Because The Mass of This Is A Video...

I am just providing you a link today! A) Because I don't know how to copy/paste videos without embed codes, and 2.... I mean, B) Because it's easy. :D

http://www.ivillage.com/green/home/0,,bmcn4x4k,00.html?nlcid=gr|11-04-2008|

Click on that!

Love, SNG

Today we have this list from Big Green Purse detailing the Top Ten Ways to De-Ice your driveway. For your convenience on this blog, I’ve narrowed down the list to the easiest (and most affordable!) options on the list.

“What’s wrong with rock salt?
* Excess salts build up in the soil, just as they do with chemical fertilizers.
* Salt residue prevents plants from absorbing moisture and nutrients.
* Salts can leach heavy metals, which eventually make their way into water supplies.
* Salt on grass or sidewalks close to roads can attract animals, which may be hit by cars if they’re licking the salt from the ground.
* Plus, salt can burn our pets if it lodges in their paws.
Yes, salt does effectively melt snow. But is there a better way?”
1) Shovel! Or, if you are unable, pay a neighbourhood kid a few bucks to help. If you would rather use a snow-blower, buy an electric one. Gas models make noise and air pollution in greater amounts.
2) Scatter sand or birdseed for traction. It won’t melt the snow, but it’ll help you walk. Additionally, with birdseed, you’re doing a good deed for the animals!
3) Scrimp on de-icer!!!!! “Remember, the job of a de-icer is to loosen ice from below to make it easier to shovel or plow. Don’t pile on the de-icer thinking you’ll remove the ice completely. You won’t. The recommended application rate for rock salt is around a handful per square yard you treat. Calcium chloride will treat about 3 square yards per handful.”
4) If at all possible, avoid salt, especially potassium chloride.
5) Don’t use cat litter or wood ash. Neither melt ice or snow, and they will make a big mess when everything melts. Cat litter is also usually full of unsavoury chemicals.
6) Avoid nitrogen-based ureas!!! They are expensive, inefficient, and ineffectual at low temperatures. Also, they make for very bad runoff!
7) “Wear boots that have a solid toe and bottom treads to help increase your grip on icy surfaces. Or try "YakTrax," lightweight, flexible rubber treads studded with steel coil grips so you won't fall. The YakTrax slip over the soles of your shoes like snow chains slip over tires. $19.95 - $29.95 - kids', women's, and men's sizes available.”

If you are in the mood for a giant upgrade, or if you are in the process of redoing your driveway, here is the most expensive and involved tip:
“Try a 'snow melt mat.' If you’re installing a new driveway or replacing an old one, lay down electric wires to heat the driveway from below and radiate heat upwards. Yes, you pay for electricity, so it’s not as “eco” as shoveling by hand. On the other hand, it may be better than using chemicals that pollute the water and endanger plants and pets. It would cost someone living in the Washington, DC area (where I live) about $14 in electricity each time the system was used – though that doesn’t include the cost of installing the system. Electricity costs will vary by region. (NOTE: I’m not recommending you tear up a perfectly good driveway to put in a snow melt system!)”

So so behind...

You get a bunch of short updates today...I'm thinking about changing the update schedule to one longer post a week, because with work and everything I am super swamped here. :( Hence why I am a week and a half behind.

Back to the dishes thing: I already told you to check your dish detergent, but there are other things you can do to help make washing dishes better.

1) Skip the pre-rinse. Most of the time it doesn't really help. Just scrape all the extra stuff off the dishes into the trash with a fork and it should be enough.

2) If you're looking into buying a new dishwasher, look for an Energy Star model. They're way better at conserving energy.

3) If you're really into it, skip the dishwasher altogether. Plugging up the sink and filling it with soap and water looks a little grosser and is more labor intensive, but in the long run it'll save. Here's how to hand-wash to save energy and water:

a) Wash a lot of dishes at once, not just one or two.

b) Only fill the sink half-full of water and soap, and put the soap in early so it bubbles more.

c) Use WARM water, not scalding hot water. (This will also keep you from needing those non-eco-friendly yellow rubber dish gloves!)

d) Use another sink-full of water to rinse dishes instead of running them under the tap.

Now, depending on who you talk to, it saves water to use a dishwasher instead of hand wash. Like, let's say you wash your dishes after every single meal, so you're only washing maybe two at a time. In this case, you'd be better off to put them out of sight in a dishwasher and wash a LOT at once. But the dishwasher uses electricity both to run AND to heat the water....So really, while it's more time efficient and saves YOU some energy, in the long run hand-washing probably wins.

Dishing On Dishes

Man, I'm getting good at these really cheesy titles.

This week, we're talking about dishes. It's a seemingly innocent topic, but there's enough to make a week's worth of simple posts. :)

First tip o' the week: Check out your dish detergent. Almost all detergents are based on chemicals, including chlorine bleach, which gives detergent its usual smell (and is an environmental double whammy!) Look for detergents that are vegetable based, as they are much safer for you, your family, and the environment, since they have waywayway fewer chemicals and are biodegradable, unlike their counterparts.