- Jayme M. Carleton, Second Nature

Making Sustainability Second Nature™

http://jaymecarleton.com

The Department of Energy tells us that 15% of the energy we use in our homes flows through our kitchens. So if we can make a big dent in our energy consumption there, we can make a big dent in our energy consumption period. Here’s a side order of kitchen conservation tips:

• When making a multi-dish meal, try to cook as much as you can at the same time, then reheat individual dishes as needed in the more efficient microwave or toaster oven (or in the regular oven if you happen to be cooking something else).
• Resist the temptation to open the oven door to check your food. That can lower temperatures inside by 25°-50°. Turn the oven off a few minutes before the timer sounds and let residual heat finish the job.
• Use the microwave whenever possible. Cooking a typical casserole in an electric oven uses about two kWh worth of electricity. The same dish in a microwave oven uses just 0.36 kWh. Toaster ovens are another efficient option.
• Cover stove-top pots to stop heat from escaping. This can reduce the energy required for cooking by up to two-thirds.
• Unplug your refrigerator and vacuum or dust its condenser coils. Dirty coils can reduce a fridge’s efficiency by up to 30%! Make sure there are a couple of inches of air space between the coils and the wall so air can efficiently carry heat away.
• Clean the rubber gaskets around your refrigerator’s doors and their contact points on the unit itself to make sure your fridge seals tightly when it’s closed. If your gaskets are worn or ripped, get new ones.
• Don’t put leftovers in the refrigerator while they’re still warm. Your fridge will work a lot harder and warm newcomers might increase the temperature to levels that aren’t safe for the foods already there.
• Run your dishwasher only when it’s full. Use the energy-saving setting to dry the dishes or let them air dry. And avoid the water heating option if your dishwasher has one.

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I enjoyed reading this article from Treehugger.com about how to heat your home and home office. Since I work out of my home office during the day, I find myself cold and warm both in the same day and really agreed with what the blogger said in his article. My favorite thing from the article was the blogger’s point to “Wear Your Bloody Gloves!” aka put on some more clothes!

Jayme M. Carleton, Second Nature

http://jaymecarleton.com

Making Sustainability Second Nature™

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13% of home energy is used by home appliances. Help your home owners by offering the best products to meet their needs and budget, while still providing energy saving solutions. Former Editor-In-Chief of Appliance Magazine, Lisa Bonnema provides an insider’s view of products and what features to take into consideration when looking for energy savings, certification point allocation, and a look into the future of refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers, and cooking appliances (do you know which one of these is the single biggest power user?).

(Duration: 35 minutes)

For the webinar, please click HERE.

- Jayme M. Carleton, Second Nature

Making Sustainability Second Nature™

http://jaymecarleton.com

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- Jayme M. Carleton, Second Nature
http://jaymecarleton.com
Making Sustainability Second Nature™

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1. Change to more efficient light bulbs.

Change out incandescent light bulbs with more energy-efficient lighting choices. Energy Star qualified lighting not only uses less energy but produces approximately 75 percent less heat than incandescent lighting, so cooling bills will be reduced, too.

2. Find the best thermostat settings.

If you have a programmable thermostat, program it to work around your family’s summer schedule—set it a few degrees higher (such as 78 degrees) when no one is home, so your cooling system isn’t cooling an empty house.

3. Use ceiling fans optimally.

Run your ceiling fan to create a cool breeze. If you raise your thermostat by only 2 degrees and use your ceiling fan, you can lower cooling costs by up to 14 percent. Remember, ceiling fans cool you, not the room, so save energy by turning off the fan when you leave the room.

4. Maximize shade.

Pull the curtains and shades closed before you leave your home to keep the sun’s rays from overheating the interior of your home. If you can, move container trees and potted plants in front of sun-exposed windows to serve as shade.

5. Reduce oven time.

Cook with a microwave, toaster oven or grill instead of an oven when you can. Ovens take longer to cook food and can make your house warmer, often requiring your AC system to kick in to keep your house at a comfortable temperature.

6. Check air-conditioner filters.

Check your cooling system’s air filter every month. If the filter looks dirty, change it. A good rule is to change the filter at least every three months. A dirty filter will slow air flow and make the system work harder to keep you cool—wasting energy. Also, remember to have your system serviced annually to ensure it’s running at optimum efficiency for money and energy savings.

7. Plug duct-system leaks.

As much as 20 percent of the air moving through your home’s duct system is lost due to leaks and poor connections. Seal duct work using mastic sealant or metal tape, and insulate all the ducts you can access, such as those in attics, crawlspaces, unfinished basements and garages. Also, make sure connections at vents and registers are well-sealed where they meet floors, walls and ceilings. These are common locations to find leaks and disconnected ductwork.

- Jayme M. Carleton, Second Nature

http://jaymecarleton.com

Making Sustainability Second Nature™

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Polluting while cleaning?

Every time you do a load of laundry you are using energy and water, sending detergent residue into rivers and oceans, and wearing down the fabric of your clothing. Did you know that? Even though you are just trying to keep clean, you are making your environmental footprint more polluted.

One of the best ways to reduce your environmental footprint is with an energy and water efficient washer and dryer set. The best models cut energy and water consumption by about a third or more, according to Energy Star, the U.S. EPA and Department of Energy’s joint rating program. Washers and dryers that don’t meet Energy Star standards can cost you $70 to $135 annually in utility costs. I bet that money could be better spent elsewhere – say planting a tree in your yard, donating it to your local nature conservation, or  you are probably thinking that $135 could buy a lot of beer (in recycled bottles of course)!

The good news is that the most eco-friendly technology is also the best for your clothes. Say hello to front-loaders and advanced top-loaders that gently tumble or flip clothes through small streams of water (10 to 20 gallons) vs agitator models (30 gallons). High-efficiency washers also spin clothes at two to three times the speed of conventional models. More revolutions per minute = more water extraction = less dryer time, less fabric damage and less energy use.

What’s the scoop with Energy Star?

Energy Star-rated washers all meet Federal efficiency requirements, but still vary in their energy and water use. Look for two specific ratings: Modified Energy Factor (MEF) and Water Factor (WF), which are measurements of how efficiently the machine works. You want the highest MEF and the lowest WF you can afford.

The Energy Star program focuses equally on saving money, so any qualified appliance should slash your utility bills. The model’s yellow EnergyGuide label provides a quick cost analysis compared to similar models.

Energy Star does not rate dryers, but you’re likely still better off with an advanced machine that shuts off automatically when clothes are dry. Newer dryers sense moisture in the clothing, rather than measuring the temperature of the exhaust air to gauge dryness. The feature conserves energy, and prolongs the life of your clothes.

Do you have bad laundry habits?

Naturally, actual environmental impact and cost savings comes down to personal use. Some tips to get the best eco-performance from your new washer and dryer:

• Wash in cold. According to Energy Star, heating water uses up 90 percent of the energy required to operate a washing machine. Even switching from hot to warm may slash energy use by half.
• Fill ‘er up. Machines use about the same amount of energy for every load, so go as big as you can.
• Choose better suds. Conventional laundry detergents may still contain low levels of phosphates, not to mention bleaches and perfumes, which pollute waterways and harm aquatic life. (Jayme Tip: Phosphate-free, unscented and biodegradable is your best option)
• Dry out quick. Try to dry similar fabrics together. Towels and sheets, for example, absorb different amounts of water – there’s no need to cook your pillow cases while your bath towels finish drying.
• Consider air-drying your laundry on an outdoor/indoor rack. Energy use = zero. (Jayme Tip: Air dry cloth baby diapers. It saves energy and the baby diapers dry in about 25 minutes)

Can you recycle old machines?

Yes. Most major appliance retailers will haul away the old washers and dryers for recycling when they deliver the new ones. If you’re just looking to get rid of old appliances, not buy any news ones, some stores will pick them up for a fee.

- Jayme M. Carleton, Second Nature

http://jaymecarleton.com

Making Sustainability Second Nature™

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A Clean Energy Trends 2011 report recently came out predicting the rise of the LED bulb (cost-competitive light emitting diode bulb) and the fall of the compact fluorescent light bulb. It is being touted as the most important clean tech product to hit the market.

“LEDs are … rapidly approaching a major milestone: the arrival of an affordable LED replacement for the standard 60-watt incandescent bulb,” says the report. “The first companies to achieve this will enjoy an immediate rush of policy-driven demand.”

That’s got companies taking note. Philips Electronics, Osram Sylvania and Panasonic are investing heavily in LED research and development, according to the Clean Edge report. So are a bevy of smaller companies. Last spring, Florida’s Lighting Science Group began selling a 40-watt replacement LED bulb for Home Depot’s EcoSmart line for $20 – still a ways off from a $2 or $3 bulb, but getting closer.

Pros of LEDs vs CFLs:

• Bulbs last longer; two-and-a-half times longer on average
• Lower electricity consumption
• Don’t contain mercury
• Can operate on dimmer switches

Cons of LEDs vs CFLs:

• Consumers still blanch at the upfront cost
• Light intensity (measured in lumens) doesn’t quite match incandescents or CFLs

- Jayme M. Carleton, Second Nature

Making Sustainability Second Nature™

http://jaymecarleton.com

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Here’s the text from ebuild:

Increase ambiance and safety with DeckLighting Systems, a low-voltage DC system with plug-and-play wiring. Designed for new or retrofit installations, DeckLighting, as well as the maker’s PostLighting and StairLighting kits, contain everything necessary for installation, including LED light fixtures, wiring harnesses, and fasteners. Photocell technology senses ambient light and turns deck lights on and off automatically. Choose from white, black, or antique bronze finishes to blend with deck and patio décor.

- Jayme M. Carleton, Second Nature

Making Sustainability Second Nature™

http://jaymecarleton.com

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Top ideas:

1. Prepare for prep. Sinks aren’t just for doing dishes anymore. As core prep areas, they are best when accessorized with trash and composting within reach, adjacent work surfaces, and motion sensor faucets for dirty hands. When it comes to functionality, large single bowls are more versatile than double wells. And if the budget allows, provide more than one sink for additional cooks.

2. Design for all. Baby boomers may not like being reminded of their age and may bristle at the term “accessible design,” but they will love you for creating a kitchen that simply feels better and works better. Consider making universal design features such as right-height appliances, ergonomic hardware, user-friendly task lighting, and reachable storage part of your standard practice. At the end of the day, universal design is simply a synonymn for good, smart design that benefits every user. And when it’s done well, it’s transparent.

3. Get some green. Even if you don’t have the budget for full-on solar or a geothermal loop system, small choices in the kitchen can make a difference–particularly when there’s a payback for the homeowner in the way of energy savings or health. Look into WaterSense plumbing fixtures, Energy Star-rated appliances, and recycled or rapidly renewable materials such as bamboo, cork, or quartz composite.

4. Enter growth mode. The local food movement is gaining traction–and there’s nothing more local than a window box herb garden or a tomato grown in a planter just outside a homeowner’s kitchen door. If you have an opportunity to provide built-in garden space, do so. It’s not expensive, and green-thumbed buyers will appreciate the gesture.

5. Try new hues. To spice things up, try a little variable color blocking in your cabinets and/or island. Mix natural woods with paints or stains in muted colors such as violet, navy, yellow, or beige. For accents, try a dash of turquoise, orange, raspberry, tomato red, or grass green.

6. Make short and long-term decisions. Being trendy is okay, but be strategic about it. Take risks with finishes and materials that can be easily and economically swapped out at a later date, such as paint colors, furniture, upholstery, or cabinet hardware. Keep the permanent stuff more neutral. A purple appliance is a 10- to 20-year investment, but a purple wall doesn’t have to be.

7. Put function first. People naturally congregate in the kitchen, and this tendency has only increased now that kitchens are intended as entertainment hubs. Be generous with clearances, allowing a minimum of 42 inches for work galleys (preferably 48 inches) and 36 inches for passage. And be sure to think about gathering space. If your house has no formal dining room, consider a built-in banquette or bar seating in the kitchen. Just avoid the “crows in a line” mistake of putting all of the seats in a row facing the same direction, Van Lerberghe advised.

8. Multitask your appliances. If space is limited, consider appliances that perform more than one function, such as the oven that is both microwave and convection, or the fridge with flexible drawers that can be separately programmed for refrigeration, freezer, or storage space, depending on user needs.

9. Look for savings. There are ways to achieve the look of high design without the high price tag. A counter-depth free-standing refrigerator, for example, will cost thousands of dollars less than a built-in fridge but offer a similar visual effect. Plastic laminates made with photos of natural stone look like granite at a fraction of the cost. Smart lighting choices can also be cost savers.

10. Embrace nature. If your kitchen and great room open onto a patio or other outdoor living space, create harmony by using some of the same materials both inside and out–such as continuous surface floor tiles, brick, or even concrete block. To create visual connections, you can also specify natural colors and materials in the kitchen that evoke the colors and textures of the landscape outside, such as natural wood and stone.

- Jayme M. Carleton, Second Nature

Making Sustainability Second Nature™

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Underground Home

I drive from my home in Bellevue to Eastern Washington quite frequently and the one thing that I don’t like seeing are the pimple-like houses which stand out on the mountain peaks. Why does someone feels they can destroy the mountain side in that way? Why not build into the mountain side instead of making your home stand out so much?

I came across this amazing Swiss house and felt I had to share it. It is buried under the earth with only a small portion peaking out; requiring very little heating or air conditioning. This thoughtfully designed and constructed building lives in harmony with its surroundings. The house is very glamourous with all of the necessary amenties such as a full culinary kitchen, guest rooms and entertainment areas. There are even underground pathways – how cool!!!

- Jayme Carleton, Second Nature

Making Sustainability Second Nature™

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