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Keen Guest Blogger's blog

Eco-Friendly Bathroom Remodeling

Posted by Keen Guest Blogger on April 19th, 2012

Eco-Friendly BathroomEco-Friendly BathroomAs a homeowner who tries to live as green as possible, you're probably looking for ways you can reduce the amount of energy and water your home uses on a regular basis, as well as finding sustainable and lower-polluting alternatives to hardwood and other materials in your home.

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How to Choose What Solar Panel Kilowatt

Posted by Keen Guest Blogger on April 17th, 2012

solar panelsToday we have a guest blog post from Infinity Solar about how to figure out which solar power kilowatt is right for you.

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When looking at solar power systems, it is very important that you consider the kilowatt. You need to figure out what kilowatt you need to get in order to make sure that you are getting the most out of your solar panel system. There are a few different things that you can do in order to determine the correct solar panel kilowatt.... read more

How Reusing Should Always Come Before Waste Removal

Posted by Keen Guest Blogger on April 9th, 2012

Today we have a guest blog post from Kris Rayner.  Thanks for a great blog post, Kris!

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It is common to see the “Three R’s” of waste management given as: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The order in which these steps are listed is important, since it represents the path in which the waste stream flows and describes each decision point at which the waste stream itself can become more manageable. To these three “R’s,” it is only realistic to add a fourth: Remove. It is inevitable that there will be some waste which will have to be removed, when all is said and done.

By placing these steps in this particular order, the efficiency, cost and effectiveness of waste management can be controlled to the greatest extent possible. “Reduce,” at the headwaters of the waste stream, so to speak, is the first decision point. Consider the amount and type of packaging, for example. Over-packaging has become, as it should be, a matter of public discussion, but it is the decision of the manufacturer how to package a product. Bright, attractive and resistant to shoplifting seem to be the primary considerations for most retail packaging, but these choices can be affected by both buying habits and direct communication with the manufacturer by the consumer. These are effective, since manufacturers are in the business of selling their products, and are always sensitive to anything – including packaging – which influences buying decisions.... read more

Advanced Degree Programs in Sustainability

Posted by Keen Guest Blogger on March 28th, 2012

In the last several years, sustainability has become a hot topic among industries and universities around the world. With a growing concern about our world's diminishing natural resources and our society's devastating impact on the environment, sustainable business practices and sustainable education have become highly desired. Over the past decade or so many institutions of higher learning have responded to the economic and social need for sustainable education programs and have developed different degree levels dedicated to environmental sustainability education. ... read more

Sunrun Solar Power

Posted by Keen Guest Blogger on March 26th, 2012

We recently got in touch with the good people over at Sunrun and learned a bit more about their company and solar power.  Learn a bit about Sunrun:

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Most Americans think home solar power is still too expensive, but the truth is they can now switch to solar without owning the panels and start saving money on their electric bills. An innovative business model called solar power service brings solar to more homeowners than ever before and removes the high upfront costs.... read more

Turning Household Items into Beauty Products

Posted by Keen Guest Blogger on March 22nd, 2012

Going green doesn’t have to be limited to recycling as many products as possible or making sure to turn off lights and electronics as soon as you leave the room. While these are great ways to lessen your carbon footprint, you can also incorporate some easy changes to your beauty routine to help lessen your environmental impact and also save some money. The next time you’re about to buy new beauty products try making these at home instead:... read more

1.      Honey and milk facial cleanser
Despite what manufacturers want you to think, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good facial cleanser. In fact, you don’t need to go any further than your kitchen. By combining milk and honey you will be able to cleanse and moisturize your skin naturally, and you only need a tablespoon of milk and a teaspoon of honey to make a good cleanser. Just heat the honey until it’s not as thick, mix with the milk until you have a creamy mixture, and apply accordingly.

How To Improve Your Home’s Green Factor

Posted by Keen Guest Blogger on March 15th, 2012

Today was have a guest blog post by Christine Heeley, a freelance environmental writer.  

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As someone who’s always cared about the environment, it really does make me happy to see more and more people start to make the effort around the home to try and keep things as ‘green’ as possible.  If you haven’t yet started to get involved (shame on you, obviously), then you might find it a bit confusing as to how you can actually begin to get involved: there are, after all, a lot of potential ways in which you can start to contribute.  That’s why I’ve put together this little list of the four best ways to get started: 

Recycle.  Without doubt a biggie, this is one of most effective starting points for anyone hoping to contribute to the environment: partly because it’s so wonderfully simple.  Rather than simply chucking all the rubbish into a bin (something I admittedly did back in my much younger days), you can now purchase specialist waste units that are divided into the separate areas of recyclable material: glass, paper, rubbish etc.  All you have to do is put the right things into the right area of the bin, and the rest is taken care of.  Simple, and yet it still makes a big difference. ... read more

Water Consumption Infographic

Posted by Keen Guest Blogger on March 8th, 2012

This afternoon we have a guest blog post and infographic about water consumption from our friends at eLocal.com.  

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Amongst the many ways to conserve water, such as turning off the faucet while you wash dishes, making sure the sprinkler is only used on the grass and not wasted on the house or sidewalk, and turning off the water while brushing your teeth – there is actually an easier fix that can conserve water. No, it’s not a lifestyle change or elimination of a task, rather a one step fix.

Low-flow fixtures on your home appliances can save you an abundance of water and money. For example, if your toilet is flushed 15 times a day, you can save 24,000 gallons of water each year with a water-saving toilet. If one household used low-flow fixtures on their faucet, washing machine, shower head and toilet, they have the potential to save 40,000 gallons of water per year and 30% on their water bill. If every household in the U.S. also used these fixtures, we could save 2 trillion gallons of water per year, worth over 4 billion dollars.... read more

Compostable Material & Your Restaurant: A Guide to the Basics

Posted by Keen Guest Blogger on March 5th, 2012

Today we have a guest blog post by from our friends at The Back Burner.  Here is the low-down on compostable materials for restaurants.

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In the hack and slash world of cost-cutting and price adjusting those traversing the tricky trail through the restaurant industry know the value of inexpensive disposable products. Chances are if you own a restaurant or work in the business you handle a handful of disposable materials on a daily basis, ranging from takeout containers to cups and utensils. Unfortunately, most of these products end up resting at the bottom of one landfill or another, used and tossed without second thought. After all, they weren’t that expensive and came in a case pack of 1,000, right?

Yet more restaurants are noticing unnecessary waste and focusing on ways to cut back. Replacing traditional disposables with compostable versions is one such solution.... read more

Upcycled Décor

Posted by Keen Guest Blogger on March 1st, 2012

Today we have a great guest post by the folks over at Erie Construction.  Here are some fun upcycling ideas!

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Looking to decorate on a dime? Or perhaps you’d like to help out the Earth by being a little more green? Good news! You can do both of these things easily with upcycled home décor. Using materials you already have, some creativity, and a bit of elbow grease, you can make beautiful items to decorate your home with. Take a look at some of these quick and easy projects using upcycled and repurposed items from around the home.

Using Jewelry

Once you lose an earring, you might as well throw the other away right? Wrong! You can use lonely jewelry and older jewelry that you don’t wear anymore for upcycling projects. Give these pieces a second chance by re-crafting it into something you can appreciate. Try recycling big pieces like broaches and watches into glamorous refrigerator magnets or Christmas ornaments. Smaller pieces can be adhered to photo frames, coasters, or anything else that could benefit from a little bit of shine.... read more

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