Danny Lipford » Kitchens and Baths

(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

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.

Adhesive Tile Setting Mat

Jodi Marks — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:00:22 +0000

SimpleMat is a double sided, adhesive sheet that is perfect for attaching tile to a countertop or backsplash. It can be used on drywall, plywood, plastic laminate, or painted surfaces. Simply cut the mat to fit, press in place, peel off backing, and attach tile. SimpleMat is available at The Home Depot.

How to Clean a Glass Shower Door

Joe Truini — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:00:38 +0000

White vinegar works great for removing soap scum from the glass on your shower door. When the door is clean, spray a car windshield sealer, such as Rain-X Glass Treatment, on a rag and wipe the door down thoroughly. Once the sealer has dried, use a clean rag to remove any remaining sealer.

Kitchen Pantry Door Storage Rack

Joe Truini — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:00:23 +0000

To maximize the storage space in your kitchen pantry, attach a clear plastic shoe rack to the inside of the pantry door for storing cleaning supplies and other items. Hold the rack in place at the bottom with push pins to secure it when the door is opened.

Kitchen Cabinet Door Rack

Joe Truini — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:00:44 +0000

Inexpensive towel racks mounted on the inside of cabinet doors is a great way to store cookie sheets and cutting boards for easy access. Simply cut the racks to length, attach them to the door, and mount a plywood shelf near the bottom to hold the items in place.

Multipurpose Faucet and Sink Installation Tool

Jodi Marks — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:00:30 +0000

The Ridgid Faucet and Sink Installer is a multipurpose tool for use under sinks that can turn a frustrating job into an easy one. Uses include tightening and removing faucet nuts and supply lines, turning shut off valves, and holding strainer baskets in place. It’s available at The Home Depot.

How to Repair a Dishwasher Rack

Joe Truini — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:55:11 +0000

The plastic coating on dishwasher racks can wear off over time. To extend the life of your rack, snip off the end of the rusted tines with wire cutting pliers, then lightly sand the metal and apply dishwasher rack coating (available at appliance stores) to the bare ends. To speed the process, turn the rack upside down, and dip each tine in the bottle of coating. Allow it to dry at least 24 hours before using.

Is It Particle Board or Not?

Allen Lyle — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:35:34 +0000

I’ve built custom cabinets for almost 20 years, so this is the part of a kitchen remodel I love the best. Of course, I build all my cabinets from plywood. I have a particular fondness for oak, because I just love the smell when I’m cutting it.

And, while I do love solid wood cabinets, don’t think you’re giving up quality by choosing a manufactured cabinet. A lot of people confuse the material on some manufactured cabinets with particle board, so take a moment to find out exactly what you’re buying.

Pull a pre-fab cabinet off the shelf at any discount warehouse and chances are good it’s nothing but glorified particle board. The description may say something like “Wood Grain Simulation” or something similar. If you look closely, it’s usually just contact paper plastered over particle board. They’re okay for the workshop or maybe the garage, but not your kitchen.

When I think about a manufactured cabinet, I don’t ever recommend the “Off-the-Shelf” special. Quality manufacturers like Merillat, KraftMaid and American Woodmark are worth looking into. When you order manufactured cabinets from the home center or kitchen showroom that are built specifically for your home’s design, you’ll typically have three construction options for the cabinet boxes:

The basic line uses furniture board or engineered wood. This is the stuff that looks like particle board, but it uses a polyurethane resin to adhere the wood particles making it a very sturdy waterproof board. To be honest, in some ways it’s superior to plywood, but I personally don’t like seeing it on a visible end panel. If you need to trim your budget some, look into getting the basic line for everywhere except end panels.
The mid-grade boxes are furniture board with a wood veneer on the exterior side. Still excellent quality and a true wood look and feel.
Top of the line would be solid ply boxes.

The boxes of the basic line, in my opinion, are fine for most kitchen applications. Beyond that, I like to step-up the quality of the drawer boxes. Make sure you get dovetail joints and, if possible, full-extension drawer guides.

The important thing to remember with manufactured cabinets is to make sure you’re using a company with a good reputation and don’t be afraid to ask about the grade of furniture board they use in their manufacturing process.

There’s so much more to talk about to make a basic line look amazing, like door end panels, rope molding and furniture legs . . . but I’ll save that for another post!

How to Clean Your Home Naturally Using Common Household Products

Danny Lipford — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:23:00 +0000

A number of common household products—including vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and olive oil—that are found in your kitchen can be used to clean your home naturally without toxic chemicals or releasing harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air.

Sanitizer: White vinegar can be used to kill most germs, bacteria, and mold. Good for cleaning kitchen countertops and cutting boards. Wipe surfaces down with undiluted vinegar and allow it to remain until dry.
Window Cleaner: A 50/50 mix of vinegar in a spray bottle works great for cleaning windows.
Cleanser: Sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge to make a mildly abrasive paste for removing dirt and grime. For more stubborn stains, use baking soda with lemon juice, rather than water.
Furniture Polish: A mixture of two parts olive oil to one part lemon juice makes an effective furniture polish.
Carpet Cleaner: Sprinkle corn meal on your carpet and vacuum it up for a natural carpet cleaner.