Learn how to make environmentally friendly cleaning products at a workshop Saturday at the Red Clover Collective.

You might have already read about this event over on the Bmore Green blog, but Aliza Sollins of the Baltimore DIY Squad will be teaching folks how to put together green laundry detergent, dish soap and all-purpose cleaner.

Bring a bottle and take it home full of one of the products you'll be making!

The workshop, which costs $5, is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 20. Red Clover Collective is in Waverly. Click here to register.

Now why would you want to make your own cleaning and laundry products? 

Continue reading "DIY laundry detergent & other green cleaners" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Greenies
        

Mark your calendars: get a free Lil' Rounder ice cream sandwich at Carvel stores from 3 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 24 --- otherwise known as Customer Appreciation Day.

Lil' Rounders are made with Carvel soft-serve ice cream served between two Oreo cookie wafers.

On that day, an 18-pack of the treats will also cost $9.99. You can also print out a Carvel coupon to save $3 off an 18-pack. The coupon expires on September 30.

But that's not the only cheap ice cream available on September 24 ... 

Continue reading "Free ice cream: Cheap Trick Thursday" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Greenies
        

I would like to be a better steward of the environment. But I’m not that good at recycling, to the dismay of certain of my friends. And I wouldn’t know an environmentally-friendly product from one whose fate is destined for a landfill.

Now Wal-Mart is touting an idea that it thinks will make it easier for people to live a greener lifestyle. The retailer announced today that it is creating an index that will rank the sustainability of the products you use. CEO Mike Duke said in a statement that consumers want to know “the materials in the product are safe” and that they are “produced in a responsible way.”

Wal-Mart’s new initiatives will be done in three phases. It will survey its 100,000-plus suppliers around the world to determine those company’s sustainability practices. The retailer will then create a consortium of universities to work with suppliers to develop a database looking at the lifecycle of products. It will turn to technology companies to power the index.

Lastly, it will take all the information and create ratings on the sustainability of products that are easy for consumers to read.

So what do you think of Wal-Mart’s plan? Is it something you would use?

(Photo courtesy of AP)

Posted by Andrea Walker at 5:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Greenies
        

Baltimore Gas & Electric has proposed switching all its customers to "smart grid" technology -- particularly advanced meters that provide frequently updated information about energy consumption -- that the company says will encourage them to conserve when it matters most, at peak times when we're paying the most.

Company officials said the initiative could result in demand reductions of 500 megawatts --- the amount of electricity generated by a new power plant, without having to pay to build it (or fuel it). 

The program has a hefty price tag: $500 million, to be funded through bill surcharges that start at 38 cents for electric customers and 44 cents per month in the first year. These are expected to increase to an average of $1.24 and $1.52 respectively over the five-year program --- or perhaps less, if BGE receives federal stimulus grants for smart grid technology of up to $200 million for smart grid technology. 

They submitted the initiative to the Maryland Public Service Commission on Monday, which will ultimately decide whether to give it a green light.

The Sun's business columnist Jay Hancock said the smart grid proposal will be worth it if it works out as planned -- with federal stimulus grants, and if the savings pans out.

And, he points out, the smart metering pricing could have been set up so that people who continue to use energy during peak periods pay more. Instead, they set up incentives: rebates to reward those who cut back at critical times, instead of penalties.

Still, consumer advocates such as the Office of the People's Counsel want to be able to carefully vet the terms of any potential deals before they are on the hook for the price of this program. They want to know why it has to be rolled out so quickly, instead of just installing the "smart" meters as the existing ones grow obsolete. There are also concerns about smart grid security. And they're just working out the standards for these smart grid devices now.

Most importantly, they question whether the actual savings will match the predictions.

How does BGE say the initiative would work? 

Continue reading "BGE's Smart Grid plan: what do you think? " »

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Energy/Utilities, Greenies
        

To kick off DIY@Artscape, on Tuesday, July 14, there will be a free screening of Handmade Nation, a documentary exploring do-it-yourself culture.

The free Handmade Nation screening starts at 7 p.m. at the University of Baltimore auditorium, 21 W. Mount Royal Ave. A question-and-answer session with the director will follow the 65-minute film. 

Discovered via The Broken Plate Company via Baltimore DIY Squad.

Then on Thursday ... 

Continue reading "Free movies next week! Food, Inc., Handmade Nation" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 3:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food, Greenies
        

Darn it! The Maker Faire, a celebration of DIY culture, was a lot of fun this weekend. I ran into Hampden resident Aliza Sollins manning a table about permaculture and talked to her a little about why she was so excited about the event.

Sollins blogs about green living and DIY life at The Baltimore DIY Squad. Check it out for some great tips for conserving and making things.

She's also a member of Baltimore Food Makers ...

Continue reading "Make it yourself, fix it yourself: Maker Faire " »

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Greenies
        

The last time an electronic gadget died on you, did you debate whether to repair it or to replace it?

CBS News pointed out in an 2007 article about fixing or nixing dead cell phones or other items that repair prices have often remained the same over the last five years although the prices of new electronics have dropped significantly, sometimes by hundreds of dollars.

But in the consumption and disposal chapters of the Internet documentary The Story of Stuff, Annie Leonard explains that 99 percent of the things we produce are trashed within six months. The items we're tossing aren't just coffee cups and plastic bag but also computers and televisions (perhaps slightly less frequently).

While the initial cost of replacing an item may be less than repairing it, Leonard also points out that we end up paying for this throw-it-away mindset later, through chemicals released into our water and atmosphere.

The worst offender (in my opinion) are iPods. Don't get me wrong -- I love my podcasts, but these popular MP3 players are designed with rechargeable batteries that can't be replaced, so many people just chuck them and get a new one when their current model's screen gets cracked or the battery dies.

But what if there was a different option, such as ...

Continue reading "Do-it-yourself and save: Cheap Trick Thursday" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 9:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Greenies
        

Happy Earth Day, folks!

First Data, which processes prepaid cards for businesses, offers these recycling tips for plastic:

Reload depleted cards, such as the one you get at Starbucks, instead of tossing them.

Or, if you don’t want to reload a card, don’t throw it away. Instead, throw it in one of the recycling kiosks located in more than 1,000 Best Buy stores around the country.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 2:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Greenies
        

With Earth Day fast approaching on April 22, readers, I want to know: what changes have you made to your lifestyle that save you money, and also help the environment?

Many commuters were forced to change routines and drove less in 2008 when gas prices skyrocketed. I'm sure a lot of people are bringing their own lunches and drinks from home in reusable lunch containers and travel mugs, rather than paying for sandwich bags, and some supermarkets offer discounts for using reusable shopping bags. And I told you last year how I stopped using clothes dryers in a cost-saving measure --- why pay to accelerate a process that will occur naturally?

Here's one quick and easy change you could try: Home Depot is giving away one free EcoSmart 14-watt CFL bulb to customers on Sunday, April 19, while supplies last. (Buxr via Consumerist)

Even if you can't take advantage of this promotion ...

Continue reading "Cheap & Green: Cheap Trick Thursday, Earth Day edition" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Greenies
        

Save some money when buying trees with coupons, just in time for Earth Day on April 22 or National Arbor Day on April 24.

Tim Wheeler over at the Bay & Environment blog highlighted a few great discounts on trees, including a $25 coupon off the purchase of a native tree worth $50 or more from participating nurseries. 

Then I spotted ...

Continue reading "Tree coupons: even more Cheap Trick Thursday" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Budgeting, Cheap/Frugal, Greenies, Home/Real Estate
        

Improve your home's energy efficiency and save money with tax rebates and credits while feeling more comfortable, too.

Sun columnist Jacques Kelly invested $260 in a home energy audit and spent about $3,000 in improvements to shave $75 off his monthly energy bill.

But he and others who invest in their homes could enjoy tax rebates and credits on home improvements like new windows or doors, which Consumerworld.org reminds us about. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act, homeowners are eligible for tax credits for up to 30 percent of the cost of insulation, efficient hot water heaters and more. The maximum for these improvements is $1,500 for purchases between Feb. 17, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2010. 

With construction slow, it might be a good opportunity to negotiate with contractors for this kind of work.

Plus, Jacques says he gains something else that's just as important as saving money: "I might also have a more comfortable home," he wrote. 

UPDATED: Check out more info on energy-efficiency improvements and tax benefits in Jay Hancock's column.

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Energy/Utilities, Greenies
        

We've all done it --- stood at the fridge poking at some mysterious product, wondering how long it's been in there and whether it's still good to eat.

On one hand, you don't want to waste food you spent good money to buy, but you also don't to risk the health of your family or yourself by serving it to them.

Still in doubt? Why not check the recommendations over at StillTasty.com? 

Touted by such fine sites as Consumerist and Unclutterer, StillTasty offers guidelines for when to keep some shelf-stable product and when to toss that aging dairy product.

And while you're at it ...

Continue reading "StillTasty.com tells you when food is spoiled: Consumer Web Site of the Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food, Greenies
        

Lots of people are trying to save money on home heating bills and lower energy costs, so for this Consumer Web Site of the Week, let's reprise an oldie but a goodie: Energystar.gov's Home Energy Yardstick, which we told you about last year along with energy-saving tips for renters. 

The site asks you to enter information about your home and your utility bills to find ways to make it more energy efficient. And with $1,500 worth of tax credits for energy-efficiency improvements in the stimulus package, this may be the year to take advantage. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 3:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Consumer Web Site of the Week, Energy/Utilities, Greenies
        

Consumers continue to wonder why their utility bills are shooting up, in some cases doubling and tripling despite efforts to cut back. So many have complained to the state Public Service Commission that it is reviewing data from each company. A hearing will be held Thursday.

Check out the written responses from the companies on the state Public Service Commission Web site. Here's information from the commission about filing a complaint about high utility bills, including how to request an independent test of your meter (known as a "referee" test").

Representatives from the utilities say that people are using more electricity and gas due to the unusually cold weather and more days at home over the holidays. A longer billing cycle and higher winter rates also contributed to larger bills, they say.

What could you do to lower your energy usage?

Continue reading "Skyrocketing utility bills" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 8:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (20)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Energy/Utilities, Greenies
        

This has been a week of commemorating historic achievements of our past and contemplation on how our lives will change in the future --- socially, politically, economically.

But one group wants to set our country's financial future back on track by returning to ways of the past.

As I first discovered via Frugal Babe, the Templeton Foundation Press is trying to revive National Thrift Week, a celebration of all things frugal that started in 1916 when our country was on the brink of war and continued through the 1960s.

The Library of Congress's study of the National Thrift Movement points out that the movement was sponsored by groups you might expect, such as the Boy Scouts of America and the American Home Economics Association, as well as some you might not, such as the National Retail Dry Goods Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Advertising Clubs of the World.

The week was tied to ...

Continue reading "Cheap Trick Thursday: Thrift Week" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food, Greenies, Shopping
        

The Maryland Transportation Authority is proposing charging E-ZPass customers a $1.50 monthly administrative fee to use the transponders to pay tolls electronically, starting in July.

E-ZPass is convenient for drivers for many reasons. Not only can you wave at the poor schmoes wasting precious gas idling on their way up to the toll booth --- you also don't need exact change or any cash at all. Even Sun columnist Kevin Cowherd became a convert.

Tolls for truck drivers would also go up, and new or replacement transponders will cost $21, according to the story.

The fee proposal (updated: and other increases) would bring $60 million into state coffers at a time when revenues are dropping and maintenance of everything is going up.

Here's what I want to know: with revenues already going down, won't adding an administrative fee to this toll collection service further discourage drivers?

Transportation reporter and Getting There columnist Michael Dresser told inquiring colleagues that ...

Continue reading "Proposed E-ZPass fees could cost $18 a year" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (105)
Categories: Cars, Cheap/Frugal, Greenies
        

Cheap Trick Thursday arrives early this holiday week, to remind you you shouldn't spend an arm and a leg wrapping your presents. Frankly, buying paper for the sole purpose of tearing it off isn't fiscally OR environmentally sound.

But there's definitely important about the custom of gift-giving that requires a disguise of some sort --- the more attractive and unusual the better. You can't skip the reveal!

Instead of buying gift wrap ...

Continue reading "Cheap Trick Thursday: cheap, quick, green wrapping paper and gift wrap ideas" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Greenies, Holiday shopping, Shopping
        

There are a number of benefits to making holiday gifts. You can save money, if you plan it right. You limit your exposure to the chaos that is the mall starting the day after Thanksgiving. If you make enough, you can have a spare gift on hand to give to people you forgot or to offer as a hostess gift, thus avoiding unexpected last-minute expenditures. And, you can present something to the recipient with more meaning than a prepackaged gift set, because you invested the time in crafting.

The challenge, however, is to make something people actually want. Over at soundmoneymatters, they list seven homemade gifts that don't suck, such as consumable items like homemade cookies, breads and candy, or homemade soaps and bath items.

Here are my other tips: pick one idea and run with it, to minimize the start-up costs. You could make several batches of baked goods with the base ingredients, for example.

Also, consider how you want to package your goods. We spent most of the month while the homemade limoncello was steeping last year hunting down inexpensive yet attractive containers in which to bottle it. Raid your recycling bin for cans and jars (remove the labels or just wrap with holiday paper) that could work. Oatmeal containers can store cookies. It's all good ... and green. Thrift stores and dollars stores also stock inexpensive tins and containers.

So, here's a list of ideas that you can use for instructions and inspiration when planning your holiday giving:  

Continue reading "Cheap Trick Thursday: easy, cheap, homemade Christmas and holiday gifts" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Greenies, Holiday shopping, Shopping
        

In a weird twist of Seinfeld-meets-real life, Michigan's bottle deposit program --- refunding 10 cents for every return --- is in jeopardy due to out-of-state recyclers looking to cash in, according to the Associated Press.

The infamous episode features Kramer and Newman loading a postal truck with East Coast cans that they drive to Michigan to redeem there ... Needless to say, they don't get too far before hilarity ensues.

Michigan estimates that it gives away $10 million a year in fraudulently redeemed cans and bottles --- money that could be spent on environmental cleanup and other state needs. 

Officials there are researching ways to mark bottles sold within state lines. They're also considering limiting how many cans people can redeem within one day. Other states are considering taking names and addresses before redemption.

There's another problem, too: states or distributors keep any deposits collected for cans or bottles that are not returned, according to the story.

Deposit laws are now in effect in 11 states including Delaware ... 

Continue reading "Cashing in on recycling" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Greenies
        

The DIY-loving folks at Instructables.com have an interesting contest underway!

Given the state of the economy, they're looking for the best money-saving methods out there. 

As they say so eloquently themselves:

"Our grandparents and great-grandparents got through the Great Depression with the help of hundreds of little tricks to save money and live with less. We can do even better!

Maybe you're reusing, repurposing, or upcycling your old gear; maybe you're combining trips, hypermiling, or carpooling to save gas; maybe you're preserving produce from your garden. There are a million little things you can do to save money, and we want to see them!"

Enter your frugal ideas on the Web site to win a copy of The Best of Instructables and a Kill A Watt electricity usage monitor --- the better to measure the energy hoggin' appliances in your household! 

Whether it's an idea as intriguing as signing up Fido to be a dog blood donor ...

Continue reading "Party Like it's 1929 with Instructables.com" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Energy/Utilities, Food, Greenies
        

Wondering whether it's worth it to replace your old refrigerator with a more energy-efficient model?

The Energy Star program does the heavy lifting for you with the Refrigerator Retirement Savings Calculator.

The calculator is part of the Recycle My Old Fridge campaign, a program designed to help you switch from the old appliance to something that won't drain your wallet to run.

The site also has links to recycling programs and watch inspiring stories of why you should switch to an energy-efficient fridge.

Check out this entry from a Marylander ...  but I thought Ben Franklin was from Philadelphia?

(photo: Andre Chung/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Greenies
        

If you're wondering which cleaning companies get good grades for telling you what kind of chemicals they put in the products you use to clean your house, well, wonder no more. The Women's Voices for the Earth just issued a report that five leading cleaning product manufacturers on toxic chemical and consumer right-to-know issues.

According to WVE, the companies were graded on things like toxic chemicals in products, responsiveness to consumer concerns, their toxic chemicals screening process and how well they inform consumers of ingredients contained in their products. All companies were given an opportunity to review their grades and provide feedback prior to the release of the report card.

WVE says it has been working to pressure companies into developing a formal policy on ingredient disclosure because “Every day, we are exposed to so many chemicals that are questionable in terms of safety,” says Alexandra Gorman Scranton, staff scientist at WVE.

“Since we don’t yet know the long-term, cumulative effects of being in close contact to these chemicals, many people are taking the precautionary approach by choosing their products more consciously, or making cleaners at home with non-toxic ingredients like vinegar and baking soda," Gorman Scranton says. "This precaution makes a lot of sense, especially for pregnant women or people with young children in the home.”

Three companies failed in certain categories:

Continue reading "Cleaning product companies get failing grades for toxicity" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 2:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Greenies
        

We've told you before that it's cheaper and greener to rent or borrow something when you'll only need it a few times. Why not rent tools from a tool library (Home Depot has them) or borrow stuff from a friend?

Part of the problem is inventory --- you might not think to ask a friend to borrow their tent or stand mixer or Vancouver travel guides if you don't know they have them.

But Neighborrow.com (discovered through Discovery.com's Planet Green) wants to help facilitate those friendly exchanges. You can either sign up to join a public neighborrowing circle or set up a private neighborrowing ring among your friends, co-workers, relatives or community.

Then folks make requests through the service, you either send or drop off the stuff, and everybody wins. Some colleges and programs such as Semester at Sea have set up circles to share items like books or DVDs you might consider sharing given everyone's limited resources.

You might ask how you know you'll ever get your stuff back. The community polices itself through ...

Continue reading "Cheap Trick Thursday: Neighborrow it!" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Greenies
        

We here at Consuming Interests have shared a number of energy-saving tips in the past, but this month's issue of Consumer Reports has a number of unique ways to cut energy costs that I haven't seen before, for cooking, dealing with your hot water heater and more.

This fall I'll definitely be using my new-old slow cooker, which I bought off Craigslist. What logical advice --- that plugging in one appliance uses less energy than cooking on several burners, or the oven.

And slow cooking allows you to take advantage of cheaper cuts of meat that benefit from hours and hours of heat.

Also ... 

Continue reading "Energy-saving tips from Consumer Reports" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Energy/Utilities, Greenies
        

Goucher College said today it is partnering with Zipcars, the world's largest provider of cars on demand by the hour or day, to provide an environmentally friendly alternative to keeping a personal car on campus for university faculty, staff and students.

Beginning today, two self-service Zipcars – both Honda Civic Hybrids – will be available for use 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Goucher says the cars will be located in the Dorsey Center Parking Lot and will be available to all staff and students aged 18+, with gas, maintenance, insurance, and reserved parking included in low hourly and daily rates.

This is not Goucher's first foray into providing environmentally friendly transportation resources for its campus.

Continue reading "Goucher students Zipcar their way to green living" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Budgeting, Cars, Cheap/Frugal, Greenies
        

In a nod to Liz's wonderfully sensible tips on savings, the September issue of ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, shares advice on how you can save money when buying organic food.

Organic anything is pretty hot right now since it's a good way to cut down on ingesting lots of potentially harmful pesticides. Of course, cutting down on ingesting toxins can be pricey so ShopSmart suggests limiting organic purchases to fruits and veggies that have the most dangerous pesticide residues when grown conventionally.

Produce with the lowest pesticide risk includes citrus fruits, bananas, pineapples and onions so you don't have to spend more to buy those grown organically, the mag says.

The worst of the bunch? Read on to see the list, in order of risk, based on a new analysis of government data by the non-profit Organic Center:

Continue reading "Saving on Organics" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Food, Greenies
        

Do you have an old computer lying around? An old phone? The older version of the iPhone? Don't know what to do with all those gadgets?

Here's where Gazelle comes in. Gazelle, which launched Monday, will give you cash for your gadgets.

Here's how PC Magazine says Gazelle works:

Visitors to the site will be asked to type in their product's specs, answer a few questions about its condition and whether you have accessories like chargers, adapters or earpieces. Gazelle will then give you in instant quote. If you accept, the company will send you a pre-paid envelope or box, which you use to ship them your item.

Continue reading "CWSotW: Gazelle gives you cash for electronics" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Consumer Web Site of the Week, Greenies, Technology
        

So I'm just catching up after a few days out of the office and read this Dining@Large post about hormones in milk --- or more specifically, a label that promised the milk lacked growth hormones, and an asterisk that stated that milk without hormones has not been found to be significantly different than milk with hormones.

Some local supermarkets, including Trader Joe's and Safeway, sell store-brand milk that is produced without hormones, despite pushback from the makers of those hormones, according to the Consumers Union.

However, the most humorous asterisk I've seen recently was the one on the hormone-free claim on the rotisserie chicken my mother purchased and gifted to me, the spoils of her new warehouse club membership.

Why so funny?

Continue reading "Greenwashing food labels" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food, Greenies
        

Did you see the news about the Baltimore City Council moving closer to banning plastic grocery bags, which was written by my wonderfully talented colleague and friend John Fritze? (fyi, Fritze's behind the recent series of stories on Mayor Sheila Dixon and her Furs)

Anyhoo, Annapolis tried to pass a similar measure last year, but decided to study it further.

Fritze says reps from from several Baltimore grocery stores said they oppose the legislation because paper bags are more expensive and because they require more energy to manufacture.

Continue reading "Baltimore City to ban plastic bags?" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Greenies
        

Ever wonder how much it costs for you to cool a room? How about how much electricity it takes to dry a load of laundry?

Mr. Electricity (discovered via Get Rich Slowly) offers an online electricity cost calculator for you to compute how much it would cost to run certain appliances. You can use this info to compare incandescent to fluorescent light bulbs or even decide whether to employ a solar clothes dryer instead.

The calculator lets you plug in some data for simple calculations, and the page below lists instructions for doing the computations yourself based on the usage info printed on the appliances' tags.

It's the kind of thing that might make you swear off that hair dryer (natural is more beautiful, anyway) and ditch that ancient refrigerator.

The bottom line, according to Mr. Electricity:  

Continue reading "Calculate how much electricity your appliances use" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Consumer Web Site of the Week, Greenies
        

TerraCycle has been getting all kinds of good press lately so I'm sure it needs no help from us. But really, I just want to jump on the fan bandwagon because it's pretty cool what this little New Jersey company is doing.

Two Princeton grads had a simple plan: take waste, process it, and turn it into a useful product.  They now make totes out of Capri Sun juice pouches, bags out of plastic grocery bags, and shower curtains out of Oreo cookie wrappers. Their fertilizer made out of worm poop (ha. poop!) is sold at Home Depot. I found their totes on Target's Web site.

What I like even more is the Bottle Brigade or Wrapper Brigade aspect of this venture.

Continue reading "Make some money and save Earth" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 6:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Greenies
        

Interested in saving energy and money by switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs, but worried about what you'd do with them when they burn out?

Home Depot just announced that they will recycle compact fluorescent light bulbs for free.  Just bring the unbroken bulbs to the returns desk at any store. 

Each swirly-headed bulb uses a fraction of the electricity of a traditional incandescent light bulb. However, they contain a small amount of mercury --- 100 times less than the amount inside an old mercury thermometer. This still presents a disposal conundrum, however. Different communities have rules about whether they should be collected with normal household trash or saved for hazardous waste collection.

Because the bulbs contain mercury, you should take precautions if one breaks, such as these steps recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for cleaning up broken CFLs.

Seriously, give them a try. The bulbs will help you save on energy costs so you'll have more green to pay for all those other rising bills.

And remember you can pick up discounted CFLs at these Home Depot, Giant and Costco stores. All BG&E ratepayers are subsidizing the cost of these bulbs for other consumers, so you should take advantage!

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Greenies
        

Check out this excellent video shot by my good friend and colleague, Dynamic Doug Donovan.

Check out Randallstown resident Steve David commuting to his job downtown on a Segway (with an assist from the subway system). Check him out cruising on the road with cars with ease. Check him out on the elevator. Check out awesome David as he glides along the sidewalk, hand in pocket.

Beyond the fact that David just looks extremely cool, consider the fact that his initial investment for a Segway was $5,000.

Then add in the fact that David figures he's saving $1,200 a year on gas, not to mention the money he's saving on wear and tear on his car. Even better for environmental lovers out there, the 12-mile portion of David's Segway commute saves 8 pounds of carbon a day.

I just have two questions:

Continue reading "Gas-free Segway Commuting" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Energy/Utilities, Greenies
        

What's famous local boy Edward Norton got to do with Earth Day? Norton spoke at the Green Apple Festival on April 20 in Washington, DC. The free concert, one of eight nationwide, was trying to put pressure on Congress to take action on global warming.

Check out who else is promoting the environment here, from Zach Braff to Chevy Chase. I always find it silly that marketers think actors can get people involved in issues... especially since I tend to tune most actors out when they speak up about stuff. But I guess if it works for other people, why not? If Edward Norton (yea, I am a fan. Did you see him The Painted Veil, The Illusionist or Fight Club or American History X? Good flicks, I tell you.) can get people to be better to the environment then more power to him.

I can't say I'm the greenest person around. In fact, I'm probably terrible when compared to others.

But I do try to do what I can by recycling bottles, cans and newspapers at home. I don't buy bottled water since I don't believe in spending money on water (and as a bonus, I keep that plastic out of landfills). I turn non-necessary appliances off when I'm not home and I try to turn out the lights when I leave a room. When possible, I try to buy my vegetables and fruits from local farmers markets. I wait until the last possible minute to turn my air conditioner on and when I do, I let it hover around 75 or 76 degrees. I just planted a tree in front of my house last year and if I go anywhere after work, I try to walk to a neighborhood establishment. I recycle plastic shopping bags to pick up my dog's poop.

Continue reading "Happy Earth Day" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Greenies
        

I have never been a fan of bottle water. It's not because I don't like water. I love water. I just don't love the idea of paying a buck and a quarter or almost two bucks for what I can get out of my sink.

It just seems wasteful. Also, every time I do find myself buying a bottle of water, I feel like some evil genius is giggling it up somewhere because he found a way to sell tap water to the masses and he's making a mint off of conning us.

The thing is, if you go to a nice restaurant and the server asks you if you want tap, bottled water or sparkling water and you answer, "tap," they look at you as if you just stepped in something brown and stinky. Sheesh. It's not like I asked you to dip my glass in the toilet.

Who knew that my cheapness would eventually be a good thing? Now there's a whole movement to drink tap water, college students are marching for World Water Day and restaurants are encouraging diners to sip on le tap to save money and the environment:

Continue reading "Step away from the bottle: Take back the tap" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 8:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Greenies
        

For some inexplicable reason when I think about what it must have been like living in the 50s, I conjure up images of big Studebakers (my dad had a massively old, white one that had a hole in the floor like Fred Flintstone's car), mom baking apple pie (my mom doesn't even know how to make apple pie), and milk deliveries (I don't know why since I don't even drink milk).

It's just some sweet nostalgia that's become fixated in my head.

So I was stoked to see Ace Reporter Megan Hartley's story today in The Sun about a Frederick farm making milk deliveries in the Baltimore area.

According to her story, South Mountain Creamery began the service in Baltimore late last month, and is the only dairy believed to be delivering milk to customers' doors in Maryland.

Continue reading "The comeback of the Milkman" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Food, Greenies, Shopping
        

Remember when we told you compact fluorescent lights won't kill you? We're still sticking to that story, BUT ace weatherman and science writer extraordinaire Frank Roylance had a really good story today about the hazards behind these popular energy-saving bulbs.

While it's still true that CFLs contain an average of 5 milligrams of mercry -- Frank says, that's about a speck that would barely cover the tip of a pen -- disposal of the bulbs can be hazardous if they break. And if enough people, we're talking the millions who have converted to CFLs from the old incandescents, just toss them in the trash then that's a whole lot of hazardous mercury in our landfills... which could eventually seep into the earth.

When you put it that way, it does make you think twice about CFLs. Yes, they're still great energy savers. But seriously, you have to be careful with CFLs when you're getting rid of them. As Frank's story says, the country needs to come up with better disposal methods for CFLs.

Here's how to do your part to protect yourself and the environment:

Continue reading "Fluorescent lights might kill you? Part II" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer safety, Greenies, Technology
        

You never call! And marketers, that's the way we like it.

Last month, Congress approved a law extending the federal Do Not Call Registry, so you can still protect your home number from calls from telemarketers. if you have signed up in the past, that registration does not need to be renewed.

Now, a group called ForestEthics has started an online petition calling for a national Do Not Mail Registry to eliminate unwanted circulars, advertisements, coupons, credit card applications and other junk mail from landing in our mailboxes. They've also put together an online tool to get yourself off the lists of the largest mailers, as well as other ways to stop companies that send unsolicited mail.

The effort, supported by celebrities like Adrian Grenier, Darryl Hannah, Alicia Silverstone, Jackson Browne, Aaron Douglas, Ed Begley, Jr. and Paul Hawken, is motivated primarily by awareness of the amount of paper wasted each year on junk mail. But there's a strong consumer protection message as well.

Continue reading "End junk mail" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 4:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Nothing warms my frugal heart more than marrying the twin virtues of conservation of resources as well as cash. Add some respite for my lazy legs (the ones that don't want to walk to the grocery store) and now you're talking.

For example, I recently completed a load of laundry sans one step: a trip through the dryer. Savings: $1. Plus! The time trudging several flights of stairs between my home and the appliance in question.

It seems silly to spend money and energy to artificially remove moisture from clothes when the process would happen naturally even in the most humid of Maryland summers.

Also, using a solar-powered clothes dryer, otherwise known as a clothesline or drying rack, reduces the wear on your clothes --- after all, the lint you clean off the filter comes from somewhere, right? 

So what environmentally savvy measures are you taking that help keep you in the black (and perhaps on the couch)? Maryland PIRG just issued a report detailing rebate programs and other incentives

Continue reading "Choose green, save some green" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Greenies, Shopping
        

A whopping 78 percent of Marylanders are more likely to buy produce that is identified as having been grown by a Maryland famer, according to a 2008 Policy Choices Survey by the University of Baltimore Schaefer Center for Public Policy.

Forty-four percent say they are willing to pay at least some premium for farm products that would support Maryland farmers and 97 percent believe that it is at least "somewhat important" that the state preserve land for farming. The results remained steady from last year's survey.

The telephone survey of 812 adult Marylanders also found that residents ar concerned about the environment, but did not

Continue reading "Marylanders GaGa for Local Growers" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Greenies
        

“Smalltimore” might be a fitting description for this town, but not when you're trying to get somewhere.

When I was commuting from Mount Vernon to Columbia, sometimes it took half the 30-minute trip just to get to the on-ramp for I-95 south. And my legs work perfectly well, so I feel guilty driving to, say, the Landmark Theatre in Harbor East, or the new Superfresh supermarket at Charles and Saratoga streets. Neither destination is in another zip code, but it seems a little far to carry a gallon of milk.

Kirby Fowler, the executive director of the Downtown Partnership, knows what I'm talking about.

He was walking to a meeting when I spoke to him this afternoon and often has to get together with business and civic leaders around the city. These encounters sometimes come at a cost.

"There are many times where I need to go 15 blocks and I end up paying parking twice that day --- once for my office job and once for my visits," he said.

But the Downtown Partnership, city officials and others are working on a plan for a "downtown circulator" to reduce congestion and to help residents, employees and visitors navigate the bustling neighborhoods around downtown, the boundaries of which are rapidly expanding. 

They've sketched out some tentative service areas, from the Convention Center to Penn Station and from Martin Luther King Boulevard to President Street, as well as connecting Harbor East with Johns Hopkins Hospital. They're thinking about a comfortable, attractive bus running every 10 minutes using hybrid or other "green" technology.

Continue reading "Improve your circulation" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Cars, Greenies, Travel
        

Ask and you shall receive.

Shortly after my previous post about Whole Foods getting rid of plastic bags to give the environment a helpful hand, Reader Neighbor Bob answered my question about whether there were biodegrable pooper scooper bags sold anywhere.

Bob e-mailed to say:

Just saw your blog post "BYOB @ Whole Foods" and wondered about the degradable plastic bag availability. We've been thinking about that too. Here's a few quick links I found FYI. Maybe you already know about them but wanted to pass along the info anyway. I'd like to see some third party testing to verify if they actually degrade as the manufacturers claim because they aren't exactly cheap. But hopefully they will become more prevalent as we get greener as a society.

You can actually get corn based bags at PetSmart. Well, at least in Arizona stores.

Also: Dirtworks.

Thanks also to Sean who pointed out that "There are various biodegrable dogg waste bags on the market. Just as an example, Petsmart sells a 100-pack for 6.99 but you can probably find them cheaper online. A lot of them seem to be made from cornstarch."

But my favorite response was from my SuperCool colleague and friend John who said:

Continue reading "BYOB at Whole Foods Part II" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 5:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Greenies