Green Jobs Infographic Explains The Green Economy

November 28th, 2011 by Green Home Maker No comments »

Check out this infographic about green jobs. It’s easy to think that this administration’s efforts haven’t gotten us anywhere amidst tales of a still-struggling economy, terrible job market and scandals involving government money loaned out to defunct solar companies. But this graphic explains the green economy and puts things into perspective…

Infographic by Jobvine Jobs


What is the deal with Green jobs
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Hobby Farm For Sale in Virginia Mountains

May 3rd, 2011 by Green Home Maker No comments »

Our friends are selling their hobby farm in the mountains of southwest Virginia and have asked us to help spread the word. It is a gorgeous piece of property (15.3 acres) with a cute little farm house (1,612 Sq. Ft.) that sits near a quiet, sate-maintained road in the Blue Ridge mountains of SWVA. Below are a few pictures, but you can find more information and photos on their website.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576" caption="This is the front of the house. The property goes back across a pasture up into the woods."]Front of House for Sale in SWVA[/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576" caption="This is the back of the house with a year-round creek and the new back addition sun-room."]Read the rest...

Recouping Your Photovoltaic Investment

April 12th, 2011 by Green Home Maker No comments »
Before you decide to opt for a photovoltaic electrical system, you have to make some decisions. You will need a good plan and you will have to arrange for financing. Luckily, most commercial solar companies have done all this work for you and will give you free consultations before you spend a dime. There are plenty of tax credits, rebates and incentive programs to get you into photovoltaic power systems.

As of 2011, Photovoltaic systems are used mostly in rural environments where power is expensive, transmission lines require long stretches and people want to live “off the grid” a term meaning that they either have no commercial hookup or sell electricity back to the power company at a rate which gives them a check each month instead of a bill. [1] In urban areas, things are a little trickier because of vegetation, buildings casting shadows, home orientation and general power consumption habits. I Read the rest...

Environmental Damage Caused by Illegally Scrapped Cars

March 2nd, 2011 by Green Home Maker No comments »

This article was produced on behalf of Giveacar – a fundraising organization that donates money made from scrap cars to charitable causes throughout the world.

Scrap CarsMore than half of the vehicles taken off the road each year are being illegally scrapped or dumped. These practices could be causing significant damage to the environment and endangering public health, not to mention the cost to legal operators. Environmental authorities in the UK have begun to clamp down on this worrying trend, but it remains to be seen whether they have sufficient power and resources to be able to bring tit to an end.

When scrapping a car it is important you know about the legislation regarding car disposal and ensure that you only give your car to someone who will deal with it in a legal manner.
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Reiki Symbols, Demystified

January 25th, 2011 by Green Home Maker No comments »

Reiki SymbolsThe Japanese word “Reiki” means “spiritually guided life energy.” The practice of Reiki is used to harmonize the mind, body, and soul, or – more specifically – relieve pain, clear toxins, promote creativity, and reduce stress. The practice of Reiki is carried out by using Reiki Symbols: Japanese forms derived from Sanskrit, which is supposedly where all other language originated. When used properly, Reiki symbols can heal and enhance the flow of Life Force Energy. Using Reiki Symbols correctly could unlock entire other levels of awareness and manifestation. The symbols can be activated by drawing them with your palm center, finger, or “third eye,” spelling the symbol’s name three times, or visualizing them. It is a privilege to have these symbols available at the click of a mouse because many Reiki Masters follow the tradition of Read the rest...

Five Healthier, Greener Alternatives for Cleaning a Bathroom

January 14th, 2011 by Green Home Maker No comments »

Cleaning a Bathroom ImageCleaning the bathroom really isn’t up there on my list of top fun things to do. Let’s face it, it’s a necessity; if a bit of a chore at the best of times. Putting aside that bathroom cleaning isn’t the most fun of activities, many domestic cleaning products, in particular bleach and disinfectants can over time, start to corrode your beautiful bathroom surfaces. In addition strong detergents and disinfectants can be harmful to the environment, not to mention creating noxious smells and fumes in your home.

It needn’t be this way mind you, as it is actually surprisingly easy to get your bathroom just as clean and sparkly, using a variety of organic substances that are easily found in the kitchen.

Here’s my top five clean Read the rest...

Slow Medicine For Green and Healthy Healthcare

January 13th, 2011 by Green Home Maker No comments »

Fast HealthcareIn 2008 my father had a serious heart attack while vacationing in Hawaii. He was rushed to the main island in a medical helicopter, where he stayed in recovery for other a month. While he was there his hospital used huge amounts of resources, perhaps worst of all contributing to environmental dioxin loads due to the incineration of medical waste. My father was saved by the valiant efforts of those doctors, and I am deeply grateful for that, but I long for a slower, healthier and greener option.

Interestingly, some reports show that as many as 75% of Oncologists would not themselves undertake aggressive cancer treatment due to “the ineffectiveness of chemotherapy and its unacceptable degree of toxicity.” Read the rest...

The Worst Commuter Cities in America

December 24th, 2010 by Green Home Maker No comments »

LA Traffic photo from imsnotreal on flickrUnless you live in a tiny rural community with dirt roads, you’ve probably experienced traffic at some point or another. However, in certain cities, traffic is not an occasional nuisance – it’s a way of life. A study conducted in 2007 by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) analyzed several cities across the nation in order to figure out the annual amount of time commuters spend sitting in traffic. The results are astounding – the study found that the total amount of time people spent stuck in traffic during 2007 equaled 4.2 billion hours. That comes out to around one work week per traveler in the nation! The study also looked at which cities had the worst traffic and concluded that the following four cities are among the worst commuting cities in America.

1. Washington, DC

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Green Building Myths

December 7th, 2010 by Green Home Maker No comments »

green-building-mythsAs the trend toward green building strengthens, there are more and more ways to find yourself turning toward eco-friendly products, building materials, and construction methods when it comes to renovations, projects or repairs. You may have heard many things about building green and various green construction methods. Some of them may have been true, some of them not, and at times it can be difficult to sort the facts from fiction. Here are a few myths that might sound familiar, but why much of what you may have heard about them might not necessarily be correct.

Myth #1 – Building Green is Complicated
Sure, just about any type of construction or building process can become complicated given certain parameters, but this doesn’t mean that green building has to be any more complicated than typical construction projects. And really, ho Read the rest...

Clean Green: Hazardous Household Chemicals (And What to Use Instead!)

November 23rd, 2010 by Green Home Maker No comments »

Jillian Gile is a guest blogger for An Apple a Day and a writer on the subject of medical transcription training for the Guide to Health Education.

DIY Green CleanersThere a certain “clean” ideal that has been perpetrated through the years by advertising agencies and chemical companies.  Notice that in every advertisement for a household cleaner, everything sparkles, families are happy, and all is right with the world?  Unfortunately, the reality of household cleaners doesn’t always mirror the perfect homes you see in those commercials.  Many household cleaners contain chemicals that are extremely harmful to breathe or ingest.

The number one home-health culprit – Read the rest...

Eco A-Listers: Celebrities That Have Gone Green

November 23rd, 2010 by Green Home Maker No comments »

Jillian Gile is a guest blogger for An Apple a Day and a writer on the subject of medical transcription training for the Guide to Health Education.

Ed Begley JrPeople often look to celebrities, good or bad, for examples to pattern their own lives after.  Movie stars, TV actors, and rockers often have huge followings, fans who copy the way they dress, the cars they drive, and even the causes they support.  There are quite a few celebrities who have used their visibility to support good causes, like going green.  Here are a few celebrities who are trying to make a difference.

Ed Begley, Jr.
Ed Begley, Jr. might be the most famous and visible stars with a dedication to going green.  He has Read the rest...

All Natural Body Lotions: A Review and Comparison

October 3rd, 2010 by Green Home Maker No comments »

Natural Body LotionsIn comparing these different lotions, I found Seed Nourishing Body Lotion to be my favorite for several reasons. My favorite thing about Seed lotions are the ingredients. It’s very important to me to know what’s in my products, so I like reading and comprehending what’s listed in the ingredients, such as: grape seed oil, sunflower seed oil, shea butter, and rosemary leaf extract to name a few. And while Burt’s Bees Radiance Body Lotion has natural ingredients as well, such as beeswax and coconut oil, it also lists the mysterious word ‘fragrance’ pretty high up on the list. Fragrance is a word that is completely unregulated and usually Read the rest...

Difference Between Hybrids and Electric Cars

March 9th, 2009 by Green Home Maker No comments »

Some hybrids are hybrid-electrics but not all electrics are hybrids.

For instance, many of the first hybrids to hit the market used gasoline to charge up the batteries while driving or applying the brakes. Many of the newer hybrids have gasoline engines, but can also run on batteries that were charged from an outlet in your garage.

A fully electric car does not have a gasoline engine at all, and runes purely on battery power, which can be charged in various ways depending on the model – but often via an outlet in your garage. Read the rest...

Put Your Money Where Your Solar Is

March 3rd, 2009 by Green Home Maker No comments »

I just learned about a great new project the EPA is running, which motivates businesses to commit to powering their business with renewable energy like solar, hydro and wind power.

The site is called EPA Green Power Partners and is a great place to find businesses that are as serious as you are about being green and maintaining a healthy planet. We noticed that one of our sponsors is listed there, along with several other great businesses that we already knew about – and we found lots more to choose from.

So Vote With Your Dollars and shop for products, services and information with EPA Partners like:

What is the Web’s Best Resource on Healthy Living?

December 4th, 2008 by Green Home Maker No comments »

Healthy Living WebsitesI’ll give you a hint… it’s not us. The best resource we’ve found on the web for honest, non-salesy, reputable, trustworthy healthy living information is the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website’s Healthy Living Section where you will find CDC-vetted links leading to information about: Nutrition, dental health, sexual health, menopause, gentics, metnal health, diseases and much more.

Below are some other trustworthy online resources (besides what this website will become) for healthy living info:

How Much Would I Save With Solar Panels?

December 4th, 2008 by Green Home Maker No comments »

Save money on your electric bill with solar panels“How much would I save on my electric bill if I installed solar panels?” That’s the question I asked myself the day I called Real Goods Solar to install my photovoltaic system here in Denver, Colorado. The answer? Good news and bad news.

I still have an electric bill. I don’t get a check from Excel Energy each month. And we’re still careful (more than ever actually) about turning off lights when we leave the room. But what HAS changed is that my electric bill is a quarter of the price, I’m more conscious of the energy I use and even though my solar panels won’t pay for themselves for another five years if I keep living in this house, thanks to Colorado and Federal rebates they’ve already increased the value of my home by more than the amount that I paid for them. So, in a sense, I got them for free.

One thing I didn’t calculate that day thoug Read the rest...

Green Up Your Home Office

December 3rd, 2008 by Green Home Maker No comments »

green-ebookAbout My Planet has teamed up with several big eco-brands to launch two ebooks designed to help people green up their lives a little easier. We wanted to point out the “Go Green Revolution: My Office Handbook” which includes tips on having a more eco-conscious office environment and also helps offices save money on their electric bill.

You get both books for $20 and they come with several incentives from green brand sponsors.

Here is what you get:

  • Go Green Revolution: My Life – The main ebook that will talk about the different aspects of your life and how to go green and save energy in each of those areas.
  • Go Green Revolution: My Office Handbook – Our favorite and reason for writing this post, this is a shorter book that will talk about the diff Read the rest...

Green Gift Wrapping

December 3rd, 2008 by Green Home Maker No comments »

Green Gift WrappingJust in time for the holidays, here are some green gift wrapping ideas from Gaiam to keep you from feeling so guilty when you look around the room on Christmas morning and see all of that wasted gift wrapping paper.

For Great Gree Giftwrapping Ideas…

1. Keep your used aluminum foil throughout the year and use it for space-age gift wrap for the kids come Christmas time.

2. Reuse your shopping bags – simple but effective and cheap!

3. Keep those used gas-station-bought maps from the last family vacation. Not only do they make great green gift wrap, but it will remind your family of what a great time you had!

4. Read the rest...