If you are tired of feeding the energy hog in your household, i.e. my husband in my house, sensor activated light switches are the way to go. My husband will leave all lights on in all rooms he intends to visit or revisit during the evening. I am baffled as to what ails him that it appears too much trouble to turn the light off when he leaves the room. And however much I moan and complain, he obstinately continues with his lazy habits. Only a $450 electric bill in our summer home where he lives full time had him sit up and start to pay attention. But a lifetime of bad habits are hard to change and when I am not around I know he will continue to do what he pleases- and I end up paying huge electricity bills. Can you tell I am annoyed? So my next project is to put in sensor activated light switches one day when he is out of the house, on the lights he leaves on most. That way we do not have to have argument about it. The lights will just go off whether he likes it or not. I will let you know how it goes…
Many years ago, I had an energy audit done in a townhouse I live in during the work week, and one of the first things they did was recommend the installation of an attic tent so that we did not waste either heating or cooling costs through leaks to the attic. It is not without significance that this house which has been “energy proofed” is significantly lower cost to run than our newer summer home which is of similar size. Energy conservation is all about doing a bunch of little things but they all add up. I recommend getting yourself an attic tent or another form of attic insulation cover so you can save on your energy bill and help the environment by reducing your energy use.
I swear that this is one of those items which if you knew existed and you had a concern for the environment you would instantly use. These biodegradable trash bags which are available in trash, kitchen, and cat litter box sizes, degrade in about 90 days instead of hundreds of years. It is such a simple living fix to make - just store up so you always have some at hand. I am thinking of making up some ‘green baskets’ for holiday gifts and as mundane as they sound, biodegradable trash bags will be in the basket!http://www.greenandmore.com/biobag-kitchen-compost-and-lawn-care-bags.html
For green product reviews and demonstrations on energy saving products, solar power chargers, water saving showerheads and more, GreenandMore.com just launched their YouTube channel.
Many people have old Apple iPods laying around, because they have upgraded to a newer model. So, what can be done with the old ipod if it hasn’t been given away to a friend or relative? Turn it into store cash!
For those who have a spare ipod collecting dust, there is a way to recycle it, and get up to a $150 store credit with a new National Ipod Recycling Program from GreenandMore.com. It’s convenient - just go to the online value calculator, and enter in details about your ipod model, then a self addressed mailer will be sent to your home. With a few days, your ipod value will be assessed and you will get an email with a coupon code valued at up to $150, ready for use to buy eco-friendly products online.
By Mercia Tapping President, AllergyBuyersClub.com
Recently, I have been interviewed by newspapers all around the country on the subject of steam cleaning. My office calls me the “Queen of Steam”. You can read articles in the Chicago Tribune and now the Boston Sunday Globe. The Washington Post just came out today! You can also see me doing my thing on the Designing Spaces “Think Green” TV show this month playing on local cable stations across the country. I do a quick demo of some AllergyBuyersClub.com products including the Ladybug steam cleaner.
I have used the same LadyBug steam cleaner for almost 10 years and it is one cleaning tool I cannot imagine being without. I have written so extensively on this topic in the archives of Allergy Consumer Review that journalists have told me “it is more information then they will ever need!” However, they have all asked me the same question “What have you personally used a steam cleaner for in your own home?”
I first of all explain to them that steam cleaning is the healthiest way to clean without supermarket chemicals, and it is green since you are not contributing to indoor pollution or trashing supermarket plastic bottles. I also tell journalists that as an allergy sufferer, I can kill dust mites from any surface; beds, carpets or upholstery. The lack of chemicals in my house has eliminated headaches from my vocabulary. I tell the media that a steam cleaner is the most powerful cleaning tool imaginable, and it has saved my proverbial you know what when facing a myriad of tricky and almost impossible cleaning challenges. Here are some of the more notable ones, and maybe some will resonate with you.
This last week I deodorized an evil smelling drain in our kitchen, and avoided calling in a plumber.
A couple of times a year I go crazy and steam clean all the upholstery and bedding to kill of the dust mites which flourish in warmer months.
I find steam cleaning is the perfect tool for smooth oven tops where you do not want to scratch the surface.
I have deodorized my bathrooms using my LadyBug steam cleaner after the younger generation have missed their mark.
I have restored my carpets with steam after my Siamese cats have had an accident. A little 212 non toxic cleaner sprayed onto the surface helps this along. Come to think of it, sometimes even bedspreads and upholstery have been in the line of fire.
I have used a Ladybug steam cleaner to completely restore my late Father’s condo to a place where it smelled sweet and fresh when you walked through the front door.
After a fire in the lower level of my house, I was able to steam clean my walls of all the soot and grime and save thousands off the bill for repainting it- so it only needed one coat.
I have steam cleaned grout in tiling countless times removing mold and dirt in the process.
When the rubber underlay stuck to the floor when we removed a carpet and we thought we would have to have the floor sanded, a LadyBug steam cleaner with a bit of extra Murphy’s Oil Soap was just the ticket.
I have taken the steam cleaner out into my patio and steam killed the weeds growing in between the pavers.
I have steam blown out the dirt in my patio sliders.
I have cleaned off green sludge from my back deck and front steps, and cleaned off mossy looking patio pavers so they look new and clean again.
After being in the presence of smokers I have steamed my clothes to save on dry cleaning bills.
I have steam cleaned my golf clubs!
When I really am into it I have even steam cleaned the cat litter trays.
I have steam cleaned off mold wall patches after leaks in a former house, instead of knocking myself sideways with Clorox.
In the same house, I was able to restore bathroom fixtures stained with iron before selling the house.
We use a steam cleaner in our rental properties after a tenant turns over. It gets the property scrupulously clean and has the house really smell clean and fresh to a prospective new tenant instead that old, tired, stale smell that houses often have.
I use my LadyBug steam cleaner all the time on kitchen floors, and bathroom and kitchen counter tops. I am not germ phobic but I also can rest easier knowing these areas have been completely deodorized.
When I reread the list above it makes me sound like some cleaning obsessed nutcase which I am not. However, I do like my home to be really clean and a powerful way to clean without using chemicals has been a godsend over the years. Ladybug steam cleaners are not cheap starting at $999.95 but they last a long time, are very effective and have paid for themselves many times over. We also offer an exclusive Free $30 bonus tool kit with every Ladybug steam cleaner. For the ultimate in vapor steam cleaning, see what the Ladybug with TANCS can do!
The Whitewing steam cleaner due to a manufacturer increase is going up in price on May 1st - so you can save $50 on the sale price of $449.95 until then. It also has a bonus warranty which is a $79.95 value.
You can see our full selection of steam cleaners here. We currently have some great deals on reconditioned ladybug steam cleaners that are on clearance where you can save up to $360! We also have a new line of Reliable steam cleaners starting at $399.95 that are a good value steamer.
Patio umbrellas come in many colors and shapes, but few offer a solar power light when the sun goes down. Great for gatherings, these outdoor umbrellas are a fun way to add some light to outdoor parties without the need of electrical wiring or heavy duty batteries. The 9 ft. umbrella consists of 24 LED lights embedded into the inner upper poles and is charged by a hi-tech solar panel discreetly mounted on top of the canopy. Includes a rechargeable Ni-Mh battery to store the solar energy, ultimately making this a much safer alternative for you and the environment. Price: $179.99
Would you like people to be able to find exactly which home is yours by day or night? Solar power led address numbers are an energy efficient way to help identify your home, especially in an emergency. Your home address will shine all night — up to 15 hours with just one day’s solar charge. No wiring needed and easy-to-install. A hi-tech solar panel charges up by the sun during the day and then immediately illuminates your house numbers with up to 5 bright amber colored LED lights once it turns dark. All hardware is included: stake and base, rechargeable Ni-Cd battery, 27 digits and extra blank cards. Price: $34.99
Evaporative Coolers or Swamp Coolers
It’s easy to stay cool and use less energy – up to 80% less energy than traditional ac units - with evaporative coolers. The energy savings come from the use of different cooling technology that is safer on the environment. They use water instead of refridgerants, without emissions or harmful cfcs. With 7 different models and shapes, there is the right size for any room between 150 sq. ft. - 750 sq. ft.
Because they use only a third of the energy of traditional air conditioners, you’ll maintain a cool state of mind about the global environment, and not just your home. Price: $169.99 - $499.99
Save time, energy and money without doing anything extra, except buying a smart power strip. Each time you shut off your tv, but forget to turn off your dvd player, vcr, and speakers, there is energy and money being wasted. In addition to the usual lightning strike protection, and equipment meltdown warranty from a standard power strip, you will no longer need to remember to turn off your peripherals.
New “smart strip” techonology works this way: when you plug your television or computer into the “Control” outlet and when this appliance is turned off, the peripheral appliances, like your monitor or DVD player, automatically turn off as well. Smart Strips also allow you to have appliances “always on” - for things like your cordless phone or fax machine. Great for computers with accessories, home theater systems and businesses. Choose from 7 or 10 outlet settings. Price: $39.99 - $49.99
If you are tired of feeding the energy hog in your household, i.e. my husband in my house, sensor activated light switches are the way to go. My husband will leave all lights on in all rooms he intends to visit or revisit during the evening. I am baffled as to what ails him that it appears too much trouble to turn the light off when he leaves the room. And however much I moan and complain, he obstinately continues with his lazy habits. Only a $450 electric bill in our summer home where he lives full time had him sit up and start to pay attention. But a lifetime of bad habits are hard to change and when I am not around I know he will continue to do what he pleases- and I end up paying huge electricity bills. Can you tell I am annoyed? So my next project is to put in sensor activated light switches one day when he is out of the house, on the lights he leaves on most. That way we do not have to have argument about it. The lights will just go off whether he likes it or not. I will let you know how it goes…
Many years ago, I had an energy audit done in a townhouse I live in during the work week, and one of the first things they did was recommend the installation of an 
