Where does all that power come from? 

What's the cost of convenience?

It all depends on the source of the power, and if your utility company uses coal or other fossil fuels to generate electricity, then most of us are contributing to global warming when we use electricity. As energy-addicted as Westerners are, you can bet your energy consumption is a lot more damaging than you think. America's president thinks large corporations need to tackle this problem. I think we all need to make changes in our day-to-day lives in an attempt to save the planet.
Additional information about power plants, and waste of energy, can be found here.

Happy Earth Day to You! 

What are you doing to honor the planet?

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So let's eliminate a few gadgets 

We all have them

Americans are hooked on gadgets, and far too many of them are electric. Some of them are downright ridiculous, and don't make life any easier or more pleasant. Why use a leafblower, when a broom or rake will do the job? Look in your kitchen. Is it Gadgetville in there? When was the last time you used that electric jar opener you got for Christmas? Even a regular electric can-opener is a waste of energy and resources. One of the best places to look for good replacements is at Lehman's . Here's a can opener that will do the job just fine and dandy. It uses no energy except your own.

Let's replace some more electric gadgets 

Idon't even use my electric mixer much anymore. It's so much easier to just use a whisk much of the time. And why use an electric grinder or blender when a mortar and pestle will work just fine for grinding up spices? A simple cheese grater works to grate ginger, too. A mandoline does as quick a job as a food processor. The added benefit is that non-electric gadgets aren't nearly as noisy. Most of the time they'll cost a lot less than that expensive Cuisinart.

Thanks to all our readers 

You made us tops because you believe and care about our message. Keep doing your part and spreading the word about using less electricity every day.

Conservation consciousness 

We create what we know and envision

Powerdown: Options and Actions for a Post-Carbon World

by Richard Heinberg

Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 07/19/2008)

Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century

by Alex Steffen

Amazon Price: $22.50 (as of 07/19/2008)

An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It

by Al Gore

Amazon Price: $14.37 (as of 07/19/2008)

Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds--Be Part of the Global Warming Solution!

by David Gershon

Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 07/19/2008)

The World Without Us

by Alan Weisman

Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 07/19/2008)

Save more energy 

Eat Raw

Not only is eating raw food healthier, it saves a huge amount of energy not having to cook your food. It's fast and easy if you're armed with tasty recipes and the right tools to put together a raw meal. One of my favorite cookbooks is from The Raw Gourmet. And a great gadget to use, non-electric of course, is the Saladacco. It works like a charm and unlike many electric gadgets, cleans up in a jiffy. It's also small, so storage space is never a problem.

If you must cook though... 

... this is the way to do it.

A Very Cool Idea 

The Zeer Pot

While we're in the kitchen, one of the most energy-consumptive appliances in your home is the refrigerator. Over the decades, they've gotten bigger and despite the Energy Star ratings, use way too much electricity to be comfortably and conscientiously justified. If you're planning to go raw at least a few days a week, you'll find that the measly produce drawers are simply not enough, and that the fridge is packed halfway up with bags stuffed full of fruits and vegetables. Not to mention future science experiments! Think how much more attractive and useful a few Zeer Pots on the counter would be. These are simply two unglazed clay pots, with a layer of sand at the bottom and packed around the inside of the large outer pot. The sand is kept wet, the inner pot holds your produce, and it's covered with a damp cloth. Using this method will keep your food fresh for 2-3 weeks. Yes, you read that correctly, and without a bit of electricity. Now you can get a much smaller refrigerator and save all kinds of energy. We can thank the African wilds for this fine innovation. The Zeer Pot.

Appliances Suck 

Some of them more than others. Your laundry gadgets are the worst. Oh, yeah, running the washer and dryer is really convenient while you're sitting watching television at night (another electric sucker), but I've read that we use up the energy produced by seven utility plants each year just drying our clothes. We're also ruining those clothes if the stuff you pull out of your dryer filter is any indication. So on days like today, when it's warm and sunny, why not try this gadget for a change? The Clothesline. What a concept. Can't use one because it's against Homeowners Covenants where you live? That's a crime, and it's time you raised a ruckus about it!

Link to us here! 

The Little Things 

They really add up

My doorbell recently gave up the ghost and rather than replace it with a conventional modern doorbell which is powered by electricity, I decided to look for an alternative. It also got me thinking about all the ways we use up energy. Doorbells? How many houses are there in this country that use electric-powered doorbells? Probably most of them. Do you think a few hundred million doorbells add up to a bit of energy use? Common sense tells us it does. I bought a mechanical doorbell at Vermont Country Store. Not only does it work very well (it's loud), it's quite handsome in appearance and really dresses up the entrance to the house.

New Igo GREEN Tip of the Day 

Great Tips from Green Trust 

Steve Spence has all kinds of tips to help us conserve energy. Check out his blog and look at the great hand-crank flashlight/radio combination.

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Turn off the TV! 

Read a good book...

Blog Book Tours

Also known as a Virtual Book Tour, more and more publishing companies and authors are using the Internet to connect with their readers and fans.  Not only is it more convenient for everyone, it is environmentally friendly.  Drop by often fo...

Low-energy Hobbies 

The Very Best Hobbies

We all love our hobbies. They're the activities that keep us happy, balanced, and renewed for the impending work week. Alas, too many of our leisure activities are energy-consumptive, so it behooves us to think of ways to feed our creative souls while supporting the planet. I have two favorites. Reading and knitting. So needless to say, news that combines both makes me happy and needs to be shared!

Knitting designer and fellow writing colleague, Donna Druchunas, is on a Blog Book Tour promoting her latest knitting book, Ethnic Knitting Discovery. Two sticks, some yarn, good clear instructions and you have beauty and one-of-a-kind stylish clothes. Or a rug, as Donna demonstrates in the photo. It's a miracle with no electricity consumed. You can read more about it here.

If that isn't enough, the publisher - Nomad Press - is a member of The Green Press Initiative. As a result of printing Ethnic Knitting Discovery on 50% post consumer recycled paper, processed chlorine free, they saved:

-16 trees (40' tall and 6-8" in diameter)
-6,830 gallons of wastewater
-2,747 kilowatt hours of electricity
-753 pounds of solid waste
-1,479 pounds of greenhouse gases

Furthermore, the book was designed and printed with virtually no color except on the cover, eliminating all the "book miles" required for off-shore production in countries like China.

There's nothing in this scenario to criticize, and every reason to support these good people! Buy a book and learn to knit. It's a good thing for Mother Earth and for you. It's a great way to walk our talk... in a gorgeous handknit sweater.

Books by Nomad Press 

Member of the Green Press Initiative

Support a small press with conscience!

Ethnic Knitting: Discovery: The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and The Andes

by Donna Druchunas

Amazon Price: $16.46 (as of 07/19/2008)

Knitting in the Old Way: Designs and Techniques from Ethnic Sweaters

by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts

Amazon Price: $18.45 (as of 07/19/2008)

Spinning in the Old Way: How (and Why) To Make Your Own Yarn With A High-Whorl Handspindle

by Priscilla A. Gibson-Roberts

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/19/2008)

Arctic Lace: Knitting Projects and Stories Inspired by Alaska's Native Knitters

by Donna Druchunas

Amazon Price: $17.79 (as of 07/19/2008)

Simple Socks: Plain and Fancy

by Priscilla A. Gibson-Roberts

Amazon Price: $11.21 (as of 07/19/2008)

The Electric Poll 

Sustainable Futures 

Sustainable Futures

Visioning the future we prefer is important to us. More important is acting on those visions and implementing Sustainable Ideas. Our role is to build citizenship by awakening people to the value that social responsibility creates for us - individual...

The Mow-Town Sound 

Ilive in a small rural town and it's getting to be that time of year when everyone pulls out their tractors to mow acres of lawn. I know they're not electric, but the fact remains that energy is being consumed. There are other practical ways to take care of all that green that cost a lot less. You're probably thinking I mean an old-fashioned reel mower, right? Well, that's a good idea and you can buy a good and affordable new one these days. But, why not look really cool and buy an Austrian scythe instead? Go here to purchase yours.

Burn Fat, Not Oil 

Love the tee and the idea....

But, the thought of motoring around on a bicycle is a bit more than I can handle at my age! I love the idea of a tandem. If only they weren't so pricey. But wait. I found one that is actually affordable here. Can you believe the price? Get one of the Burn Fat, Not Oil tee-shirts and really make a statement while you're riding around town with your sweetie!

Burn More Fat 

Burn fat not oil, on the back Organic Cotton Tee

from Recommended designs - from Tee-HeeTM

Price: 20.99

One less car - cycling Magnet

from Recommended designs - from Tee-HeeTM

Price: 2.49

An Energy-efficient computer 

Several folks here have brought up the issue of computers and the energy hogs they really are. Is there actually a good and efficient computer? Or an alternative energy source to run the things? If you're anything like me, you're not about to give yours up, especially not if you make your living with this essential tool. I have, however, found a way to enormously cut down on hours used. I bought an Alphasmart Neo. It's a keyboard with eight files, each able to hold 50 pages, that gets 700 hours of use from three AA batteries. I got my first year's worth of use on that initial battery set. Now I change batteries more often because Alphie goes everywhere with me and I write more. It's virtually indestructible, weighs only two pounds, and costs a mere $219. You can buy your own here. I figure this gadget has saved me at least 2,000 hours of computer time.... the writing I would usually do on computer, I do on this.

Even Google Goes Green 

When a major corporation does the right thing

Google HQ

We need a lot more corporations like this in the world!

More about cutting down... 

.... when it's not something you can totally do without.

Here's a way to constantly be aware of how much energy your computer uses. You'll also get to see how much energy you save, on your own and collectively. Go visit them to download the program, and to grab Local Cooling widgets for your own website. It's a very cool thing!

It takes energy... 

... to be an Activist

New Sustainablog 

What others have to say.

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The hi...

College Dorms Getting Greener and Greener

Though I've never experienced the college dorm setting in my lifetime, I have spent far too much o...

Tell us what your favorite energy-saving gadget is: 

You'll find more great tips here!

redwhiteandgrew Brilliant...simple, elegant solutions. And clear, concise writing. Hurrah! Posted July 16, 2008

jeffshy I'm swiping "Burn Fat - Not Oil" I love it. Good advice for our too modern world. Posted July 09, 2008

Teddi14 Great lens. I have one about saving gas that links to my site with tips. Nice job here! Posted June 29, 2008

Dragonfly1076 This a great lens. Lots of cool ideas! Thank you! I find that I already do a few of these things myself, so it was cool to see that I help save energy a little at a time. Thanx! -Dragonfly1076 Posted June 18, 2008

Lisa Logan

Grean lens! My tip is to actually unplug, not just turn off appliances when not in use. Just being jacked into "the juice" draws a bit...especially for those who have power indicator LED's and the like. Happy Green!

Posted June 07, 2008

StephenC Cool lens! Great stuff! Fight High Gas Prices StephenC Posted June 03, 2008

LDWorld Congratulations on making TOP 100! Useful and helpful info. Posted May 22, 2008

Elaine-Tan Hi, you have great and very informative lens. 5 stars of course. Here is my new baby "Colon Cleanse" Guide. Posted May 18, 2008

CleanFace Nice pictures and useful information. thanks! 5 stars. Posted May 17, 2008

HotbuttonPress Chuck, you could get a solar charger for your laptop computer which only uses about 25% of the energy of a desktop to begin with. This lens isn't really about extremes like your suggestion. It's about common sense, which unfortunately isn't too common. Posted May 13, 2008

 

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