Expert Advice on Home Improvement

We all know solar water heaters can help the environment but there may be a few things you don’t know about them.While most solar water heaters require electricity to operate, they cost only a tenth the operating cost of a regular water heater. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

Natural clay wall plaster is easy to apply and can give your home a unique look. Unlike most wall paints, natural clay contains no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the coating can actually add insulation value to your exterior walls. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

Many people are upset about the mercury content in compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), but there’s a much greater amount found in fluorescent tubes. In fact the amount of mercury found in the first CFLs could fit on the tip of a pencil, and today’s CFLs have half that amount. Plus, there are a number of very safe and efficient ways of deposing of the bulbs. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

Greenwashing is the attempt by companies to make their product or business practices seem more environmentally friendly than they really are. To avoid greenwashing when buying energy efficient or eco-friendly products, be sure to research the product and the company that makes it to see they’re really green. Watch this video.

Installing a manufactured compost bin in your kitchen makes it easy to recycle kitchen scraps. Products like the NatureMill Kitchen Composter are specially made to heat and mix the waste automatically and produce compost for your garden in just a few weeks. A carbon filter on the unit circulates air through the compost while keeping odors out of your kitchen. Watch this video.

When shopping for food, try to choose products with as few chemical additives as possible, and avoid those that use processes like chemical ripening and genetic modification. Instead, look for products labeled USDA Organic, indicating that they are at made from at least 95% organic ingredients. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

An energy audit of your home is a worthwhile investment, since it finds the sources of energy loss so you can correct the problem. Consumer versions of tools like infrared digital thermometers and thermal imaging cameras are now available to allow you to conduct your own energy audit, or you can hire a service to do it for you. Watch this video.

A graywater recycling system filters waste water from showers, bathtubs, sinks, and washing machines in your home for use on your lawn, trees, and garden. Before it can be reused, greywater must pass through a series of filters to remove or kill any bacteria and other contaminants present in the water. Watch this video.

To save energy and allow your hot water heater to last longer you should insulate any accessible hot water pipes, turn down the hot water heater to 120° F, and drain a bucket of water from the heater once or twice a year to remove sediment from the tank. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

While a television, stereo equipment, or computer may be turned off, they’re still drawing energy from your home. It’s called “phantom power” and it uses about 450 kilowatt hours of electricity in every home each year. Add up all the homes in the U.S. and you’re talking about the output of 26 power plants! Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.