and conserving on electricity. All of these activities conserve energy and reduce your bills at the same time.

5. Reduce Clutter By reducing the amount of paper you use, you are not only helping to conserve trees and reduce paper waste, but you can significantly reduce clutter in your home. Paper clutter can cause you to feel disorganized, so get rid of as much of it as you can by doing more tasks online.

6. Spend More Time Outdoors Many green tasks, such as gardening, composting and walking or biking as alternative modes of transportation involve spending healthy outdoor time. Walking and biking are also good forms of exercise which can improve your health. Spending time outdoors also allows you to socialize with your friends and neighbors.

7. Educate Yourself Going green involves learning more about the world, how things grow, the climate and other important issues. As you learn why each issue is important, you are also getting an education. Why go green? It’s healthy for the planet, your body and your wallet!

Keep Going Green!
Lynne

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1. Use Less Gas – you can walk or bike short distances, which is good for your health as well as the environment. When you do need to use a car, organize your trips so that you carpool, and make fewer trips to buy necessities.

2. Save Energy – remember to turn off light switches when you aren’t in the room. Replace old bulbs with energy efficient ones, such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs. These use far less energy than conventional bulbs. You can also keep your thermostat a little lower in the winter and only use air conditioning if it’s extremely hot in the summer (exhaust fans work well the rest of the time).

3. Conserve Water – water is our most precious natural resource, so use it with awareness. Take shorter showers. Don’t buy new bottles of water to drink every day. Get a bottle you can carry with you and fill it up using filtered water.

4. Recycle Clothes and Furniture – there’s no shame in acquiring used items that are functional. You can find many such items in good condition online, at yard sales or at stores that specialize in such merchandise. Likewise, when you are finished with something don’t simply throw it out, but donate it.

5. Eat with Awareness – shop locally when possible. There are more farmers’ markets and community supported agriculture (CSAs) where you can buy produce. If you eat meat, buy from local organic farms rather than factory farms. Reducing meat consumption helps the environment, as it takes a great deal of energy to raise livestock.

6. Clean with Non-Toxic Products – you can buy gentle and organic cleaning supplies rather than commercial ones, which are made from harsh chemicals. You can also make your own cleaning supplies from lemon juice, baking soda and vinegar.

7. Reduce Paper Use – do more tasks online to save on paper bills and other paper products. Bring your own bags to the store so you don’t require paper or plastic bags every time you shop. Remove yourself from junk mail lists.

These are some examples of practical things you can do to save our environment. It mainly takes awareness of how the little things you do add up!

Keep Going Green!

Lynne

If you are interested in more information about going green and the new green technologies:
http://www.renewableenergyexplained.com

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