New Interface

As the goal is to make this site an online magazine with at least bi-weekly updates, I have updated the interface to what we will leave the beta stage and go live with. Hopefully this will allow users to find information easier and participate in the site.

70 Ways to Save Energy and Money

Everyday Steps

1. Recycle, Recycle, Recycle. Recycle everything that you can.
2. Turn off lights that are not in use.
3. Turn off bulk freezers when not in use.
4. Take shorter showers, 5 minutes at most.
5. Turn off the water when brushing your teeth
6. Set your hot water heater at the lowest possible setting.
7. Use cold water to wash your laundry.
8. Turn your thermostat down during the day, wear a sweater.
9. Turn your thermostat down at night, use extra blankets.
10. Use a fan instead of an air conditioner during the summer.
11. Close up unused rooms.
12. Turn off dehumidifiers when not needed or buy an Energy Star approved unit.
13. Turn your hot tub down or off when not in use.
14. Turn your computer off when not in use.
15. Use a microwave instead of a stove or oven when possible - they use less energy.
16. Wash and reuse zip lock bags.
17. Use power strips. Appliances often use energy even when they are turned off. Plugging appliances into a power strip and turning the strip off when they are not in use prevents useless energy loss.
18. Replace incandescent light bulbs with CFL’s or LED’s. This will save you money on your electric bill.
19. Use a killawatt meter to learn about where the energy you use is going.
20. Use a clothesline instead of an electric or gas dryer

Shopping

21. Take your own reusable canvas or cloth bags to the store.
22. Purchase products in glass instead of plastic. Glass is easier to recycle and is a fully recyclable material without material loss.
23. Plan your shopping trips with the use of a tool like Google Maps.
24. Look for products with minimal packaging.

Health and Diet

25. Eat lower on the food chain. Eat less meat.
26. Buy bulk products to reduce waste produced by excess packaging.
27. By locally produced foods whenever possible.
28. Reduce the purchase of processed and frozen foods.
29. Purchase at least 10% organic foods
30. Purchase dairy products that do not contain rBST
31. Avoid canned goods due to Bisphenol-A

Gardening

32. Compost - the natural process of decomposition produces less methane emissions than the breakdown of waste a dump or landfill.
33. Rake leaves, do not waste energy by using a leaf blower.
34. Use rain barrels to supply water for gardens and lawns.
35. Plant a tree.
36. Use an electric or push mower for your lawn
37. Use native and drought resistant plants.
38. Reduce the amount of lawn planted.
39. Work on an edible landscape

Home Maintenance and Updates

40. Purchase a programmable thermostat.
41. Caulk and weatherstrip your doors and windows to prevent air leaks
42. Clean your chimneys
43. Shrink wrap your windows during the winter.
44. Purchase easy to use wrap around foam insulaters for your pipes.
45. Insulate your attic.
46. Insulate the duct work in your home.
47. Insulate the joist bays in your home.
48. Have your furnace cleaned and tuned annually.
49. Add solar powered outdoor lamps.
50. Insulate your water heater
51. Insulate your Garage Door
52. Replace your windows with Energy Star rated Windows
53. Use Low or Zero VOC paints in the home
54. Replace the wall-to-wall carpet with environmentally friendly flooring

Traveling

55. Walk or ride a bike - it is healthy!
56. Take public transportation or carpool.
57. Change your car’s oil regularly
58. Make sure your car is properly tuned up
59. Replace the air filter regularly
60. Inflate the tires on your car to the proper level. This increases fuel efficiency.
61. Drive at the speed limit. A speed of 35-55 MPH results in maximum fuels efficiency for most vehicles.
62. Turn your car off when parked. Never leave your vehicle idling.
63. Do not use drive-thru’s. Park your vehicle, turn it off, and walk inside.
64. Avoid having unnecessary weight in your vehicle.

Other

65. Freecyle - giving things away prevents them from ending up in the landfill, where they will end up producing harmful methane emissions as they break down.
66. Check out thrift stores and yard sales for furnishings and accessories
67. See if your favorite magazines have an online or digital edition
68. Use Online Banking from your financial institution and eliminate paper billing
69. Join a video subscription service or use Cable pay-per-view instead of purchasing movies

Sweet Potato and Apple Scallop

Ingredients

• 2 lbs sweet potatoes (3 medium)
• 2 med apples, peeled and cored
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp orange extract
• 2 tbsp butter

Directions

Place sweet potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil; cook 20-25minutes or until tender. Drain and cool. Peel potatoes and cut into 1/4-inch slices. Place in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish or pan that has been greased. Cut apples into 1/4-inch rings; cut in half. Arrange over sweet potatoes. Sprinkle apple slices with lemon juice. Combine the brown sugar, pecans, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and orange extract. Sprinkle mixture over apples. Dot with butter. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until apples are tender.

Chicken Stew with Vegetables

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 roasted chicken (up to 5 pounds, cut)
• 1 ½ c water
• 2 tsp salt
• ½ cup broth or sherry
• ½ tsp pepper
• 1 cup green peas
• 8-10 white onions or shallots (small, halved)
• 1 cup sliced carrots
• 1 cup diced potatoes
• ½ cup diced rutabaga or turnip
• ½ cup corn (optional)
• 1/3 c flour blended with ½ c cool water.

Directions

Using a heavy pot or a Dutch oven, heat the oil. Add chicken pieces and make sure all sides are browned. Add sherry or broth, water, pepper and salt. Cover and allow to simmer for 45 minutes.

Add your vegetables - peas, onions, turnip, carrots, corn and potatoes. Cover and allow simmering for 35 up to 45 minutes again. Stir in the flour mixture slowly to prevent clumps. Cook and stir as necessary until gravy becomes thick. Usually about 10 minutes. Feeds 4-6 people and can be served with rice or biscuits.

Roasted Potatoes and Carrots

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 3 medium Carrots cut into 1½ inch thick circles
• 1 ½ cup Brussels sprouts halved (optional)
• 4 cups Red, Yellow, or Russet potatoes cut into wedges or slices
• 1 cup Sweet Potatoes cut into wedges or slices (optional)
• 1 Tbls Oregano, fresh or dried
• 1 Tbls Rosemary, fresh or dried
• 1 Tbls Thyme, fresh or dried
• 1 Tbls Basil, fresh or dried
• ¼ tsp Sea Salt
• 2 Tbls freshly ground blk pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease 11 x 17 inch baking sheet with the olive oil. Place vegetables on baking sheet and add the, minced fresh, or dried, herbs; salt and pepper. Toss well, evenly coating all the vegetables with the seasonings and oil. Spread out evenly and bake for 35 to 40 minutes.

Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Shallots

Ingredients

• 6 Tbsp minced shallots
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• ½ cup low fat, low sodium vegetable broth
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tsp fresh minced thyme (dried may be substituted)

Directions

Place all ingredients in a small casserole, cover and put in the oven that has been preheated to 400° to roast for approximately 40 minutes.

Clean 3-4 Yukon Gold potatoes and cut into 2″ chunks boil for 20 minutes or until soft. Drain potatoes and put back in the pot, over low heat to dry.

Heat ½ cup evaporated skim milk over medium low heat, add the potatoes and beat with a mixer. Add the roasted shallots from the oven and beat again until potatoes are smooth.

Smoked Sausage, Butternut Squash & Wild Rice Soup

Ingredients

• 1 Butternut Squash seeded
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 8-10 cups chicken stock
• 1 ½ cups chopped onion
• 1 cup wild rice
• 3/4 lb smoked sausage or kielbasa cut into ¼ inch pieces
• 2 cups corn kernels
• 1 ½ cups half and half
• 1 Tbsp chopped parsley

Directions

Preheat oven to 400º

Season the squash with olive oil, salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet and roast until fork tender. Remove from oven and cool completely. In a blender or food processor, puree the squash with 2 cups of the chicken stock. Puree until smooth and set aside.

In a saucepan, over medium heat, bring 4 cups of the stock and ½ cup of the chopped onions to a simmer. Stir in the rice and cook until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed, about an hour, stirring occasionally with fork. Remove the rice from the pan and cool. In a large saucepan, add the remaining oil, heat up and add sausage and brown. Add remaining onion and the corn. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté. Add the remaining chicken stock and squash puree. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Skim off any fat that may rise to the surface. Stir in the rice and continue to cook for 10 min. Remove from the heat, stir in the half and half and season if needed. Stir in parsley and serve.

Winter Minestrone Soup

Ingredients

• 2 tsp olive oil
• ½ cup chopped onion
• ½ tsp dried or fresh basil
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 butternut squash cubed (1 ¼ cups)
• ¾ cup diced zucchini
• ½ cup chopped carrot
• ½ cup diced fennel (may substitute celery or leek)
• 1 cup water
• 14 oz chicken broth canned or homemade
• 5 Tbsp tomato paste
• 1 cup uncooked pasta
• 2 ½ cups chopped cabbage
• ½ tsp freshly ground pepper
• 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add onion, basil, oregano and garlic to pan. Sauté 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Add squash and next 3 ingredients (through fennel), sauté an additional 5 minutes. Stir in 1 cup water, broth and tomato paste; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir in pasta; cook 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cabbage; cook 3 minutes. Stir in pepper. Cook until desired doneness. Serve with cheese Parmesan cheese on top.

Approximately 6 servings.

Optional: Meatballs or other meat may be added if desired.

Lemon Grass Roasted Chicken

Ingredients

• 2 tbls. finely chopped shallots
• 1 tbls. finely chopped garlic
• 1 tbls soy sauce
• 1 tbls dried chile flakes
• 1 tbls sugar
• 4 ½ tsp fish sauce
• 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
• 2 tbls finely chopped cilantro
• 1 tbls vegetable oil
• 1 stalk finely minced lemon grass
• 1 chicken (3-4 pounds), rinsed and patted dry

Directions

In a cooking dish large enough to hold the chicken combine shallots, garlic, chile, soy sauce, sugar, fish sauce, salt and chopped lemon grass reserving 2 tbls for future use. Add the chicken, turn in the marinade to coat. Pour excess marinade into the cavity and marinate in the refrigerator at least 3 hrs., but it is better overnight. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Put chicken, breast side down on a rack in a roasting pan. Roast 20 min per pound. Turn over and roast until nicely browned, about another 20 min per pound .About 10 min before chicken is done combine remaining lemon grass with cilantro and vegetable oil and baste the chicken. Chicken is done when juices run clear. Let stand 10 min

Use Netflix To Reduce Waste

Are you a movie fan? I know I am. I would rather watch a good movie than mind-numbing television. Because of this I had a movie habit. I was addicted to DVDs. There were times when I would buy 10 movies a week. Some sit on the shelves unwrapped even though I bought them years ago. We have so many movies in the household that friends come to us before going to Blockbuster. So a few months ago, I started thinking about this excess and realized that I was spending up to $500 a month on plastic disks that I was going to use once, or at most a few times over the rest of my life. There is only so much time to watch movies.

So to cut down, I joined Netflix (www.netflix.com). They deliver the movies I want via the USPS and I send them back and get new ones when done. All for a low fee of about $15.00 a month. This allows me to put the rest of that money in my savings account or to offset the purchase of higher quality foods. The great thing about delivery by USPS is that they are coming to my home 6 days a week anyway, so there is no net carbon gain by my movie rentals as opposed to driving to a local video rental store. Plus, I don’t have to worry about storage or disposing of packaging.

Next Page »