Cats + eco-friendliness? Sold.
As cute as this video is, it is also trying to shed light on the state of Canada's seas.
The takeaway: Try to buy seafood products harvested using methods that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ecosystem for the future. Look for the MSC label.
More information.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
When Good Bathrooms Go Bad...Then Green?
Ugh. The dreaded bathroom renovation.
Even before I bought my condo, I knew this was a project I would eventually have to undertake. The inspector had informed me that there was water damage that was making the floor unstable. Fast forward seven plus years and here I was, still living in fear that the tub would one day fall through the ceiling.
My brother is an awesome handyman, so I planned to have him do most of the work. But I wanted to do things the "right" way. Turns out that is much harder than I expected.
Rule #1 about eco-friendly home renovations: Many of the green options on the market are the privilege of the rich. Rule #2: Finding eco-friendly products is akin to finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
But in case you want more information, here's the rundown of what I discovered, the good, the bad and the ugly.
Shopping Tips: I read that you should look for the WaterSense label and that the toilet should use less than 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF). I also knew I wanted to try a dual-flush toilet. (You know, less flush for number 1, more flush for number 2.)
What I Got: Glacier Bay's Dual-Flush Toilet
Fan
Shopping Tips: The fewer sones, the better. Look for the EnergyStar rating.
What I Got: This one.
Faucet
Shopping Tips: Look for the WaterSense label and a flow rate of 1.5 GPM (gallons per minute).
What I Got: I chose the Delta Lahara 25938LF-SS. There was nothing on any of the boxes at the store that would tell the GPM rate, so I had to go with just the WaterSense label. Turns out that this one has a GPM rate of 2.2. Ah, well.
Lighting Fixture
Shopping Tips: Look for the Energy Star label. Use CFL bulbs. The usual...
Paint
Shopping Tips: I've read a lot about milk paint, but it's not recommended for high-moisture areas so it was a no-go. The other option is low-VOC paint.
What I Got: Low and behold that major retailers like Lowe's don't make low-VOC paints easy to identify. But the nice man at the paint mixing station told me that this one was awesome. I definitely liked it better than the one I tried from Sherman Williams a few years ago.
Here are some more paint tips, from yours truly, in case you're curious.
Shower Walls
It seems that using backerboard for the shower walls, rather than greenboard will help prevent mold and deterioration over time, so I went that route.
Trash
Due to water damage, I literally had to gut this bathroom down to the wall studs. This meant a lot of trash. Rather than trying to fit everything into a few Bagsters, I ended up renting a dumpster from Frog Hauling.
Unlike a normal dumpster, Frog Hauling will sort through the junk that they remove and salvage or recycle as much as possible before taking the remainder of the trash to the dump. This makes me happy.
As for some of the small stuff, such as shelves and towel racks and half-used gallons of paint, I plan to drop it all off at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
Tub
This is the one item I was successfully able to reuse. It was disgustingly dirty after all the big demo and rebuild, so I scrubbed it down with a bit of Borax, which is the most magical cleaner ever in the world. My tub has never been so sparkly white.
Bath Mat
I think I'm going to try this one, which is made from something called vetiver root or this one, which is made from cork.
I wanted to go with something vintage or something made of FSC-certified wood or bamboo, with environmentally-friendly finishes, glues, etc.
Um, yeah, good luck with that. I tried all of the major bathroom retailers in Columbus, including retail stores like Crate & Barrel or Restoration Hardware as well as Columbus Architectural Salvage and bathroom & kitchen specialists like Bath Works. I found only three vanities that were in any way eco-friendly and that were small enough to fit in my seemingly super tiny bathroom, but they were literally 10 times the cost of a basic vanity unit at Home Depot or Lowe's.
The two places I didn't try but probably should have were antique stores (which would have taken a ton of time to peruse) and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore (which was closed the one Sunday I chose to visit).
Flooring
All of the eco-friendly books suggest using cork, natural linoleum or recycled rubber flooring. Come to find that the only cork flooring available at Lowe's and Home Depot is interlocking, which means that it is somehow affixed to a bed of particle board or MDF, which makes it not nearly as eco-friendly. As for natural linoleum or recycled rubber flooring? I am most certain these are figments of the imagination, as I couldn't find them anywhere.
So I went with ceramic tile. (And not even recycled ceramic tile, as it only seems to exist on the interwebs.) In any case, ceramic tile is durable and long lasting and is better for the environment than vinyl and more suitable for bathrooms than hardwood.
Miscellaneous
Solvent-free adhesives? Didn't see one label that mentioned solvent-free. Baseboards with a low-VOC, water-based finish? No dice. Low-toxic grout and sealants? Puhshaw. Who would think to ask for such silly things?
Also suggested by the eco-friendly gurus that write books? A tankless water heater and a circulation pump. I didn't even look into it.
I looked for shower curtains made from organic cotton or bamboo fabrics. There were a few, but not many and the patterns were very grandma-esque. I also looked on Etsy for shower curtains made from scrap fabrics, but there weren't any worth noting. Oh, well.
I wanted to get a vintage medicine cabinet or mirror, but so far they are freaking expensive. The jury's still out on that.
Looks basically the same, huh? :)
Even before I bought my condo, I knew this was a project I would eventually have to undertake. The inspector had informed me that there was water damage that was making the floor unstable. Fast forward seven plus years and here I was, still living in fear that the tub would one day fall through the ceiling.
My brother is an awesome handyman, so I planned to have him do most of the work. But I wanted to do things the "right" way. Turns out that is much harder than I expected.
Rule #1 about eco-friendly home renovations: Many of the green options on the market are the privilege of the rich. Rule #2: Finding eco-friendly products is akin to finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
But in case you want more information, here's the rundown of what I discovered, the good, the bad and the ugly.
Green Accomplishments
Dual Flush ToiletShopping Tips: I read that you should look for the WaterSense label and that the toilet should use less than 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF). I also knew I wanted to try a dual-flush toilet. (You know, less flush for number 1, more flush for number 2.)
What I Got: Glacier Bay's Dual-Flush Toilet
Fan
Shopping Tips: The fewer sones, the better. Look for the EnergyStar rating.
What I Got: This one.
Faucet
Shopping Tips: Look for the WaterSense label and a flow rate of 1.5 GPM (gallons per minute).
What I Got: I chose the Delta Lahara 25938LF-SS. There was nothing on any of the boxes at the store that would tell the GPM rate, so I had to go with just the WaterSense label. Turns out that this one has a GPM rate of 2.2. Ah, well.
Lighting Fixture
Shopping Tips: Look for the Energy Star label. Use CFL bulbs. The usual...
Paint
Shopping Tips: I've read a lot about milk paint, but it's not recommended for high-moisture areas so it was a no-go. The other option is low-VOC paint.
What I Got: Low and behold that major retailers like Lowe's don't make low-VOC paints easy to identify. But the nice man at the paint mixing station told me that this one was awesome. I definitely liked it better than the one I tried from Sherman Williams a few years ago.
Here are some more paint tips, from yours truly, in case you're curious.
Shower Walls
It seems that using backerboard for the shower walls, rather than greenboard will help prevent mold and deterioration over time, so I went that route.
Trash
Due to water damage, I literally had to gut this bathroom down to the wall studs. This meant a lot of trash. Rather than trying to fit everything into a few Bagsters, I ended up renting a dumpster from Frog Hauling.
Unlike a normal dumpster, Frog Hauling will sort through the junk that they remove and salvage or recycle as much as possible before taking the remainder of the trash to the dump. This makes me happy.
As for some of the small stuff, such as shelves and towel racks and half-used gallons of paint, I plan to drop it all off at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
Tub
This is the one item I was successfully able to reuse. It was disgustingly dirty after all the big demo and rebuild, so I scrubbed it down with a bit of Borax, which is the most magical cleaner ever in the world. My tub has never been so sparkly white.
Bath Mat
I think I'm going to try this one, which is made from something called vetiver root or this one, which is made from cork.
Green Failures
VanityI wanted to go with something vintage or something made of FSC-certified wood or bamboo, with environmentally-friendly finishes, glues, etc.
Um, yeah, good luck with that. I tried all of the major bathroom retailers in Columbus, including retail stores like Crate & Barrel or Restoration Hardware as well as Columbus Architectural Salvage and bathroom & kitchen specialists like Bath Works. I found only three vanities that were in any way eco-friendly and that were small enough to fit in my seemingly super tiny bathroom, but they were literally 10 times the cost of a basic vanity unit at Home Depot or Lowe's.
The two places I didn't try but probably should have were antique stores (which would have taken a ton of time to peruse) and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore (which was closed the one Sunday I chose to visit).
Flooring
All of the eco-friendly books suggest using cork, natural linoleum or recycled rubber flooring. Come to find that the only cork flooring available at Lowe's and Home Depot is interlocking, which means that it is somehow affixed to a bed of particle board or MDF, which makes it not nearly as eco-friendly. As for natural linoleum or recycled rubber flooring? I am most certain these are figments of the imagination, as I couldn't find them anywhere.
So I went with ceramic tile. (And not even recycled ceramic tile, as it only seems to exist on the interwebs.) In any case, ceramic tile is durable and long lasting and is better for the environment than vinyl and more suitable for bathrooms than hardwood.
Miscellaneous
Solvent-free adhesives? Didn't see one label that mentioned solvent-free. Baseboards with a low-VOC, water-based finish? No dice. Low-toxic grout and sealants? Puhshaw. Who would think to ask for such silly things?
Also suggested by the eco-friendly gurus that write books? A tankless water heater and a circulation pump. I didn't even look into it.
I looked for shower curtains made from organic cotton or bamboo fabrics. There were a few, but not many and the patterns were very grandma-esque. I also looked on Etsy for shower curtains made from scrap fabrics, but there weren't any worth noting. Oh, well.
I wanted to get a vintage medicine cabinet or mirror, but so far they are freaking expensive. The jury's still out on that.
The Big Reveal
 |
| The Before |
 |
| The After |
Looks basically the same, huh? :)
Sunday, July 8, 2012
5 Ways to Eliminate Plastic from Your Life
So, I recently watched Bag It.
Just like King Corn a while back convinced me to give up my 20oz Mountain Dew bottle-a-day habit, Bag It has me convinced that I need to kick my plastic habit. Turns out this is much much much harder undertaking. I hadn't realized how many plastic bottles and wrappers and caps and lids existed in my life.
Here are 5 places I've been able to make a difference, so far...
1. Switch to bar soap: I used to use bar soap all the time as a kid, but for some reason when I became a teenager I switched to body wash, which comes in a plastic container. Over the last two years I've broken the habit and gone back to bar soap, which has significantly less packaging. I like Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Magic Soap Bars, but my new obsession is with Honeyrun Farm's Peppermint and Tea Tree Wake Up Bar, which I found at the Olde Worthington Farmer's Market. Just one tiny paper wrapper for packaging and a local product. Love.
2. Buy wooden spoons: Or get them as gifts. :) I've always been mystified by them, but it turns out that they are extremely simple and they don't break or melt like my plastic utensils used to. Just don't put them in the dishwasher! (P. S. I'm now eyeing the most spectacular wooden spoon that they sell at Encircle in Uptown Westerville, whose handle is in the shape of a cat tail. Yes, I am that person.)
3. Use laundry powder: It took me a long time to break my liquid laundry detergent habit. Growing up, we only ever used Tide. I finally moved away from that and started using Mrs. Meyer's Lemon Verbena laundry detergent, but it comes in a large plastic bottle, of course. So now I've started using Ecover's laundey powder. I've only had one mishap of packing my load too tightly and having temporary powder residue appear on my freshly-laundered clothes. Lesson learned.
4. Try glass containers: Confession time. I still use a lot of plastic containers in the kitchen. I take reusable Ziploc containers to Raisin Rack to stock up on their bulk bin goodies like bulgar and granola and hot & spicy trail mix. I also store all of my fresh produce in large plastic storage containers in the fridge because I find it makes it last significantly longer. But I no longer use it for prepared foods or to microwave meals in. Instead, I use these nifty Pyrex glass containers. Although the lids are still plastic, they are BPA free and I never use them in the microwave. I'm hoping they will provide more lid options in the future. I also found that somehow I've lost or ruined a few lids over time and you can buy replacements separately through the Corningware Corelle Revere Factory Store outlet store in Lodi, Ohio.
5. Get mesh produce bags: I hated the fact that I would dutifully take my reusable shopping bags to the grocery store or farmer's market only to use plastic bags to store green beans and spinach and other loose produce that requires its own bag. Now I don't have to waste the extra plastic. These mesh bags are large and flexible and easily laundered in the washing machine. Yippee!
Just like King Corn a while back convinced me to give up my 20oz Mountain Dew bottle-a-day habit, Bag It has me convinced that I need to kick my plastic habit. Turns out this is much much much harder undertaking. I hadn't realized how many plastic bottles and wrappers and caps and lids existed in my life.
Here are 5 places I've been able to make a difference, so far...
1. Switch to bar soap: I used to use bar soap all the time as a kid, but for some reason when I became a teenager I switched to body wash, which comes in a plastic container. Over the last two years I've broken the habit and gone back to bar soap, which has significantly less packaging. I like Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Magic Soap Bars, but my new obsession is with Honeyrun Farm's Peppermint and Tea Tree Wake Up Bar, which I found at the Olde Worthington Farmer's Market. Just one tiny paper wrapper for packaging and a local product. Love.
2. Buy wooden spoons: Or get them as gifts. :) I've always been mystified by them, but it turns out that they are extremely simple and they don't break or melt like my plastic utensils used to. Just don't put them in the dishwasher! (P. S. I'm now eyeing the most spectacular wooden spoon that they sell at Encircle in Uptown Westerville, whose handle is in the shape of a cat tail. Yes, I am that person.)
3. Use laundry powder: It took me a long time to break my liquid laundry detergent habit. Growing up, we only ever used Tide. I finally moved away from that and started using Mrs. Meyer's Lemon Verbena laundry detergent, but it comes in a large plastic bottle, of course. So now I've started using Ecover's laundey powder. I've only had one mishap of packing my load too tightly and having temporary powder residue appear on my freshly-laundered clothes. Lesson learned.
4. Try glass containers: Confession time. I still use a lot of plastic containers in the kitchen. I take reusable Ziploc containers to Raisin Rack to stock up on their bulk bin goodies like bulgar and granola and hot & spicy trail mix. I also store all of my fresh produce in large plastic storage containers in the fridge because I find it makes it last significantly longer. But I no longer use it for prepared foods or to microwave meals in. Instead, I use these nifty Pyrex glass containers. Although the lids are still plastic, they are BPA free and I never use them in the microwave. I'm hoping they will provide more lid options in the future. I also found that somehow I've lost or ruined a few lids over time and you can buy replacements separately through the Corningware Corelle Revere Factory Store outlet store in Lodi, Ohio.
5. Get mesh produce bags: I hated the fact that I would dutifully take my reusable shopping bags to the grocery store or farmer's market only to use plastic bags to store green beans and spinach and other loose produce that requires its own bag. Now I don't have to waste the extra plastic. These mesh bags are large and flexible and easily laundered in the washing machine. Yippee!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Neutralizing Nostalgia
Nostalgia makes simplifying your life difficult. When objects hold memories and emotions, it's easy to become attached to them.
Given that my "keep" rule involves getting rid of objects that I haven't used in a year or can't foresee using in the coming year, what of nostalgia? Most mementos, souvenirs and family heirlooms don't have a purpose outside of the memories that store.
Pictures, home movies, trinkets, jewelry... Unless you're planning to hang them, watch them often, display them around your home or wear them, their future is one filled with dust and dark basements.
Books
Do you have an attachment to your childhood library? I spent a lot of time reading as a kid and I love to reminisce about the books that kept me company throughout my formative years. But I don't need to keep boxes of books that I don't plan to reread around the house. So I've chosen to rebuild my childhood library using GoodReads.
I could have created a simple list with an Excel worksheet, but GoodReads automatically provides the title, author, description, and best of all, the book covers. I can even include my memories as a review.
Other options include LibraryThing or Shelfari.
For clothes that hold special significance and have gone out of style or no longer fit, try making something new from the scraps. You can brainstorm ideas with craft books for scraps.
Have a handful of event tees that you've worn thin? Try making a t-shirt quilt.
Home Videos
I recently digitized all of our old home videos. I was happy to get rid of all of the old, bulky VHS tapes that I couldn't watch anymore due to the lack of a VCR. I was able to transfer our home videos to DVD (and subsequently, to digital files) thanks to Keepsake Solutions.
Afterwards, I checked to find out if there was a way to recycle VHS tapes. The best option I found was GreenDisk.com. However, you have to pay for shipping and it would have cost me almost $50, so I opted to do the much less eco-friendly option, trashing them. :/
Over time, I plan to take the digital files and create a highlights montage. It will make the collection much more accessible and fun to watch.
Knick-Knacks
Take pictures of your favorite objects before you find new homes for them.
It seems silly, but an image can bring back just as many memories as the item itself. My parents used to have these strange hexagonal end tables in our family room. They disappeared between moves and I had totally forgotten about them until I was flipping through an old photo album. Even the smell of them came rushing back when I spotted them in the corner of a picture. I'd hate to keep them around, because they were truly ugly, but I love that I can still keep the memory of them close.
Still not sure about sending something you once cherished out into the world? Why not swap the item with a friend? They might have the perfect use for it and if they know how much you loved it, they will be sure to keep it safe from harm. And if you decide later that you truly can't live without it, you can swap it back.
...And A Bit of Mind Trickery
Aren't sure what you hold most dear, what you'll miss when it's gone, what you can't live without? Try putting some unused items in a box and setting them in an unused room. Wait a year and go through the box. What do you want to pull out first?
Given that my "keep" rule involves getting rid of objects that I haven't used in a year or can't foresee using in the coming year, what of nostalgia? Most mementos, souvenirs and family heirlooms don't have a purpose outside of the memories that store.
Pictures, home movies, trinkets, jewelry... Unless you're planning to hang them, watch them often, display them around your home or wear them, their future is one filled with dust and dark basements.
Here are a few tips if you're looking to reduce, but aren't sure how.
Do you have an attachment to your childhood library? I spent a lot of time reading as a kid and I love to reminisce about the books that kept me company throughout my formative years. But I don't need to keep boxes of books that I don't plan to reread around the house. So I've chosen to rebuild my childhood library using GoodReads.
I could have created a simple list with an Excel worksheet, but GoodReads automatically provides the title, author, description, and best of all, the book covers. I can even include my memories as a review.
Other options include LibraryThing or Shelfari.
For clothes that hold special significance and have gone out of style or no longer fit, try making something new from the scraps. You can brainstorm ideas with craft books for scraps.
Have a handful of event tees that you've worn thin? Try making a t-shirt quilt.
Home Videos
I recently digitized all of our old home videos. I was happy to get rid of all of the old, bulky VHS tapes that I couldn't watch anymore due to the lack of a VCR. I was able to transfer our home videos to DVD (and subsequently, to digital files) thanks to Keepsake Solutions.
Afterwards, I checked to find out if there was a way to recycle VHS tapes. The best option I found was GreenDisk.com. However, you have to pay for shipping and it would have cost me almost $50, so I opted to do the much less eco-friendly option, trashing them. :/
Over time, I plan to take the digital files and create a highlights montage. It will make the collection much more accessible and fun to watch.
Knick-Knacks
Take pictures of your favorite objects before you find new homes for them.
It seems silly, but an image can bring back just as many memories as the item itself. My parents used to have these strange hexagonal end tables in our family room. They disappeared between moves and I had totally forgotten about them until I was flipping through an old photo album. Even the smell of them came rushing back when I spotted them in the corner of a picture. I'd hate to keep them around, because they were truly ugly, but I love that I can still keep the memory of them close.
Still not sure about sending something you once cherished out into the world? Why not swap the item with a friend? They might have the perfect use for it and if they know how much you loved it, they will be sure to keep it safe from harm. And if you decide later that you truly can't live without it, you can swap it back.
...And A Bit of Mind Trickery
Aren't sure what you hold most dear, what you'll miss when it's gone, what you can't live without? Try putting some unused items in a box and setting them in an unused room. Wait a year and go through the box. What do you want to pull out first?
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Green Gift Guide
Everyone else is doing a holiday gift guide, so I figured I might as well throw my suggestions into the mix.
MixedBagDesigns
These bags are super cute, durable and hold just about anything you need to cart around. I use mine for trips to the grocery store, the library and just about anywhere else.
LightMyFire's All-In-One Utensil
It's a spoon. It's a fork. It's a knife. It's all three in one! This utensil is extremely lightweight and easy to wash. It can be used when camping or it can camp out in your purse for unexpected food adventures. If you don't want to order online, I've often seen these at the checkout stations in Eddie Bauer.
Zip-It Drain Cleaner
I know it seems a bit unromantic, but this thing would make a great stocking stuffer for a new home owner. It works, I swear. You could also pair it with a universal coil brush that can clean out from under your fridge, as I blogged about a while back.
Wind-Up LED Flashlight
I'm terrible about remembering to buy batteries. Plus, batteries aren't so good for the old environment. So this flashlight makes me happy. It even provides a bit of much-needed exercise.
Candles from The Candle Lab
I've made two different candles at The Candle Lab this year: Dark chocolate and fig was one and campfire, pine needles and dirt was the other. I love them both. All candles are made with soy, which burns much slower than traditional candles.
The Wilds
I heart The Wilds. For me, it is so much more magical than a zoo, because the animals get to roam over 9,000 acres of land. I've given gift certificates for tours a couple of times now and I haven't heard any complaints.
Keepsake Solutions
Old home videos are a treasured asset that cannot be replaced. Why not convert your old home videos on VHS tapes into DVDs for your family members? I just recently did this and I am excited to finally see what I've been missing sans VCR for the last 10 years.
Bluebell Giving
For the person who has everything, this is a wonderful idea. When you buy a card from Bluebell Giving, you can pledge a certain amount of money to charity. But the fun part is that your card's recipient gets to choose which of the 180+ supported charity will receive the donation.
Can you think of other eco-friendly products or services that would make green gifts this season?
MixedBagDesigns
These bags are super cute, durable and hold just about anything you need to cart around. I use mine for trips to the grocery store, the library and just about anywhere else.
LightMyFire's All-In-One Utensil
It's a spoon. It's a fork. It's a knife. It's all three in one! This utensil is extremely lightweight and easy to wash. It can be used when camping or it can camp out in your purse for unexpected food adventures. If you don't want to order online, I've often seen these at the checkout stations in Eddie Bauer.
Zip-It Drain Cleaner
I know it seems a bit unromantic, but this thing would make a great stocking stuffer for a new home owner. It works, I swear. You could also pair it with a universal coil brush that can clean out from under your fridge, as I blogged about a while back.
Wind-Up LED Flashlight
I'm terrible about remembering to buy batteries. Plus, batteries aren't so good for the old environment. So this flashlight makes me happy. It even provides a bit of much-needed exercise.
Candles from The Candle Lab
I've made two different candles at The Candle Lab this year: Dark chocolate and fig was one and campfire, pine needles and dirt was the other. I love them both. All candles are made with soy, which burns much slower than traditional candles.
The Wilds
I heart The Wilds. For me, it is so much more magical than a zoo, because the animals get to roam over 9,000 acres of land. I've given gift certificates for tours a couple of times now and I haven't heard any complaints.
Keepsake Solutions
Old home videos are a treasured asset that cannot be replaced. Why not convert your old home videos on VHS tapes into DVDs for your family members? I just recently did this and I am excited to finally see what I've been missing sans VCR for the last 10 years.
Bluebell Giving
For the person who has everything, this is a wonderful idea. When you buy a card from Bluebell Giving, you can pledge a certain amount of money to charity. But the fun part is that your card's recipient gets to choose which of the 180+ supported charity will receive the donation.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Tune In: The Search for an Eco-Friendly TV
Okay, I am finally going to jump on the new flat-screen LCD TV bandwagon.
Why I'm Getting a New TV
I have had the same dinosaur television for 8 years, which I bought used from a friend when moving to my current place. I was waiting for the TV to die before I bought a replacement, but within the last year three things happened:
Things to Consider When Shopping for a New TV
So, I went searching for a new TV. I thought about getting one during the after-Christmas sales in 2010, but the one that I had chosen was out of stock and I missed out on the deep holiday discounts, so I waited until this season to try again.
To choose a television, I relied heavily on the Westerville Library's online subscription to Consumer Reports. In addition to rating specific models and brands, they also provide a guide to tell you what types of things you should be looking for when buying a new TV.
The one thing that stood out to me was their explanation of LED backlighting for LCD TVs:
Of course, I also looked at the other rating options to make sure the TV would meet my other needs, such as sound quality, HD & SD picture quality, viewing angle, etc. I eliminated any set that gave only a fair or poor rating for any of the features. I also placed emphasis on Netflix integration. I was also interested in Internet-connectivity available on the new Google TVs, but this feature is cost-prohibitive at the moment and it doesn't seem like the capability has hit the mainstream yet.
Once I narrowed down my choices, I looked at the brand reliability table through Consumer Reports to find out how the brand measured up regarding repair history.
Lastly, I checked for user ratings & reviews on sites such as CNET and Amazon.com. This helped me to narrow my choices further.
Based on all of these factors, I have chosen the Vizio M420SV. It has LED edge backlighting, a wide viewing angle, excellent picture quality, good sound quality, average energy costs of $26 per year, good brand quality, an excellent average user rating on Amazon.com and it is Internet-enabled, allowing for the ability to connect to a Netflix streaming account.
Here's what the new TV will look like, according to Amazon.com:
How to Get Rid of an Old TV
So, what should you do with an old dinosaur TV? Don't throw it the dumpster. Old televisions contain hazardous materials such as lead. To avoid the possibility of these materials leaching out, donate your old TV to the Ohio Thrift store at Cleveland Ave and 161 in the Columbus Square shopping center. They will accept any working television for free.
Or, if your TV is no longer in working condition, try recycling it. Ohio Drop Off near the intersection of Morse Road and Westerville Road will recycle TVs, though they charge $1 per inch.
More options are available within the Columbus area. Read this SWACO article or this EPA article for more recycling, donating or disposal options.
Stay Tuned
The TV is now set up. The Netflix integration is decadent. But did all of my hard research pay off? Stay tuned to find out.
Why I'm Getting a New TV
I have had the same dinosaur television for 8 years, which I bought used from a friend when moving to my current place. I was waiting for the TV to die before I bought a replacement, but within the last year three things happened:
- I received a Blu-ray player as a present that I have been unable to use because it is not compatible with the dinosaur television.
- More and more shows are being shot in wide-screen, which means that I am missing out on a lot of key plot points that get cut off on my current square screen. Though this doesn't really matter, in the grand scheme of things, it is quite annoying.
- The appeal of watching Netflix streaming through the TV without hooking up a computer has become almost impossible to ignore.
Things to Consider When Shopping for a New TV
So, I went searching for a new TV. I thought about getting one during the after-Christmas sales in 2010, but the one that I had chosen was out of stock and I missed out on the deep holiday discounts, so I waited until this season to try again.
To choose a television, I relied heavily on the Westerville Library's online subscription to Consumer Reports. In addition to rating specific models and brands, they also provide a guide to tell you what types of things you should be looking for when buying a new TV.
The one thing that stood out to me was their explanation of LED backlighting for LCD TVs:
LCD displays use lights in the back of the display to illuminate the screen. These have typically been fluorescent bulbs, but many new sets use LED (light-emitting diode) backlights instead...In general, LEDs can reduce power consumption. Some of the edge-lit LCD models we've tested have been among the most energy-efficient sets we've seen...LED backlights, especially if edge-lit, can allow the TV to have a very slim profile -- panel thickness of well under 2 inches.Consumer Reports also includes an estimated energy cost per year for rated TVs. Between that and the LED backlight option that offers more energy efficiency and a smaller physical footprint, I knew where to start looking in regard to picking out a new television that would be eco-friendly.
Of course, I also looked at the other rating options to make sure the TV would meet my other needs, such as sound quality, HD & SD picture quality, viewing angle, etc. I eliminated any set that gave only a fair or poor rating for any of the features. I also placed emphasis on Netflix integration. I was also interested in Internet-connectivity available on the new Google TVs, but this feature is cost-prohibitive at the moment and it doesn't seem like the capability has hit the mainstream yet.
Once I narrowed down my choices, I looked at the brand reliability table through Consumer Reports to find out how the brand measured up regarding repair history.
Lastly, I checked for user ratings & reviews on sites such as CNET and Amazon.com. This helped me to narrow my choices further.
Based on all of these factors, I have chosen the Vizio M420SV. It has LED edge backlighting, a wide viewing angle, excellent picture quality, good sound quality, average energy costs of $26 per year, good brand quality, an excellent average user rating on Amazon.com and it is Internet-enabled, allowing for the ability to connect to a Netflix streaming account.
Here's what the new TV will look like, according to Amazon.com:
How to Get Rid of an Old TV
So, what should you do with an old dinosaur TV? Don't throw it the dumpster. Old televisions contain hazardous materials such as lead. To avoid the possibility of these materials leaching out, donate your old TV to the Ohio Thrift store at Cleveland Ave and 161 in the Columbus Square shopping center. They will accept any working television for free.
Or, if your TV is no longer in working condition, try recycling it. Ohio Drop Off near the intersection of Morse Road and Westerville Road will recycle TVs, though they charge $1 per inch.
More options are available within the Columbus area. Read this SWACO article or this EPA article for more recycling, donating or disposal options.
Stay Tuned
The TV is now set up. The Netflix integration is decadent. But did all of my hard research pay off? Stay tuned to find out.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Grow What You Eat: Tomatoes
I actually started some tomato plants from seed, which I had done in 2010 with great success.
Not so much this time around. I think I started the seeds in early April in an egg carton inside for close to six weeks. I then spent about a week getting them acclimated to the weather by setting them outside for a couple of hours at the time.
Though they were still quite tiny, I went ahead and planted them. With a few days, the spring rains had all but decimated them.
So....I bought a 4-pack of roma tomato plants at Westerville Farmer's Market on May 25, 2011 for $4. This broke my rule regarding 4-inch pots, but I've grown tomatoes before and figured I could make these work without much trouble.
They grew large fairly quickly, so I bought a tomato cage to help keep them upright.
They started to produce green tomatoes in late June.
Then the tomatoes turned red.
But a lot of them were rotted on the bottoms. I asked my co-worker, Susan, what that meant and she said that it was a sign of them being over-watered. It was an unusually wet spring and summer, so that made sense.
Once I stopped watering them as often, the tomatoes stopped rotting and I was able to get a couple of handfuls from the plant.
Oddly, I had a volunteer tomato plant sprout up out of the wooden box that I had used to grow the peas and beans.
Unfortunately, this one had too late of a start and the cherry tomatoes never ripened.
The same happened for many of the roma tomatoes. I think they just didn't get enough sun throughout September and October.
Thing I'll Do Differently Next Year:
I'll use a wooden box just for the tomato plants, instead of making the peppers and tomatoes share a box.
I'll also make sure to cut down on the watering, and I may try to find a slightly sunnier location for them so that they get enough light to ripen.
Not so much this time around. I think I started the seeds in early April in an egg carton inside for close to six weeks. I then spent about a week getting them acclimated to the weather by setting them outside for a couple of hours at the time.
 |
| May 20, 2011 |
Though they were still quite tiny, I went ahead and planted them. With a few days, the spring rains had all but decimated them.
So....I bought a 4-pack of roma tomato plants at Westerville Farmer's Market on May 25, 2011 for $4. This broke my rule regarding 4-inch pots, but I've grown tomatoes before and figured I could make these work without much trouble.
 |
| May 25, 2011 |
They grew large fairly quickly, so I bought a tomato cage to help keep them upright.
 |
| June 9, 2011 |
They started to produce green tomatoes in late June.
 |
| June 29, 2011 |
Then the tomatoes turned red.
 |
| July 29, 2011 |
But a lot of them were rotted on the bottoms. I asked my co-worker, Susan, what that meant and she said that it was a sign of them being over-watered. It was an unusually wet spring and summer, so that made sense.
 |
| July 29, 2011 |
Once I stopped watering them as often, the tomatoes stopped rotting and I was able to get a couple of handfuls from the plant.
 |
| August 11, 2011 |
Oddly, I had a volunteer tomato plant sprout up out of the wooden box that I had used to grow the peas and beans.
 |
| August 27, 2011 |
The same happened for many of the roma tomatoes. I think they just didn't get enough sun throughout September and October.
 |
| September 5, 2011 |
Thing I'll Do Differently Next Year:
I'll use a wooden box just for the tomato plants, instead of making the peppers and tomatoes share a box.
I'll also make sure to cut down on the watering, and I may try to find a slightly sunnier location for them so that they get enough light to ripen.
Grow What You Eat: Peppers
I bought a green pepper plant & a jalapeno pepper plant from Raisin Rack on May 18, 2011 for approximately $4 each. Both came in 4-inch pots.
I planted both in the same wooden planter as two tomato plants.
The green pepper plant was totally overshadowed by the tomato plants and never got enough sunlight or space to grow. The jalapeno pepper plant fared better. By the beginning of July, I could see baby peppers.
Since it didn't require as much space and got a bit more sunlight, it ended up producing a handful of spicy peppers that I used to make salsa.
They were all about the size of a pinky finger.
The green pepper plant actually started producing miniature peppers after the tomato plant had died off and left it some room to grow, but it was too late in the season for the peppers to fully develop. In any case, the baby green peppers were super cute, and at least I'll know what to look for next year.
The jalapeno pepper plant also lasted until the end of October, even putting out a few wicked-looking attempts in the last inning.
Things I'll Do Differently Next Year:
I will probably end up planting both pepper plants in a separate wooden box or pot in order to give them enough space and sunlight to grow and produce.
I planted both in the same wooden planter as two tomato plants.
 |
| June 9, 2011 |
The green pepper plant was totally overshadowed by the tomato plants and never got enough sunlight or space to grow. The jalapeno pepper plant fared better. By the beginning of July, I could see baby peppers.
 |
| July 9, 2011 |
Since it didn't require as much space and got a bit more sunlight, it ended up producing a handful of spicy peppers that I used to make salsa.
 |
| July 23, 2011 |
They were all about the size of a pinky finger.
 |
| July 29, 2011 |
The green pepper plant actually started producing miniature peppers after the tomato plant had died off and left it some room to grow, but it was too late in the season for the peppers to fully develop. In any case, the baby green peppers were super cute, and at least I'll know what to look for next year.
 |
| October 22, 2011 |
The jalapeno pepper plant also lasted until the end of October, even putting out a few wicked-looking attempts in the last inning.
Things I'll Do Differently Next Year:
I will probably end up planting both pepper plants in a separate wooden box or pot in order to give them enough space and sunlight to grow and produce.
Grow What You Eat: Rosemary
I love rosemary. The problem is that I don't know what to do with it.
My staple recipe for rosemary is to add it to a skillet of sauteed onions, green peppers and feta cheese, then serve it with pita bread. Besides that, I've been at a loss this year for what to do with this beautiful herb.
I bought a rosemary plant in a 4-inch pot from the Franklin Park Conservatory on May 14, 2011 for approximately $3. I potted it in a medium-sized clay pot and ignored everything I read about using sandy soil because of laziness.
It didn't seem to mind.
I don't think I harvested anything from it until mid-September.
Since it seemed to be doing well and I checked to make sure it wasn't on the ASPCA's list of plants that are toxic to cats, I brought it inside for the winter.
Things I'll do differently next year: Find more recipes that call for rosemary.
My staple recipe for rosemary is to add it to a skillet of sauteed onions, green peppers and feta cheese, then serve it with pita bread. Besides that, I've been at a loss this year for what to do with this beautiful herb.
I bought a rosemary plant in a 4-inch pot from the Franklin Park Conservatory on May 14, 2011 for approximately $3. I potted it in a medium-sized clay pot and ignored everything I read about using sandy soil because of laziness.
 |
| June 9, 2011 |
It didn't seem to mind.
 |
| August 27, 2011 |
I don't think I harvested anything from it until mid-September.
 |
| September 5, 2011 |
Since it seemed to be doing well and I checked to make sure it wasn't on the ASPCA's list of plants that are toxic to cats, I brought it inside for the winter.
 |
| October 24, 2011 |
Things I'll do differently next year: Find more recipes that call for rosemary.
Grow What You Eat: Basil
I bought two basil plants at Westerville Farmer's Market for approximately $2.50 for a 4-inch potted plant.
Note: All of the books I read suggested buying 4-inch plants because they will be less scrawny and will bush out better over time.
I potted each plant in a separate plastic hanging plant container that I'd saved from previous summers.
The plants started out fairly small and compact, but they grew quickly.
I started harvesting basil within a month, though I could have probably done so sooner.
I ended up making several huge batches of pesto over the course of the summer, using lemon juice, garlic cloves, olive oil, Parmesan cheese and slivered almonds, all of which I mixed together in a mini food processor.
After a while, I found that I got lazy and stopped harvesting the basil on a regular basis. It started to lose some of its vibrant green color and when I researched the problem, I found that it was due to my lack of constant pruning.
So I tried to harvest on bi-weekly basis, and though the leaves at the bottom of the plants never bounced back, the plants started to slowly regain their color.
By the end of August the plants were looking a bit worse for the ware...
And by the beginning of September, they were all but done for the season.
Things I'll do differently next year:
Really, I think the only thing I would change for next year is to harvest more often to prevent the plant from losing its color, a la Bunnicula style.
Everything else, including the soil, pot, location and frequency of watering seemed to work well.
Note: All of the books I read suggested buying 4-inch plants because they will be less scrawny and will bush out better over time.
 |
| May 25, 2011 |
I potted each plant in a separate plastic hanging plant container that I'd saved from previous summers.
The plants started out fairly small and compact, but they grew quickly.
 |
| June 9, 2011 |
I started harvesting basil within a month, though I could have probably done so sooner.
 |
| A large batch of basil, harvested on June 23, 2011 |
I ended up making several huge batches of pesto over the course of the summer, using lemon juice, garlic cloves, olive oil, Parmesan cheese and slivered almonds, all of which I mixed together in a mini food processor.
 |
| Basil in mini food processor |
 |
| Frozen in an ice cube tray then placed in freezer bags, ready to use |
 |
| July 9, 2011 |
So I tried to harvest on bi-weekly basis, and though the leaves at the bottom of the plants never bounced back, the plants started to slowly regain their color.
 |
| July 29, 2011 |
By the end of August the plants were looking a bit worse for the ware...
 |
| August 27, 2011 |
And by the beginning of September, they were all but done for the season.
 |
| September 5, 2011 |
Things I'll do differently next year:
Really, I think the only thing I would change for next year is to harvest more often to prevent the plant from losing its color, a la Bunnicula style.
Everything else, including the soil, pot, location and frequency of watering seemed to work well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)