Archive for January, 2008
January 16th, 2008
Heavens to Etsy: Green Craft Central
Stumble it!
Tired of finding the same old things at chain stores? Well, we have found the answer. Etsy.com is a three-year-old online marketplace for handmade goods. Over 100,000 artists and craft makers around the world have set-up Etsy shops to pedal their unique handmade goods online. You will not find anything on Etsy that is mass produced or made in a sweat shop. Money spent on Etsy goes straight into the hands that made the item you purchased. To top that off, Etsy is an excellent resource for recycled, up-cycled and sustainable items. If you are looking for that special sustainable something, Etsy is the place to go.
We put together a list of some of our favorite Etsy shops:
Bottled Up Designs makes beautiful jewelry from reclaimed glass and bottles found in rural Pennsylvania. These pretty pieces should get much more use than the bottles from which they originated. The artist who makes the jewelry says, “Out of concern for the environment and the wildlife, I have been reclaiming the antique glass and bottles from the natural wooded habitat and the rural farmland in the Pennsylvania Amish Country where I live.”
Rikrak makes beautiful blank gift cards and envelopes crafted from repurposed vintage fabrics. (Shown at left.) They are a great way to jazz up gift certificates, event tickets or love letters.
Right Brain Thinker makes 100% recycled scrubbing clothes from old t-shirts. (Shown at right.) These easy to wash, multi-tasking scrubbies are great for daily cleaning, chrome fixtures and washing vegetables.
Arm Candy sells handbags made from used clothing, leather cast-offs and samples. (Shown at left.) Their designs are clever and their commitment to re-use is strong. The vegan-friendly bags are perfect for a fun evening on the town.
The bamboo Luna Bikini by Eco Chic will be perfect for your next eco-adventure. (Shown at right.) The naturally anti-bacterial qualities of bamboo make it the perfect swimsuit material. Eco Chic makes other eco fashions with soy, bamboo, hemp, organic cotton, and tencel.
The reusable lavender dryer bags from Pink Dixie are greener than disposable sacks and keep your laundry smelling just as fresh. (Shown at left.) Each bag comes with two packets of lavender good for 5 dryer cycles each. The bags may also be used as sachets to tuck into dresser drawers and are easily personalized with your favorite fragrant combination.
Popularity: 2% [?]
January 15th, 2008
Yes, There Are Dimmable Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
Here are Low Impact Living we talk to a lot of people in the process of greening their homes…and an evil rumor seems to have caught hold of the nation. It seems many people believe that compact fluorescent lights do not come in dimmable versions. We do not know how this nasty rumor got started, but we are here to debunk it. Yes, yes, there are dimmable compact fluorescent lights! We swear– we use them! Please check them out here. We have personally tested the dimmable Micro-Brite light shown at left and it works like a champ. We have several other sizes and option so be sure to browse.
(Just a quick refresher on why compact fluorescent bulbs are better than standard incandescent bulbs: CF bulbs use about ¼ the energy of normal incandescent light bulbs and CF bulbs can last up to 10 times as long as standard bulbs. CF bulbs also produce much less heat. They are a great eco-friendly choice.)
Further debunking: We have also learned that many people believe you cannot find compact fluorescent torpedo or candelabra bulbs (like the kind used in chandeliers and some wall sconces). Again, yes, yes you can! There are many kinds of torpedo bulbs– and they even come in dimmable varieties. To see standard torpedo versions, please click here. To see dimmable versions, please click here.
And finally, if you are not already aware of LED lighting, you should be. LED (or light-emitting diode) lighting is even more energy efficient than compact fluorescent lighting. LED lights will last 3-5 times as long as CF lights! There is not yet the huge range of bulb options available in the CF realm, but LED technology is progressing rapidly. You can see several LED lighting options here.
Investigate eco-friendly lighting–don’t be left in the dark!
Popularity: 2% [?]
January 14th, 2008
How To Tuesday: Install Solar Tube Lighting
Looking for a simple project to green your home? Installing a solar tube light is an easy one-day job and can be done with basic tools if you have a typical shingle roof. A solar tube provides light like a skylight, but doesn’t require major structural changes to the roof of your house.
You can purchase a solar tube kit for $200 to $400 at most hardware stores or you can find them here at Low Impact Living. There are several sizes which refer to the diameter of the reflective tube that brings light down into the room. A 10” version will provide light for about 100 square feet. A 13” option is available if you need to light a larger area, up to 250 square feet. Larger tubes are available, but require structural modifications and are more difficult to install.
We decided to install a small solar tube in our upstairs bathroom, which is the only room in our house with inadequate natural light. I’m not usually excited about reading instructions, but it was necessary for this project. The instructions were so thorough, that it would be easy to lose track of the overall steps. For any job, it’s helpful to have an understanding of the big picture before you get into the nitty-gritty. Here are the main steps involved in the installation, and some tips you may find useful.
1. Reconnaissance
The first step in the installation process is to go on a recon mission in the attic. The reflective tube needs to go down from the roof to the ceiling of the room and avoid electrical wires, plumbing, heating ducts, and other obstacles. It fits in between the roof rafters and ceiling joists so find a spot you think will work and have an assistant verify that it looks like a good spot for the room you’re trying to light.
2. Cut the holes
Next you need to identify the spot on the roof directly above the hole you’re planning on putting in the ceiling. Then draw a circle the size of your tube to make sure it will fit between the joists and rafters. Once you’re sure it will fit, drill a small hole in the center of the circle down into the room and out to the roof. Now, you can finally leave the attic! From inside the room, center a circle the size of your tube on the hole you just drilled and cut it out using a drywall saw. Then go on the roof and do the same thing…this time, you’ll need a reciprocating saw or jigsaw. Make sure to keep the saw blade vertical (not perpendicular to the roof). This will allow your tube to be installed vertically.
3. Assemble and insert the tube
Be sure to check the instructions for this part, but you probably need to connect a couple lengths of tube together and attach a dome to the top. Determine how long it needs to be and cut it to the correct length. Now just slide the tube into the hole. You may need to modify the holes slightly to get it to fit. Once you know it fits, set it to the side for a minute.
4. Weather Proofing
A large-diameter roof jack provides the seal between the roof and the solar tube. You’ll need to peel back and trim a couple layers of shingles and slide the roof jack underneath them. Make sure to put a generous amount of roof sealant on the roof jack, but do NOT put sealant on the lowest edge which allows it to drain if water happens to get underneath it. Next, slide the completed solar tube into the roof jack and down into the room. Check the instructions to see how far it should extend into the room and attach the tube to the roof jack with sheet metal screws. You will also need to nail the roof jack down and attach a drip ring to the tube.
5. Attach the Diffuser
The final step is to attach a diffuser to the bottom end of the tube. This scatters the light from the tube around the room. Usually, you screw a ring into the ceiling, and then attach the diffuser to the ring. You’re done, except for cleaning up all of your mess!
In general, I’m happy with the results of our installation. The solar tube provides enough light that we don’t need to use electricity for “normal business” in the bathroom during daylight hours. Although the small tube is adequate for our needs, I’d use a larger tube for most applications. Good luck!
Popularity: 14% [?]
January 14th, 2008
Organic Dining Across America
Here at Low Impact Living we have been covering outstanding organic restaurants across America over the past several months. These have been very popular postings and we thought it would be good to publish a compendium of our coverage thus far. We still have many more delicious cities to cover.
Organic Restaurants in Los Angeles
Organic Restaurants in San Francisco
Organic Restaurants in New York
Organic Restaurants in Chicago
Organic Restaurants in Seattle
Organic Restaurants in Portland
Organic Restaurants in Atlanta
Organic Restaurants in Kansas City
Organic Restaurants in Boulder
If you are interested in finding great eateries in other parts of the US, please do have a look at our nationwide listings of organic restaurants. You’ll likely find something good near you. And if you know of other good ones, please send us an email to info@lowimpactliving.com.
And let us not neglect the liquid part of the meal. Jason Pelletier, Co-founder of Low Impact Living and serious wino, wrote a piece on the ins and outs of organic and biodynamic wines. Called Cheers to Fine Organic Wine, the piece has caused many people to run to the local wine shop clamoring for new green (and we don’t mean novice) wines. So be fore-warned and grab a corkscrew.
Popularity: 1% [?]
January 11th, 2008
Ten Best Eco-Neighborhoods
Our friends over at Natural Home magazine have published a very good list of their “Ten Best Eco-Neighborhoods” across the US. We really enjoyed it and thought you would too.
To describe their approach they write, “Our picks for the nation’s best green housing developments emphasize communities working toward sustainability by incorporating green building, energy efficiency and reuse of previously developed land.”
Here’s a hint: Austin is in and San Francisco is not!
Read the feature by clicking here.
Popularity: 1% [?]
