The best to way to "green" your home

[Jonesy]

The most power consuming act a home owner can do is heat up their home in the winter and cool it down in the summer. Unfortunately this is 100% necessary for modern living. So how can you do both of these things with extremely low power consumption?

That's where geothermal comes in. If you have never heard of it, or are unsure exactly how it works, check out this short video explanation.

YouTube - MrKeepthelightson's Channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/MrKeepthelightson?feature=mhw5#p/c/E017FB05D7CB2E28/0/6TAecCotlBE)

It requires a sizable investment upfront to install, but pays itself back even faster then photovoltaics or wind generators. I truly believe that this is the way to go, especially if you own your home and know you will be there for a little while.

[GinDaly]

That is great! However for places with more sun all year round, such as tropical countries, would it be more advisable to invest on a solar panel?

The only setback I see is when rainy season comes. But think of the energy saved not to mention the savings from this. What do you think?

[Jonesy]

Yea probably.

[Franchette]

I saw a feature of this house that had several pipes dug in deep into the ground. It somehow sucked in the cold from the ground during hot seasons and maintained the heat during winter... Something like that. I wonder how much that cost, but it sure looked like a very good investment.

[Jonesy]

I saw a feature of this house that had several pipes dug in deep into the ground. It somehow sucked in the cold from the ground during hot seasons and maintained the heat during winter... Something like that. I wonder how much that cost, but it sure looked like a very good investment.

You should take a look at the video linked above explaining what geothermal is. The feature you saw was geothermal.

[thegreenman]

There are actually many house plants that do clean and filter the air in your home and you only need 1 plant per room. As example is the spider plant, don't worry if you are not green fingered as they love neglect and don't mind dark rooms and over watering.

[eco-friendly]

Excellent (http://www.biodegradabletableware.com.cn/)! i like it.

[Jonesy]

That's a good idea. With some exposure and a protptype, which I assume you have, this could do well.

[Tanya24]

Here are some energy saving tips for your home as demonstrated in this funny take on Cribs: YouTube - Digs - Mega Watt (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUNISl0mr5g)

[Val]

The best thing is to build your house green from the start!! Otherwise, green remodeling can be done. Adding solar electric, solar hot water, straw bale super insulation, thermal mass sun rooms to grow food and heat in the winter. Getting rid of heavy electric or energy use items like CRT TVs and monitors in favor of LED types, energy star appliances, and get rid of the clothes dryers!!! Use a line outside and the 6 line stretch across your garage types (we have both). Switching to insulated roofing, from recyclable to living roof types. Low water use and gray water use, by efficiency and conscious effort, plus low water use Staber and other front loader type efficient washing machines for clothes, and super efficient dish washing by hand or the newest low water use, low power use electric models. Replace your refrigerator with a really efficient one like Sun Frost, or a small Dometic. On demand hot water heater, natural landscaping and gardens for growing food. Reduce family size to one child or none, and reduce house size from the piggish American average (by greedy "developers"). Buy American, and don't use immigrant labor--do it yourself.

[Green Home - Eco]

Geothermal is the future "to heat" in Europe... But in US burning coal or gasoline is not made to stop now...
I did write a few articles about "Geothermal". Geothermal Energy = Green Energy « Green San Diego's Blog (http://bestgreensandiego.wordpress.com/2010/12/11/geothermal-energy-green-energy/)
Geothermal is a clean, renewable energy, even if the renewal is not as immediate as solar or wind power.

[Val]

Geothermal is generally very expensive and energy intensive. Some places, like Phoenix, have an underground temperature of 70*F, right in the comfort zone, down 6' and more. No heat pump or deep drilling needed! But do they build "the right way" there? NO!! Now Obama is allowing an increase in coal burning that will have the USA putting out 50% more CO2 in 15 years, while they spend a couple billion on solar and push themselves as green.
Remodeling existing homes with Earthship style mass walls and sun rooms for heat and growing food, attaching straw bales to super insulate the rest of the house, putting solar panels on the roof, and hybrid/electric cars in the garage are what is needed by the many millions--like all 80 million homes in the USA. No more coal!!! Phase out the coal plants here, immediately!!

[Energy Saver]

LeSTO Energy Saving Survey (http://www.energysavingwarehouse.co.uk/energysurvey/) - great way to find out how to save energy in the home.

[Val]

Geothermal is generally very expensive and energy intensive. Some places, like Phoenix, have an underground temperature of 70*F, right in the comfort zone, down 6' and more. No heat pump or deep drilling needed! But do they build "the right way" there? NO!! Now Obama is allowing an increase in coal burning that will have the USA putting out 50% more CO2 in 15 years, while they spend a couple billion on solar and push themselves as green.
Remodeling existing homes with Earthship style mass walls and sun rooms for heat and growing food, attaching straw bales to super insulate the rest of the house, putting solar panels on the roof, and hybrid/electric cars in the garage are what is needed by the many millions--like all 80 million homes in the USA. No more coal!!! Phase out the coal plants here, immediately!!

This is truly making your home green!

[Val]

The above, along with the biggest green thing a person can do---go to one or no child families, and tell the politicians to shut off immigration and kick out the illegals. Overpopulation is the root cause of nearly all environmental problems, along with consumerism like selling products. So many who advertize "green" are bull. Trinkets won't stop the population crash. Trinkets won't cause a 90% reduction in HGHGs to mitigate AGW.. Population must be lowered 2/3 to sustainable, along with green lifestyles, homes, and transportation. Time is of the essence.

[vanessalane]

The best thing is to build your house green from the start!! Otherwise, green remodeling can be done. Adding solar electric, solar hot water, straw bale super insulation, thermal mass sun rooms to grow food and heat in the winter. Getting rid of heavy electric or energy use items like CRT TVs and monitors in favor of LED types, energy star appliances, and get rid of the clothes dryers!!! Use a line outside and the 6 line stretch across your garage types (we have both). Switching to insulated roofing, from recyclable to living roof types. Low water use and gray water use, by efficiency and conscious effort, plus low water use Staber and other front loader type efficient washing machines for clothes, and super efficient dis washing by hand or the newest low water use, low power use electric models. Replace your refrigerator with a really efficient one like Sun Frost. On demand hot water heater, natural landscaping and gardens for growing food. Reduce family size to one child or none, and reduce house size from the piggish American average (by greedy "developers"). Buy American, and don't use immigrant labor--do it yourself.


That's a good idea

[Val]

The above, along with the biggest green thing a person can do---go to one or no child families, and tell the politicians to shut off immigration and kick out the illegals. Overpopulation is the root cause of nearly all environmental problems, along with consumerism like selling products. So may who advertize "green" are bull. Trinkets won't stop the population crash. Trinkets won't cause a 90% reduction in HGHGs to mitigate AGW.. Population must be lowered 2/3 to sustainable, along with green lifestyles, homes, and transportation. Time is of the essence.

Thank you, vanessa, don't forget this, too! If we just enforced laws, the fines owed would way more than pay off the National Debt. Population reduction, consumption per capita, and a large reduction in HGHG emissions are all essential and needed ASAP. Tipping points have been reached, and we must pull back from them or face a "natural" huge population crash, followed by a "thermageddon" extinction.

[mathewrobert]

Thanks for the info.Energy efficient appliances can help in conserving energy. Trees can used to shade exterior air-conditioning units, they will use less energy. They also provide shade cooling and protect from drafts and winds. Choose cooling appliances that is adequate to room size. A larger unit may be wasting energy. The electricity on air condition can be saved, raise the setting by a couple of degrees; you will not notice the change, only the energy savings. Get more such energy conservation tips (http://www.concernergy.com/)

[Val]

Thank you, vanessa, don't forget this, too! If we just enforced laws, the fines owed would way more than pay off the National Debt. Population reduction, consumption per capita, and a large reduction in HGHG emissions are all essential and needed ASAP. Tipping points have been reached, and we must pull back from them or face a "natural" huge population crash, followed by a "thermageddon" extinction.

Conservation ISN'T ENOUGH!!

[Val]

The best thing is to build your house green from the start!! Otherwise, green remodeling can be done. Adding solar electric, solar hot water, straw bale super insulation, thermal mass sun rooms to grow food and heat in the winter. Getting rid of heavy electric or energy use items like CRT TVs and monitors in favor of LED types, energy star appliances, and get rid of the clothes dryers!!! Use a line outside and the 6 line stretch across your garage types (we have both). Switching to insulated roofing, from recyclable to living roof types. Low water use and gray water use, by efficiency and conscious effort, plus low water use Staber and other front loader type efficient washing machines for clothes, and super efficient dis washing by hand or the newest low water use, low power use electric models. Replace your refrigerator with a really efficient one like Sun Frost. On demand hot water heater, natural landscaping and gardens for growing food. Reduce family size to one child or none, and reduce house size from the piggish American average (by greedy "developers"). Buy American, and don't use immigrant labor--do it yourself.

To me, eco homes must have as many of these characteristics as possible;
1)Low wood use, 2)a lot of thermal mass,3) use of indigenous materials,4) solar thermal gain, 5)solar power and/or wind power, 6)water catchment and/or recycling/minimal use,7) use of recycled materials, 8)super insulation and 9) interior year around gardens that grow food.
The Earthship is the "Holy Grail" of eco-homes because it can have all 9 characteristics. Others can be designed to have all nine also, like straw bale homes with trombe walls and interior gardens. An A frame could have up to 7 out of 9, and a dome maybe up to 6 out of 9 with difficulty.
That's the real green!!!

[Val]

The most power consuming act a home owner can do is heat up their home in the winter and cool it down in the summer. Unfortunately this is 100% necessary for modern living. So how can you do both of these things with extremely low power consumption?

That's where geothermal comes in. If you have never heard of it, or are unsure exactly how it works, check out this short video explanation.

YouTube - MrKeepthelightson's Channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/MrKeepthelightson?feature=mhw5#p/c/E017FB05D7CB2E28/0/6TAecCotlBE)

It requires a sizable investment upfront to install, but pays itself back even faster then photovoltaics or wind generators. I truly believe that this is the way to go, especially if you own your home and know you will be there for a little while.

Total BS. Earthships don't require anything but a backup heat system, much cheaper than the very expensive geothermal. Our PV electric paid for itself in 6 years. A geothermal heat system would have cost more the the entire Earthship to build. If you have a lot of money, then geothermal is good. You can't do it yourself like building the rest of the house and alternative energy electric system.

[Kenneth Vronek]

The above, along with the biggest green thing a person can do---go to one or no child families, and tell the politicians to shut off immigration and kick out the illegals. Overpopulation is the root cause of nearly all environmental problems, along with consumerism like selling products. So may who advertize "green" are bull. Trinkets won't stop the population crash. Trinkets won't cause a 90% reduction in HGHGs to mitigate AGW.. Population must be lowered 2/3 to sustainable, along with green lifestyles, homes, and transportation. Time is of the essence.

I agree even if this does sound cold hearted to most. The world is overpopulated with humans but of course most people don't want to acknowledge that fact. In fact most people don't think that there's anything wrong with our rampant population growth. And on top of that people are trying to do everything they can to make sure they live as long as possible, make sure they're able to buy and consume as much as they want to. Humans are just too selfish and inconsiderate of everything else that exists in this world and the more humans there are, the worse it is for the world as a whole. Population control, as cold hearted as it sounds is really a necessity to keep humanity from destroying this world.

[Val]

Ken, I found this old post at theenvironmentsite.org and it sounds like it could be you, or some other member of NPG well versed in math. Maybe I am wrong, but it is great, and a wow! for me when I read it:
"What if there was a total moratorium, ruthlessly enforced, on having ANY kids for the longest time possible without causing extinction? That would be say, 30 years. At the present death rate of 60 million per year, and if it was somehow done instantaneously, then the population in 2039 would be down to 5 Billion. With all the effects of depletion and pollution on food production for that time, it would yield around 1,200 calories per person per day, if distributed evenly. People would have to be at a maximum weight of 100 pounds to do enough work to feed themselves at 400 calories per day expended above the sedentary starvation level for someone of 100 pounds weight. If those old enough to breed kept the population at that level of near starvation as the sustainable level continued to decline from further depletion and pollution effects, then the population would decline further to a final state of sustainability where depletion equals replenishment of soils, and water, and pollution is at absorption rate. The world population would be around a billion, and would have avoided the holocaust of the population crash, and extinction if human habits had also changed toward sustainability.
It is a mighty big what if, and knowing human psychology and inertia, just will not happen. The population drop off will be the natural result of depleting and polluting the habitat. Human life expectancy will peak and fall, as food production ability also falls, and too many people causes falling incomes and increased prices to world depression. Pollution effects will continue to increase, and they are nasty.
The people that have had more than 2 kids since the world reached maximum sustainable at the lowest reasonable standard of living, the late 1920s, have caused what will happen. Of course, no one knew until the late 1960s, and now, you can see the impossible situation our species is in. There is no way to stop the Juggernaut.
What CAN be done is to mitigate the destruction of the biosphere to prevent extinction of the survivors. Minimize pollution of all kinds, maximize soil building with true composting increase, reduce pure water usage through efficiency and recycling, and reduce family size to decrease depletion and pollution, and lessen the impact of the crash. Certain areas can be "niched" to being totally independent for energy and complete nutrition, while others who use up everything will turn their lands to unusable wastelands. Global pollution will still affect even these "niched" areas----mercury, malevolent climate change, and other atmospheric and seaborne toxics---for many thousands of years. The more people of now and until the mid century crash, the less survivors and survivability of the species, along with many other species, many of which we need in our ecological support system.
Reduce, Re-use, and recycle are still good words to live by, and teach. What is really more important; personal selfishness, greed, and ignorance, or future generations of yet unborn people? What is more important, you, or the human species? Soldiers fight for their country, while true environmentalists fight for those future unborn people. Both make personal sacrifices, while the selfish, greedy, or ignorant do not. Environmentalists can help teach the ignorant, and show the selfish and greedy the errors of their ways. It is frustrating because the ignorant are very hard to teach, and the selfish and greedy resist strongly in changing their ways, with every rationalization possible, every form of deceit possible, and with the power their money can buy.
Still, reduce, re-use, and recycle--live it, and teach it. Rest when needed, and know you are doing what is truly right and good."
I, like nrdthxpr, am "clinging to a thread of hope." This above post makes me know we are truly doing what is right and good.

[Kenneth Vronek]

Ken, I found this old post at theenvironmentsite.org and it sounds like it could be you, or some other member of NPG well versed in math. Maybe I am wrong, but it is great, and a wow! for me when I read it:
"What if there was a total moratorium, ruthlessly enforced, on having ANY kids for the longest time possible without causing extinction? That would be say, 30 years. At the present death rate of 60 million per year, and if it was somehow done instantaneously, then the population in 2039 would be down to 5 Billion. With all the effects of depletion and pollution on food production for that time, it would yield around 1,200 calories per person per day, if distributed evenly. People would have to be at a maximum weight of 100 pounds to do enough work to feed themselves at 400 calories per day expended above the sedentary starvation level for someone of 100 pounds weight. If those old enough to breed kept the population at that level of near starvation as the sustainable level continued to decline from further depletion and pollution effects, then the population would decline further to a final state of sustainability where depletion equals replenishment of soils, and water, and pollution is at absorption rate. The world population would be around a billion, and would have avoided the holocaust of the population crash, and extinction if human habits had also changed toward sustainability.
It is a mighty big what if, and knowing human psychology and inertia, just will not happen. The population drop off will be the natural result of depleting and polluting the habitat. Human life expectancy will peak and fall, as food production ability also falls, and too many people causes falling incomes and increased prices to world depression. Pollution effects will continue to increase, and they are nasty.
The people that have had more than 2 kids since the world reached maximum sustainable at the lowest reasonable standard of living, the late 1920s, have caused what will happen. Of course, no one knew until the late 1960s, and now, you can see the impossible situation our species is in. There is no way to stop the Juggernaut.
What CAN be done is to mitigate the destruction of the biosphere to prevent extinction of the survivors. Minimize pollution of all kinds, maximize soil building with true composting increase, reduce pure water usage through efficiency and recycling, and reduce family size to decrease depletion and pollution, and lessen the impact of the crash. Certain areas can be "niched" to being totally independent for energy and complete nutrition, while others who use up everything will turn their lands to unusable wastelands. Global pollution will still affect even these "niched" areas----mercury, malevolent climate change, and other atmospheric and seaborne toxics---for many thousands of years. The more people of now and until the mid century crash, the less survivors and survivability of the species, along with many other species, many of which we need in our ecological support system.
Reduce, Re-use, and recycle are still good words to live by, and teach. What is really more important; personal selfishness, greed, and ignorance, or future generations of yet unborn people? What is more important, you, or the human species? Soldiers fight for their country, while true environmentalists fight for those future unborn people. Both make personal sacrifices, while the selfish, greedy, or ignorant do not. Environmentalists can help teach the ignorant, and show the selfish and greedy the errors of their ways. It is frustrating because the ignorant are very hard to teach, and the selfish and greedy resist strongly in changing their ways, with every rationalization possible, every form of deceit possible, and with the power their money can buy.
Still, reduce, re-use, and recycle--live it, and teach it. Rest when needed, and know you are doing what is truly right and good."
I, like nrdthxpr, am "clinging to a thread of hope." This above post makes me know we are truly doing what is right and good.

I bet there is something that could be done. I bet sooner or later scientists could develop some kind of sterilization drug that could be mass produced, fed into the water systems and consumed by the majority of the public, at least in the well developed nations. Of course the project would have to be top secret, and the public could never know about it. But if something like that could be done then that would go a long way to curbing the population growth in large parts of the world.

[surviveendsociety]

Awesome stuff. I looked into geothermal energy for my home a couple years ago but the initial investment was out of my price range. I know it has come down a little bit in the past year or two. Definately something to consider.

[Val]

The best thing is to build your house green from the start!! Otherwise, green remodeling can be done. Adding solar electric, solar hot water, straw bale super insulation, thermal mass sun rooms to grow food and heat in the winter. Getting rid of heavy electric or energy use items like CRT TVs and monitors in favor of LED types, energy star appliances, and get rid of the clothes dryers!!! Use a line outside and the 6 line stretch across your garage types (we have both). Switching to insulated roofing, from recyclable to living roof types. Low water use and gray water use, by efficiency and conscious effort, plus low water use Staber and other front loader type efficient washing machines for clothes, and super efficient dish washing by hand or the newest low water use, low power use electric models. Replace your refrigerator with a really efficient one like Sun Frost, or a small Dometic. On demand hot water heater, natural landscaping and gardens for growing food. Reduce family size to one child or none, and reduce house size from the piggish American average (by greedy "developers"). Buy American, and don't use immigrant labor--do it yourself.
Back on subject.

[nrdthxpr]

Way to go Val, way to go. That some people are actually greening their entire house and grounds lends some hopeful encouragement to an otherwise rather grim global predicament.

[samuelle]

Great thread. I've learned a lot from your posts.

[Grace1053]

a huge part of making your home green definitely is to cut the water consumption. i would suggest to gradually phase in plants that are native and drought-tolerant which i did over the course of a summer. an unintended (but welcome) side affect of this was that many more local birds have been hanging out in my yard.

i'd also suggest that when the time comes to replace your water fixtures (ie faucets, toilets, showerheads) that you buy low-flow products. i recently installed a caroma flow showerhead that i won on the Sustainable Solutions International fb page, they give stuff out all the time. water pressure is great and the reduced flow isn't really detectable.

[GreenTeam1]

Say no to coal and power grids. Every hospital, apartment building, hotel, and home should have their own independent power source so when an earthquake, flood, or tornado strikes a town, everyone doesn't lose power. A Russian guy Dimitri Petronov powered his home for over a year on a new battery that needs no recharging. You can find him on google. This is just one link of many:

$500,000 Reward Offered For Exact Whereabouts of Dimitri Petronov - Russian Plasma Battery Inventor | PRLog (http://www.prlog.org/11426722-500000-reward-offered-for-exact-whereabouts-of-dimitri-petronov-russian-plasma-battery-inventor.html)

[Val]

With a $500K reward, it sounds like some assholes want to make big money from profiteering. This ruins green endeavors. Why has Dimitri gone into hiding? Why hasn't he just freely given out the technology, as seems to be his nature to do?? How much more mining has to take place to get the materials??
I agree that the big grids need to go, and all buildings should derive their power from non-polluting sources. Independent systems are great, but impractical in some areas, like around hydro, tidal, wave, wind farm, geothermal and modular Gen IV reactor power stations. In those places a "mini" smart grid is better.