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Odor Issues With High Efficiency HVAC Units
The energy and money savings generated from owning and operating a high efficiency HVAC unit is tremendous. However, the unit is not without its faults. One of the most common problems that owners...
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Do High Efficiency Furnaces Need Outdoor Makeup Air?
Weathering a particularly bitter winter without the aid of a home heating system seems, at best, daunting. However, conditioned comfort comes at a cost; home heating and cooling systems account for...
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How to Make High Efficiency Detergent
Using high-efficiency (HE) laundry detergent in conjunction with an energy-saving washing machine ensures optimal cleaning performance while preventing mechanical problems. Unlike their traditional...
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Repurpose a Sweater to a Sweater Dress
Making a personal effort to live a sustainable lifestyle can be quite inspiring at the beginning. Then reality starts setting in, and many people wonder if they have the time or focus necessary to...
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If your cashmere sweater is looking worn, give it a second life by turning it into a new accessory. Cashmere is a fine fabric that deserves to be used for as long as possible. This extremely soft,...
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The Carbon Dioxide to Electricity Consumption Ratio
Determining your impact on the environment from carbon dioxide can empower you to make good decisions for conserving resources and energy. The concept of your carbon or ecological footprint can be hard...
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Biomass Gasifier Definition
Biomass is plant material that can be converted into fuel -- when you burn wood to heat your home, you're heating with biomass. However, burning plant material does not make full use of its potential...
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Hard vs. Soft Wood and Fuel Efficiency
There are tens of thousands of species of trees around the world, and the wood from all of them is combustible. When wood burns, it gives off heat energy that can be used for many things. A tiny wood...
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Ecofriendly Ideas for Kids' Birthday Presents
A great ecofriendly birthday present is good for the environment and also honors a child's wants, needs and personality. Green gift ideas include more than toys made from nontoxic, biodegradable...
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Car Fuel Efficiency Tax Breaks
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, burning fossil fuels accounts for more than 75 percent of human-generated greenhouse gases, and transportation makes up one-third of this...
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What Is Efficiency Measured In?
Efficiency is a practical goal for businesses trying to improve their bottom line and individuals seeking to cut home energy costs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines efficiency in...
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Does Freon Really Affect the Ozone?
“Freon” is the DuPont Co.'s trade name for a class of volatile organic chemicals known as chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs. (See Reference 1) Once widely used as refrigerants, solvents and propellants,...
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How to Increase Fireplace Efficiency
Fireplaces have become less common due to the popularity and ease of fossil fuel use for home heating. In just the first 70 years of the 20th century, the percentage of homes using a wood-burning...
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How to Increase the Efficiency of a Dishwasher
Most of the energy required to run a dishwasher is used to heat the water, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. (See Reference 2, Page 28) The amount of water used in a dishwasher cycle varies...
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How to Cut Down on the Amounts of Natural Gas I Use
A typical family in the United States spends at least $2,000 a year on utility costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. (See Reference 1 Page 3) Heat is the major utility used in the home....
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Accomplishments of the Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol, enacted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or UNFCCC, in 1997, is an international agreement aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by at least...
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What Can Citizens Do to Help Eliminate Lead in the Environment?
Lead occurs naturally in the environment, but in concentrated doses it poses a serious health risk to humans and animals. Lead poses a particularly serious health threat to young children, developing...
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Should Baseboard Vents Be Open for Better Efficiency?
Most baseboard heaters, be they electric or hot water based, have small vents or louvers that can be opened and closed. Homeowners often wonder whether there is an optimal position for the louvers to...
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Baseboard Heater vs. Space Heater Efficiency
When the weather outside turns frosty, your furnace works hard to provide even warmth throughout your home. Unfortunately, that may not be the most energy efficient heating solution, because the rooms...
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How to Repurpose a Ceramic Table Base
The base for your ceramic table can continue its life as a decorative table base for an altogether different tabletop. Since the typical ceramic table base consists of a sturdy metal frame supported on...
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