Green Talk

Can man survive? Great free giveaway. See details below.

The Ovum Factor is a new novel by author, businessman, and publisher, Marvin L. Zimmerman, in which he depicts the inevitable consequences if we do not change to halt our destructive ways towards the Planet. The back cover reveals the following plot:

“Destruction of Earth’s ecology threatens the survival of humanity. With time ticking away, a clandestine think tank of leading scientists and world leaders has identified our last hope-the controversial research of the Noble Prize-winning professor aimed at unleashing the power of a unique molecule that can alter the course of human history.

When David Rose, a young investment banker from New York, is assigned to evaluate the professor’s research, he soon becomes swept up in a whirlwind of international espionage, assignation, and sabotage. David finds himself on a journey that takes him to the unexplored depths of the Amazon in order to fulfill two ancient prophecies for saving mankind and at the same time to realize his own destiny….”

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Tonight is Earth Hour where people all over the world will turn off their lights for one hour between 8 and 9 pm tonight to combat global warming. Watch this video.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_c5K7Jdw9E[/youtube]

Thanks to Jason at Scream to Be Green for the post to remind me to post about Earth Hour and the video from Lynn at Organicmania .  Jason also has on his site a very funny video about what you can do tonight in the dark. It made me blush. Go watch it.

So, what will you do for Earth Hour (please spare me any naughty details….)

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Photo by permission of Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines has earned its wings this month by unveiling its green Sky Magazine issue sure to inspire its travelers to take those steps to make an environmental difference in our world. The magazine, which is chock full of helpful tips and thought provoking articles, is just one more addition to Delta’s present green business initiatives.

Don’t fret if you are not traveling this month, most of the articles are online. Here are some of my favorite ones:

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Photo courtesy of GreenPrint

Free Software, printing green, and saving trees and a few bucks too? For a frugal tree hugger like me, I have died and gone to heaven. Where do I sign up? (Thanks, Jason for this tip from your site, Scream to Be Green.)

Let’s start at the beginning. How will this free software for your home make your life greener? (Note, this software is not available for Mac users yet.) According to the Company’s recent press release,

“GreenPrint software eliminates waste before printing, saving paper, ink, and reducing greenhouse gasses. It does this by analyzing each page of every document sent to the printer and looking for typical waste characteristics (e.g. pages with just a URL, banner ad, logo, or legal jargon) and then highlighting and removing them before they are printed. GreenPrint also allows users to remove images from a page with a single click before printing, resulting in significant savings in ink or toner. GreenPrint saves the average user over $90 and 1,400 wasted pages per year and quantifies the ecological and cost saving benefits that result in easy to read report.”

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The Geothermal features at Yellowstone Park. Photo by Kevin Saff by permission

I received an email from one of my readers, Ronald, who asked the following question in regards to my geothermal post. I did not want to bury his question in that post, and am giving him a separate forum on the site. Ronald lives in the northeast and his 35 year old house is presently heated by hot water baseboard via an oil furnace. His questions are as follows:

“It is my understanding that geothermal heat can only be used with a forced air system. Am I correct (we have hot water heat and no a/c)?”

“I would also like to understand if our oil furnace can be our backup and does this make sense?”

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Photo by permission of Zonbu

Zonbu is ushering in a new age of computing with its affordable, energy efficient, low toxic Desktop Mini and recently added Notebook. The Company is taking a page from the cellular phone industry and offering computers at such reasonable prices with maintenance plans that make it possible for everyone to afford a computer.

What makes Zonbu different than other computer companies? The Company has made a commitment to create products that are not only affordable, but environmentally responsible as well. The Desktop Mini was the first EPEAT Gold certified consumer desktop based upon meeting stringent environmental criteria and compliant with ENERGY STAR 4 and RoHS standards (Reduction of Hazardous Substances). The Notebook obtained the EPEAT Silver status.

Think of your own consumption. Many people buy a new computer every three years about the same time that Microsoft seems to upgrade their software. My last laptop cost about $1200.00 with a 160 GB hard drive. It did not come with Microsoft Office or other needed software. In addition to the cost of the laptop, I had to spend additional monies on the software applications that I needed and an extended warranty in case of a hard drive failure. (Been there three times.) Yep. I hear it now. Ka-ching Ka-ching!

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Photo by Stephen Helms by permission.

The Holiday season seems to start right after you put that last plate away for Thanksgiving dinner. If you are going to spend your green this season, then consider giving environmentally friendly gifts that will lessen your impact on the Earth. Who knows? These gifts may turn out to be some of the most treasured gifts you have ever given. Here are some of the following suggestions with help from our green friends in the blogshere.

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Photo by Dee Teal by permission.

Would your feet look like the above picture if you took off your socks and shoes in your house? Better yet, does your body feel like the picture? Are you cold, unable to stay warm, and tired of giving away your money to the utility companies? Sometimes, you think they should be considered a charity since you seem to donate to them so often.

Just to recap, I have given your several tips in both my posts, “Look to Your Attic To Lower Your Energy Bills” and “Is Your Living Area too Leaky?” I know, winterizing you house is really sexy. Are you biting at the bit for more tips? So, here are the next 8, starting with lucky number 7! After I am done, arm yourself with your handy caulk gun and go to work so that you can be snug as a bug in your warm house.

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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSKTWc9Lq-c&NR=1[/youtube]

(Readers receive discounts for Battic Door purchases. See below.)

Do you feel like Goldilocks in your home? Either it is too hot or too cold. It is never just right? Could your house be suffering from leaky home syndrome??? Is it curable?

I am living proof, having lived in a leaky house, that you can plug up those leaks. Many of these tips for your living area, I actually used to make my prior home more comfortable. For tips to reduce your energy needs due to leaks from your living area into your attic, see my article, “Look to Your Attic to Lower Your Energy Bills.”

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Photo courtesy of Energy Star

You know the verse, “oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful?” ¹ Perhaps it should be changed to “oh the weather outside is frightful, our natural gas bills are not so delightful.” With the expected increase in natural gas prices, it is time to start looking at how to winterize our homes. “Air leakage and improperly installed insulation can waste 20 percent or more of the energy you pay to heat and cool your home. Typical homes have so many leaks, it’s like having a window open all the time, winter and summer.”²

As a veteran of having to plugs holes in a drafty house, I thought an article about winterizing your house would be appropriate for this time of year. After I wrote the fifth page and was still writing, I decided to break the article down into two different posts. This post is dedicated to winterizing your attic, and the next post will be about winterizing your living area.

The attic is getting special attention because heat rises. Guess where it rises to, along with your money?

So, take off those ear muffs and tune in:

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