Aug 27, 2015 | Energy Efficiency
It’s back-to-school season – time to make sure you have bookbags, lunch boxes and other supplies needed for a successful return to school.
It’s also worth taking time in advance to check out the space where your kids will be doing their homework.
While we’ve all pressed the kitchen table into double duty from time to time, kids should ideally have a separate place to work that’s well-lit, comfortable and free from distractions.
But “well-lit” doesn’t have to mean “energy hog.” Here are tips to save energy in your kids’ homework spaces, as well as other parts of your house:
- Switch to light-emitting diode bulbs where possible. LEDs use up to 75 percent less energy and last up to 20 times longer than traditional incandescents. Because they’re so energy-efficient, LEDs can save you up to $135 over the life of the light bulb.
- When buying new lighting fixtures or bulbs, look for the ENERGY STAR® label. They are the most energy-efficient on the market.
- Keep light bulbs clean. Dirt can absorb up to 50 percent of the light.
If your child has a computer in his or her homework area, make sure the “sleep” mode is enabled. The computer will switch automatically to a low-energy mode when they are away, cutting energy usage by more than half. And, for extra credit, remind your child to turn off the computer when they’re done using it.
Our website features many more tips to help you get an A-plus in Energy Use 101 this year.
May 7, 2015 | Energy Efficiency
Mother’s Day is this weekend. We’ve included 127 ways you can recharge your Mother’s Day menu to show mom how much you care on her special day and every day! Mom likely hasn’t tried these for herself, and they’re delicious and easy to make. Our favorite part? These recipes are energy-efficient and require minimal cleanup.
Let mom sleep in to wake up to a wonderful brunch, or give her a delicious dinner that will wow her. Not the best cook? Not a problem. Go unconventional. Give the stove and oven a rest. Try no-cook recipes and use smaller, more efficient appliances, like slow cookers, microwaves or even your grill, to use less electricity and save time.
Wondering exactly what to make? From appetizers and entrees to dessert this list has you covered and mom is sure to be impressed.
Still looking for the perfect recipe? Check out our Pinterest boards.
Don’t forget that these unconventional cooking methods typically require minimal cleanup, and that’s music to any mom’s ears — or yours in this case. You’ll save energy by not using the stove and oven AND by not having to use hot water to wash pots and pans.
What are your plans for mom this year? #Mom #HappyMothersDay #herestoyoumom
Mar 17, 2015 | Energy Efficiency
This St. Patrick’s Day, along with green food, beverages and attire, you can go green at home. There are so many gadgets on the market that can help you save electricity. I personally love finding tech toys that make saving energy easy, convenient and fun!
I’ve put together a short list of gadgets that are easy to find, easy to install and make saving energy a no-brainer.
Kill-A-Watt Electricity Usage Monitor
Did you ever wonder how much energy your gadgets use – or if they’re using energy even when not in use? All you need to do is plug this monitor into an outlet and plug your electronic device into it. You can measure its energy use and play detective to find out where you might be wasting energy and where you are using the most energy. Pretty cool! Uncover your own energy-saving opportunities or find out what Project Envolve families discovered about their energy use with the Kill-A-Watt monitor.
Programmable or Smart Thermostats
Thermostats can control half of your home’s energy. Half! That’s a pretty big deal. A correctly programmed thermostat can save about 20 percent on your heating and cooling bill, according to nest.com. These thermostats give you total control. You can program the thermostat to avoid wasting energy heating or cooling your home when you’re asleep or away. You can save about 1-3 percent per degree, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Learn what settings are recommended by the DOE.
Smart Power Strips
Take your power strips to the next level. Smart strips work especially well for entertainment centers. No more gaming systems and accessories drawing phantom power 24/7. Smart power strips will automatically turn your DVD player, game system and other peripherals off when you shut off the television. And you have the ability to always power the DVR. If you have a regular power strip, simply turn the power strip off to turn off all the devices at the same time. Devices left on are wasting energy and your money.
LED Light Bulbs
Replace your light bulbs with LEDs. They use up to 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 20 times longer. And because they produce light without producing much extra heat, they’re cooler than traditional incandescent bulbs. Through our E-power programs, customers can receive instant in-store discounts on select ENERGY STAR LEDs. Find a participating retailer near you.
Slow Cooker or Microwave
Switch up how you cook and spruce up your recipe repertoire. By using smaller, more efficient appliances like slow cookers and microwaves, you can use less electricity for food preparation. Plus you’ll save time, too. These appliances are very versatile and have the ability to make appetizers, entrees and even desserts.
Occupancy Sensors
If you tend to forget to turn the lights off, consider installing occupancy sensors. They’ll automatically turn the lights on when you enter the room and off when it’s empty. They’re great for the powder room or laundry room.
Solar Exterior Lights
Spring and summer are right around the corner. You can find all sorts of walkway lights and decorative lights to highlight your landscape.
ENERGY STAR
Are you in the market for any new appliances or electronics? Buy ENERGY STAR. You’ll save energy for years to come.
Going green around the house St. Patrick’s Day is easy thanks to these energy-saving gadgets and electronics. How are you going green?
Aug 29, 2014 | Energy Efficiency
Summer is a great time to entertain your family and friends outdoors. My family spends a lot of time outdoors, and I’m all for taking the family fun outside to reduce our energy use and beautifying the backyard and patio. Upgrading to energy-efficient outdoor lighting products can make your home look great and help you save energy all year long.
I’m a DIYer to the core. I always seem to have my hand in some sort of home improvement project. To be honest, sometimes it feels like the list never ends. You check one project off your list, and you add two more. The good news is that these projects are fun and can make your house look great.
This year I had a few extra “to-do’s” on my list. As we were sprucing up the landscaping I decided this was the year the outdoor lighting needed an upgrade. Let me just say it was well past-due!
Off we went to the local home improvement store. You can get lost in those lighting aisles. As we browsed the aisles we found all sorts of things, from energy-efficient solar pathway and landscape lighting to ENERGY STAR® qualified fixtures, LED light bulbs and even exterior lights with motion sensors.
Based on what we had at our home, I opted for new LED lighting. Did you know that energy-efficient ENERGY STAR® LED bulbs use up to 75 percent less energy and last up to 20 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. (That’s a pretty big deal.)
But I wasn’t finished just yet. While some of the lights have motion detectors, I also wanted to put them on a timer. It seems we’re always flipping the light on for company and leaving it on … all night long. Those days (and nights) were about to end. We installed the perfect outdoor timer for us. We were able to adjust the dusk/dawn time settings. Easy! We’ll just have to remember to adjust in the fall when it gets a darker a bit earlier.
And who doesn’t want to have a beautiful patio? The next thing on my list was to break out these super cute Mason jar solar light accents.
They recharge daily with the sun and can be customized by adding a little extra decoration to the outside of the jar or by filling them. I filled mine with sea shells, but sand and a little flower or gemstones would also look great!
Are you thinking of upgrading your outdoor or patio lighting or have you finished any new projects? We’d love to hear what you’ve done in the comments below
Aug 22, 2014 | Energy Efficiency
Getting “unplugged” gets harder and harder these days. We’re so dependent on electronic gadgets and gizmos that it’s difficult to think of a time when I’m not within 5 feet of at least my mobile phone. It seems just about everything we do is behind a screen. Whether I’m at my computer writing a blog post or using my phone to pay a bill, I’m always connected.
I’ve made it my personal mission to make sure my family takes the time to completely unplug and enjoy the dog days of summer. It was time to turn off the phones, TV and tablets and get outside for family fun that was right up our alley.
We wanted to spend these beautiful summer nights outdoors so we brought the bowling alley to our backyard.
Glow Stick Bowling
What you need
10 Glow Sticks
10 empty water bottles
How we did it:
After digging 10 water bottles out of the recycling bin, I simply filled them with water. Next, I activated the Glow Sticks and plopped them in.
All that was left was to put on the lid, grab a ball and bowl.
Once it started to get dark, I set up the “pins.” I must say it looked really cool.
We still had a touch of World Cup fever, so we used a soccer ball and “bowled” with our feet. Simple, easy and a great new spin on an old classic. The kids loved it, and to be honest, so did we. It was hilarious to see just how bad our aim was at first. The best score was obtained by my little one, who is 2. She “bowled” with her hands and feet. And at times, she took off with a pin or two.
It was an unplugged summer night success. Check back to see what activity is next on the list and visit Project Envolve to what fun activities these families came up with.
Did you give glow bowling a try? Comment below with other family fun activities you’d like to share.
