39 Responses to “Got great green ideas?”

1. posted by brenda p at June 30, 2008 9:18 am :
   

   Rain barrels

   I’ve seen many regional orgs advertising rainbarrel-making workshops. The first that comes to mind is Tricycle Gardens (read here).

2. posted by Chuck at June 30, 2008 9:19 am :
   

   Ohhhh I was just talking to K about rain barrels the other day! Great info! I’m going to be eagerly watching this one for sure!

   Keith and I are really trying to be mindful of things that we can do to be a bit greener as well as saving some $$. Couple of things we’ve been doing recently:

   • We have a dehumidifier in the basement and when emptying the tank, I’m using that water for the potted plants and hanging baskets outside rather than the hose.

   • We invested in a retractable clothesline at Lowes http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=159213-11112-R-400L&lpage=none (and some nifty retro wooden clothes pins) which we mounted to the deck and it runs across the back yard when I need it, when I don’t it’s out of sight. Used it for the first time yesterday – it was such a nice sunny day with a light breeze I thought why add to the heat in the house (and give Dominion more money since the SCC approved the 18% rate hike). Clothes smell like sunshine and summer! TOTALLY reminded me of being a kid again!

   • All those little ‘energy vampires’ in the home office are bad too! The lights from the wireless router, the cable modem, the printer, and the external hard drive that stay on even when the PC is turned off. We plugged all those into a power strip and when we are done with it all at night, we just flip the switch so those are not sucking energy when they aren’t in use.

   • Composting is fun too! I got a tumbling composter (http://www.gardeners.com/Compost-Tumbler/20706,37-459,default,cp.html) a few years ago for Christmas and had never REALLY used it – now we are. I’ve heard – and someone can correct me if this is wrong – that if you hold back a little of the batch you don’t have to add fresh starter each time – since the bit from the previous batch will start ‘heating’ the newer one up for you.

3. posted by brenda p at June 30, 2008 9:36 am :
   

   Found this review on compost tumblers: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Nature-Community/2003-04-01/Compost-Tumblers.aspx

4. posted by David P. at June 30, 2008 9:57 am :
   

   My sump pump died a short while ago. Rather than simply replace it, I also changed the plumbing for the outlet so that it now pumps into our rain barrel (our first rain barrel, several more will come later). Previously the sump pump just discharged into a French drain (Please don’t read abjuration everything French and support of George Bush into this!) ;-)

   Now, if only we’d get some rain!

5. posted by shawn at June 30, 2008 11:42 am :
   

   I am big on insulation as a low-tech (usually) green measure. I went to a grean house competition on the Mall in DC some years back and I was struck by how necessary insulation (and smallness) was to use little to no grid (or hydrocarbon) energy. The dumbest thing in the world would be to spend $25K on solar cells as a fashion statement before you have done EVERYTHING you can to insulate your house.

   Water: I have long wanted to install a “grey water” water system in our house. Shower would not be a problem for me, as I only use “dr. bronner’s soap” sink I’d have to find a friendlier dishwashing detergant, but kitchen sink would be easier to plumb… you’d just need a 45 elbow off your drain, and a handy valve that you could close when you are washing something you don’t want in your yard.

6. posted by Chuck at June 30, 2008 12:38 pm :
   

   Grey water system sounds interesting! Must research. I just remembered this thing that I caught the tail end of the other day on HGTV – looks kinda interesting…or maybe it’s just cause Ed Begley, Jr. is just so cool. =)

   http://www.greenswitch.tv/

7. posted by shawn at June 30, 2008 1:30 pm :
   

   Hmmmmm… looks very user-friendly. Simple. But it can’t be simple if it can turn off a bunch of circuits, BUT, can be overrided… I also wondr how it is installed.

   If you have pvc waste plumbing, grey water system can be very easy, provided your sink is near your outside plants.

8. posted by brenda p at July 3, 2008 3:19 pm :
   

   Chip forwarded the following additional resource re: rainbarrel workshops, at Chesterfield County Cooperative Extension:

   http://www.co.chesterfield.va.us/HumanServices/ExtensionServices/PublicSeminars.asp

9. posted by Chuck at July 4, 2008 8:10 pm :
   

   TOTALLY wish I had one of those rain barrels about now. We FINALLY got rain…YAY!

   Looking off the back deck seeing that water rushing out of my gutter, just realizing that I need some type of drain to get it away from the foundation. I can only imagine how much I could have captured with a barrel. Soon my pretty Rain Water, very soon you will be mine!

   By the way – HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

10. posted by Chuck at July 8, 2008 5:50 pm :
    

    Recently heard on the news that Columbia Gas rates went up 18% in May (utility companies must like that number….18%) and that indicators are that natural gas may go up as high as another 35%.

    Ugggg – I may end up venting my dryer inside to help with some of the heating. Found a cool kit on Amazon that does that (and also adds some moisture to the air – our house tends to dry out in the winter). =)

11. posted by Auntie Em!, Aunti Em! « Chuck In A Box at July 10, 2008 6:21 am :
    

    [...] would have been another prime time to have the rain barrels we’ve been talking about in the Green Ideas section of Petersburg People’s [...]

12. posted by Chuck at July 10, 2008 8:06 am :
    

    Ack what happened? Is it because I linked to the thread from my blog??? Sorry (still a bit new to the whole bloggin’ thing)

13. posted by brenda p at July 10, 2008 8:28 am :
    

    Yup, this site can pick up on links to threads on this site embedded on other sites. Kinda cool methinks.

14. posted by Chuck at July 10, 2008 1:46 pm :
    

    Just a side thing:

    Brenda, here’s what Mr. Muse was talking about. Keith said that Charles already has a store selling the stuff in Alexandria and he’s been “Green” since the 70’s….who knew….

    http://www.duchyoriginals.com/

15. posted by James Wesley Medlin at July 10, 2008 4:05 pm :
    

    Want green? How about residential recycle bins for Petersburg glass, plastics, newspapers, magazines, etc.

    What an advance that would be!

16. posted by Chuck at July 14, 2008 9:29 am :
    

    Has anyone heard if Tricycle Gardens or Chesterfield (noticed their Wednesday evening workshop is full) are going to offer more/additional rain barrel workshops?

17. posted by brenda p at July 14, 2008 10:23 am :
    

    We attended this past weekend’s rainbarrel workshop hosted by the Chesterfield/Chesepeake Bay-related folks. They said that in August or Sept. they hope to host another set of workshops in Prince George — depends on when they get their next shipment of barrels.

18. posted by Chuck at July 14, 2008 10:24 am :
    

    OH cool (stupid question – does that mean the $30 registration fee gives you the materials for the actual barrel too?)

19. posted by brenda p at July 14, 2008 10:41 am :
    

    Yes. $30 includes barrel and basic pieces/parts such as facet, threaded overflow nob, and screen at the top (to let the water in, but keep the mosquitos out). They discuss various modifications that can made to the barrels, e.g., how to connect two barrels, and other design considerations at the workshop.

20. posted by shawn at July 14, 2008 12:09 pm :
    

    $30 is a GREAT price…

    JWM — you know about the recycle bins on augusta st. in the football field parking lot?

21. posted by James Wesley Medlin at July 14, 2008 12:20 pm :
    

    Nope, thanks for the tip.

22. posted by Chuck at July 14, 2008 12:33 pm :
    

    These are the drop-off locations for Petersburg (per the CVWMA website):

    * Cameron Field, Sycamore St. and Mt. Vernon St.
    * Petersburg High School, Homestead Dr.
    * Peabody Field, Augusta Ave.
    * Ukrop’s Parking Lot, South Crater Square Shopping Center

    I would love the curbside pick-up too JWM. Eh I always thought it was worth the meager amount they added to the water/trash/sewer bill in Richmond.

23. posted by Chuck at July 14, 2008 12:39 pm :
    

    Oh – Also noticed this on the CVWMA website with regards to composting. They have partnered with a couple of compost bin suppliers to offer home users bins at reduced rates!

    Linkage to the information:
    http://www.cvwma.com/recycling_programs/yard_waste.wbp

    I actually dumped my composter over the weekend and tilled it into a flowerbed with me handy cultivator! Time to start another batch!

24. posted by Chuck at July 14, 2008 1:43 pm :
    

    JWM – maybe we’ll be getting curbsitee pick up soon *crosses fingers*. It looks like Colonial Heights has a weekly pick up already.

    One can hope!

25. posted by James Wesley Medlin at July 14, 2008 1:52 pm :
    

    Yes, curbside pickup would certainly gather more recyclable trash and save fuel for those of us who recycle with a vengeance. Many people would recycle if convenient but won’t go out of their way to do so.

    The composter deal is good. At our cottage in the mountains I do heap composting (without a bin) and it works perfectly, or I should say the giant earthworms in the compost work perfectly 24/7.

26. posted by shawn at July 14, 2008 4:12 pm :
    

    Thanks chuck!

    To be green, one should know the priorties.

    They are, by a WIDE margin:

    1.Cans 2.plastic(numbers 1 and 2 only!) finally: glass.

    extracting Al from bauxite takes a TON of energy. Also, I think that the Al cans you use contain a lot of recycled Al, whereas most of your plastic is virgin, ditto glass.

    Glass is hardly worth recycling compared to Al cans. Food for thought.

27. posted by shawn at July 14, 2008 4:17 pm :
    

    Also, on has to consider the costs in energy and labor for curbside pick-up.

    I WOULD say just have fines for people who put recyclible stuff in the rubbish, but the way this town just litters everywhere and enforces far more serious crimes, I guess that would be untenable.

    I store recyclables in the basement, and make the trip infrequently.

28. posted by James Wesley Medlin at July 14, 2008 4:39 pm :
    

    For me, The clincher:

    Many people would recycle if convenient but won’t go out of their way to do so.

    After this post, going back to my REAl name, Michael. Started using JWM on PPN when another Michael appeared …once. JWM was buried in Blandford in August, 1863. My great-great-great Uncle. If he had not left a wife & two children behind, I would not be here.

29. posted by shawn at July 17, 2008 11:16 pm :
    

    “Many people would recycle if convenient but won’t go out of their way to do so.”

    Perhaps that’s why I see people dropping trash right next to public trash-cans all the time.

    The only way I’d support it would be if it was mandatory, with fines for not doing it, otherwise, it would probably be a waste.

    On a bigger “green ideas” topic, T. Boone Pickens has a plan for energy independence that involves massive investments in wind power in the plains states and upgrades in electical infrastructure:

    http://www.pickensplan.com

    He is putting his money where his mouth is. The guy has an uncanny way of turning small amounts of money into big piles of money.

    I think people want to be smart about energy should listen to what he has to say. Always.

    http://www.pickensplan.com/

30. posted by shawn at July 17, 2008 11:40 pm :
    

    T. Boone tells the US senate about the problem, and the solution:

    http://www.pickensplan.com/media/?bcpid=1640183817&bclid=1641831862&bctid=1646075906

    Prediction: If you thought you saw a lot of fires here in the past — just wait until you’ve got a bunch of people who do not understand electricity overloading their circuits trying to heat their homes with space heaters. They will do this because it is gonna be vastly cheaper than oil or NG. You may even see brownouts, if dominion doesn’t lock-in enough coal and natural gas before this winter.

31. posted by Chuck at July 24, 2008 8:24 pm :
    

    W00t! Got the electric bill today and was 200 kwh less this July than last! Heck I didn’t even religiously make sure the powerstrips were off – just most of the time. I guess between working on our ‘energy vampires’ and hanging out the laundry when it’s nice outside. I’m soooo happy!! Go us!

    Eh also noticed they had some deal where you could pay a higher amount and automatically enroll in a budget plan (like the Gas company does) wonder when Dominion started that??

32. posted by David P. at July 25, 2008 7:10 am :
    

    We’ve been doing the budget payments with Dominion (as well as with Columbia) for at least two years, it seems.

33. posted by Fel at July 28, 2008 6:22 pm :
    

    Any ideas for all the magazines I have lying around? Our old library used to take magazines and then resell them for $.10 each. I don’t think any of our libraries do that but I hate the thought of throwing them away!

34. posted by Chuck at July 28, 2008 7:07 pm :
    

    Hi Fel, re: the magazines, a couple of things.

    From the CVWMA (Central Virginia Waste Management Authority) site:

    Newspaper, Magazine & Catalog Bins

    At some sites, newspaper, magazines and catalogs are collected in smaller bins. If the container below is at the site you use, place your newspaper (loose or bagged in paper grocery bags), magazines and catalogs inside. If separate bins are not available, include these items in the mixed paper bins.

    Direct Linkage: http://www.cvwma.com/recycling_programs/dropoff_recycling.wbp

    Also, one of the things some of the departments are doing at work is setting up sort of a magazine exchange type thing. You know…you bring in old/read issues of Gourmet, Southern Living and pick up a National Geographic, Popular Science etc. That way they get more use before getting to the previously mentioned recycle bin.

    Hope those give you some ideas =)

35. posted by brenda p at August 16, 2008 4:32 pm :
    

    A flyer with participating orgs on rain barrels.

36. posted by Karen at August 17, 2008 1:21 pm :
    

    Regarding the magazines – take them by your local hospital for use in the waiting rooms. That’s what I do with mine.

37. posted by David P. at August 18, 2008 8:58 am :
    

    About those magazines — how about bringing your very old magazines to doctors’ offices. I’m sure they would be more up-to-date then the ones you usually find there! :-)

38. posted by brenda p at August 21, 2008 12:23 pm :
    

    These folks share the deets on their new/cheap composting experiment. Complete with some links.

39. posted by brenda p at August 25, 2008 8:00 am :
    

    New blog: River City Harvest

Share a Comment