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Ever wonder where all the rain goes that falls on your roof each storm? Look in your basement, sump pump, storm drains, and other non-desirable places. Why not harvest that water in a catch basin and use it for a "sunny day"?
Some great uses include: washing your car, watering your plants, cleaning, or a variety of other outdoor uses. We don't recommend drinking that water unless you have a UV filter and significant media filtration with charcoal to make it safe to drink.

Below are some good choices to consider to get started on the right foot. If you want to go the DIY route, get the complete Rain Reserve kit and acquire your own barrel locally. 

The closest place to Lehigh Valley: 
National Container Group East
195 O'Neill Drive
Quakertown
PA 18951
Phone: 215-529-1898 

Of if you don't live in the area: You can find a local source of barrels here It is very likely that you will not need to hook up your regular hose the entire year!
 
 
Consider taking the time to change all of your account and rewards card statements to the paperless option. It will take some patience, and make sure that you keep your passwords to all the various websites in a secure location (like a password protected file on your smart-phone or computer). Also, I recommend creating a folder in your web browser favorites named finances or the like. Then bookmark all the sites where you receive statements.

Of course it is not advisable to make a sheet of paper that says passwords and leave it on your home office wall, though I have literally seen this in the past.

Advantages:

Throw out fewer envelopes / trash each week

Some institutions even reward you for going paperless

Emails will never get lost or stolen in the mail like envelopes

Reduce your financial institutions burden, thus helping you in the long run with reduced fees.

Eliminate the need to buy another ugly filing cabinet

Finally, save time, let’s do the math –

Estimate 2 minutes per envelope of opening, examining, trashing and filing

12 statements/yr x 10 different accounts x 2 min/statement = 240 min/ yr

Take back those 4 hours and do something more fun than sorting mail for the rest of 2010 and beyond

 
 
Even though it’s bitter cold right now in the Lehigh Valley, I urge you to take global warming seriously. Greenhouse gases are being emitted by humans at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, it is nearly certain that many animals like polar bears and other sea ice dependent creatures are doomed for extinction within our lifetime. They are barely surviving the lengthening summer thaws.

It is not just the animals….warming affects you directly too - floods, storms, fires, and other “natural disaster” related catastrophes are on the rise due in part to human related activity. Currently, mankind is emitting a staggering 82 million tons of CO2 every day – this is changing our atmosphere for the worse.

What can I do that will make a difference?

Many are not in the position to implement solar/wind/bio power generation at their home, apartment, or business – But want to do their part to be more environmentally sensitive. By becoming carbon neutral with respect to your actual electricity consumption - you will indeed alter the course of history.

Now is a great time to select your electricity provider for 2010. Since regardless of what you do, electricity rates are increasing due to PPL rate cap expirations - why not consider switching to a greener alternative. Direct Energy is offering a renewable energy credit plan. As a part of your rate they will, for each calendar year, purchase renewable energy credits ("RECs") on your behalf representing your monthly consumption. The added cost each month is minor, but the long term effects will be major.

P.S. It is likely that other electricity suppliers will offer similar programs in the future. When they become available I will add them to this post for reference.

 

 
 
Packaging materials of consumer items – When you shop for anything these days, we ask you to keep the sustainability of the packaging in the forefront (or at least the back) of your mind. Is the item packaged in a glass, a numbered plastic container or bottle, a cardboard box – preferably a thin one, a steel or aluminum can – all of these items can be recycled curbside.  Conversely, does it come plastic wrapped, blister-packed, surrounded in Styrofoam, packaged in a metallic shiny coated cardboard – all of these items end up in the landfill for future generations to enjoy.

Do you pay attention to the source of your food? Most food items list their country of origin and often the state if they are from the United States. If you live in the Northeast, think about the environmental impact of eating a Pineapple.  Although they are tasty – that fruit was harvested from a tree in Costa Rica (that was likely planted in a field which natural tropical forest was destroyed), trucked from the field to the port, shipped from the port to Florida, trucked or sent via train to a local distribution center, then re-trucked to your store…How about choosing some blueberries or many varieties of apples which are grown relatively locally. Farmers markets are often chock full of locally grown produce. Check the label on your orange juice too – are they using Florida oranges or are they from another country.

Thinking more about the choices we make in the store can add up to a big change. You’re essentially sending a message to the stores and manufacturers that you want to buy items that are packaged in a more responsible way and originate from a more local source.

 
 
If you have anything that you can sell from the “before” picture, take four quality of the item and write an accurate description, and get that item on Craigslist pronto (photos of it installed and after it was removed are a nice touch).  If there are any doors or drawers, always include a shot with them open and closed. Also make sure to clearly indicate the condition – having someone drive out to see an item that you said was in great condition (which is actually not) will get them angry. Make sure you give all dimensions in your listing to eliminate waste of time email volleys. Sometimes that extra inch or two in width means they can’t get it through their front door – leaving an angry buyer. For heavy/large items –I also write that they should bring a vehicle of adequate size and a helper.

*Important: Don’t give any phone numbers, email addresses, or home addresses in your listing - just a major intersection close to where you live. If someone wants what you have got, they will email you with their phone number.  Spam is prevalent on Craigslist and this is the best way to filter out the junk replies. Just tonight I sold a dishwasher on Craigslist for $25 more than I paid for it one year ago! I can attribute this only to good pictures and an accurate description.  If you sell something and the person is truly dissatisfied with their purchase for good reason…buy it back. There is no reason to have that on your conscience. Above all, be patient and have fun. Craigslist is like fishing in your sleep. If you have items in fair to excellent condition that are accurately depicted and described, they will sell eventually if priced right.

Payment: I have taken a personal check one time with success, but as a rule – stick to cash, mention this when you are on the phone with the buyer.

To jog your imagination, here is a list of some items that I have bought and sold on craigslist in the past few years: circa 1962 metal kitchen cabinets and range fan, old but working fridges, ovens, dishwashers, microwaves, wire, changing table from the 70’s, fish tank, countertop, shed, toilets, trampoline, coffee table, BBQ grill, painting easel, etc… If you’re not getting any bites on your items, lower the price or give it away to a charitable place like http://www.vianet.org/  in Allentown. They will come and pick it up with a truck and you get a tax write-off.

P.S. Try to keep the photos with your editing software under 100k in size each for quick uploading, I use NikonView which is a free program available online here http://download.cnet.com/Nikon-View/3000-18488_4-21903.html

 
 
Many good citizens do the right thing and have been converting most of their incandescent to CFL’s (compact fluorescent lamps) because they save money/energy. However, there are many situations where an incandescent lighting solution is the better choice. Incandescent light offers a warmer glow and a less harsh experience on the eyes than fluorescents. So for that living room spot, dining room chandelier, conference room presentation lights , or sconce mood light….how can we be more efficient? The answer is dimmers. Reducing the light to just 80% of the rated capacity greatly lengthens the bulbs life in addition to the power savings. It has also been shown to increase work productivity in many environments. Check out this article from the Morning Call.

LED(Light Emitting Diode) lighting is another solution that is readily available these days. One of the nice things about LED lighting is that the energy consumption is a fraction of even what a CFL consumes. The light quality of an LED bulb is also very good, plus it contains no mercury like a CFL. Most of the LED lights are fully dimmable too, which is another added benefit. Though they are more costly initially – LED lights will likely outlast everything else in your home (and save you money each month). Take advantage of the offer on Coupons4LV.com from Sitka Enterprises to save on some LED lights for your home or office today.

The following emit the same amount of light when used for a spotlight application:

60Watt Incandescent Spot light bulb = 13Watt CFL spot =  6 to 7Watt LED spot light !



 
 
Shut off your engine. Idling for even 10 seconds uses as much gasoline as stopping and restarting. That may not sound like a lot, but that’s gas money being spent just to pollute the atmosphere. Wouldn’t you rather use it to buy something for you or your family? More info here
 
 
Geothermal heating uses renewable energy to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels while reducing home heating bill by 50 – 70%. Geothermal systems (a.k.a. ground source heat pumps, water source heat pumps, geo-exchange) uses the earth’s relatively stable temperature as a heat source for heating, and a heat sink for cooling. This allows geo heating and air conditioning systems to reach incredible efficiency ratings over conventional means.

The arguments for using a geothermal heating system have never been stronger. It is more important than ever that we all spend our money wisely. So the benefit of saving 50-70% on our heating bills is easy to see, as are the benefits of reducing our carbon footprints, and keeping our energy dollars in the U.S. economy.

80% of homes in the Northeast heat by burning #2 heating oil. This accounts for 80% of #2 oil usage in the United States! In 2008, nearly $1.6 billion was spent on home heating oil. Unfortunately 75% of that money ($1.2 billion) left the U.S. economy to foreign countries. By using geothermal heat pumps & equipment manufactured in the U.S, installed by U.S. companies, and operated on U.S. generated electricity, we can solve our energy needs, maximize our economy, and improve our national security.

A 30% federal tax credit is now available to homeowners who install a geothermal system and a 10% tax credit is available to businesses. This makes now the perfect time to invest in your future by installing a heating system that will save you money for decades to come while increasing the resale value of your home.

 
 
Are you a hard working employee that wants to save a few dollars per year? Charge your electronic devices at work. Mobile phone, laptop, camera batteries, Plug-in car or electric scooter, etc… they all add up over time. fyi: If you are not a hardworking employee, might not want to get too crazy here.

Leaving your home for more than a few days? Consider switching off all your circuit breakers except for your fridge and heating system if needed! You will be surprised at how many appliances/household devices slurp energy when they are not in use.

 
 
Remember the electric blankets of the past - the cords, lumpy spots, shock hazards, and cold mattress sheets? Check out the new kid on the block, the electric mattress heating pad. It slips on under your regular mattress cover and you can barely tell that it’s there. Gone are the heating element kinks and failures caused by rustling the blanket. The cords are completely hidden and dual controls make it easy to adjust either side to a comfortable temp. Now you can crank down your heat to 68 at night and still be a cozy 75-80 in your bed. Here is a great deal for one on the net http://tinyurl.com/ybjnj6h though I got mine at Target about a year ago.

Think of all the oil, coal, wood, or natural gas you will save during the sleeping hours. The electricity to power the blanket costs a fraction of what it would be to heat the whole home.

The only hard part is getting out of bed when that alarm clock goes off in the morning,..then again with a programmable thermostat, it’s a non-issue.