mixing it up

as i've mentioned before, sink faucets can unload gallons of water per minute, especially when you have little ones who opt to splash around, rather than actually wash their hands, as you requested 20 minutes earlier. simply installing aerators, which mix air with the water as it leaves the spout, reduce both the flow rate and splashing (child-induced splashing not included, however), while increasing wetting efficiency.

faucet aerators offer flow rates from 0.5 to 2.75 gallons per minute (gpm). even a 2.75 gpm aerator can reduce faucet flow by 5.5 percent or more. of course, you still want some water pressure, right?so a flow rate of 1 gpm is probably the lowest acceptable flow rate for bathroom sink use, and a flow rate of 2.5 gpm will work for the kitchen. also, with a price tag of $3 to $10 each and potential savings of 100 gallons of water per year, per faucet, these make great economic sense.

dish doodie

it’s more a matter of habit than anything. we clear the table, rinse the dishes and plop them into the dishwasher. isn’t that akin to hosing ourselves down before we get into the shower? fact is, unless your dishwasher is ancient, rinsing dishes, glasses and utensils is unnecessary, not to mention wasteful. simply scrape off any particles with a wet sponge and load away!

next best: If you must rinse your dishes (either because you had a particularly messy meal or you run your washer infrequently), you can fill the sink with water once and give your dishes a quick dip, rather than running the faucet.

also, you know that sprayer do-hickey that tends to sit idly by while you rinse your dishes with water from the faucet? give it go! Like a showerhead, kitchen sprayers break the water stream into tiny droplets. according to the EPA, spray taps use 50 percent to 90 percent less water to rinse than when using the faucet.

the other thing to consider is that the hours following dinner tend to be high-demand, energy-usage times. you can cut energy costs by running the dishwasher later in the evening, perhaps before you turn in for the night. also, half-full dish loads are a huge waste of water and energy, as your dishwasher uses the same amount no matter how much is in it. so be sure to load it up before you hit “start” and don’t forget to put the dry setting to “energy-saver.” every penny counts!

chill out

believe it or not, the summer months are edging nearer, and, if you’re lucky enough to have an air conditioner (i, unfortunately, am not), you need to remember that -- just like your furnace -- it needs some yearly tlc.

be sure check out your unit’s air filters once a month and clean or replace filters, as necessary. keeping your filters clean can cut energy consumption 5 to 15 percent. also, make sure that the drain channels and coils on outdoor units are not clogged.

to keep cooling costs down, run the forced-air system's fan -- not the air conditioner -- to maintain a comfortable temperature. simply flip the thermostat to "fan only" to recycle air throughout the house.

also, while i can only guess (pout) how tempting it must be to crank the a/c when it’s 90-plus degrees outside, keep the thermostat at 78 degrees when you home. when no one will be there, set the thermostat at 85 degrees. that way, you reduce the need for air conditioning and save energy, as well as have extra cash on hand for your labor day barbecue.

last, if you have ceiling fans or other fans, turn them on. the blowing air can make you feel 5 degrees cooler, without running the air conditioner. not to mention, that fans use a lot less electricity than air conditioners! btw... check out today's daily danny (by the extremely FAB danny seo) on this very topic!

ahhhh... l'amour...

yup, once again, it's time to dole out beaucoup buck-a-roos to show your true love that your intentions are pure and to make up for whatever things you have - or haven't - done for her lately (ok, so i'm a little cranky today... :). while you're at it, why not be a little... you know... responsible while kissing her darling derriere and look for these labels on this year's stock of yummy chocos and fragrant flora? (thanks to greenerchoices.org for this info!)

sustainable chocolate


organic chocolate is produced without most synthetic pesticides and fertilizers or genetic modification. growers also emphasize the use of renewable resources and conserving soil and water to enhance environmental quality. search for “organic chocolate” online or look for options at natural and gourmet grocery stores.

fair trade chocolate is produced by farmers and workers in developing nations who receive a “fair” price for their product. Trade is done directly between farmer-owned cooperatives and buyers. crops are grown using soil and water conservation measures that restrict the use of harmful pesticides. To find ftc products, visit transfair usa.

rainforest alliance chocolate is grown using integrated pest-management systems that limit the use of pesticides and fertilizers. crops are grown using water-, soil- and wildlife-habitat conservation measures. farm laborers are paid salaries and benefits equal to or greater than the legal minimum wage of their countries. for a product directory, visit the rainforest alliance.

sustainable flowers

organic flowers are grown without most synthetic pesticides and fertilizers or genetic modification. growers also emphasize the use of renewable resources and conserving soil and water to enhance environmental quality. to find organic flowers, visit organic bouquet, california organic flowers or diamond organics.


veriflora flowers are grown using water-, soil-, and habitat-conservation measures. the use of pesticides and fertilizers is also restricted. farm laborers are compensated and protected according to international, national or locally recognized standards. for a list of products and to learn more about this label, visit veriflora.

fair trade flowers are produced by farmers and workers in developing nations who receive a “fair” price for their product. trade is done directly between farmer-owned cooperatives and buyers. crops are grown using soil and water conservation measures that restrict the use of harmful pesticides. To find fct flowers, visit 1800flowers.com.

biodynamic flowers are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, genetic engineering or animal by-products. additionally, flowers may not be grown in areas subject to strong electromagnetic fields. to find biodynamic flowers, visit organic bouquet or harms vineyard and lavender fields.

local flowers.
Particularly if you live in a temperate area, buying local flowers, which may or may not be certified, is another option. To find out if there’s a seller near you, check local harvest, a searchable database of local agricultural products.

to learn more about these labels, visit greenerchoices.org's eco-labels center.

keep the cold -- where it belongs

OUTside!

it’s amazing how many ways heat manages to escape your house... and, when those flurries gat a'blowin (ok. who am i kidding? i live in southern california... still, we *do* get that chilly marine layer... so there!)... here are a few areas that may need a little extra attention.

santa ain't the only one who uses the chimney

while there are few things nicer than a cozy fire in winter, leaving an open fireplace damper when not in use can let 8 percent of your home’s heat escape. if you have a fireplace, be sure to close the damper when you’re not using it. and, once spring has sprung, don’t forget to close it up for the season. an open fireplace damper acts just like an open window, letting cool air find its way to the great outdoors (assuming your one of those lucky dogs with A/C!).

fill in the gaps

air leaks constitute up to 10 percent of your energy bill and are easily fixed. simply take a tour of the house and mark all the windows, heating vents and outside doors. then, take a ribbon and hold it up to the edges of doors, windows, air ducts and other sources of air leaks (get the kids in on it, too!). if the ribbon blows, you've found a leak! a date with a caulking gun and some weather stripping will make a huge difference.

shades of green

you know, those lovely curtains or shades you put up do more than just keep the sun from reflecting off your television screen. they can actually help regulate the temperature inside your house in all types of weather (kind of like those neat hot/cold mugs... kooky, eh?). so, before you head out into the chilly world be sure to close them up, as they add another layer of insulation.