You can buy her music right from her website:

Wil Maring

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You do not have to do an expensive remodel of your home to reduce your carbon footprint. There are simple and effective ways to reduce your energy consumption, waste, and so forth. Here are some tips.

1. Insulate your home

Most of us think of the fluffy pink fiberglass stuff when we hear “insulation.” That image alone is enough to turn many people away from doing insulating work! But there are a great many more options available these days for insulating your home. There are natural insulation’s made from wool, straw bales, newspaper, and other eco-friendly materials.

Start with your attic and make sure there are not any cracks under the eaves or along the attic floor. Seal leaks before applying insulation. Yes, this will take some time and money, but it will save a great deal on utility bills and will increase your home’s value. And it reduces your carbon footprint!

2. Seal doors and windows

Weather stripping is a very inexpensive way to seal cracks around doors and windows. It comes in various thicknesses and widths, and is easy to apply. Sealing doors and windows really helps reduce heat loss in the winter and cool air loss in the summer. If you have a garage door, be sure it gets the weather-stripping treatment too.

3. Let the sunshine in

In the winter, make the most of sunny windows by raising shades and opening curtains. While drawing blinds and curtains at night saves energy, opening them to let in sunlight in the daytime helps heat your home with a renewable energy source – the sun.

If you have electric heat, be sure to turn down your thermostat at night or when you are not home.

4. Seal all cracks

Caulk can be used to seal cracks between your home’s siding and the foundation, and it can also be used around doors and windows. It is not expensive, and is easy for the average homeowner to apply.

5. Indoor lighting

Energy-efficient lighting is now affordable and available to all homeowners. Thanks to compact fluorescent bulbs that will fit into light sockets formerly occupied by incandescent bulbs, replacing your existing incandescents with compact fluorescents is easy. You will have the same (or more, depending on the bulb) light for a lot less electricity. And, because compact fluorescents last so much longer than incandescents, there is less waste involved with their use. Be sure to take your burned-out compact fluorescents to your local Home Depot or other retailer that has a recycling program.

Remember the basic but important step of turning out the light(s) when you leave a room.

6. Hang clothes up to dry

Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t hang your clothes up to dry. In fact, hanging wet laundry indoors is an excellent way to increase the humidity in homes where the air is very dry in the winter. The clothes dryer uses a lot of electricity, and giving it a rest will decrease your consumption quite a bit.

7. Appliances

Look for the Energy Star on appliances when buying new – this means the appliance is up to government standards in energy efficiency. Some retailers are engaging in appliance trade-in programs, where you can trade your old appliance in and get a more energy-efficient one for a lower price. There are also tax credits connected with the purchase of energy efficient appliances. There has never been a better time to upgrade your kitchen and laundry room!

So use some of these common sense solutions to prepare for winter and save you loads of cash every day.

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Winter is coming, and due to the economy and growing environmental awareness, many of us are pretty energy-conscious this year. Nonetheless, the prospect of winter-proofing your home can seem daunting – but there are easy and simple steps you can take to make your home more winter-proof without a complete overhaul. It does not have to be a big, expensive project. Here are some easy ways to keep out the cold out and keep in the heat.

1. Caulk: it’s not just for the bathroom
Caulk is an excellent and inexpensive way to seal air leaks around your home. It can be used in the attic, around non-moving window panes (particularly between the window frame and the wall), in cracks in your home’s siding, around door jambs (where they meet the wall), and even at the base of the siding where it meets the foundation.

2. Install a programmable thermostat
This is a simple way to ensure that your furnace will not be working to heat your home when you don’t need it. It also covers for you in case you leave the house or go to bed and forget to turn down the thermostat.

3. Get your furnace serviced
Keeping your furnace in top working order is important for energy saving. Make sure it is running properly before winter begins to avoid repairs in the winter, when going without central heat while awaiting repairs can be uncomfortable or even dangerous.

4. Put a hat on your home
Insulating your attic is like putting a winter hat on your house. It keeps heat from escaping through the roof – remember, heat rises. While you are focusing on the top of your house, check your gutters and see that they are clean and free of debris, and check your chimney for air leaks. Such leaks can be sealed easily with caulk.

5. Consider storm windows
Interior storm windows are an inexpensive way to keep heat from escaping, and they can be taken down when winter is over. They even come in plastic sheets which are the least expensive option.

6. Insulate your water pipes
One of the concerns with turning the thermostat down is freezing pipes. Pipe insulation, though, is a relatively easy way to ensure against this occurring. Pipe sleeves or tubes made of foam can be purchased at most hardware stores, and are cut so that they fit right over the pipes.

7. Apply weather stripping to doors and windows
Weather stripping is inexpensive and easy to apply – it should be put along the edges of windows and doors, including basement and attic windows and the garage.

8. Weather-proof the front door
You may want to replace your existing front door with a more energy-efficient one, or add a storm door to your current one. The most important thing is to be sure the edges of the door are tightly sealed and square, which may mean a new door and frame are necessary.

Hopefully, these ideas and tips will enable you to enjoy the winter weather without worry. Maybe you’ll save some cash too!

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Did you know that you can write-off the value of charitable items on your taxes? Yes this is true, but please consult your your tax preparer for details in your particular situation.

It is unbelievable that in the United States we throw away perfectly good items every day. Did you know that the U.S. is know as the throw away society around the  world? We have been so blessed in America that we are now taking things for granted. This has not always been case in the U.S. During our history we were innovators of using our resources to the fullest. I can remember taking a bath in shared bath water. We had six kids in my family and when we were little we took turns cleaning up in the same bath water then spraying off to rinse.

Of course hand me down clothes were the norm. Top to bottom through all of us kids in the family and then onto the neighbor kids. The same for our bikes, sleds, and cars.

It seems in recent times that we are considered “low on the totem pole” or “underneath society” if we have used items. But I know a few very well to do families that have always shopped at flee markets and garage sales saving a tremendous amount of money every year of their adult lives. So maybe it is time to reconsider our thinking in our current economic situation we have in America.

An Excellent way to save money and “be green” is to reuse items that are not brand new. This goes both ways. You can shop at thrift stores for used items. (Some items are just like new!) You can sell your used items for cash to get a bit of spending money. But I think a good thing to do for your local community is to donate your items to charities in your area. There are food banks, thrift stores and the like all across our nation. I’ll bet there is one or more in your town too.

One charity that I have recently been involved with is located in Harrison, Arkansas. Harrison is a town of around 12,000 people and pretty average for wages earned by national standards. But in all cities and towns across America, budgets are tight and cuts are being made.

Candra Conway and a few of her friends decided they wanted to do something for the community children, so they started Children’s Charity Ministry. They involve children to be volunteers to help needy children in their community. First is is an all volunteer, not for profit organization (waiting for their 501.c.3 status to be approved). It used to be run out of people houses or where ever they could meet.

They started by putting lunches together for kids, then added hygiene packages, helped where they could when fires hit families or an emergency car repair. They still do all of this work, but have now opened a thrift store which provides space for physical donations and a place for the kids to put the help packages together.

They have also teamed up with: the local fire department to help victims of home fires, local churches for support and for helping a wider area of people in need.

I know that they are in the process of upgrading their web site because I am building it. I consider it an investment into the community that I plan to retire in, in the near future. I will be very much involved when I finally move, but I will be involved as much as I can from afar for now.

So please find a charitable organizations that is making a difference in your area. Provide what you have for their needs and get your tax deductible receipt for your year end donation to the government. Wouldn’t you rather give donations to organizations that spend their resources wisely.

Donate, save money, go green, and feel good about helping your community. It’s easy

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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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Does the idea of a hydrogen fuel cell powered car sound futuristic? In fact, the technology is not only available, but has already been used to produce the first hydrogen-powered car. In June 2008, Honda released its first hydrogen fuel cell powered car intended for mass production. But what are hydrogen fuel cells? Are they really better for the environment? How much do they cost?

Hydrogen has been described as the perfect fuel, because it is renewable (in fact, limitless) and can be made from sunlight and water. It leaves no trace of dangerous emissions and only releases warm water vapor as a by-product when burned as a fuel. It is an extremely eco-friendly fuel, if not the most eco-friendly.

The hydrogen fuel cell makes use of these attributes by using hydrogen as a fuel. Instead of an engine, fuel cell cars have a hydrogen cell “stack” under the hood, about the size of a microwave oven. The car also has a pressurized hydrogen tank and an electric motor. The cell converts the hydrogen into water by mixing it with oxygen (think H2O). This process produces electricity. The flow of chemicals – hydrogen and oxygen – is continual, so the fuel cell won’t “die” like a battery.

As noted above, Honda produced its first fuel cell car in 2008, a prototype for mass production, but the technology is still experimental. There are problems with hydrogen fuel cell cars not performing well in low temperatures, for example, or only being able to drive so long without a “rest” to re-charge.

What about the cost?

There’s no doubt about it – hydrogen fuel cell cars are extremely expensive, primarily because there are so few of them. A conventional car can be converted to fuel cell power, but that, too, is expensive. For example, according to a report by MSNBC, a hydrogen-powered Nissan Frontier pickup truck starts at $99,995, and the cost to convert a Hummer begins at $60,000 (Hummer not included). However, as more of these vehicles are produced and demand increases, the price should go down in the future.

Interestingly, toy cars fueled by hydrogen are readily available. Kits range in price from $150 to $250, and involve building your own hydrogen fuel cell powered car – albeit on a small scale!

In some ways, hydrogen fuel cell cars are a thing of the future – it will be some time before the technology is reliable and consumer demand drives the number of cars up and the price down. Nonetheless, the potential is here and now, and is likely to stay.

It is critical that the entire world looks at and experiments with ALL possible fuels. We are rapidly using up our fossil fuels causing incredibly high fuel costs across the world. Perfecting, manufacturing and marketing alternative fuels is the answer to sustain power, heating, and transportation for future generations.

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If you want to lead a green lifestyle, don’t forget to go green with your grocery shopping. Here are some tips and suggestions for making your supermarket experience as green as possible.

1. Cloth bags

Most grocery stores sell these for a low price. If not, simply use your own cloth totes or re-use those brown paper shopping bags with handles. You can even make your own shopping bag from old clothes, blankets, or other materials. Using your own totes reduces the use of plastic grocery bags, which endanger sea life when dumped in oceans and do not biodegrade in landfills.

2. Choose your grocery store wisely

Look for a grocery store that sells local produce, or, if possible, shop at a locally owned grocery. Food that is grown locally does not require a lot of gasoline or jet fuel to get from the farm across the globe to your store. Check with the policies of your grocery store regarding recycling as well. Do they have a recycling bin for customers to put their used plastic bags in? Choose stores that sell organic produce, too. Organically grown produce is far better for the environment, as it does not involve the use of dangerous agri-chemicals.

3. Only pay for what’s necessary

This is an important aspect in green shopping, and it is one of the most neglected. We often pay for unnecessary things without thinking, but everything from packaging to preservatives are not necessary for a healthy diet and can generate a lot of waste when packaging is thrown away. Here are some things to keep in mind when trying to make your dollar go as far as possible and reduce waste.

-Buy in bulk. Bulk foods sold in bins do not have packaging, so you are paying for the food only. Bulk buying can also include large containers of canned goods or cereal that can be divided up into individual serving containers at home (re-usable containers of course). Not buying individualized portions reduces your consumption of packaging materials such as plastic, metal and paper.

-Whole foods are foods in their most basic form, with no additives or unwanted ingredients to deal with. When you buy whole foods, you are not paying for the preparation and packaging.

-Read labels – don’t pay for ingredients you don’t need or that are bad for the environment.

4. Plan your meals and make a list

Meal planning can reduce your waste quite a bit. When you plan meals, make a list according to what you’ll need for those meals and nothing more. This prevents impulsive spending and over-buying, and generates less waste than simply buying whatever looks good.

5. Sales and stocking up

Although sticking to your list has many advantages, keep an eye out for sales and stock up when you can. While you are shopping for your meals you have planned for the week, you can do a bit of the reverse – plan your next week’s meals based on what was on sale! The more you can buy in one trip, the less gas you will use making multiple trips to the grocery store.

Whether you are just getting started with your green shopping commitment or are looking for ways to improve your green lifestyle, keeping the above tips in mind should help.

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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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Emissions are those gases, often called greenhouse gases, that are produced when fossil fuels are burned. When you drive your car, get on an airplane, or use extra electricity, you are contributing to the production of greenhouse gases. There are ways to offset this usage.

Offsetting your emissions is, basically, a way to balance your environmental impact by reducing in one place while increasing in another. Ultimately, it is a means by which the overall production of greenhouse gases can be reduced. In other words, if you need to increase your emissions, such as taking a cross-country flight, you can offset that increase by buying carbon credits, supporting green technology, and other methods.

Here are some ways that people can offset their emissions, and how it works.

1. Calculate

The first step to offsetting your emissions is to calculate them. There are multiple resources available online for calculating your carbon footprint/emissions. There is also software available for you to calculate your emissions yourself. Once you determine the amount of emissions you are or will be producing, you can find out what you can do to offset that amount.

2. Plant a tree

This is the more traditional approach to offsetting. Trees absorb carbon monoxide and emit oxygen, so planting a tree (or several) helps to mitigate the impact of your emissions.

3. Buy offsets from a company

There are various organizations that have developed to meet the demand for carbon credits. Check the internet for directories of such organizations. Purchasing carbon credits is a way to offset your emissions, and the company will calculate how much you owe based on the amount of your emissions. It pays to shop around if you go this route – different companies can come up with vastly different sums required to offset your carbon footprint.

4. Invest in renewable energy

Some individuals choose to support organizations, projects, or groups that are developing (or have developed) green technology. You can donate time or money to an alternative energy project in your area, or develop a project yourself. For example, you could install solar panels on your house, or take steps to make your home more energy-efficient.

Companies as well as individuals can offset their emissions. If you manage or own a business, your company can invest in renewable energy, purchase carbon credits, or take other steps to offset its emissions. Your company can sell carbon credits as well. There is a growing market that matches a growing awareness about our personal carbon use.

Lynne

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1. Maintain your car

Keeping your car in top working order makes it work more efficiently, thereby keeping emissions and gas usage at a minimum. Some things to keep in mind when taking your car in for maintenance are:

-Tire pressure
Keeping the tire pressure at the optimum level for your specific car can make a great deal of difference in your gas mileage. Be sure to tell the mechanic or technician to inflate the tires according to the manufacturer’s standards. It should be printed on the inside of one of your car’s doors, and/or in your owner’s manual.

-Filters
Clean oil and air filters use a lot less gas than dirty ones, because the engine does not have to work as hard to draw oil or air through clean ones. If the filters are dirty, the engine has to work harder and therefore uses more gas.

-Oil
Keeping your oil fresh is important for maintaining your engine performance. A well-lubricated engine is much more efficient.

-Tune-ups
This is one of the most basic and significant means of effective car maintenance. Regular tune-ups keep your car running efficiently and will extend the life of your car.

2. Turn it off

When you are waiting in your car, turn off the engine when possible. Turn off the air conditioning when you are driving uphill.

3. Drive carefully

You may not realize it, but how you drive your car can have as much impact as how often you drive it. Accelerating rapidly, speeding, or gunning the motor are all wasteful (and dangerous) activities to engage in. When going uphill, do not try to maintain your exact speed; be willing to slow it down a little and catch up to the speed limit when going down hill. Try to look ahead and anticipate when you will need to stop; slamming on the breaks wastes fuel.

4. Use alternative means of transportation

One of the ways you can responsibly use your car is not to use it! Public transit is inexpensive and far less polluting than cars. You can also make good use your car to transport groups in a car pool.

These are just some of the ways you can reduce carbon footprint of your car. There are benefits for all if we employ some of these techniques; even some insurance companies are offering lower rates to customers who drive their cars less and drive more carefully.

Keep Going Green!
Lynne

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