http://www.informationbirmingham.com/public-work.aspx

http://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/NatchezTrace/

As energy costs continue to rise an easy way to cut back on monthly expenses is to save on your power bill.  It is actually quite easy to save at least 30% every month without affecting your normal routine.

Reduce your energy use

Here are several suggestions to get you well on your way to saving money and living well all while giving Mother Earth a break!

• Figure out how much energy you are currently using. TVA and NES have partnered to offer a “do-it-yourself” home energy audit.  Go online and fill out the audit and you’ll receive a free Energy Conservation Kit in the mail. From there, you can set goals to reduce your energy use. Its kind of like putting your house on a diet!

• Replace all the conventional lighting in your home with compact fluorescent (CF) bulbs. They cost more initially but use 65-75% less electricity than an incandescent bulb and last 8-15 times longer. Remember to properly recycle CF bulbs, as well as any other fluorescent bulb, as they contain trace amounts of mercury.
• Invest in a programmable thermostat or turn the AC off when you leave the house. Keep your thermostat set to no less than 78 degrees in the summer and no more than 72 degrees in the winter. If you are too hot, use a small fan near you instead of cooling the whole house. In the winter, use a small space heater to warm the immediate area to your liking… and wear a sweater!
• Set your water heater to 120 degrees. This temperature is sufficient for household needs, is recommended for safety against scalding and will ensure your heater a longer lifespan.
• Unplug all electronic devices that are not in use. Cell phone chargers draw electricity even when your phone is no longer plugged into it. Don’t pay for this waste of energy! Any item that has a remote is pulling a little bit of electricity even if it is not “on”. These devices are ready to be “on” with a touch of a button, thus constant electrical usage is needed to provide this convenience. Keep electronics you use daily plugged into one power strip; other electronics that you use less frequently can go on a separate power strip that is turned off after use. Evading this “phantom load” will save you a bit everyday!

Addicted to paper? You are not alone! It takes some getting used to, but in three easy steps you will be well on your way to chopping your pile of paper into pieces.

Slow the Paper Waste Stream

Step 1. Got junk mail? You do have control over it -- you can opt-out. Its a privacy issue, but it is also a waste of paper and resources if you have no interest in these solicitations. Just let them know the mountains of paper is not welcome in your mail box. More information is available at http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/protect.shtm

Step 2. Saving trees is easy thanks to the internet. Paying bills online cuts down on paper consumption and saves the cost of paying for checks and stamps. Credit card companies are advertising it helps prevent identity thief too. Contact companies that send monthly bills and ask them to change your monthly payments to online billing. Save some bucks and a few trees! You will have less to shred and recycle too! Win, win, win, win, win!

Step 3. While you are surfing the internet and come across something you want to read later, don’t print it! Save it as a portable document file (pdf), read it offline, forward it to someone and save it for all eternity in your neat and dust-free file cabinet in your computer.

Watch the video:  Green thumbs sprout from weather and economic patterns

I was thrilled when I watched this report on Knoxville’s NBC WBIR this morning featuring my dear friend Tom Whisman.

I first met Tom over 13 years ago, while a student at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.  I met Tom through his partner Joe (they have now been together going on 40 years!).  Over the years, Joe and Tom have become my surrogate “gay” family.  Explaining my holiday plans each year goes something like this; “well, we go to my parents for a few days, and then we go to our ’second family’ in Knoxville for a few days – the second family is much more fun!”

Tom is one of my main inspirations for experimenting with gardening.  All those years ago, before even contemplating things like plant productivity and trees species, I would stroll through Tom’s serene gardens, pondering their beauty.  His style is more English than French, and he has traveled extensively to visit gardens all around the US and Europe for inspiration and has a library filled with books on the subject.

During our visits, his delicious dinners feature whatever vegetables are in season.  I have to admit that my love of cooking was also birthed in Tom and Joe’s beautiful home.

I have a lot to be thankful for – my wonderful and talented Knoxville family is certainly up there at the top.

Link to the full article:  http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=96057

BUY IN BULK

You like your brands and you are a loyal customer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be green while you get what you want.

Buying in bulk not only saves a lot of money, but since more product is bundled together, less packaging is needed, thus less waste. If you have some excess storage space or a friend to split the goods with, invest in a wholesale warehouse membership and start buying in bulk. You can stock up on non-perishable items like toilet paper, toothpaste, deodorant, paper towels, and CF (compact fluorescent) light bulbs.  And where else can you find the 12 pound bags of baking soda and multiple gallon jugs of vinegar (see previous post) you’ll need for cleaning?

Some stores also offer a wide variety of fresh and frozen foods organic foods at prices that will pay for your membership in just a few weeks!

Sure, you are up for saving money on everyday items. If it helps earn some green brownie points, then hey – even better… Over the next few days we will post tips to save some green while getting green.

Revolutionize your cleaning

How many cleaners are under your sink? Dozens? Bet that cost you a bundle! Plus you have that haunting possibility of poisoning nagging in the back of your head… there is a better way.

Most household commercial cleaners come with scary labels warning against touching, inhaling or ingesting the contents. Why risk your health to clean the house? Natural cleaners work great, are easy on the pocketbook and won’t knock you out with lingering fumes. The basics include baking soda and white vinegar (bought in bulk of course).  Cheap, cheap, CHEAP!!! All you have to do is add a little water to some baking soda, make a paste and rub it on your sinks and surfaces, then wipe it away to clean up quick. Vinegar knocks the spunk out of a dirty garbage can, leaves laundry fresh and puts a gleam on your dishes.

http://www.armhammer.com/myhome/

http://www.heinzvinegar.com/tips