10 Eco-Friendly Gardening Tips

Taking care of your lawn and garden is just as important as taking care of your roof in terms of resale. An attractive landscape can increase the value of your home and add curb appeal. Maintaining your lawn and garden properly can save money and time. Eco-friendly, or "green landscaping” habits can help the environment and decrease the amount of hazardous chemicals around your home. Did you know that the average suburban lawn uses six times the hazardous chemicals per acre as conventional farming does? Learn how to avoid chemical use below.

Tip 1 : 

Water Efficiently Water during strategically planned times only. The best time to water is between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. Watering in the afternoon is inefficient since water is lost due to evaporation and wind. The second-best time to water is between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Running an irrigation system excessively can waste a lot of water. Just one hour can use up to 250 gallons of water.

Tip 2 : 

Install an Irrigation System Consider the installation of a sprinkler or irrigation system for your lawn. Irrigation systems work well at targeting only the specific areas of your lawn that need to be watered, thus cutting back on unnecessary watering of uplanted areas. Irrigation systems are available with a timer option, which helps homeowners avoid overwatering by turning off the system at predetermined times. Make sure to check the weather forecast and turn off the timer when rain is predicted.

Tip 3 : 

Go Organic Say goodbye to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. There are many top-quality organic and natural weed killers. Additionally, organic compost can be used.

Tip 4 : 

Make Your Own Compost Make your own compost to use in your garden. Compost can be used as a fertilizer, serving as an excellent alternative to chemical-based fertilizers. Making your own compost involves mixing browns (such as dead leaves, branches or twigs, greens (such as grass clippings, vegetable waste, fruit scraps and coffee grounds) and water in a compost bin.

Tip 5 : 

Mulch Garden mulch can enhance the look of your garden and help keep it healthy. Spreading mulch in your garden can also save time by decreasing the need for watering, applying herbicides and pulling weeds.

Tip 6 : 

Drought-Tolerant Plants The technique of using drought-tolerant plants, known as xeriscaping will significantly help reduce water usage in your garden.

Tip 7 : 

Native Plants Planting native plants will cut down on the need for water and fertilizer. For example, if you live in Arizona, don't plant high water plants such as bluegrass or clover.

Tip 8 : 

Make Your Own Planters Making your own planters is a great way to reuse empty containers. Rinse out plastic containers (cottage cheese, yogurt and dessert whip containers are just the right size), fill them with dirt, add a plant and you have a great new planter. Not only is this eco-friendly, it's also inexpensive.

Tip 9 : 

Harvest Rainwater Harvesting rainwater means collecting and storing rainwater to be used for your lawn or garden. This is a simple way to conserve water and help your garden bloom.

Tip 10 : 

Hang Birdfeeders and Nesting Boxes Birdfeeders and nesting boxes attract birds to your garden. Birds are a great benefit to gardens as they eat unwanted pests, such as snails and slugs. Instead of using pesticide against these little bugs, simply invite the birds in and they'll take care of the pests naturally.

written by : Marcy Tate

Useful Tips About Roof and Terrace Gardening

A roof garden is a type of garden situated on a roof of a building. Ever since, humans have developed a fondness to growing plants on top of structures. Aside from the decorative benefits, these roof plantings actually provide temperature control, food, and habitats for wildlife, along with recreational opportunities and architectural enhancement. In certain cities, due to the lack of gardening areas, many resort to roof gardens.

This type of garden can be on top of building, taking care of its own waste and water supply. With hydroponics, and other methods, you are able to expand the numerous possibilities of gardening on roof tops. A good way to accomplish this is by reducing the tremendous weight or soil needed. This is why planting in containers are prevalent in these gardens. Pots may be too heavy for the roof and cause ceilings to leak.

Living in small-sized apartments should not hinder you from having a garden. You can have vertical gardening or square foot gardening. Vertical gardening is planting with the use of your living walls. It uses lesser space than the traditional square foot gardening method.

Before starting, it is important to till, weed, and eliminate any pests. Also recycle by composting. In fact, for small apartments, having a Bokashi type of compost system is far more practical as compared to conventional composting. The safest type of compost is the manure derived from vegetarian animals.

In this busy world, most people find solace from nature. If you are too tired to take strolls in the park and you cannot go to nature trails all the time, having a garden at home, specifically in your terrace is the best solution to this dilemma. Hence, terrace gardening is a kind of indoor gardening that entails taking care of indoor plants.

Follow some tips in roof gardening. Your roof needs to be strong enough to carry the garden's weight. Also check for an efficient drainage system. And lastly, make sure there are no water leaks.

For terrace gardening, keep proportional the shrubs, lawns, small trees and ground covers. You can also enliven your garden corner with rocks and other naturalistic designs.

After this, you need to choose the kinds of plants you want. Fiber-rooted plants are better than tap-rooted plants. This is because tap-rooted plants can grow into the building and harm the structure.

For the soil, get the type that will not exert pressure onto your building. Peat moss and soil rite are good options. Since these are a bit expensive, you can mix it with manure and garden earth.

To arrange your drainage system, it is imperative that you do your roof garden construction. You can uniformly lay 2-inch to 4-inch burnt bricks on your terrace. This type of bricks is the best because the normal ones eventually turn into mud and consequently collapse the drainage system. A good alternative are corrugated sheets which needs to be placed on 3 inch distances, making the water freely flow onto the drain.

On top of these bricks, you need to place a net lawn. This prevents your soil from getting into the bricks. If your garden is a bit large, you need to have a drain constructed in several places. You should also place some pipes along several areas that would lead to the main holes. Make sure that these pipes are not visible. Keep in hidden beneath the lawn.

Lastly, place the soil mixture you prepared into the pot or any container. These gardens will beautify your home, and also promote a healthier environment.

written : by David Urmann

How To Build A Roof Garden

The concept of a roof garden is not a new one. In fact, it is centuries old!. If you live in an urban area, your dreams of having a garden may be difficult to achieve. Not so, if you consider a roof garden. More and more communities are encouraging their residents to plant roof gardens. The environmental and psychological benefits are numerous. Not only is gardening a calming and relaxing activity, which can reduce stress related illnesses, it also has great benefits for the environment. Building a rood garden on your home or apartment building decrease storm water runoff, reduce fire risks, help decrease heating and cooling costs and can protect your roof from the effects of ultra-violet light and frost.

There are three types of roof gardens and the three types related to the amount of maintenance they require, the depth of soil and the type of plants they will support. They are:

Extensive living roofs

These are easy to maintain and use little soil. Extensive living roofs are lightweight and lend themselves well for use on sheds, garages and small extensions. As they tend to be harsh environment, suitable plants are ones that are found on cliffs or other harsh environments. While this type of roofs gardens are the easiest to maintain, they also have the least visual appeal.

Semi-extensive living roofs

These garden roofs are more decorative as they have deeper soils which can support a greater variety of plants. However, the increased soil depth makes these types of roof garden more heavy, so a sound structure is require to support them. They combine the relatively low maintenance of extensive living roofs with a more appealing appearance.

Intensive living roofs

These are full-fledged gardens and require large and strong support structures.

One of the main considerations when planning a roof garden is the roof itself. While flat roofs lend themselves the best to roof gardens, it is also possible to green pitched, barreled and domed roofs. An easy access to the roof is also important as I am sure you would not be able to enjoy your roof garden as much if you have to climb a ladder every time you want to look at it. The roof must able be able to support heavy loads. Wet soil can weight about eighty pounds per square foot.

Make sure you install a waterproof membrane to avoid ending up with a wet ceiling. The two most commonly used materials are thermoplastic sheeting or rubberized asphalt. As I am certain that you will not want to dig up your garden to replace the membrane every few years, make sure you select a product that is extremely durable. The next layer should be a filter sheet that will allow the moisture to drain off the roof while ensure that the fine material do not escape. Next comes the moisture blanket which will ensure that an extensive live roof garden has enough moisture to support life. Commercial ones can be purchased however it is also possible to use cardboard or old blankets to the same effect.

The following layer will be a drainage layer. Similar to the moisture blanket, it will help retain moisture while allowing excess water to drain away. They are usually made of plastic or geotextile materials. The top layer will be the soils and substrates. These should be lightweight and freedraining yet retain moisture. One such option is an aggregates mixed with light sub-soild such as crushed porous brick or limestone chippings. Finally come the seeds and plants. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination and the environment. Happy gardening!

written by : Yannick Picard

Building a Eco-Friendly Home - The Benefits of Going Green

As more and more homeowners become aware about protecting our environment and the green building concept, builders, designers and architects are now incorporating green elements in every home that is built. With the advancement in technology and the emergence of modern building concepts, homeowners can now integrate these green elements without sacrificing the overall appeal of their dream homes.

Despite the heightened interest by various sectors about the green building concept, many homeowners still don't have a clear understanding of what constitutes a green home and how such type of structures are built. An environmentally friendly home has beneficial effects on the health and overall well-being of your family. It is also a financially sound option.

A Healthy Home

A green home makes use of building materials that are toxin-free. This ensures that you and your family are free from harmful pollutants that are normally present inside traditional homes. Common ailments such as asthma and cancer are caused by pollutants and toxins that are normally present inside our homes. The more common toxin-free materials include natural linoleum made from linseed oil and jute, strawboard made from wheat and insulating material made from recycled paper, old denim and even soybeans.

A Cost-Efficient Home

The cost in maintaining a green home is equal to or even cheaper than a standard home. You initial cost may be high, but the savings that you will generate in the long run is more than enough to offset your initial investment. You will save about 40% on your monthly electric bill and 50% on your water consumption. Green homes are relatively more durable than standard homes. This translates to lesser repairs and maintenance. The value of the green homes is much higher than their counterpart standard home and the demand for eco-friendly homes is steadily increasing.

An Environment Friendly Home

The cooling and heating of homes account to about 20% of total energy use of typical household. Add to that the energy requirements of household appliances, other electronic equipment and lighting, and you will see why homes are considered as the segment that consumes a lot of energy. On the other hand, green homes consumer 40% less energy compared to standard homes.

There are now green homes that are able to reduce their dependence on conventional sources of energy with their added capability to generate their own energy through alternative sources such as the biomass, geothermal, wind and of course, the sun.

Green home has highly efficient bathing and plumbing fixtures. They also adopt landscaping design that is drought-tolerant. Environmentally friendly homes also make uses of irrigation systems with advanced water-conserving features. These combined elements cuts water consumption by as much as 50%.

Fewer natural resources are used in the construction of the green home. This alone is a major boost in our campaign to save our natural resources. A greater portion of the materials used in building are recycled materials. In fact, there are homes that are built from salvaged materials derived from demolished building. Green homes also make use of renewable materials such as agri-fibers, soybeans, hemp and bamboo. Finally, when you build a green home, the construction waste generated is reduced by as high as 90%. This is a great relief to our environment if we consider that about 2 tons of waste is generated in constructing a standard home with a total floor area of 2,500 square feet.


written by : Laurel R. Lindsay  

Four Advantages of Vertical Blinds

Earlier people use curtains and drapes to cover their windows but now window blinds are becoming very popular among the homeowners. And the reason of selecting window blinds is that they are very easy to clean and maintain. You can find many blind cleaners in the market but the best technique of cleaning your blinds is ultrasonic blind cleaning. Another reason of using blinds is that you can find much different type of window blinds such as roller blinds, office blinds, blackout blinds, vertical blinds and motorized blinds. But among all these blinds vertical blinds is very popular among the homeowners. You can find that the demand of vertical blinds is increasing day by day. And there are many good reasons of selecting vertical blinds. 

Vertical blinds allow more money in your pocket

By installing vertical blinds you can save lot of your money. As we all know that installing vertical blinds is very easy and if you want then you can install these blinds by yourself also and in this way you can save your installation fees.

Vertical blinds can reduce the amount you spend on electricity also. As we all know that rays of sun penetrate through the windows and heat up your home. So if you will cover your window with vertical blinds you can block most of the rays. And this will help you to keep your home cool and you can save your electricity bill by air conditioning. And you can also save money in winters. Generally in winters when you keep your room warm with heater the heat dissipates through the windows. But by using blinds you can insulate your room and minimize it.

Vertical blinds protect your furniture

Vertical blinds also protect your furniture. Generally the sun rays deteriorate your furniture and weaken its structures. But by using blinds you can block the rays and can protect your furniture from damages and fading.

Vertical blinds protects your skin

Another benefit of using vertical blinds is that it is not only good for your home but it is also good for your health. As we all know that sunlight contains UV. Hence by blocking the sunlight you are blocking the UV rays from entering your home and you safe you're eyes, other body parts and your skin which can be exposed to it.

Vertical blinds have so many options

The main advantage of using vertical blinds is that you can find host of choices in color, material, design, style, texture and sizes. So you can easily select according to your choice and décor of your home. But always remember that if you want a fancy interiors and your budget is also low then you can buy fabric vertical blinds. These are the perfect option for people who have tight budget.

Hence if you want to decorate your home and want to enhance the beauty of your home then you can install vertical blinds. Always remember that it is the best idea to install vertical blinds in your home.




written by : Riky Martin  

Look For Green Apartments and Help the Environment

Have you heard the term "green living"? You probably have. It seems like that term is everywhere lately. Anytime you turn on a television, computer or radio you hear or see it. We hear about carbon footprints and the need to conserve everything to protect the environment.

If you live in the country, this may be easier for you than living in the city. In the country, you may have access to well water and things of that nature. When living in the city however, those things are not possible. If you live in an apartment building, you may be even more concerned about clean and green living. What can you do to reduce your carbon footprint?

The first thing that you can do is to scout out a green apartment. They are popping up all over and are gaining popularity in places like New York City and Staten Island. Staten Island green apartments can be found to have superior insulation to conserve energy. They will also have water conserving shower heads, washing machines, toilets and dishwashers. They will more than likely have been painted with low to no VOC paint. There will be receptacles for recycling. Some of these buildings are even equipped with solar panels on the rooftops to promote clean energy production.

In your own apartment, you can make a difference too. Make sure that you always keep your doors and windows closed when the air conditioner or heater is on to conserve energy. When you run a load of dishes in the dishwasher or a load of clothes in the washing machine, make sure that the load is a full one to conserve both energy and water. Recycle all you can and use reusable shopping bags instead of the paper or plastic ones at the grocery stores.

written by : Christina Cole 

All About Green IT

The energy that is available to us through renewable and non-renewable resources is shrinking. There will come a day where those resources are no longer available to us. This is why we must think ahead and take an active approach to this problem. The answer is using the Earth for energy. Not by taking its renewable and non-renewable resources, but we should use the Earth for its natural powers such as wind. Methods like wind power save people on energy costs, and it also saves the Earth's resources. That is why green IT is becoming more and more popular as time goes on.

So, what is green IT? The term refers to environmental computing. Basically, it is the disposal of computer, servers, as well as the manufacturing of computers, servers, monitors, and many other technological devices. The disposal of these products is done much more efficiently. The disposal process is also very friendly to the environment. Since saving the environment is become more and more popular, so has this process. People of the world are becoming more aware of the effect that greenhouse gasses have had on the environment. Global warming has become a big issue, and that is why it is our responsibility to start becoming more environmentally friendly in every way possible.

One of the biggest attractions to using green IT is its energy savings. Using green energy will cost you so much less than using other kinds of energy. Green energy is also much more efficient. Did you know that around 30%-60% of the electricity that is used in server rooms is completely wasted? That wasted electricity becomes very costly over time, and that is not good for business. With the right moves, your company will not have to worry about wasting this kind of energy or spending so much money on energy.

Energy costs can put a damper on a business. Running a business is very costly to start with, and sometimes energy can even be more expensive than paying the employees. This is why it is very important to consider green IT. This technology is growing and extremely effective at helping the environment. The use of green energy is rising in developed countries around the world, and even in non-developed countries as well. It is coming and it is going to stay. It is time to start saving money and taking advantage of this new kind of technology right now.

written by : Cheow Yu Yuan

The Benefits of Solar Water System

Aside from the energy involved in heating the air in the house, one of the biggest energy (and financial) expenses is heating the water available in your home. This is why solar water systems are becoming more and more popular, and less expensive. In the majority of environments, you can get about eighty-five percent of your hot water needs from solar energy. 

You don’t even have to find a completely solar heating system to find benefits from solar water systems, there are hybrid systems available too that will reduce utility heating by up to twenty-five percent. There are generally two types of systems used in residences for solar water systems, active and passive.

With active systems, which may also be called compact systems, use a pump to circulate the fluid and get heat distributed throughout when the temperature reaches a set amount. These generally perform better than passive systems, but are more complicated to install and maintain. These are more expensive systems, and the pump does rely on conventional electricity to work.

Passive systems have a water container and a solar energy collector mounted on the same chassis. These rely on heat pipes to transfer heater from one container to the next. There are different types of passive solar water systems but they are suited to different climates. If you are going to invest in one of these, ensure that you account for the worst type of weather in your home area, and purchase or set up a design that can accommodate this. For example, open loop passive systems which are made of metal are not at all designed for cooler climates. In chilly weather the pipes might freeze and damage the panels. There are closed loop passive systems that work to counter this problem, but in colder climates you want to choose panels with vacuum tube collectors to maximize your heat retention.

There are a lot of different plans available, and also small do it yourself kits available to construct and install and start your own solar water system. These kits reduce implementation costs by the amount of installation, which can significantly reduce your original investment. Always ensure that you are purchasing from a reliable source, and if you have questions about the installation, ask before going ahead. There are some things you might be able to manage without instructions, but a solar water system isn’t one of them, if you are not particularly handy, this can cause costly damage to your home, and even costlier repairs to your water heating system, so exercise caution. This type of installation requires some plumbing knowledge, and possibly additional setup on the roof of your home.

Projections show that a solar water system will pay for itself within ten years. Less if you do it yourself or buy an easy to install kit. In these times people are looking for energy renewable solutions, so the market value of your home increases as you install more energy efficient devices.

written by : Jakob Jelling

Solar Energy for Your Own Home

Rising costs of electricity, threat to the environment, and a threatening picture of running out of power supply have forced us to make innovation to the way we live. Thus many have turn to using renewable earth energy in the form of solar and wind power supply. While these upgrades can be somewhat expensive to make initially, it can save you a lot of money in the long run.

By turning to these energy sources instead of your conventional ones, you can literally live off the grid! 

Much like other technology, it can only get cheaper each year as the novelty pass and more and more have access to it. Although the hefty initial price tag of $15,000 can put a lot of people off, it is definitely a wise investment in the long run. Think about it, instead of paying your power company $200 a month, you're saving $200 a month by using your very own power supply! 

This investment will eventually pay itself off in a couple of year time! After it has pay itself off, it'll literally cost you nothing and in some cases, excess power generated from yourself can even be sold off to the power company for some profit! 

Before you run off and get one installed in your own home, consider these following factors first. Firstly, take into account of seasonal changes. The summer months are generally where you will be spending the most electricity every month.

Therefore in order to get the most out of your energy system, you'll want to take this into account and find one that can last you through the hottest months of the year. Run an analysis check on your previous usage and your spending pattern in order to determine the best one to install in your house.

These earth energies are the cleanest and the safest form of energy that is widely available for the public today.

Not to mention that you'll be reaping the benefit of switching early, instead of paying your power company every month you'll be living off the grid, and the cost of installing will eventually pay off itself down the road.

written by : Alan Nickles