Save Energy – Save Money – the old-fashioned way November 6, 2009

 

I am very blessed to have both my parents with us in their senior years. They are inspiring, loving people.  Both have incredible life experiences and stories to tell.  My parents have taught me about being frugal, and I am proud of that. I also joke about it…often.

Recently I sat at their kitchen table, enjoying a delicious lunch of leftover soup made from the Thanksgiving turkey. We were using cloth napkins Mom made when I was a Girl Guide and Dad was wearing a fleece jacket done up to the neck. We discussed how to reduce my family’s energy consumption and lower monthly bills. You are probably aware of all the ideas listed below. I found it a good reminder to crack down on bad habits and make some significant changes. Here is how Art and Audrey save energy in their home.

 

Turn down the heat. Put on a sweater (or a jacket in my Dad’s case). Wear slippers and use an extra blanket at night. Install a programmable thermostat. In my parent’s home, Dad just cranks the dial down himself – no need for the technical gadgets. Mom simply turns the dial up when the dog starts to shiver. If you lower the thermostat just 3 C  (5 F) while asleep you will save up to 6% on heating in the colder months. 

 

Run the dishwasher only when it is full, late at night before you go to bed. When the wash cycle is complete simply open the door and let it air dry overnight. My parents time it with “The National” and open the dishwasher door when Peter Mansbridge is finished delivering the news.

 

Wash your laundry in cold water. Hot water laundry is only for sheets, towels and nasty stuff. Hang everything you can to dry.

 

Unplug everything you can. Appliances and electronics draw electricity even when they are powered off. The only way to stop this is to unplug them.

 

When baking, roasting or broiling resist the temptation to peek. Opening the oven door causes the temperature to drop 20%, wastes energy and prolongs the cooking time. Mom says that is why cakes fall and cookies flatten. (I do not have this problem because Loblaws apparently does not peek at their baking)

 

Turn lights off when you leave a room. Replace burnt out bulbs with compact fluorescent lightbulbs. (cfl’s)  They use 60% less energy.  I used to laugh when my husband and I used to drive up to Art and Audrey’s house. “Oh, your parents must be asleep” my husband observed. “Are you kidding?” I would laugh, “They are inside huddled under one lamp watching TV”. Sure enough, we rang the bell and the lights would turn on as they made their way to the front door.  Install motion sensors on outdoor lights to reduce energy use.  It is a good security feature too.

 

Do not forget to clean the condenser coil at the back of your fridge. It will help the appliance run more efficiently. While you are there, you might as well clean under the fridge too. That is not an energy saving tip, but Mom always insists your house is only as clean as it is under your fridge and stove. (?)

 

Change direction on your ceiling fan blades. They should operate in a clockwise direction pushing warm airflow down in the winter. Hey Dad, there is no need to argue under the fan this winter – I looked it up – the correct direction is CLOCKWISE.

 

As much as I make fun of my parents, they are right (and smart!). Reducing our energy consumption this winter is better for the environment and saves us money. All these little things add up. I am going to call Art and Audrey tonight to tell them about this post…just as soon as I put on another sweater.

 

 

Romance a la David Suzuki October 12, 2009

 

The neighbourhood school has joined the David Suzuki’s Nature Challenge.  Our daughters come home from school with interesting energy saving, green ideas. They inspire (and pressure) us to implement changes at home. The results from my August poll “What inspires you to shop/live green?” indicate that the majority of The Mindful Merchant readers (thank you!) are inspired by children and family to be more eco-conscious too.

Last year our kids wanted to try eating dinner by candle light. My first thought was “Fire!” and my husband said something like “I happen to like to see my food when I eat”. They were persuasive and sold us on the idea of turning off all the lights, music and unimportant appliances for the duration of the meal. We agreed to try and made some very interesting discoveries.

We found that our children sit longer at the table and are not in such a rush to do something else. We discovered that turning off the lights and other appliances really quiets the house, in a positive way. Candles give off a surprising amount of light, enough to see your food and each other very well. Candles are magical and make boring grilled cheese sandwich dinners feel special. Blowing out candles is a big deal no matter how young or old you are!    It is also a great way to use the heirloom candlesticks from Great Aunt Lizzy and the “treasured” wedding chatchkas stored in the basement. Best of all you will save money and reduce your energy consumption during peak power times.  Worth considering, no?

Thanks to David Suzuki, shorter daylight hours in the fall/winter and the end of Daylight Savings Time on November 1st (when at we turn the clocks back one hour to Standard local time) dinner time in our house is going to get a lot more sparkly and quiet.   It is a fun idea you might want to try in your home, after all, who does not like a little romance in their life?

 

take a hike October 5, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have lived in Ottawa for over 3 years. It took our cousins from Toronto to suggest and inspire a visit to Gatineau Park. Thank you Jordanna & Stephen!  This past weekend marked the beginning of Fall Rhapsody  (October 3 – 18)  when the changing tree colours are at their best. I cannot believe we have not visited before since it is less than 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa.

We stopped at the visitors centre and found two scenic hikes suitable for families with young children. We chose the Pink Lake hike and despite a misty cloudy day, enjoyed the  beautiful landscape and fresh air. 

I was not sure how sure our children would manage the hour hike. They did great, walking up all the stairs, looking for little creatures, listening for different birds, and skipping  rocks in the water. Every corner there was something new and exciting to see. This was more entertaining than any T.V. show or video game and we were getting is some good exercise.  After the hike we devoured a picnic lunch (even the veggies were consumed – how crazy is that?!)  and made our way home.

We all want to go back again, try other hikes and explore the park in different seasons. It is an inexpensive, healthy and beautiful way to spend an afternoon as a family. If you are looking for something to do next weekend consider a visit to Gatineau Park (or a park in your area). It is a fun and special way to spend time with family. Happy Trails!

 

That’s a Wrap October 2, 2009

My friend Lesley gave me (actually my children)…a gift. It is a new and interesting environmentally friendly product to try in our lunches called a Wrap-N-Mat. It is two products in one, a re-useable sandwich/food wrap and a place mat. How smart!   It is a good-sized piece of fabric lined with plastic and secured with a solid piece of Velcro. The plastic lining is food safe, Phthalate free, lead free and BPA free. Clean up is as simple as wiping down the lining. I can fit a generous sandwich inside and the lining keeps the bread fresh. Once the sandwich is unwrapped, it becomes a place mat. Since my children eat lunches and snacks at their desks it is comforting to think there is at least a place mat keeping their food off the work surface. (I do not want to think about what is growing on the desk!)

At 7 am packing a lunch box is like completing a jigsaw puzzle for me. There is limited space and odd shaped containers that need careful placement so the zipper will close. Without my morning coffee, it is an embarrassing challenge.  Now that we use the soft shaped Wrap-N-Mat, it is a much easier task. It is reusable, fun looking, and works well. Our children like using Wrap-N-Mat and can easily wrap their own sandwiches in the morning. If you are thinking of making your children’s lunches litter-less I think this is a product worth trying.   They make a great gift too – thanks Lesley!

 

Ditch the Disposables 2009 (via the Crunchy Domestic Goddess) September 21, 2009

I am very new to the blogging, twitter tweeting, green living, eco-friendly community. It feels like watching a sports game, observing from the sidelines (sometimes chatting to the people sitting around who look friendly) and enthusiastically cheering along. Talk about a big learning curve! Every day I find more inspiring and interesting blogs to add to my favourites list as I learn the workings of WordPress, Twitter, Google etc.  Good times!

I really enjoy reading a blog called The Crunchy Domestic Goddess. The creator/author of this site is Amy Gates. It is a good read and full of inspiring eco-friendly, healthy ideas. She has implemented a “Ditch the Disposables Challenge 2009”. Last year’s challenge was such a success; she is doing it again. She is asking readers to commit for September and October to ditch some of the disposables used at home for something more earth friendly.  For example, stop using paper towels and napkins or bottled water, eliminating plastic wrap in lunches and the list goes on. (Ditching does not mean throwing away) Please check out her site for all the information.

I have committed to using cloth napkins instead of paper, using a thermal coffee cup, bringing my own bags to the store EVERY shop (no excuses) and eliminating paper towels. The paper towel ditch is going to be a tough one. I use paper towels for every little spill and wipe. Even more reason to try living without them for a while.

Since we are nearing the end of September it would be easy to say “next year, I’ll give it a go”. It certainly would be – but why not join in for the last 5 weeks? Better late than never as my Mom always says. I would like to ask you to join in the challenge  and fun (?) too. Let’s do it!  Which disposables can you eliminate for the next five weeks in your home?

Please keep me posted…

 

A Sensitive Topic September 15, 2009

 

 

I cannot find a pretty way to write about toilet paper.  No amount of floral pictures, billowy clouds or adorable kittens can cure the uncomfortable feeling I get when discussing this topic.  I have always been a fan of the 3 ply fancy-shmancy stuff.  It is a luxury that until recently, I was not prepared to give up.  Selfish, selfish woman, I know!

My friend Heather gave me a few rolls of Cascades recycled bathroom tissue to try along with an encouraging pep talk that included the phrases “Just give it a try”  and a “You can do it!”. I am the only person who goes out on a fitness walk with friends and comes home with rolls of toilet paper stuffed in my jacket.  “What the heck is that?!”  my husband asked eyeing my extra lumpy coat.  I could hear the apprehension in his voice.  Da Da!  I whipped out a roll and displayed the product like a  model on the Price is Right.  “Recycled toilet paper!” (said with artistic sweeping gestures). I was instantly advised there was “No way am I using someone else’s used toilet paper!!”  Then I explained that is made from 100 % recycled fibers, bleached without chlorine and is wrapped with recycled plastic packaging (which can in turn be recycled). My closing sales pitch was pointing out it was 2 ply, only 1 ply less than our usual brand. We agreed (sort of) that we would all keep an open mind and give the product a try.

According to the Going Green Guidebook:  If everyone replaced 1 roll of conventional toilet paper with a roll of 100% recycled material, we’d save 423,900 trees.

Our home experiment results were quite positive. I’m not going to tell you we can’t tell a difference – that would be misleading. I will say that it wasn’t as big a deal as I thought it would be. There is no need to wrap your hand like a mummy if that is your concern. Cascades is a Canadian company committed to sustainable and responsible environmental manufacturing practices. That is worth supporting don’t you think?

The “bottom” line is this…it does the job. It is cheaper than regular brands (high five!), and it is better for the environment. Why not give it a try?  If I can do it, anyone can.

 

Frugal US – the sequel September 3, 2009

 

This is a follow up post in response to my American friends inquires regarding a good online coupon site for natural and organic products. I really like The Healthy Shopper Canadian web site for not only coupons, but also good information. Turns out, they have another site called Naturally Savvy and they offer some coupons for shopping in the U.S. There is also a wealth of interesting reading to check out too.  Not only did they promptly answer my questions, they also suggested another super site called Mambo Sprouts. That is very cool, don’t you think? Mambo Sprouts has printable free coupons for organic/natural products and again, lots of great information too. Here are two suggestions to help us frugal North Americans shop and live greener. I hope this saves you some $$$. Cha-ching!

 

Frugal me – Frugal you? September 1, 2009

I discovered a website that offers coupons for natural and organic products!  It is called The Healthy Shopper and they produce an excellent coupon book in May with over $180 in savings that  is FREE and available in stores all across Canada. Unfortunately, it is so fantastic they disappear quickly. I have phoned every store here in Ottawa listed on the web site and they are out of stock.  There is good news though, you can register on line and receive e-coupons for household cleaning products, organic food, beverages and personal care products too. My recessive frugal gene kicks into high gear when I can get $1 off dish soap or organic almonds. Hey, every little bit helps. It is free to register, answer some questions then browse for coupons. It is an interesting site full of good information.  If you are on the fence about buying new organic or green products, a price reduction might encourage you to try them. It works for me!  I am off to clip some coupons…

  

 

Mrs. Meyers I want to be your friend August 31, 2009

I recently professed my love for Mrs. Meyers Surface Scrub.  One day my pal Heather gave me a present.  She knew how much I liked the Surface Scrub and surprised me with a  bottle of Mrs. Meyers All-Purpose Cleaner lemon verbena scent. (vacelmpt)  Isn’t that thoughtful?  

I was happy to try another product from this company.  It is  non-toxic, all natural, and very effective. Mrs. Meyers, you know your stuff girlfriend!  It does a great job all around the house, not just the kitchen. It makes everything smell fresh, clean and lovely. I especially like to use it to clean after cooking something pungent because it helps get rid of the smell.

I like the big 946 ml (32 fl oz) concentrate. Just recycle the Mrs. Meyers Countertop Spray Bottle or another bottle of choice; add a small amount or concentrate and fill with water. For heavy duty cleaning you can use it full strength. I have not found a need for that since the diluted cleaner does such a good job. It might seem pricey at first glance, but it will last forever. Armed with the All Purpose Cleaner and the Surface Scrub I can clean most of my house top to bottom without a lot of fuss. I should mention that all Mrs. Meyers Products are cruelty free. 

There are still other products from this company to try but so far, I am a fan. Mrs. Meyers, I invite you to come for tea sometime. You can meet my friend Heather…call first please so I can tidy.

We should take this outside August 18, 2009

Have you ever realized you have been taking something dear to you for granted? A recent visit to my friend’s home made me come to my senses. I’m talking about support throughout the years, helping me budget, never giving up, no matter how big the load. Here is a big shout out to my portable, handy dandy clothes dryer. Yeah!

Some municipalities prohibit clotheslines in backyards. It is hard to believe that currently these by-laws exist. Thankfully, our community recently lifted the ban and now we can freely air our laundry without fear of fines.

We are an active, messy, sweaty family. I shake my head at the amount of laundry we generate. Drying clothes on a line not only reduces energy consumption, it saves money too. Before I sound all green and mighty, I must confess that another reason I avoid the dryer is because I can’t really afford shrinkage in my clothing. (Not a lot of room to work with if you know what I mean.)

One challenge with the drying rack is wrinkles. Friend or foe? Some people are easy going when it comes to creases; others have mothers who iron underwear. I think there are three schools of thought on this issue. The first solution is to wear the garment, as is, no problem. The second is to throw the items in the dryer for a few minutes to eliminate some, but not all, of the wrinkles. The third (and this draws incredulous laughter) is to haul out the iron and smooth for crisp perfection. You have probably guessed that I fall into that last category. I will qualify that I like my cotton shirts pressed but I am o.k. with wrinkly underwear. Sorry Mom.

I used to think that all folding clothes dryers are the same. Not so! I have bought flimsy ones that broke, bent out of shape, rusted, and even blew over the neighbour’s fence. A company called Home Maid Deluxe Home Dryer makes the best one I have owned. I have only found it at Canadian Tire.  It is lightweight, durable, sturdy, holds a huge amount of clothes and looks quite fancy. It also folds up for easy storage. As I looked at my friend’s laundry drying in the summer breeze, Alli reminded me how I take for granted this clothes dryer. It was a good purchase.