Support Earth Hour 2009 - Turn Off Your Lights!

If you've ever wanted to help out environmental causes, but feel frustrated since you don't have enough time to take care of everything you need to for yourself, much less volunteer, and you sure don't have enough money to donate (not to mention you don't get any tax kick back like the rich itemizers do), finally, here's something anyone can do! Earth Hour started in Sydney, Austrialia in 2007 as an idea that anyone could do to save natural resources and raise environmental awareness. People turned off their lights for one hour from 8-9PM. It was successful and gained global attention, with many other cities and businesses around the world participating in 2008, with over 50 million people in all 7 continents participating in events ranging from huge gatherings to quiet candlelit family time at home. On the website you can sign up to participate in 2009 from 8:30-9:30 PM (in your local time zone) on Saturday March 28 and get regular info updates if you want them.

Energy Star Washers and Dryers for Any Size Home

When it comes to washers and dryers, traditionally they have been separate, and while there are a plethora of energy star washers, eco-friendly dryers are harder to come by. It just takes too much energy to generate all that heat. Because my washing machine and dryer are both on their last leg, and I'm tired of babysitting both of them (kind of defeats the purpose of a machine to have to sit there the whole time), I decided to check out my options. Things have really changed - at least in the US. Europe has had much of this technology for a long time, and I've seen many messages from Europeans shocked that we haven't. You're not going to find this stuff at your local Home Depot or Lowes yet, but to my surprise these solutions were both initially less expensive than buying a traditional washer and dryer and save energy in the long run - you can't lose.

The closest to the traditional washer and dryer is the combo washer and dryer. Do not confuse this with a washer and dryer combo where two separate units are stacked on top of each other or side by side, a combo washer/dryer is a single unit that washes then dries your clothing. They come in vented and ventless depending on what kind of space you have, and range in price from $450 apartment sized units to a high end $1900 model. Your average unit will run about $700 but remember you're getting both a washer and dryer, so they actually don't cost any more than a new washer and dryer and often cost you less. What makes them so efficient is the way they dry. Rather than using heat, they spin much faster than a standard spin cycle, extracting the moisture without the need for a heating grid of some sort or air flow. Because they use so much less energy, they can be plugged into a regular 110A plug. They also save you space in your home and time because you no longer have to empty the dryer, empty the washer, haul the clothes to the dryer, then refill the washer and repeat. Now you can set clothes in the washing machine, go to work or sleep and come home or wake up to fresh, clean clothes. They do take longer than a standard dryer, so you will probably want to change your schedule to do this rather than wash everything on a single day because that will take forever.

But what if you have a tiny load or live in an apartment where they will not allow you to have a large unit (especially if they are trying to motivate you to use their coin fed machine)? The Laundry Alternative has your solution. The site is worth looking over, but I want to highlight a few of my favorites. The Wonder Wash is a little hand powered machine that uses no energy and very little soap. It only takes a few minutes, and holds 5 pounds of laundry. For a small family, women with cloth menstrual products, or parents with small children and/or using cloth diapers this little machine can help a lot with the things you need now. Even for a larger family, sometimes you need that item now and with this item you don't have to run the whole washer to do a couple outfits. It can be a standalone system for a single person or family of two if you do your clothes every few days, and since it is small and light if you go camping or travel you can bring it along with you and pack lighter. The other item I really like is the Countertop Spin Dryer (and the mini version). These also work in just a few minutes, so in 10 minutes or less with these two inexpensive appliances you can have a clean outfit for two people washed, dried and ready to wear. If you use cloth diapers you can forget the big pail and just wash in the evening. Since the spin dryer is also portable, you can pack it with the Wonder Wash and take it with you for clean clothes anywhere and if you are not in the market for a new washer and dryer, the spin dryer makes an excellent addition to your conventional dryer. By using the spin dryer for a few minutes before transferring your clothing to the conventional dryer, you can cut the time by half an hour. That means much less wasted energy and cost savings for you on your utility bill.

These aren't your parents' light bulbs!

I know this is a very over discussed topic, but CFLs have come a LONG way. When I first went to CFLs in response to the ever increasing price of electricity, I had to change several light fixtures and switches in my house in order to accept the lights. There were no 3 way CFLs, dimmer CFLs, CFL bug lights or CFL flood lights. All CFLs were the spiral design and they came in 40, 60 and 100 watt light output equivalents. If you were lucky, you might be able to find a daylight style light but that was all the selection you got. Imagine my surprise when just 4 years later as I shopped to replace a burned out CFL I found the huge selection now available. There are bug lights for outside. There are triple tube lights (three arches next to each other) and A shape (look like a tungsten bulb) if you don't like the look of the mini twists. There are chandelier lights, cylinder lights and globe lights for your fancy fixtures, 3 way lights and dimmer lights for your special switches, and even reflector (flood) lights for inside and outside. And they aren't even that expensive! If you've ever purchase specialty lights of the regular high-consumption variety you will be surprised to find this long-lived energy-saving alternative to be quite cost effective. But do they really work? Do they really last as long as the package says and do they really save money? And most importantly are they safe? As a long term user of this type of bulb, I say yes. I remember 4 years ago when my husband first showed me the package of funny looking twists on sale in Home Depot and I asked him the same questions. If they last for 7 years, why is the warranty only for 2, I asked, and what if they explode in my face? Don't they take time to warm up - that's so annoying! And how much energy do we really use in lights anyway? What's $50 over the course of 7 years IF they last that long anyway? Well, I moved once since buying many of them and none of them exploded even with the stress of the move. Not saying you don't have to be careful with them and how you dispose of them, but I am now convinced that they are as safe as the next piece of technology. After 4 years I have all but 2 of the bulbs. One I used outside and it did take time to warm up (I've now replaced it with a bug light that is designed for outside and it works perfectly), and the other was in a high traffic area and it's light output diminshed over time. For having every single bulb in my house converted to CFL, 2 bulbs in 4 years isn't bad. I should also note that you need to be careful to watch how many lumens the light puts out. In many rooms a 40 watt CFL will work just as well as a 60 watt standard light. If you like bright lights, this won't be a problem, but if they bother you, watch out! Just imagine how much less energy we would use as a nation if everyone switched! If we used those savings to eliminate plants dependant on harmful fuels, think of how much greater an effect that would have on the climate.