Danny Lipford » Green Home

How to Improve Indoor Air Quality with Houseplants

Danny Lipford — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:50 +0000

Houseplants can filter toxins and pollutants in stale indoor air and replace carbon dioxide with oxygen. Even though almost any plant can do this, some plants are better than others, especially when it comes to having them in your home.

Philodendrons and spider plants are the best for removing formaldehyde, while daisies and chrysanthemums filter out benzene. But make sure you talk with an expert before purchasing any plants to determine whether or not they pose a danger to children or pets, and if the plant prefers the sun or the shade.

A good rule of thumb is to have one houseplant for every one hundred square feet of living space. For more information, check out our article on Best Houseplants to Improve Indoor Air Quality.

How to Wash Clothes the Eco-Friendly Way

Danny Lipford — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:27 +0000

To make your clothes washing better for the environment, save water, and reduce energy consumption:

Wash only with cold water.
To save water, wash only full loads, and don’t use the permanent press cycle on the dryer.
Dry clothes on a clothes line rather than in the dryer.
Choose eco-friendly detergent.
Add a quarter cup of vinegar to the wash to help keep dyes from fading and act as a disinfectant.

Environmental Consequences of Charcoal vs. Gas Grilling

Danny Lipford — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:23 +0000

Purists will tell you that you aren’t grilling unless you use charcoal, but the fact is that most of the charcoal you buy is actually a combination of sawdust, corn starch, and lighter fluid that releases 11 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air an hour.

Compare that to a gas grill which produces half as much. In addition, manufactured charcoal release over a hundred times the amount of carbon monoxide as gas, along with other volatile organic compounds. So, if you want a steak that’s better for the environment, make it gas grilled.

Environmentally Friendly Way to Mow Your Lawn

Danny Lipford — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:04 +0000

Changing the way you mow your grass can save water by reducing the need for lawn irrigation. Here’s how:

Use a mulching mower and blade. Leaving the grass clippings on the lawn will provide natural, organic nitrogen and help retain moisture.
Don’t cut the grass too short. Set your cutting depth to leave 2½” to 3” of grass. Taller grass protects the stem from sunlight, makes a stronger root system, and reduces evaporation.

(704) Eco-Friendly Living: How to Have a Greener Home

Danny Lipford — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:57:11 +0000

We’re taking a look at some innovative green ideas from the Los Angeles homes of actor and environmentalist Ed Begley, Jr. and science guru Bill Nye. From conserving water to solar landscape lighting to green lawn equipment, find out how you can make your home more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

Ed Begley Jr. explains how his greywater system works to Allen Lyle.

In his new book Ed Begley Jr.’s Guide to Sustainable Living the noted actor and environmentalist explains how to conserve, produce, and manage the energy and water used in your home. Ed and his wife, Rachelle, also star in the Planet Green TV series Living with Ed, an informative and often humorous take on what it’s like to live a green lifestyle.

Recycled plastic fencing.

The Begleys installed a greywater system in their home to filter waste water from showers, bathtubs, sinks, dishwashers, and washing machines for use on their fruit trees and vegetable garden. Before it can be reused, greywater must pass through a series of filters to remove or kill any bacteria and other contaminants in the water.

Another eco-friendly improvement the Begleys made is a privacy fence made from recycled plastic milk jugs. Composite decking—composed of plastic and sawdust—is a plastic product that is a durable alternative to wood decking. Since not all composite is made from recycled materials, check with the manufacturer if you want to make a green choice for your home.

Danny Lipford discusses green living with Bill Nye the Science Guy.

Just down the street from the Begleys’ is the home of science guru and TV personality Bill Nye, who is also a green enthusiast. His home includes solar panels for producing electricity and a solar hot water system.

Eco-Friendly Lawn Equipment

The propane powered Eco Blower from LEHR.

One way to make your yard work easier on the environment is with the LEHR Eco Blower and Eco Trimmer. Powered by clean burning propane, these award winning lawn and garden tools emit 70% less hydrocarbons, 96% fewer carcinogens, and 97% less particulates than gasoline powered models.

Solar Powered Landscape Lighting

LED solar powered landscape lighting with NiMH batteries.

Recent advances in solar powered landscape lighting have made them work far more effectively and efficiently. Features to look for when choosing solar landscape lighting include:

LED (light emitting diode) light.
NiMH (nickel-metal hydride) battery.
Improved solar photovoltaic panel.

Water Saving Toilets

HydroRight dual flush converter.

Toilets account for a quarter of the water used in the average home. Older toilets use up to five gallons of water per flush, three times that of newer models. Dual flush toilets save even more water by giving you two flushing options, one for liquid and one for solid waste.

While you can replace your existing toilet with a water saving model, another option is to modify your existing toilet with the HydroRight dual flush converter. The kit costs less than $30 and reduces the water used by a toilet by 70%. Installation is easy and takes less than 10 minutes.

Other Tips from This Episode

Simple Solutions with Joe Truini:
Coffee Container for Paint

Rather than buying a special container to hold paint for trimming out a room, reuse a plastic coffee container instead. They come with a plastic snap on lid to keep paint from drying out, and a built-in handle that doubles as a handy holder for your paintbrush.

Best New Products with Jodi Marks:
Philips LED Flood Light

The new Philips LED flood light for indoor recessed and track lighting applications is energy efficient and produces a soft white light. The bulbs last up to 15 years and are guaranteed not to hum. Philips LED lights are available at The Home Depot.

Thinking Green:
Burning Newspaper Logs

You might think that rolling up newspaper to burn in your fireplace would be an eco-friendly idea, but hand rolled logs are not compressed enough to burn effectively and can actually cause damage to your flue and the environment. A better alternative is to recycle old newspapers.

LED Outdoor Solar Lighting

Homemade Rain Barrel for Your Yard

Danny Lipford — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:28 +0000

Rain barrels are a great way to save and store water for use on your lawn or garden. While commercial models are available, you can also make your own rain barrel from a plastic garbage can. Watch our video on How to Make a Rain Barrel for Your Yard to find out how.

How to Make a Rain Barrel for Your Yard

Advantages of a Dishwasher Over Hand Washing

Danny Lipford — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:51 +0000

New energy efficient dishwashers use less energy and water than washing by hand. A recent study showed that the average hand-washer used over 27 gallons of water and 2.5 kilowatts hours of electricity to clean a full sink of dishes, while the dishwasher used just under 6 gallons of water and less than 2 kilowatt hours for the same amount of dishes.

Of course, there are certain conditions that have to be met, which means you may have to change some habits:

Don’t prerinse your dishes.
Only run the dishwasher with full loads.
Use the short wash cycle.

How to Save Energy When Drying Clothes

Danny Lipford — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:23 +0000

Adding special dryer balls to your clothes dryer can cut down on the time it takes to dry your clothes. They work to separate the clothes, allowing them to dry quicker, and also claim to eliminate the need for fabric softener sheets.

Another solution is to set the dryer on “air dry” for 10 minutes, then hang your clothes outside or on clothes racks to complete drying. It’s more effort on your part, but it will definitely cut down on your energy costs and also extend the life of your dryer.

How to Save Energy by Reducing Air Infiltration

Danny Lipford — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:20 +0000

Draftproofing your home reduces air infiltration which saves energy and lowers your heating and cooling bills. Steps include:

Use a lit stick of incense to locate drafts in your home by watching where the smoke goes. This works particularly well on a windy day.
Apply caulk and expanding foam to gaps and cracks around the perimeter of your house.
Install foam gaskets around exterior plugs and switches
Replace worn weather-stripping around doors and windows
Check to see if the door sweep and threshold seal tightly at the bottom of the door.

Home Energy Audit Finds Ways to Save Energy

Danny Lipford — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:03 +0000

Having an energy audit conducted for your home will tell you how much energy your home uses and how you can improve efficiency. You can perform a very general audit yourself, but if you want to really get down to the nitty-gritty, consider hiring a professional who will come in with specialized equipment like blowers doors and infrared cameras.

They will be able to give a thorough, detailed description of where your home is losing energy, where air leaks are located, and what areas are missing insulation. Next, follow through and put their recommendations into action. Soon you’ll have one of the greenest houses on the block along with one of the lowest utility bills.