Going green at home

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I'd like to introduce an online eco-site for green products for your home. Everything from cleaning supplies, to home decor, etc. and great gift ideas.

Check it out - would love your feedback.

www greencricket.ca

You are great, I think using green products is a way to protect our enviroment.

Our house is off-grid solar and everything is green! We use a solar oven in summer and a compost toilet, too. 16 years ago, we decided to help by having only one child, then 8 years ago building this solar house, and last year, buying a hybrid car!
We have a small greenhouse and also compost. As far as products go, this computer and flat screen are Energy Star, our TV is also a 26" LCD, and our washing machine is a Staber using only 15 gallons and 135 watt/hours per load.

On our old grid house we just disconnected the flex tube from the wall and put on old panty hose with large rubber bands. The fresh scent of our Bounce tissues or just the clean clothes was good. Now with solar, a dryer is verbotten, so hung on the retractable lines wall to wall in the garage. The garage door is left open and the humidity mixes with the dry house air.

Originally Posted by Val

Our house is off-grid solar and everything is green! We use a solar oven in summer and a compost toilet, too. 16 years ago, we decided to help by having only one child, then 8 years ago building this solar house, and last year, buying a hybrid car!
We have a small greenhouse and also compost. As far as products go, this computer and flat screen are Energy Star, our TV is also a 26" LCD, and our washing machine is a Staber using only 15 gallons and 135 watt/hours per load.

Selling "green products" is consumerism, which is bad. Sure a few "green" products are not marked up excessively, but MOST are. Anytime you have a "salesperson" or "Middleman", they add to the cost. Reduce(consumerism, family size, energy use), re-use(everything you can, and with construction--tires and waste straw bales), recycle(compost kitchen scraps, buy a compost toilet if possible, take your recyclables in to a recycle center).

Val, i bet that all cost a pretty penny. because "going green" has become such a racket poor people like me who were "green" before green was chic can no longer afford to be 'Green" got to love this world we live in.

Originally Posted by james wilson

Val, i bet that all cost a pretty penny. because "going green" has become such a racket poor people like me who were "green" before green was chic can no longer afford to be 'Green" got to love this world we live in.

Like I said, we shopped around and bought on sale. The profiteers wanted up to 50% more than we paid. We self built and self installed our solar electric system, which saved 50% on each. It took some studying first with public library books and some books we bought. With financial discipline and all the sweat equity, and savings of no power bills, we are now mortgage and power bill free. The savings plus trade in and gov't incentive got us our hybrid vehicle with no payments. We don't make that much, and had to do it the way we did. We sure don't fall for all the so-called green gimmicks that so many salespeople attempt to push here.
Even with all the up front savings, our good credit helped with the temporary debts. It sure wasn't always easy or fun, it took a lot of work that most people are too lazy to do. They want everything done for them and are stupid enough to fall prey to the profiteers. Going green can "cost a pretty penny" if you are dumb and lazy. Some that have gone green have high paying jobs, and some inherited money. For people of average means, but with good brains and physical stamina, and the will to do it---it can all be done with the good old American can-do spirit and do-it-yourself to save a good 50% even without government incentives, which we did not have at the time.
Don't go green through the racketeers. Shop around for sales and the best deals after you determine your needs. Do it well in advance, so you don't HAVE to buy, and can wait for sales. Gain the knowledge free through your public library. Save up by being wise in all your purchases.

By the way, everyone; ecomum, mrplese, Kismatrosz30, tbrown, dryernet,, mayday, and johnl are all SPAMMERS!!!!!
Spammers means high profit margins=overpriced (and not necessarily really green, or something that even works)

Re:Going green at home


Use less electricity. Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs each time you replace an old incandescent bulb. Compact fluorescents save 75 percent in energy use and last up to 10 times longer. As a bonus, you'll save money on your electric bill.


Run the washer, dryer and dishwasher only with full loads. You reduce both electricity and water usage by only running these appliances when necessary.


Install a low-flow shower head. The newest models still produce strong water pressure while using much less water.


Retrofit your hot-water system with a hot-water recirculation pump. These pumps recirculate cold water back to the water heater and only release water when it is hot. Go green and quit wasting water waiting for the cold water to get hot.


Choose Zero VOC paints for your next home decorating project. Most paints contain toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are released into the air when you paint. VOCs can cause short and long term health problems.


Look for furnishings made without glue or formaldehyde. This will green your home by improving your indoor air-quality.


Recycle, reuse and compost. Reduce the amount of stuff you send to the landfill. Find out about recycling programs in your community. Find new uses for items. Compost yard waste and kitchen scraps.


Properly dispose of hazardous waste. Cleaners, oils, paints, pesticides, batteries and solvents should never go out with the household garbage; they end up contaminating the soil and groundwater in your community. Contact your city government or the EPA to find out how to properly dispose of these items

Reduce family size to one or no child. Get off the consumerism bandwagon promoted by 7 previous sales people in this thread alone. Little things may add up, but doing the BIG things like one child, independent home power, hybrid and electric vehicles, composting a lot(including your body when you die), growing a lot of your own food, low power and water use appliances (which means NO clothes dryer--stretch lines outside or in the garage), re-use and recycle things to build houses and businesses---used tires and straw bales, and remember that the root cause of all our ecological/environmental problems is overpopulation. Don't listen to priest, economists, and mullahs preaching that the Earth in infinite or that we should all live like vegetarian ants.

Originally Posted by val

reduce family size to one or no child. Get off the consumerism bandwagon promoted by 7 previous sales people in this thread alone. Little things may add up, but doing the big things like one child, independent home power, hybrid and electric vehicles, composting a lot(including your body when you die), growing a lot of your own food, low power and water use appliances (which means no clothes dryer--stretch lines outside or in the garage), re-use and recycle things to build houses and businesses---used tires and straw bales, and remember that the root cause of all our ecological/environmental problems is overpopulation. Don't listen to priest, economists, and mullahs preaching that the earth in infinite or that we should all live like vegetarian ants.

bump!!!!!

We can also avoid ways which will reduce CO2 emissions - don't use or burn plastic, try and use cloth or paper bags and do car pooling with your friends or relatives.