[part 2 of 4] Sustainability Tips and the NJ Program Details
Show Summary
After about 5 years of picking the low-hanging fruit, (the easy weekend projects, the CFL replacements, the digital thermostats, the window caulking and so on) we’ve come to the realization that in order for us to make further efficiency improvements we are going to need to graduate to some big time projects that require professional assistance.
The good news for us is that NJ has a program to help homeowners, like us, make improvements in insulation and heating equipment called Home Performance with Energy Star. The next few episodes of Newlygreens are going to detail our experience with the program and the showcase the results we achieve (or fail to achieve)
In Part 2, Ed from Green Living Solutions details the specifics of the NJ incentive program as well as explains some of the other things we can do to make our homes safer and more comfortable.
Guests in the episode:
Ed Schwartz – Green Living Solutions
Gray Russell – Green Living Solutions
Zorina – A long-time family friend
After about 5 years of picking the low-hanging fruit, (the easy weekend projects, the CFL replacements, the digital thermostats, the window caulking and so on) we’ve come to the realization that in order for us to make further efficiency improvements we are going to need to graduate to some big time projects that require professional assistance.
The good news for us is that NJ has a program to help homeowners, like us, make improvements in insulation and heating equipment called Home Performance with Energy Star. The next few episodes of Newlygreens are going to detail our experience with the program and the showcase the results we achieve (or fail to achieve)
The process starts with a Home Energy/ Safety Audit and that’s what we will be sharing in part 1 starting at our friend Zorina’s.
Our guest today is the owner of Green Living Solutions, an obvious fit for Newlygreens on the Morning Blend. The company specializes in energy audits but they can also go much farther to actually consulting on sustainable living. He is going to talk to us today about some of the things our listeners can do to save some money and some of the great programs available to the residents of NJ. Welcome to Newlygreens on the morning blend, Ed Schwartz.
For more information about arranging a home energy audit I recommend visiting the Home Performance with Energy Star for Homes site. Here you can find certified contractors and auditors like Ed.
BASF Near Zero Energy Home
Natural Cleaning Products and Repellents
Insect Repellent Challenge Results
Show #2 – Air Date: June 2007
Extreme Green Segment: The BASF Near Zero Energy Home, Paterson, NJ
Interview: Jack Armstrong, BASF Director, Building & Construction Markets
This episode of the Newly Greens focuses on green building with a close look at the BASF Corporation and their Near Zero Energy Home in Paterson NJ. We speak to Jack Armstrong, BASF’s Director of Building and Construction Markets. Check this show out for great information and inspiration if you are thinking about building a sustainable home. Or just to discover its great story and hear about the Paterson family who will get this house upon completion as a donation from BASF. To get started on building your sustainable home, or simply to get more information, follow the links below.
Greg and I used this website to begin formulating our own strategy for making our existing home more efficient. Look for updates on our progress coming soon… energystar.gov
“O” Goods Segment: Natural cleaning and insect repellent
Special Guest: Margaret (Mags) Lucas.
The “O” Goods segments strive to illustrate that for every choice we make, or product we buy, there is usually an alternative available that is healthier for people and the environment. Whether it is organic, less toxic, or provides fair trade for people around the world, these healthier alternatives are the choices we seek!
This segment of “O” Goods put the spotlight on more natural versions of cleaning products and insect repellent. We feel it is important to get heavy chemicals out of our home, and ultimately the environment. So we did some research and began experimenting with alternatives. Below are the recipes for some we liked and featured on the show. There are lots of great ideas out there and the Internet is a good resource. But there are also a lot of great products available in stores today. Our friend Mags happens to loves the Method line of products. Experiment to see what you like the best! And keep us posted. We’d love to know!!
We found the following sites useful and formulated our recipes from a combination of these sites and from the book, “The Humble Art of Zen-Cleaning” by Michael de Jong.
Please also check out the results of our flea repellent challenge by clicking on the “Our Transition” tab!
*Remember to always keep cleaning and repellent mixtures away from kids and animals. They are more natural versions, but are still not meant to be ingested!
Cleaning Recipes Our Kitchen Cleaner
1/2 gallon water
1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
5 or 6 drops of tea tree essential oil (adds a disinfectant quality)
5 or 6 drops of lemon essential oil (adds a nice scent)
Pour into a spray bottle, shake and use!
Our Bathroom Cleaner
1/2 gallon water
1/2 cup vinegar
2 teaspoons borax (adds a bleaching and disinfectant quality)
5 or 6 drops of orange essential oil (adds a nice scent)
Pour into a spray bottle, shake and use!
Our Window and Glass Cleaner
1 part water
1 part vinegar (smell disappears as soon as it dries)
Pour into a spray bottle, shake and use!
A Word on Bleach
Note: baking soda and real lemon juice are good for scrubbing as an alternative to bleach. Research also indicates that bleach, in moderation, is not a bad thing where you must sterilize. Most people just over use it. It is harmful to the good bacteria in our sewers and can aggravate asthma by degrading indoor air quality. Cutting boards or flooded basements are a good example where you might consider using bleach. Bleach is generally unnecessary in bathrooms but its use there is widely promoted through advertising.
Tea Tree oil is an alternative mold remediator.
Repellent Recipes Our Flea and Mosquito Repellent
8 oz water (Substitute with Grape Seed oil for a thicker base that stays on skin longer)
4-6 drops tea tree essential oil
4-6 drops lavender essential oil
Shake well and spray on pets and people (avoid the face). Can also be sprayed lightly on bedding and furniture. Avoid using around pet’s “privates” and other places they lick a lot. We’ve been using this on our dogs once a week for the last month and there are no detrimental signs. See more notes below.
*** Repellent Challenge – Summer 2007 ***
Ok, so here it is…our insect repellent challenge. We’re going to try our alternative recipe for 2 months (May and June) and monitor the results we get. If we’re not satisfied we’ll go to another natural alternative. We’ll keep the updates posted here on the website. And by all means, email us if you have any suggestions or recipes we can try.
We used the repellent recipe above. Here’s our initial results but we’ll be posting any future updates under “Our Transition Blog” link
May 2007:
So far, so good. We don’t see any evidence of fleas on our dogs (or on us). The only down side is that unlike those products you apply just once a month, this one must be applied one or more times a day. But just a little bit of spray at the shoulder blades and back and legs seems to be working. They’ve got sensitive little noses and this stuff has an strong, yet pleasing aroma so keep that in mind by avoiding spraying their faces. I put some on my hands and do around their ears where the ticks like to make homes.
As for mosquitoes on people, we’ve been spraying it around ankles and lightly around the back of neck and arms. So far, no mosquito bites! And we’ve been spending a good amount of time outside so that’s a good sign. The mosquitoes are definitely around and I’ve seen them land on me while working in the garden but so far no bites. … Now if we could find a friendly Poison Ivy cure…ooops.
June 2007:
Still good for us, though a visiting family member did report that they got a mosquito bite during a gathering in our yard early this month. But we have yet to prove those bites came before or after they used our all natural stuff. We’ll give it another back yard gathering test and then report back….
