I thought I could delve into this topic like an engineer or architect, showing: heating degree-day isotherms, cooling degree-day isotherms, and mean annual temperature maps. But, alas, the graphics just don't work at blog-format. What else, then?
Often, really simple ideas work really well. The hot water bottle is a good example. They are back in style in Japan this winter, with promotion on the web and companies like Yutanpo Cuseberry offering attractive, colorful cotton covers with animal themes or vivid polkadot patterns, and ideas for your eco life......
Zoe the black lab loves to follow me around when I go outside; but, she gets bored fast when I go for the firewood (pictured). And, who can blame her? As our readers pointed out in the recent post How Much Wood Would A Tree Hugger Burn, If A Tree Hugger Would Burn Wood the average piece of wood destined for the woodstove gets moved at least 6 times before it catches fire. Split, carry to storage area, stack, put in wagon, etc.
Photo via USB Brando
If you’re having trouble keeping warm as the weather cools but are reluctant to heat the whole house just to keep your digits intact while working on the computer, try out these cool gloves that plug right in to your PC. ...
Photo by Trually
The U.S. Department of Energy has established that in many cases using an electric space heater in one room is much more efficient that heating an entire home efficiently with a gas furnace (especially an older unit). With so many space heater options out there, it is not so much a question of using one, but which one to use.
TreeHugger Laumer preparing for winter
It is interesting how even though the price of natural gas is about half of what it was six months ago, my gas company doesn't seem to have noticed yet. Perhaps it is better to rely on one's own resources, as TreeHugger John does with his four tons of firewood. But as so many commenters noted at his post, there is an environmental cost. The Christian Science Monitor picks up the story. ...
What a fabulous idea: wood stoves made from rammed earth....
Modern Wood Burning Pellet Stoves
With high energy prices and constant talks of economic recession, wood stoves are back in vogue in many parts of the world where wood can be had cheaply. But they have downsides, especially if we're talking about old and inefficient wood stoves that can create a lot of air pollution.
Which Pellet Stove to Buy?
Good things come in threes. TreeHugger recently reviewed the Bedfan and SunFrost Sleep Genie. The Bedfan cools you under the sheets while you sleep. The Sleep Genie is sized to cool just your sleeping area by insulating around the bed ("Victorian bed curtains" suggests TreeHugger's Lloyd Alter), and could be solar-powered.
Home air conditioning accounts for about 5 percent of U.S. electricity usage. In the winter, snuggling under the comforter and turning the thermostat down is a time-honored tradition, but what about in the hot and sweaty mid-summer season?
Image from HealthyLivingNYC.
While there are books aplenty today about going green, greening your lifestyle and green for dummies, The Climate Diet is the first to offer you greening solutions in terms of a weight watchers diet. The book also shows how you can not only cut emissions but also save money by cutting out the excess in your life.
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