This year many readers have resolved to maintain or rev up their green lifestyle. We’re here to help!
Winter chill has definitely been felt in the tri-state area recently. Frigid temps often have us thinking about the cozy and warm and admittedly sometimes doing what ever is most convenient and easy. But, keeping your home eco-friendly during winter doesn’t have to be hard or time consuming.
Read on for some tips for the winter season:
The summer heat can mean increased costs to stay cool in your home. Here’s a reminder about a program that may help fatten your wallet.
EnergyWorks, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, is offering deeply discounted home energy assessments to homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their homes in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.
EnergyWorks combines all available rebates, tax credits, and low-interest loans with the expertise of certified building analysts and qualified contractors to make home energy efficiency upgrades more affordable.
How does it work?
Call me a terrarium expert in training.
OK, maybe expert is pushing it. But in addition to planting my own backyard garden, I recently attended a Terrarium workshop with the folks at Arts in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction in Olde City.
I had no idea how to create a terrarium, or the skill it requires. But Dave and the other guides successfully have been planting terrariums and gave me (and 40 of my new friends during the 2 hour workshop) tricks
of the trade as we enjoyed Root mixed drinks to wish my terrarium the best of luck in its new growth.
Things you’ll need: an empty Root (or any) bottle, small stones, Spanish moss, charcoal pellets, soil, moss, paper (for a funnel), chopstick, towel (paper or cloth)
Here’s how I (and you!) can make a Root terrarium (courtesy of Art in the Age):
I can be a procrastinator… and due to the weather/vacations/etc, I’ve delayed on planting my back porch city garden.
Starting a garden isn’t an easy task – some plants can be easier to grow and benefit from than others.
Luckily, I got some advice from MNN’s Mother Nature Network to help my planting:
Three things I love about Spring: The days are longer, the sun is brighter, and it’s (almost) flip flop weather. What else does Spring mean? Time to get your spring clean on and get your home feeling fresh and shiny.
Here’s some tips on how to clean greener:
Although Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, we still have a few days of cold left. How can you minimize that terrible energy bill in one of the coldest winters Philly has seen?
Drafts easily waste 5-30% of your energy use. How can you block these drafts?
Good news! Green Philly Blog gave advice in Philly’s Metro yesterday to ‘green your snow cleanup.”
Here’s a quick recap of how to deal with ice and snow when mother nature pounds again and again, as it has this winter:
