Green Living: How do you use less energy in your daily life?

Show us or explain how you use less energy in your daily life. Buy Renewable Energy Credits through your utilities? Retrofit your home with more efficient windows? Grow your own veggies? Tell us how you are walking the talk.

Ideas answering this question

TV Green Key

Gustavo Leaño

TV Green Key reduces up to 67% the electricity wasted by television by turning TV into an audio-only device, thereby ... more ...

Passive Solar Design

Passive solar design is essentially designing a structure to work with the environment to cool and heat the house with ... more ...

Architecture, Efficiency, Green Building, Green Communities, Green Living, Solar

Huntsville’s Operation Green Team

City of Huntsville AL/ Energy Huntsville

Joy McKee talks about Operation Green Team, a city-funded organization in Huntsville Alabama governed by a volunteer ... more ...

Education, Green Cities, Green Communities, Green Living, Planet Forward News, Smart Cities

Toward a Low Energy Computer: Efficient Caches

National Science Foundation

In an NSF-sponsored project, computer scientists at the University of Utah have developed techniques to reduce the ... more ...

Adaptation, Business, Clean Tech, Colleges and Universities, Efficiency, Engineering, Green Communities, Green Living, Science

Former Admiral Dennis McGinn says Choice Could Challenge Dependency

United States Energy and Security Council

Former Admiral and current president of the American Council on Renewable Energy Dennis McGinn discusses the power of ... more ...

Adaptation, Biofuels, Efficiency, Electric Cars, Green Communities, Green Living, Natural Gas, Renewable Energy, Transportation

The Evolution of American Oil Dependency

United States Energy and Security Council

Who better to discuss the evolution of American oil prices than the former president of Shell Oil? John Hofmeister ... more ...

Adaptation, Efficiency, Green Living, Natural Gas, Renewable Energy

Green Roofs: Reflecting Light and Radiating Cool

National Science Foundation

A new study indicates that painting building roofs white could significantly cool cities and mitigate some of the ... more ...

Adaptation, Architecture, Engineering, Green Building, Green Communities, Green Living, Science

Glass Powder Absorbs Oil, Waste from Water and Air

National Science Foundation

NSF-sponsored research at an Ohio college has led to a revolutionary discovery, a new form of silica glass that can ... more ...

Adaptation, Business, Clean Tech, Economics, Science

New Materials Turn Heat Into Electricity

National Science Foundation

Most of today’s power plants–from some of the largest solar arrays to nuclear energy facilities–rely ... more ...

Efficiency, Engineering, Renewable Energy, Science, Solar, Water

Using Insulation for Greater Energy Efficiency

Paul Bertram of Kingspan discusses their work in the area of insulation and how it can improve the energy efficiency of ... more ...

Adaptation, Architecture, Business, Engineering, Green Building, Green Communities, Green Living

The New York Stock Exchange Takes on Largest Solar Project in the U.K.

Hear from Michelle Greene about what the NY Stock Exchange is doing to work towards a greener planet. Greene discusses ... more ...

Adaptation, Architecture, Business, Climate Change, Efficiency, Green Building, Renewable Energy, Solar

Cameroonian Farmers Model Effective Resource Management

National Science Foundation

Counter to conventional wisdom, rural communities demonstrate that self-regulated, community-based resource management ... more ...

Adaptation, Agriculture, Green Communities, Green Living, Science

Making Businesses More Aware of their Carbon Footprint

If consumers are more aware of the carbon footprint of their products, will they make better choices? Mike Bellamente of ... more ...

Adaptation, Business, Climate Change

Greening our Schools and Creating Sustainability Natives

Check out some ideas by Rachel Gutter and Richard Fedrizzi of the U.S. Green Building Council. These two have big plans ... more ...

Adaptation, Architecture, Clean Tech, Engineering, Green Building, Green Communities, Green Living

Singing and PerFORM[D]ancing in the Rain

TEAM FIU PerFORM[D]ance House

FIU’s PerFORM[D]ance House combines the three ideas behind sustainability: economy, ecology and society. Relying ... more ...

Architecture, Education, Efficiency, Engineering, Green Building, Green Communities, Green Living, GreenGov, Renewable Energy, Solar, Solar Decathlon

Use of Plug-in Cars May Increase Due to Smaller Batteries

National Science Foundation

Researchers determined that hybrid and plug-in vehicles with small battery packs could provide cost-effective reduction ... more ...

Adaptation, Business, Clean Tech, Electric Cars, Green Living, Hybrid Vehicles, Science

Tennessee’s Mr. Photon Explains Solar Energy

With education at the forefront of the Living Light endeavor, a Solar Decathlon 2011 project from University of ... more ...

Architecture, Education, Efficiency, Engineering, Green Building, Green Living, Renewable Energy, Science, Solar, Solar Decathlon

Solar Heat Protection Device Features Air-Gap Clearance to Aid Transport

ALIM SHERBAYEV

Our invention solves the problem of creating a shadow for transport as during parking, and in movement through the ... more ...

Climate Change, Solar, Transportation

Cohousing A New Way of Living for Oxford, Mississippi

Oxford, Mississippi has unaffordable housing. A solution to unaffordable housing is living in a cohousing community. The ... more ...

Architecture, Campus Sustainability, Efficiency, Green Communities, Green Living

Ole Miss Set to Equip Over 100 Buildings With Energy Monitors

Sara Giles & Casey Holliday

Ole Miss, using SmartSynch technology, can monitor energy use by building and work towards a goal of 20% energy ... more ...

Clean Tech, Economics, Education, Efficiency, Green Communities, Green Living

The Climate-Friendly Gardener: Today the Backyard, Tomorrow the Nation

Union of Concerned Scientists

Smart gardening practices can reduce global warming emissions. The Union of Concerned Scientists visits Eden Place in ... more ...

Adaptation, Agriculture, Climate Change, Education, Efficiency, Green Communities, Green Living

Pa. Sustainable Home Harvests Rainwater

The words “sustainable house” may conjure images of hippie throw backs living in grass shacks, geodesic ... more ...

Adaptation, Architecture, Green Building, Green Communities, Green Living, Water

Neighborhood Cooperatives to Alleviate Energy Dependence

Kasey Carlson

I would like to see development in energy cooperatives. Neighbors and neighborhoods have the potential to share the ... more ...

Activism, Architecture, Clean Tech, Climate Change, Efficiency, Geothermal, Green Building, Green Communities, Green Living, Renewable Energy, Solar, Wind

The Climate-Friendly Gardener: Urban Trees

Union of Concerned Scientists

Trees and shrubs help combat global warming by storing carbon and reducing energy use. The Union of Concerned Scientists ... more ...

Adaptation, Agriculture, Climate Change, Education, Efficiency, Green Communities, Green Living

Biker Rebels Pursue Green Cause

Rebel Pedals is a bicycle sharing program that promotes a clean and green campus at The University of Mississippi. Rebel ... more ...

Biking, Business, Green Communities, Green Living, Transportation

Feast Your Eyes – Ole Miss Dines Eco-Friendly

Avé Mayeux & Allie Cimo

Ole Miss dining has started a green meal plan to make students more aware. They have also began a “Meatless ... more ...

Business, Campus Sustainability, Green Communities, Green Living, Health

Efficiency Blueprint

Gerard D. Manogin

Homeowners in the Oxford/University community in Mississippi are making a change in their lives by building green.
more

Efficiency, Green Building, Green Living, Renewable Energy

Let the Sunshine Into Your Wallet

Donica Phifer

In Oxford, Miss., architect Brent Swain is using passive solar techniques to build green homes. With his ideas, one home ... more ...

Architecture, Economics, Efficiency, Green Building, Green Communities, Green Living, Policy, Renewable Energy, Science, Solar

Miss., Green Buildings LEED the Way

Another certification system is Green Globes. This system is less expensive, and instead of using certifications such as ... more ...

Architecture, Business, Efficiency, Engineering, Green Building, Green Communities, Green Living, Policy, Solar

Painting Their Faces Green

Hannah Chalker

More recycling bins in the Grove – there is actually a major demand for recycling in the Grove. Director of ... more ...

Green Communities, Green Living, Policy

Ole Miss Energy Grids Get Smart

Sarah Cummings

SmartSynch SmartMeters wireless monitor energy usage data, allowing Ole Miss to track its energy usage in real-time and ... more ...

Adaptation, Business, Campus Sustainability, Clean Tech, Education, Efficiency, Engineering, Green Building, Green Communities, Science

Itemize Electricity Bills to Single Out Wasteful Appliances!

Your mobile phone bill lists every call you made, to whom, at what time, for how long, and the cost. Your electricity ... more ...

Activism, Ask an Expert, Business, Education, Efficiency, Featured Community Blog, Green Building, Green Communities, Green Living, Policy, Uncategorized

Green Roofs – Science Nation

National Science Foundation

Ingenuity sprouting from the rooftops. The rooftops of Manhattan are as varied as the city itself. A glance at the city ... more ...

Agriculture, Science

Smart Mass Transit Provides Zero Carbon Footprint

See this Amazing invention by SMT Rail of Silicon Valley
more

Clean Tech, Public Transportation, Solar, Transportation

Race car driver and environmental activist plugs electric sports car

Leilani Munter

Leilani Munter, race car driver and environmental activist, shows off the Inizio, an electric “super car” at ... more ...

Activism, Clean Tech, Efficiency, Electric Cars, Green Living, Transportation

“Pull the Plug” on Unused Home Electrical Devices

It’s very simple just “pull the plug” after using an appliance or electrical device. If more people ... more ...

Efficiency, Green Living

Replace Home Windows with Eco-Safe Top Slider Windows

The Eco-safe Top Slider Window safely allows air to circulate indoors. This window can be safely left open during the ... more ...

Architecture, Clean Tech, Efficiency, Engineering, Green Building, Green Living

Produce Curtain Liners from Cheap, Spun Polyester

Mary Ann McConnell

If everyone did the simple things, like curtain liners on windows and keeping humidity in winter to make it feel warmer, ... more ...

Efficiency, Green Living

Community Engagement, Energy Efficiency, Job Creation

Sam Witherbee

WeatherizeDC is a program of The DC Project, a recently launched nonprofit that connects and empowers communities to ... more ...

Activism, Architecture, Campus Sustainability, Education, Efficiency, Green Building, Green Communities, Green Living

Oxford Pathways Commission Expands Bike Routes, Cuts Carbon at Ole Miss

Geoffrey Melcher

In this video, Oxford Pathways Commission Secretary Kate Kellum discusses turning derelict railways into ... more ...

Biking, Clean Tech, Efficiency, Engineering, Transportation

Empire State of Energy

The Empire State Building retrofitted all 6,514 windows completing the first phase of its sustainability initiative, ... more ...

Clean Tech, Efficiency, Engineering, Green Building, Policy

Collect Cigarette Butts at GWU to Clean Up the Environment

Cigarette Butts are the #1 most littered object in the world. The toxins in a cigarette butt, tar and nicotine, can have ... more ...

Campus Sustainability, Education, Green Living

Require Student ID Cards to Power Dorm Lighting and Heating

Many hotels across the world require a room key to be placed in a slot by the door in order to power the room. If GW ... more ...

Efficiency, Green Living

A Nearly Waterless Washing Machine

Katie Griswold

After perusing “The New York Times” online (in the green living section), I found an article that led me to ... more ...

Clean Tech, Green Building, Green Living

Adding Solar Panels to Historical Homes makes them more energy efficient

Kelsey Dockery

More often than not, Historical Homes are not allowed to add any type of attachments tat alter their appearance. In ... more ...

Architecture, Efficiency, Green Living, Solar

Local Farming To Save Energy

We follow our produce from the farm to the table. “Think of the pollution and the global warming caused by its ... more ...

Agriculture, Green Communities, Green Living

The Green Grove Initiative at Ole Miss promotes recycling on football game days.

Windham, Sinervo, and Johnson

The Grove at Ole Miss welcomes more than 60,000 people each game day. The Green Grove Initiative is a program supported ... more ...

Efficiency, Green Living

Citizens Share Their Feelings on the Future of Climate Change

I take the question of the energy and environmental future of our world to the street. Hear people’s thoughts and ... more ...

Activism, Clean Tech, Climate Change, Education, Green Living, GreenGov

Protecting Southern Forests Against Climate Change Encroachment

World Resources Institute

The forests in the Southern US act as carbon sinks, but their future rests in the hands of private landowners. more ...

Activism, Agriculture, Policy, Science

Mississippi River Xtreme Cleanup

Assignment Earth

Chad Pregracke is on a serious mission to get things out of the Mississippi River that don’t belong there. Since 1998 ... more ...

Lower Your Thermostat 2 Degrees, Cut Out Tons of Carbon!

Do something small to save something big. By lowering our thermostats a mere 2 degrees we can save the CO2 output ... more ...

Efficiency, Green Building, Green Living, Science

Develop Clothing that Heats and Cools the Wearer

Dennis J. Gager

We all wear clothes, in public spaces. Why spend the energy to completely heat/cool the air space? Clothing research ... more ...

Green Living, Science, Solar

How many pounds of Carbon can you burn-off a day?

Miranda Claire Green

Each year, the US emits 16,000 pounds of carbon per capita through electricity use. That’s equivalent to: CO2 ... more ...

Activism, Efficiency, Green Living

Take advantage of Energy Star appliances and other technologies coming online this decade

Craig Schattner

“Energy efficiency” may not be a sexy catchphrase like ‘renewables’ or ‘solar,’ but ... more ...

Efficiency, Green Living, Policy

Making Public Transportation Cool: Los Angeles Metro

World Resources Institute

This video is produced by EMBARQ – The World Resources Institute Center for Sustainable Transport. Los Angeles’ ... more ...

Green Living, Policy, Public Transportation, Transportation

Rethinking Daylight Savings Time by 30 Minutes, Energy Saver?

Its getting near that time of the year that we have to return the clocks to Standard Time. There are lots of arguments ... more ...

Leasing Solar Panels

Danny Kennedy

Would you install solar panels on your roof if there were no upfront costs and just a small monthly fee? more ...

Business, Green Living, Solar

John Eaton on Solar Golf Carts and Metering

At the White House’s GreenGov Symposium John Eaton spoke about the energy innovations he finds most impressive.
more

Green Living, GreenGov, Solar, Transportation

FULLY programmable water heater thermostat

My idea is a new type of water heater thermostat. It would be similar to a furnace thermostat except FULLY programmable. ... more ...

Business, Efficiency, Engineering

What is District Energy?

Environmental and Energy Study Institute

How does district energy improve energy efficiency for communities and allow for more opportunities to use renewable ... more ...

Efficiency, Geothermal, Green Living

GroW food locally to save energy–and money–in food production.

Miranda Claire Green

by Miranda Green and Andrea Vittorio The George Washington University group GroW has started a community garden on ... more ...

Agriculture, Campus Sustainability, Efficiency, Green Living

Georgetown’s First Solar-Powered Home – Cutting Through Red Tape to Save Some Green

Andrea Vittorio

By Miranda Green and Andrea Vittorio
more

Architecture, Clean Tech, Green Living, Solar

The Power of Water – Quenching Americans’ Thirst

Luca Semprini

Most Americans think of water in terms of what they drink or use every day. They rarely consider the enormous amounts of ... more ...

NSF Recycling Program

Adam D. Silverman

Introduction to the National Science Foundation (NSF) recycling and reuse program by Adam Silverman, Senior ... more ...

Efficiency, GreenGov

A “Green Living Truman Show”…

Hey! I found this online and thought it’d be great to share, since it’s a creative initiative on how to ... more ...

From the Fryer to the Racetrack

Faster than a Greased Rabbit! MPGomatic.com catches up with Justin Carven, president of Greasecar Vegetable Fuel Systems ... more ...

Activism, Biofuels, Efficiency, Engineering

The car of the future

There is no doubt that in the first several years these cars will be hard to justify from a dollars and cents point of ... more ...

Idea for residential electricity production

george whitney

Place small wind electric producing generators for such minor needs such as charging batteries for electric vehicles and ... more ...

Efficiency, Wind

Way of Life

douglas Robinson

A couple of days ago I came across an article in the Financial Times that said that China surpassed the U.S. in energy ... more ...

Scale Up the Biodiesel

Biodiesel made from waste fats can drive diesel trucks and generators — without requiring any kind of retrofitting.
more

Biofuels, Efficiency, Engineering, Transportation

Green Beverages

There are a lot of ways for us to cut back on our carbon footprints at home, but beverage selection is not usually the ... more ...

Uncategorized

Home grown remedies for pest control in your garden

Invisible Gardener

Here is a great interview I did last year which explains some natural home grown remedies for pest control.
more

Uncategorized

How to make your own Organic fertilizer

Invisible Gardener

here is the start of making your own organic fertilizer. Listen to my radio shows and check out my website. ... more ...

Uncategorized

Bikestation DC: Making Clean Transportation Work

Sure, we all know that riding a bike instead of driving a car helps to reduce your carbon footprint. But for commuters ... more ...

Biking, Transportation

Eating Locally, Organically, and Your Carbon Footprint

We know eating locally and organically is a healthier lifestyle, but did you also know that doing so can help reduce ... more ...

Genco & Pipes

Uncategorized

Green Grocery Shoppin’

Ashley Valentine

By Kristen Kuhn and Ashley Valentine
more

Earth Day attendees voice their opinions

Mark Abramson

Earth Day is a time to celebrate and enjoy a whole array of legendary bands, like the Roots, Sting, Jimmy Cliff, and ... more ...

Reduce the Carbon Impact of…Your Love Life?

Lauren Martens

Thanks to Stefanie Iris Weiss, author of the recently released book “Eco-Sex,”couples everywhere are being ... more ...

Composting Energy

Cedar Grove Composting, a company in Seattle, has announced a plan to generate energy from methane they plan produce ... more ...

One Light. One Hour. One Planet.

Elizabeth Cherneff

This past Saturday, March 27, 2010 marked the third global Earth Hour and the second on GW’s campus. Many say the ... more ...

Activism, Green Living

The politics of climate

A behind the scenes look into the work of Jan Mueller, Senior Policy Associate for The Environmental and Energy Study ... more ...

Why Prefab?

I’m often asked – why prefab? Answered simply – its not only a very flexible and economical way to build a house, but ... more ...

Architecture, Engineering, Green Living

Ski Area Report Card

Assignment Earth

For 10 years, the Ski Area Citizens Coalition has published its ski area environmental report card, a rating system that ... more ...

Business, Climate Change, Water

Clean Air Council’s innovative anti-idling project, IdleFreePhilly.org

In an effort to reduce the harmful emissions and wasted fuel from idling trucks and buses, Clean Air Council has ... more ...

Efficiency, Green Communities, Policy, Transportation

Twittering power meter

Planet Forward Archive

A neat invention that allows you to track your energy usage
more

Sustainable Green Building for the Future

Planet Forward Archive

From Peter Busby, Managing Director at Perkins and Will
more

Middlebury College Freeze on Coal

Planet Forward Archive

Students at Middleburry College in Vermont send an important message about coal.
more

Making Solar Work

Planet Forward Archive

A movie about Ed, his family, and the house that he built
more

Architecture, Solar

It’s not easy being green

Planet Forward Archive

Liza Mundy, staff writer for the Washington Post Magazine, discusses her household “greening project”.
more

moonlighters

Efficiency, Humor

Over a third of your gas bill can be saved.

This winter alone, (2010) the DOE forecast individual households will spend $786 in natural gas heating costs. As Spring ... more ...

Inspire Green

Samantha Duggan

A group of college students look at the water situation and dream up their own filtered water bottle. Planet Forward ... more ...

Fighting unemployment and saving the world one resume at a time

With over 10.5 million unemployed individuals collecting unemployment HelpMyResume.org has created a virtual service ... more ...

New Bike Paths Help Oxford Mississippi Go Green

University of Mississippi

From the University of Mississippi
more

Biking, Transportation

Go Green

University of Mississippi

From the University of Mississippi
more

What is a Watt?

Jackie Faillace

Ever wondered how much energy you consume? How about the amount of energy you can produce? And what is a Watt anyway? ... more ...

Seeing Earth and Sky

Can artists be environmentalists? David Brewster of West Halifax, VT challenges our notion that “environmental art” must ... more ...

Prius as a Cultural Icon

Bryanna Fucci

BRISTOL, RI __ During the last decade, the Toyota Prius exploded on the scene and has since become the icon for the ... more ...

Clean Tech, Green Living, Hybrid Vehicles, Transportation

Biking to Work

Bryanna Fucci

BRISTOL, RI __ Professor Chris Menton bikes to work nearly every day knowing with every trip he’s reducing his ... more ...

Biking, Green Living, Transportation

Wordsworth on the Environment

Michael Scully

BRISTOL, RI __ Caring for the environment is not a new idea… it’s a recycled idea. Poet William Wordsworth ... more ...

Uncategorized

Luis Poem

Michael Scully

BRISTOL, RI __ RWU student Luis Galvan offer’s his thoughts on the fate of the climate.
more

Plug In Your Car

Planet Forward Archive

from Tony Markel of the National Renewable Energy Lab
more

Clean Tech, Electric Cars, Transportation

Getting the Most From Renewables

Planet Forward Archive

From Host Frank Sesno at the National Renewable Energy Lab
more

Engineering, Solar, Transportation, Wind

Environment Saves Itself

Barbara Miller

Activism, Green Living

GREEN!!!

Barbara Miller

Activism, Green Living

NC Green Power

Barbara Miller

Activism, Green Living

Biodiesel: An Old Idea Becomes New Again

Since the 1970s, diesel has been the fuel for the farm – diesel for tractors, farm trucks and harvesting equipment. ... more ...

Agriculture, Biofuels

EASY GREEN, EASY MONEY

Share your stories about organizations that are making it easier—on us and our wallets—to reduce our carbon footprint. ... more ...

Meet The Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car

Is the car of the future or a waste of good R&D money. Take a look at decide!
more

Efficiency, Transportation