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How do you know if the ducts in your house are leaking air and if so what you should do about it? SmartPlanet visits the home of real estate specialist Rita Gatlin who is focused on making her home more energy-efficient. Rita hired Kevin Beck a home auditor to measure deficiencies in her house using hi-tech diagnostic tools.

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Plastics are built to last for generations, but designed to be disposable. By giving up bottled water, take-away coffee cups, and excess packaging on our food, we’re making the job easier for Captain Charles Moore and the other activists working to clean up our oceans.

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What types of smart lights will power our homes and offices in the next five to ten years? At the California Lighting Institute at UC Davis, Professor Michael Siminovitch shows us a giant integrated sphere that acts as an advanced light meter. He also discusses an array of LED and fluorescent lighting technologies including, down lighting systems for residential use, and exterior LED lighting for garages and parking lots.

via Intelligent lighting of the future from UC Davis – SmartPlanet.com.

Each week the average Australian household generates up to 800 litres of washing and cleaning water. With many Australian cities and regional centres enduring drought conditions the opportunity to correctly recycle water used in cleaning and washing is vital, and when done correctly, it can be used for watering plants and gardens, flushing toilets, washing cars and much more.

However, users beware; not all greywater is created equal. If the washing or cleaning detergent you have used contains phosphates, petrochemicals or non-biodegradable materials it can do more harm than good. Why you ask?

* When it enter waterways phosphates feed blue-green algae resulting in algae blooms which contribute to weed and algal slime build up.

* Petrochemicals can cause allergic reactions and take a long time to break down

* They are made from non-renewable resources

Maximise the benefits of your greywater by choosing a washing powder such as Aware Eco Choice or Sensitive Skin to ensure the water you put back into your garden is as safe as possible. When looking for a greywater friendly detergent make sure it is plant based, able to break down quickly and made from renewable resources.

Using greywater needn’t be a chore either. It can be as simple as attaching a hose from the washing machine and into a catchment bucket for later use or for the more hi-tech consumer there are treatment systems available that collect water from the laundry or shower and treats it to a suitable level for indoor use.

Follow these greywater use tips to take a ‘green’ step in the right direction:

* It is law to ensure greywater does not run onto neighbouring properties or into stormwater drains

* Don’t use greywater on vegie patches or food plants you intend to eat raw

* Cool water from hot wash cycles before using on the garden

* It is best to discard water used to wash nappies to avoid spreading diseases including Giardia

via http: www.orangepower.com.au/messages/09dec2009/web.html

Image via Wikipedia

They have been called “negawatts” — the vast amounts of electricity and heat wasted around the world every day from homes, businesses and appliances as well as ageing power plants.

Energy efficiency may sound unglamorous set against plans for shimmering new solar power plants or giant offshore wind farms.

But it is hard to dispute Professor Chu’s assertion that it represents the easiest route to large reductions in global carbon dioxide emissions.

via Professor Steven Chu is clearly switched on with energy-saving ideas – Times Online.

Patti is in the Grow Magazine Vol 2 brought to you by publishers of Fine Gardening Magazine. See more publications from Taunton Press. Patti Moreno, Garden Girl TV: Urban Sustainable Living

Patti Moreno, the Garden Girl, host of Public Televisions’,Farmer’s Almanac TV and how to web video diva invites the world into her home to inspire generations x and generations y to live more in harmony with the natural world. Patti Moreno will help you produce more and consume less in ways that will make you and your family live a healthy lifestyle.

via GardenGirlTV: Patti Moreno, The Garden Girl Products at Olivebarn.com.

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The benefits to having a rain barrel are huge. First, water in your rain barrel is not subject to community watering restrictions and has no additives like fluoride or iron to irritate your plants. Second, your water bill will be smaller. Third, a rain barrel helps reduce problems associated with storm-water runoff.

In this video, Fine Gardening assistant editor Danielle Sherry demonstrates how to build a rain barrel for under $50.

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Meet Lee Kilsby, founder of greenleap. Be inspired by her story and find out how you can make a positive difference for the environment

via YouTube – Discover greenleap planet saving products.

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No-one goes out to buy a new TV and thinks “Gee, I’d really like a TV that has a great picture, is affordable, and sucks power even when I’m not using it”. We want the best value for money, so making sure there aren’t any inefficient products out there is a good start.

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