Welcome to Green Tip Tuesday! Each Tuesday, we’ll give you one tip (big or small) to help you be a little greener in Cincinnati. Many holiday gifts require batteries, and this is an easy opportunity to go green and save a little green too!  Using rechargeable batteries has less impact on the environment than disposable/alkaline batteries.  Rechargeable batteries can be recharged up to 1,000 times which reduces the need for repeated manufacturing, transporting and packaging for sale.  Though rechargeable batteries have a higher initial cost (you also have to purchase the charger), the average... [more...]

Welcome to Green Tip Tuesday! Each Tuesday, we’ll give you one tip (big or small) to help you be a little greener in Cincinnati. Looking for Green holiday gifts?  Check out Park + Vine, located at 1202 Main Street, downtown Cincinnati.  Park + Vine offers a wide variety of eco-friendly merchandise that minimizes the use of natural resources and animal byproducts. Products include reusable bottles, bags and food carriers, non-toxic cleaning and paint supplies, natural baby and parenting supplies, a growing selection of foodstuff, and lots more. http://www.parkandvine.com/ Check back each... [more...]

Welcome to Green Tip Tuesday! Each Tuesday, we’ll give you one tip (big or small) to help you be a little greener in Cincinnati.  So, be sure to check back each week for new ideas. To get us started, we called Duke Energy to find out about their free energy assessment.  Duke Energy’s Home Energy House Call Program helps qualified customers learn how to increase their energy efficiency and reduce their energy bill.  Once you’ve qualified and the appointment is set up, Duke Energy will send an energy specialist to your house to analyze your total home energy usage, check... [more...]

Turning down the thermostat and switching to compact fluorescent bulbs are easy but common ways to make your home greener. Here are a few additional greening tips and tricks that may have never crossed your mind. Over the top. A refrigerator with a freezer on top uses 10 percent to 25 percent less energy than one with a side-by- side or bottom-mounted freezer. Power up. Plug appliances and electronics into a power strip rather than an outlet. Devices plugged directly into the wall leak up to 15 watts of electricity even if they’re shut off. Dish it out. Hand-washing dishes might seem better... [more...]

Want to be a recycling genius? Attend Hamilton County Solid Waste Management’s Master Recycler Workshop. Attend three sessions over three weeks and learn how best to reuse, recycle and compost from the experts. A great opportunity for anyone wanting to learn how to live greener. The workshop is $10 for early registration (payment received by Sept. 16) or $15 later. Refreshments are provided. Registration deadline is Sept. 21, and space is limited. The workshops begin Sept. 23. You must commit to attending all three classes, you cannot pick just one. Week 1: Reduce and Reuse Sept. 23, 6-8... [more...]

Exclusively for Hamilton County residents, pick up a backyard compost bin for only $35 — they retail for $100. These compost bins are available on Saturday, May 8, at the two locations. You can also pick up compost turners for $15 and kitchen pails for $7. Quantities are limited, so get there early. Remember, Cincinnati is no longer picking up yard waste, and it’s illegal to trash it. A compost bin is an alternative way to dispose of your yard waste, and works for food waste as well. Bins can keep animals out of your compost, and are more compact and attractive than compost piles. There... [more...]

Happy Earth Day 2010! We all know that we can reduce waste (and save money) by turning off lights, reducing water consumption and bringing your own bag to the grocery store. But here are a few creative ways to be green that you may not have thought of. 1.) Choose Plastic Last Almost everything is packaged in plastic. And recycling your plastic is a great idea. But take notice at the grocery store and perhaps select a product that is packaged in paper, glass or metal. These materials are easier to recycle, and paper will take a lot less time to break down in a landfill if not recycled. And consider... [more...]

How did Americans fare at becoming greener last year? Here’s some stats. Percentage of Americans who: Installed more energy-efficient light bulbs: 63 percent Purchased energy-efficient appliances: 36 percent Started paying bills online: 46 percent Switched to paperless financial statements: 40 percent Donated an electronic device for recycling: 41 percent Switched from bottle to tap water: 29 percent Installed a low-flow showerhead: 17 percent Installed a low-flow toilet: 16 percent Made home improvements (e.g., windows, solar panels or insulation) that provided government tax credits: 14... [more...]

A HERS (Home Energy Rating System) rating is an analysis of a home’s projected energy efficiency in comparison to a ‘reference home’ (based on 2006 International Energy Conservation Code.) The reference home is basically a standard, built-to-code home. The rating, done by a certified Home Energy Rater, involves both an analysis of a home’s construction plans, as well as onsite inspection and testing. The Home Energy Rater uses special software to analyze the expected energy use of the home based on the construction plans. That study yields a pre-construction score, which... [more...]

When it comes to taking care of your home, helping the environment and saving money, energy efficiency is the way to go. I recently talked with Andy Wolfe from Arronco Comfort Air and Professional Energy Consulting, his own company. I wanted some extra information about new tax credits and the best systems for your home. We asked for the top three ways you can lower your energy bills and make your home efficient: 1.) Air seal the envelope to reduce air leakage. 2.) Add insulation to basement walls and in the attic. 3.) Have a high-efficiency furnace installed. (Geothermal is best.) Cutting-edge... [more...]

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