I’m all for water-conservation, but I’m wondering about some methods — specifically the whole, “If it’s yellow, let it mellow.  If it’s brown, flush it down” rule.

According to Appropedia.org, this means that you don’t flush for number ones, but you do flush for number twos. 

I read about this in an eco-magazine a few years ago. While I guess it’s good in theory, I don’t think it would be good in practice.

The Appropedia article doesn’t suggest this practice if you have a low-flush toilet, because it could make the bathroom smelly.

This is also my reason for not liking the practice. We’ve all smelled school or locker room bathrooms. Do we really want our homes or work places smelling like that?

If so, how many pees before you flush? Two? Twenty? What about toilet paper?

We have pretty much successfully potty-trained our toddler. I think the whole only flushing for certain times would confuse him.

And what about company?

We’ve opted to install low-flow toilets. I think selective flushing is an extreme way to save water. The people doing that should either invest in a low-flow toilet or just go outside.

What are your opinions?

It looks like the success of the Cash for projects might expand to include insulation and water heaters.

President Barack Obama has announced proposed plans for HOMESTAR, a $6 billion program aimed at creating jobs in some industries — like construction and manufacturing – by giving consumers extra incentives to buy energy efficient appliances, systems and insulation.

The amount of the rebates is larger than previous rebates offered. Those who qualify can get up to $3,000.

This plan will need to be approved by Congress to go into effect.

Has your state started it’s Cash for EnergyStar Appliances program yet? Some have, and the program is so popular that some funds are being depleted within hours!

Last year I wrote about the program, which is like Cash for Clunkers for appliances. The money comes from the federal government and was set aside as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. 

Unlike Cash for Clunkrs, states were given the authority to decide which new EnergyStar appliances would qualify for a rebate, how much the rebates would be worth and when the rebates would begin.

Since states were given that authority, each program is different. Has your state begun its program? If so, which appliances are included and how much will you get back?

You can find the answers to all of those questions at EnergySavers.gov. There’s a handy little map. Click on your state and see what’s up. The page is updated as new info is received.

My state doesn’t start its program until April. This stinks for us, because we needed to replace our appliances earlier. I just keep reminding myself that we’ve been saving with our energy and water bills… sigh.

Has your state already started its program? Was it hard to apply for the rebates?

A few months ago, I wrote about low and no VOC paints. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds. They make paint smell, well, like paint. And they aren’t good for you or the environment.

Most paint companies now offer a low or no VOC type of paint, but many are very pricey. This is why I was so excited about the green variety of Olympic paints sold at Lowe’s. They are actually a little cheaper than many regular brands.

Our experience with the green Olympic paints was both hit and miss. We bought a light yellow semi-gloss, which we were pretty happy with. I believe we did two coats of the yellow and one coat of primer.

But we weren’t as happy with our can of white Olympic paint. It took a couple of coats on the ceiling, which I first blamed on my poor painting technique. But it also caused problems on our doorframes. The previous owners of our house, painted half of most of the doorframes white. They were wood-colored in the rooms, but white in the halls. And they also didn’t tape, so the outside of the frames were all sorts of colors.

So, I sanded, dusted, primed and painted the doorframes, using a paintbrush. At this point I’m up to coat four and it doesn’t look like more than two coats.  It certainly doesn’t match the white that the previous owners used.

And I’m not the only one with issues with this paint. Erika wrote to me of her experience with the low VOC Olympic paint, saying, ”With the Olympic, you sacrifice paint quality for the eco-friendly factor in my opinion.”

Her paint didn’t roll on smoothly, and created air bubbles that she had to try to pop before the paint dried.  She said she could also tell the paint wouldn’t be as durable as other paints.

“I wouldn’t recommend the Olympic. If you’ve tried other no VOC paints and are pleased with their quality, I would say it is worth the extra expense and stick with those,” recommends Erika.

Have you tried this paint? What was your experience? Do you have another brand of low or no VOC paint that you recommend?

For the longest time, we attempted to re-use plastic bags from stores as trash can liners — our version of recycling. Those bags didn’t fit in most of our garbage cans, and usually fell or broke, creating a mess.

So, we finally started buying liners (this was a few years ago) and most recently, we bought a big roll of bags that were made with mostly recycled materials.

The next time we head out to buy liners, we’re going to be looking for EconoGreen Plastics. I received some samples in the mail this week, and so far, I really like them.

Econogreen trash bags are made from 100 percent recycled plastic. They are recyclable.

They are also oxodegradable.  While I had heard of this word before, I had to look up the meaning. From what I understand, the plastic is designed to biodegrade more quickly than regular plastics. The Econogreen bags were designed with an additive that starts to break down when exposed to oxygen. They should break down within two years of use.

This means these bags could clear up lots of space in landfills. According to the WorldWatch Institute, only .6 percent of plastic bags are recycled. The rest are thrown in landfills.

Another big bonus of the bags? They are affordable. A box of 30 tall kitchen bags costs $3.99.  You don’t have to order these online — they are on sale at Home Depot stores.

The sample pack they sent me had several types of bags inside — including huge contractor bags and bags for garages. These were heavy duty and a lot bigger than anything we would normally need.

We’ve used three different types of bags at this point, and each of them worked well for us. None broke, split open or fell into the trash can. They were all very sturdy.

Purchasing a car is likely the second largest investment you will make – and one that you will likely have to live with for at least the next few years – so you want to make the best, cleanest, most fuel efficient, safest, and cost effective decision. For my husband and I this decision has lead us beyond the land of hybrid vehicles and into the land of diesel engines.

The 2009 Green Car of the Year award went to a Turbo Diesel Injected (TDI) vehicle – the Volkswagen Jetta Clean Diesel (TDI). This is the first time the award has gone to a clean diesel vehicle. For Americans, a diesel car probably sounds like an old, dirty engine, but its time for all of us to get back on the diesel bandwagon. Europeans have been driving these new diesels for years, but these cars have only recently been able to meet the stringent American emissions standards. In fact while adventuring to Copenhagen, Denmark, it was hard not to see one of these (or the wagon version) cars on the street — even as taxi cabs!

Hands down, this is a performance vehicle. Its powerful, even though it is only a four cylinder vehicle. Because my husband and I have been seeking a car that would allow us to become a one car family and yet still have plenty of space for lugging things home, someday growing a family, and hopefully space for a dog, we looked at the sportwagon version of the VW TDI. Testing driving this car, we were nearly sold, but it was the little bonuses for the price that really sealed the deal. This car has gadgets galore — and most of them are standard! Between the Bluetooth (which even allows you to play music over the speakers that is streamed from your iPhone), the touch screen radio, and the digital dashboard readouts, this car has just about everything a geek could want! Further, the seats fold down perfectly flat, the front seats (and back!) are heated, and the side view mirrors have a defrosting option. All around, this car is fun to drive.

Its not all fun and games in these cars though. Some of the toys genuinely help the driver drive more efficiently. Much like the Ford and the Toyota hybrids which display the fuel efficiency of the car, the VW and Audi clean diesel cars show the average fuel economy for your current driving trip and your tank of fuel. They also show you instant fuel economy based on the speed you are traveling. These gauges help drivers learn which driving styles generate the best fuel efficiency for the vehicle. Of course, also like most of the hybrids, most clean diesel cars also offer built in navigation which can also help you increase your fuel economy by showing you the most efficient way to get from place to place.

But what’s so great about the clean diesel technology and how is it different today than it was years ago? First of all, today’s diesel engines are highly efficient. The VW Jetta Sportswagon, for example, gets 30mpg in the city and 41mpg on the highway. Best yet, these mpg stats are likely to be surpassed. (It is a Jetta TDI that currently holds the world record for best fuel efficiency with 67.1mpg.) With 236 foot pounds of torque, this vehicle is powerful to say the least, able to move quickly from a standing start and pass other moving cars with a light tap of the petal. In comparison, old diesel engines were known for being loud, hard to start, and belching smoke, a far cry from these clean engines, even if they were efficient for its time. With prices for diesel fuel not much more than that of gasoline and the prices staying far more steady, its no wonder why Americans are beginning to again look towards these new technologies.

Interestingly, the Audi A3 clean diesel TDI is the 2010 Green Car of they year. This makes two years running for a clean diesel cars to win the coveted award.

So if you are wondering what it is my husband and I purchased… you guessed right! The VW Jetta Sportswagon TDI. We call her “Gretta the Jetta.”

Last year, I wrote a couple of posts about green Valentine’s Day gifts — one for kids and one for adults. Both are full of good tips on ways to celebrate the holiday in an eco-friendly way.

But I thought I’d try to find some more fun, green V-day ideas for this year.

Want to tell your sweetie how much you love him/her? Do it with an e-card. No paper, no resources used to deliver it, no ink printed on it. There are LOTS of cards available, from sweet to silly. There should be one that’s perfect for your loved one.

If an e-card isn’t enough, why not do a video tribute? There are also lots of examples of this — try youtube.

A home-cooked meal of your sweetheart’s favorites is also a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday. You took the time to prepare a meal and remembered important foods.

This tip was in last year’s list, but bears repeating — if you want to buy flowers, make sure they are organic.

Or, buy a plant. It can be the gift that keeps on giving. Plants can help purify the air and – with moderate maintenance — won’t die in a week.

Some people give pets for Valentine’s Day. If you want to do that, please head to your local animal shelter or humane society instead of a pet store. These pets will make wonderful additions to any family.

Want to buy some jewelry? This was in last year’s post, but estate jewelry or vintage jewelry is a great option.

If you have kids, handmade Valentine’s are a great treat for family members. My son isn’t the biggest fan of coloring, but if he knows he’s making a card for a family member, he gets a little more prolific.

A sure-fire way to my son’s heart? Sweets. His birthday is right before Valentine’s Day, but I plan on making him some heart-shaped cookies to enjoy on Valentine’s Day. And since he’s been into smoothies lately, we’ll make him a red or pink smoothie (with as many hidden healthful ingredients as possible!)

What are you doing for Valentine’s Day? Any tips you want to share?

As I mentioned some time ago, my husband and I have been in the market for a new vehicle – but not any old car! As professional advocates on climate change issues, it is extremely important to us to make a choice that supports our daily efforts to improve fuel efficiency, keep our air clean, and reduce our carbon footprint.

When we’ve spoken about out interest in purchasing a new car with our friends, they all seem to simply think the obvious choice for us is a hybrid vehicle. But just because the vehicle includes hybrid technology, does not always mean that it’s the most fuel efficient. New technologies are always coming out and while we rely on manufacturers to tell consumers about the benefits, most have done a pretty lousy job. The educated car buyer is challenged to keep up with the innovations, learning the benefits, which manufacturer is using the technologies and when they will be brought to the marketplace. It’s not an easy task.

All hybrid technology is not created equal – and they differ from one manufacturer to another.Learn more about hybrids by checking out a post I wrote about them some time ago. You cannot rely upon car salesmen to tell you about the technology as many have not taken the time to learn about it or will be able to explain it well. Do your own research.

Compare vehicles that include hybrid technology with conventional models making sure to look at price, miles per gallon, and even maintenance. If you are more of a long distance, highway driver, hybrid vehicles may not increase your mpg enough to make it worth the extra money. For you, it may make more sense to seek out a conventional or diesel (TDI – Turbocharged Direct Injected) vehicle with excellent highway ratings. More on TDI another day… For those of you who are more short distance, city traffic drivers, hybrids may better suit your needs since the vehicle recharges the battery while breaking and operates utilizing the battery while slowing and stopping.

It’s important to also realize that hybrids will soon be coming out with another big improvement – plugs! No, this doesn’t mean you will be required to plug in your car or park near an electricity source. What it means is that you will have the option to charge the battery of the car with electricity from your home, allowing the vehicle to rely on the battery more than the gas tank. Still you can always fill up at the local station and still recharge the battery through slowing and stopping. Best of all, this improvement to the hybrid technology will come with a battery with much improved energy saving capacity. Hopefully, theses cars are only right around the corner, so if you are not quite in the market for a new car but are just starting to think about it, look out for new plug-in hybrids coming to a car dealer near you in the next few years – if not sooner!

Still, while the U.S. market has just barely more than a handful of hybrids currently available, they simply do not seem to fit our bill when it comes to picking a car. Sure the Toyota Prius, the best selling hybrid currently on the market, is worth a look and remains on our list, it does not have the hauling capacity we had hoped to maintain. The capacity is ok, and certainly doable but for a young couple likely to one day use the car for cross country trips, kids, and our occasional furniture shopping, it is only barely as big as we want – even with the seats folding down flat (a major perk in our book!). We do not prefer the relative low quality and lack of comfort of the Ford Escape and while the Saturn Vue was a pretty good ride, we felt it had very few tech options we wanted for the price, not to mention that we learned just after test driving that GM would be closing the line at the end of this year.

If price were no matter, the Lexus RX450h would be on the top of our list. It’s gas mileage is excellent (though could always be better!) and truly is an exquisite design of luxury. Unfortunately, that luxury comes with a hefty price tag that happens to be out of our ideal range.

So the question remains, will we find a vehicle that is both fuel efficient and family friendly in size which fits into our (hardly meager) price range at under $35,000? Stay tuned!

Do you shun dry cleaning because it’s not green? We don’t dry clean. Probably more out of convenience and cheapness and anything else. But I’m quick to throw out the chemicals excuse as well.

I didn’t really know anything about dry cleaning chemicals, and if they were bad for the environment.

Traditional dry cleaners use perchloroethylene, or PERC. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PERC is a colorless, non-flammable liquid that can be dangerous to those working around it. Breathing a small amount can, “adversely affect the human nervous system,” causing problems such as dizziness and fatigue. Prolonged exposure can lead to liver and kidney damage.

The EPA reports that while PERC by itself isn’t likely to harm the enviornment, it can “contribute to the formation of photochemical smog when it reacts with other volatile organic carbon substances in the air.”

But there are dry cleaners that don’t use PERC. Some use a carbon dioxide (CO2) cleaning method and others use a wet cleaning method.

The CO2 method uses liquid carbon dioxide, which is non-toxic. A case study by the EPA found that this method, “produces no hazardous waste, eliminates exposures to traditional drycleaning solvents, and does not use ozone-depleting compounds.”

Wet-cleaning uses milder detergents than those we use at home, along with special washing machines. According a case study by the EPA, is also environmentally preferable.

Beware of some dry cleaners that claim they are organic. Some use a solvent called DF-2000 that is actually a petroleum product.

How do you find dry cleaners near you that use a CO2 or wet cleaning method? Try NoDryClean.com. It’s simple to use. We live in a fairly rural area, and the closest one to us is 83 miles away.

What to do then? Well, one option is at home dry cleaning.  We have tried Dryel. Dryel is an at home dry-cleaning kit, that does not contain PERC.

We had pretty good success with it, but we weren’t sure of the ingredients used and if the chemicals were bad for us. They don’t list the specific ingredients on their packaging or their website.

Many dry clean only garments can be hand-washed and line-dried. We mainly just try to be very careful when we wear dry clean only items.

What do you do with dry clean only clothes?

Is it being green or being lazy to not wash each and every item of clothing after one wear? According to two recent blog posts that I’ve read, it’s green.

This is a practice I used to do a lot more often — life with an infant and a toddler is a lot messier than life pre-babies. But before babies, I would wear jeans and other pants at least twice between washes. The Sunday best were only washed on an as-needed basis. Socks and undergarments were washed after every use.

If you don’t get anything on the clothes, then they do not need to be washed after every wearing. Many weren’t designed to be washed after every wear — especially those that say “Dry Clean Only.”

The practice of not washing after every use not only saves energy and water, but it also extends the life of your clothes. And it might even give you a little extra time, especially if the clothes need ironing.

There are some exemptions to this rule. I believe underwear and socks should be washed after every use. If you are a sweaty person, your clothes will need more washing. You can wear undershirts to protect your nicer button-downs. Just wash the undershirts after every wearing and not the button-down.

Currently, I am the exception to this rule. I go through at least two shirts a day, thanks to spit-up, sticky fingers, and my own clumsiness. I have to get better with those burp cloths!

Do you wash your clothes after every use? Or do you only wash certain items?