Upgrading to Energy Star Appliances - Get Your Rebates

You've made the investment in new energy efficient appliances and you are seeing the difference in your utility bills. Have you fully taken advantage of Energy Star?

Many States still give rebates. Also if you recycle your old appliance properly you get an extra rebate. That makes the upgrades that much sweeter.

I would hope that the store that sold your appliance helped you get started to get your rebate.

You can also check http://www.ecorebates.com to see how much your state is allocating for Energy Star rebates.

You can also get more info on the Energy Star Web Site.

As always have your receipts ready.

Home made laudry detergent

Want to save money and be green?
Here are links to the recipe for making your own laundry soap.
The main ingredients are:
Soap, Washing Soda, Borax and water
Each person uses their own measurements, but they are pretty much the same.
In the end you are saving money and that is the bottom line.

http://www.duggarfamily.com/recipes.html

http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/09/making-your-own-laundry-detergent-a-detailed-visual-guide/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-Laundry-Detergent/

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Homemade-Laundry-Detergent-70088

Enjoy!

Help Clean a Park and Give Back

Want to help your community and be green?
Join the millions of communities with their cleanup programs:
These programs sponsor cleanups of parks, waterways and many other areas that have been littered over the winter. It just takes willingness to pickup litter and some light gardening.

As den leader for my son's Cub Scout Pack, we had to come up with a cleanup project that would be a safe environment for kids to help out. Adopting a highway to clean up was not an option. The city and local orienteering groups sponsored several cleanup events along park and canal paths, so we had plenty to choose from. Our local Boy Scout Council also sponsors an annual city cleanup so there were additional opportunities.

We ended up helping in one of the public parks and with a non-profit group cleaning and re-mulching a plant bed. We picked up several bags of garbage. The cub scouts got their community service achievement and we helped beautify the area we live in.

A job well done and with great satisfaction.

Green Projects with the Kids through Scouting

My wife and I are heavily involved with our kid's Cub Scouts and Girl Scout programs. As you may know, these organizations teach the kids conservation and other green practices. We do projects that teach them to be healthy, conserve our natural resources and help others that are less fortunate.

Some of the projects we have participated in are: Scouting for food, Clean a Park, and battery recycling collection.

The response we get from the kids is very positive with regard to these activities. It instills in them the fundamentals of being green and a positive role model for environmental stewardship.

I also like the fact that we are also teaching the parents. Many would not have known about some of the issues facing our environment if it weren't for their son or daughter learning about it in the Scouting program.

I thank the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of America for getting the word out at this early age.