Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could buy a solar panel and just plug it in to an outlet without needing to hire an electrician? Well, now you can! Be sure to read the cautions below for why you still might need a licensed electrician. I learned about solar micro-inverters about 4 years ago when […]
How Vacuuming Can Save Energy and Lives
Posted on April 17, 2012 Written by 11 Comments
Lint Clogged Dryer Vent at Alicia’s Folks This past weekend, I got to a project that has been bothering me for some time, I cleaned out the dryer vent at Alicia’s folks house. Clogged dryer vents cause FIRES, so either hire someone to clean your dryer vent or do-it-yourself (DIY). If you think this is […]
Do-It-Yourself Halloween Decorations
Posted on October 27, 2011 Written by 2 Comments
My neighbors put out a number of Halloween decorations and my children wanted some too. I politely explained to them how I don’t believe in using electricity to shine lights on decorations or to blow fans to make decorations stand up. I also explained that it wasn’t good for the environment to go buy a […]
The Family Garden: A Different Mindset
Posted on May 1, 2011 Written by 4 Comments
Were you an ardent gardener? Now that you have children, are you having a hard time squeezing in time to work on your garden? Maybe you are new to gardening, but you think you can’t possibly get started with young children? Perhaps you don’t have children yet and this is just one more place where you […]
New Garden: Starting Seedlings Indoors or in the Garden?
Posted on March 20, 2011 Written by 5 Comments
I was recently talking to someone who is thinking about starting plants from seeds for the first time. Some of her questions included whether it’s too late to start seedlings for this year and if she is going to do indoor seedlings, how should she get started? Since these are some of the questions I […]
GreenTip: Latch Your Windows
Posted on September 18, 2010 Written by 5 Comments
Are your windows closed but the outside sounds are a little noisy? Does there still seem to maybe be a draft? Before running out to price new windows (and fall over in shock), check to see if the latch is shut. Those latches aren’t really there for security, they are there to insure that your […]
Keep Out The Drafts Quickly and Cheaply
Posted on January 19, 2010 Written by 1 Comment
Last night the wind was blowing here in Massachusetts, and it was blowing hard. I’m working on a post about windows, and whether you should replace them, but right now, in January, I think most people want to know what they can do today to keep out the drafts. My favorite quick solution is plastic […]
1 Flush, 2 Flush, How to Make a Dual Flush
Posted on January 6, 2010 Written by Leave a Comment
Update 11/118/203 – removed the last of the dual-flush conversion kits when we replaced our toilet with a new 1.28 gpf model from American Standard. UPDATE 3/23/2012 Two years later, 2 of the 3 HydroRight Dual-Flush conversion kits have been removed and replaced by standard flush mechanisms and the third frequently fails to stop running […]
Upgrading Your Existing Decorations to LEDs
Posted on December 9, 2009 Written by 5 Comments
I have always loved the spiral tree lights in front of homes during the holidays. I broke down and bought one a few years ago, but it only lasted two seasons before half of the lights stopped working. I was bummed, but wasn’t about to buy another one to have it go out in a […]
My First HEET Barnraising
Posted on November 30, 2009 Written by 2 Comments
I am in fact caulking a window in this picture. I was participating in a “barnraising” for the Women’s Center in Cambridge, MA where approximately 40 women got together to weatherize their building. It was organized by an organization called HEET. HEET organizes gatherings to teach people how to weatherize their homes. They gather at […]
