Greening Your Kitchen: Kill the Energy Vampires

Saturday, February 23, 2008

There's been a lot of talk lately about energy "vampires" - Greening Your Kitchen logo by Eve Foxelectronic gadgets and appliances that suck energy even when they're not on (mwah ha ha...). It seems that just turning an appliance "off" is not enough to prevent it from silently sucking electricity from your sockets 24 hours a day.

This wasted energy is also known as "standby power" and it's the result of manufacturers being either too cheap or too stupid (maybe both...) to design their electronics so that they will not use any power when turned "off."

Although they use a smaller amount of energy than they would use when "on", it's nothing to sneeze your nose at. In fact, "vampire energy loss" accounts for 5-8% of a single family home's total electricity use each year, according to the Department of Energy. That is the rough equivalent of one month's energy bill!

PG&E bill
This unintentionally wasted energy sends more than 97 billion pounds of carbon dioxide (1% of the world's carbon emissions) into the atmosphere according to vampire energy expert Alan Meier of Berkeley's very own Lawrence Lab. So the clock on your microwave and that little red light on your espresso maker are actively contributing to global warming...

This week, you're mission is to fight the energy "vampires" in your kitchen and beyond (what good is an energy-efficient kitchen if the rest of your house is still wasting energy, right?) I have to admit that I find it oddly satisfying to do this, and I bet you will, too.

Step 1: Hunt Down the Energy Vampires

Look for anything that has an LED light, clock, etc., as well as any electronic gadget or appliance that has a transformer (that little black box that converst the power from the wall into a usable form for your cell phone, computer, etc.)

Vampire energy guru, Alan Meier, estimates that the average home has roughly 40 killawattappliances/gadgets sucking energy at any given time. Some obvious culprits are the coffee maker, coffee grinder, espresso/cappuccino maker, microwave oven, bread machine, can opener, computer, cd player/sound system, DVD player, TIVO box, VCR, fax machine, printer, cell phone charger, printer, modem, etc.

If you want to get really systematic and geeky about this, you can also buy a little gadget called a Kill-A-Watt for around $25 to assess which of your electronics are using the most energy and to estimate what the cost is.

Step 2: Kill the Vampires (Unplug!)

Once you've identified the vampires, drive a wooden stake into their hearts by unplugging them all. Or wave a powerstrip at them (it's the electronic equivalent of garlic) and watch as they cower and cringe...

Step 3: Find a System That Works For You

You may be someone who does not mind plugging and unplugging things all day long but if not, you'll need to spend an hour thinking through which appliances and gadgets you use most often and how to best group them together.
smartstrip
When my husband and I made the switch a few years ago, we had to do a little creative shuffling -- we grouped things we often use together (like our computers and our ipod) on the same power strip, switched things we never use (like our VCR which has gathered dust ever since we bought a DVD player) to different outlets so that we could leave them unplugged, and placed our cell phones in a prominent place to make it easier to remember to unplug the chargers once the phone is full.

You may want to buy more powerstrips (make sure you get the ones with built in surge protectors to safeguard your electronics from a surge) or you could invest in one of two new devices called a SmartStrip (roughly $35) and a Wattstopper (roughly $90) that allow you to leave things plugged in but minimize their power usage when you're not using them. I have not tried either one yet but they certainly sound very convenient (more so than the power strip model.) TreeHugger has a nice little write up on both devices - click here to learn more about them.

Step 4: Enjoy Conserving Energy & Saving Money!

As long as you remember to unplug things and to switch off your power strips (or potentially just plug everything you own into either a smartstrip or wattkiller), you should be both saving energy and money. I call that a win-win situation!

More Ways To Green Your Kitchen
1 comment:

Newman's Alphabet Cookies Spell "YUM"

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Pssst! Don't tell anyone but I've developed a full-blown addiction to Newman's Own organic chocolate alphabet cookies. I've bought about four bags of them in the past month.

I think the young Asian woman behind the check-out counter of the neighborhood grocery store where I shop may be on to me. I am sure that she gave me a funny little smile last time I sidled up to the counter holding a bag of them...

I LOVE THESE COOKIES

I love soaking them in milk and eating them with a spoon, a delicious variation on "graham cracker mush", one of my favorite childhood desserts (I won't insult your intelligence by explaining what graham cracker mush is...) These little cookies are also very tasty plain. Thus far, I have not been able to detect any difference in taste between the various letters but please rest assured that I am checking them ALL thoroughly to make 100% sure of this.

Although they're not actually good for you, they're really not so bad, as cookies go. Here's some info about them from the Newman's Own Organics site:

Alphabets do not have any cholesterol or trans-fatty acids because of the use of Organic Palm Fruit Oil. Organic palm fruit oil shouldn't, though, be confused with palm kernel oil. Newman's Own Organic chocolate alphabet cookies


Organic palm fruit oil:
* Is extracted from the palm's fruit not the palm's kernel.
* It is not hydrogenated.
* Contains no trans-fatty acids.
* Is lower in saturated fat than butter and has no cholesterol.
* Can be grown organically in tropical regions.

Of the three tropical oils, Palm Fruit Oil is 50% saturated, while Palm Kernel Oil is 86%, and Coconut Oil is 92%.

We like, too, that palm fruit oil comes from a part of Columbia where its production helps protect the area.

Ingredients: Organic Unbleached Flour, Organic Sugar, Organic Palm Fruit Oil, Organic Cocoa, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Natural Flavor, Baking Soda, Salt, Organic Unsweetened Chocolate.

They also make a Cinammon Graham and an Arrowroot flavor as well as a wheat-free, dairy-free version (which my wheat and dairy-free father-in-law told me is "dangerously good" -- maybe I am not the only addict in the family???)

But whatever flavor you dig, I hope these little cookies spell happiness for you, too!

3 comments:

Introducing Greening Your Kitchen!

Greening Your Kitchen logo by Eve FoxI've been collecting ideas for a Greening Your Kitchen series for the last few months and am proud to bring you the first installment. I'll write a new one each week -- suggestions are always welcome via comments or email. If you like the ideas, please forward them along to your friends and family. Happy greening!
Greening Your Kitchen, Week 1: Nix The Antibacterials

Studies show that antibacterial soap is no more effective than regular soap at killing bacteria and getting things clean (and neither can kill viruses.) The same is true of antibacterial hand cleaning gels, lotions, cutting boards, sponges, etc. If you're not convinced, check out what the CDC says.

In addition, there is a good possibility that using anti-bacterial products may encourage the growth of antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" against which modern medicine has no defense. That is some scary sh*t! And there are rumors that using antibacterial soap and other products may actually increase your risk of infection over time by killing off "good" bacteria and weakening your immune system. This has not been definitively proven yet but I can't think of a single reason to keep on using this junk until it is...

Despite all the technological advancements, there is just no replacement for washing your hands and surfaces well with plain old soap and water (click here for a handwashing tutorial from the Mayo Clinic.)

Your job this week is simple -- scan your kitchen and bathroom for any and all antibacterial products that may be lurking there -- hand soaps, waterless hand cleaners, lotions, sponges, and cutting boards are the most likely suspects. Then get rid of them (please recycle, if possible!)

Once you've "cleansed" your home of all antibacterial products, it's time to replace them with non-antibacterial, non-toxic, eco-friendly products (this is the fun part!) There are lots of great options available. Here are a few suggestions for great-smelling, non-toxic, eco-friendly, non-antibacterial products to try out:

Sponges

  • Cellulose "pop-up" sponges are biodegradable and you Cellulose Pop-Up Spongescan run them through your dishwasher to kill bacteria if you're concerned about germs. There are a number of companies that sell these (Gaiam, Williams Sonoma, etc.) but you can always find them at Trader Joe's for cheap.
  • Natural Value also sells a scrubber sponge that is made with 50% recycled materials. The only downside is that it won't last quite as long as a non-recycled one would.Plastic Pot & Pan Scraper
  • If you want something even tougher than a scrubby sponge, I strongly
    • suggest that you try out a plastic pot and pan scraper. They are cheap, durable, and excellent at removing caked on, baked on, burnt on food from pans, pots, cookie sheets, etc. I consider these to be a "gift from the kitchen gods."
Hand Soaps

  • Kiss My Face Organics - this brand has always been a favorite of mine. A few years ago they started making foaming hand soaps that are so good-smelling that you may be tempted to eat them... My favorite is the grapefruit and Hand Soapsbergamot.
  • Dr. Bronners - this company has been around forever and is very popular with the hippie set. Although the writing on the label may make you feel a little crazy, these powerful, delightful-smelling liquid soaps will do just the opposite. I am partial to the organic peppermint and bitter almond scents.
  • Nature's Gate - this company has been around for a while and started an organics line several years back.
Dish Soaps

  • Mrs. Meyers Clean Day - this whole line of products is eco-friendly and wonderful-smelling (soaps, lotions, cleaners, laundry detergent, wipes, Dish Soapscountertop spray, etc.) I LOVE the lemon verbena dish soap (it smells so good you'll find yourself elbowing your way to the sink to wash the dishes) and laundry detergent.
  • Seventh Generation - they offer a line of eco-friendly, non-toxic, household cleaners, baby products, and paper products. My favorite is the lemongrass and clementine zest scented dish soap.
  • Ecover - same deal, a full line of non-toxic, eco-friendly household cleaners, etc. These guys have been around a long time. I like their lemon and aloe vera dishwashing liquid best.
Hand Lotions

  • Avalon Organics - this is a nice line of organic personal Hand Lotionscare products. I like their lavender hand and body lotion.
  • Kiss My Face Organics - they make great lotions. I like their lavender & shea butter, olive & aloe, and Vitamin E scents best.
  • Dr. Bronner's - they make nice soaps and lotions, including a bunch of organic options. They're all nice smelling though I tend to gravitate towards the lavender ones (can you tell???)
Counter & All-Purpose Cleaners


  • Bon Ami - this old standy is environmentally-friendly allpurposecleaners(phosphate and chlorine-free) and will get the job done. Remember, "hasn't scratched yet."
  • BioKleen - this company also offers a full line of eco-friendly cleaners. Their citrus-scented all-purpose cleaner is very concentrated and divine smelling.
  • Citra-Solv - they offer another earth-friendly line of cleaners. This one is great at getting out stains and cutting grease, in particular.
Cutting Boards
  • Bambu - uses organic bamboo to make their products. See my green holiday gift guide for more info on this company.
  • Any plastic or wooden cutting board that is not impregnated with antibacterial agents would be preferable to one that is. You should be able to buy one at your local grocery store or at B,B & E, Ikea, Target, or any of the other big box stores.
Resources
More Ways To Green Your Kitchen
8 comments:

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Greening Your Kitchen: Kill the Energy Vampires

There's been a lot of talk lately about energy "vampires" - Greening Your Kitchen logo by Eve Foxelectronic gadgets and appliances that suck energy even when they're not on (mwah ha ha...). It seems that just turning an appliance "off" is not enough to prevent it from silently sucking electricity from your sockets 24 hours a day.

This wasted energy is also known as "standby power" and it's the result of manufacturers being either too cheap or too stupid (maybe both...) to design their electronics so that they will not use any power when turned "off."

Although they use a smaller amount of energy than they would use when "on", it's nothing to sneeze your nose at. In fact, "vampire energy loss" accounts for 5-8% of a single family home's total electricity use each year, according to the Department of Energy. That is the rough equivalent of one month's energy bill!

PG&E bill
This unintentionally wasted energy sends more than 97 billion pounds of carbon dioxide (1% of the world's carbon emissions) into the atmosphere according to vampire energy expert Alan Meier of Berkeley's very own Lawrence Lab. So the clock on your microwave and that little red light on your espresso maker are actively contributing to global warming...

This week, you're mission is to fight the energy "vampires" in your kitchen and beyond (what good is an energy-efficient kitchen if the rest of your house is still wasting energy, right?) I have to admit that I find it oddly satisfying to do this, and I bet you will, too.

Step 1: Hunt Down the Energy Vampires

Look for anything that has an LED light, clock, etc., as well as any electronic gadget or appliance that has a transformer (that little black box that converst the power from the wall into a usable form for your cell phone, computer, etc.)

Vampire energy guru, Alan Meier, estimates that the average home has roughly 40 killawattappliances/gadgets sucking energy at any given time. Some obvious culprits are the coffee maker, coffee grinder, espresso/cappuccino maker, microwave oven, bread machine, can opener, computer, cd player/sound system, DVD player, TIVO box, VCR, fax machine, printer, cell phone charger, printer, modem, etc.

If you want to get really systematic and geeky about this, you can also buy a little gadget called a Kill-A-Watt for around $25 to assess which of your electronics are using the most energy and to estimate what the cost is.

Step 2: Kill the Vampires (Unplug!)

Once you've identified the vampires, drive a wooden stake into their hearts by unplugging them all. Or wave a powerstrip at them (it's the electronic equivalent of garlic) and watch as they cower and cringe...

Step 3: Find a System That Works For You

You may be someone who does not mind plugging and unplugging things all day long but if not, you'll need to spend an hour thinking through which appliances and gadgets you use most often and how to best group them together.
smartstrip
When my husband and I made the switch a few years ago, we had to do a little creative shuffling -- we grouped things we often use together (like our computers and our ipod) on the same power strip, switched things we never use (like our VCR which has gathered dust ever since we bought a DVD player) to different outlets so that we could leave them unplugged, and placed our cell phones in a prominent place to make it easier to remember to unplug the chargers once the phone is full.

You may want to buy more powerstrips (make sure you get the ones with built in surge protectors to safeguard your electronics from a surge) or you could invest in one of two new devices called a SmartStrip (roughly $35) and a Wattstopper (roughly $90) that allow you to leave things plugged in but minimize their power usage when you're not using them. I have not tried either one yet but they certainly sound very convenient (more so than the power strip model.) TreeHugger has a nice little write up on both devices - click here to learn more about them.

Step 4: Enjoy Conserving Energy & Saving Money!

As long as you remember to unplug things and to switch off your power strips (or potentially just plug everything you own into either a smartstrip or wattkiller), you should be both saving energy and money. I call that a win-win situation!

More Ways To Green Your Kitchen
at 1 comment:

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Newman's Alphabet Cookies Spell "YUM"

Pssst! Don't tell anyone but I've developed a full-blown addiction to Newman's Own organic chocolate alphabet cookies. I've bought about four bags of them in the past month.

I think the young Asian woman behind the check-out counter of the neighborhood grocery store where I shop may be on to me. I am sure that she gave me a funny little smile last time I sidled up to the counter holding a bag of them...

I LOVE THESE COOKIES

I love soaking them in milk and eating them with a spoon, a delicious variation on "graham cracker mush", one of my favorite childhood desserts (I won't insult your intelligence by explaining what graham cracker mush is...) These little cookies are also very tasty plain. Thus far, I have not been able to detect any difference in taste between the various letters but please rest assured that I am checking them ALL thoroughly to make 100% sure of this.

Although they're not actually good for you, they're really not so bad, as cookies go. Here's some info about them from the Newman's Own Organics site:

Alphabets do not have any cholesterol or trans-fatty acids because of the use of Organic Palm Fruit Oil. Organic palm fruit oil shouldn't, though, be confused with palm kernel oil. Newman's Own Organic chocolate alphabet cookies


Organic palm fruit oil:
* Is extracted from the palm's fruit not the palm's kernel.
* It is not hydrogenated.
* Contains no trans-fatty acids.
* Is lower in saturated fat than butter and has no cholesterol.
* Can be grown organically in tropical regions.

Of the three tropical oils, Palm Fruit Oil is 50% saturated, while Palm Kernel Oil is 86%, and Coconut Oil is 92%.

We like, too, that palm fruit oil comes from a part of Columbia where its production helps protect the area.

Ingredients: Organic Unbleached Flour, Organic Sugar, Organic Palm Fruit Oil, Organic Cocoa, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Natural Flavor, Baking Soda, Salt, Organic Unsweetened Chocolate.

They also make a Cinammon Graham and an Arrowroot flavor as well as a wheat-free, dairy-free version (which my wheat and dairy-free father-in-law told me is "dangerously good" -- maybe I am not the only addict in the family???)

But whatever flavor you dig, I hope these little cookies spell happiness for you, too!

at 3 comments:

Introducing Greening Your Kitchen!

Greening Your Kitchen logo by Eve FoxI've been collecting ideas for a Greening Your Kitchen series for the last few months and am proud to bring you the first installment. I'll write a new one each week -- suggestions are always welcome via comments or email. If you like the ideas, please forward them along to your friends and family. Happy greening!
Greening Your Kitchen, Week 1: Nix The Antibacterials

Studies show that antibacterial soap is no more effective than regular soap at killing bacteria and getting things clean (and neither can kill viruses.) The same is true of antibacterial hand cleaning gels, lotions, cutting boards, sponges, etc. If you're not convinced, check out what the CDC says.

In addition, there is a good possibility that using anti-bacterial products may encourage the growth of antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" against which modern medicine has no defense. That is some scary sh*t! And there are rumors that using antibacterial soap and other products may actually increase your risk of infection over time by killing off "good" bacteria and weakening your immune system. This has not been definitively proven yet but I can't think of a single reason to keep on using this junk until it is...

Despite all the technological advancements, there is just no replacement for washing your hands and surfaces well with plain old soap and water (click here for a handwashing tutorial from the Mayo Clinic.)

Your job this week is simple -- scan your kitchen and bathroom for any and all antibacterial products that may be lurking there -- hand soaps, waterless hand cleaners, lotions, sponges, and cutting boards are the most likely suspects. Then get rid of them (please recycle, if possible!)

Once you've "cleansed" your home of all antibacterial products, it's time to replace them with non-antibacterial, non-toxic, eco-friendly products (this is the fun part!) There are lots of great options available. Here are a few suggestions for great-smelling, non-toxic, eco-friendly, non-antibacterial products to try out:

Sponges

  • Cellulose "pop-up" sponges are biodegradable and you Cellulose Pop-Up Spongescan run them through your dishwasher to kill bacteria if you're concerned about germs. There are a number of companies that sell these (Gaiam, Williams Sonoma, etc.) but you can always find them at Trader Joe's for cheap.
  • Natural Value also sells a scrubber sponge that is made with 50% recycled materials. The only downside is that it won't last quite as long as a non-recycled one would.Plastic Pot & Pan Scraper
  • If you want something even tougher than a scrubby sponge, I strongly
    • suggest that you try out a plastic pot and pan scraper. They are cheap, durable, and excellent at removing caked on, baked on, burnt on food from pans, pots, cookie sheets, etc. I consider these to be a "gift from the kitchen gods."
Hand Soaps

  • Kiss My Face Organics - this brand has always been a favorite of mine. A few years ago they started making foaming hand soaps that are so good-smelling that you may be tempted to eat them... My favorite is the grapefruit and Hand Soapsbergamot.
  • Dr. Bronners - this company has been around forever and is very popular with the hippie set. Although the writing on the label may make you feel a little crazy, these powerful, delightful-smelling liquid soaps will do just the opposite. I am partial to the organic peppermint and bitter almond scents.
  • Nature's Gate - this company has been around for a while and started an organics line several years back.
Dish Soaps

  • Mrs. Meyers Clean Day - this whole line of products is eco-friendly and wonderful-smelling (soaps, lotions, cleaners, laundry detergent, wipes, Dish Soapscountertop spray, etc.) I LOVE the lemon verbena dish soap (it smells so good you'll find yourself elbowing your way to the sink to wash the dishes) and laundry detergent.
  • Seventh Generation - they offer a line of eco-friendly, non-toxic, household cleaners, baby products, and paper products. My favorite is the lemongrass and clementine zest scented dish soap.
  • Ecover - same deal, a full line of non-toxic, eco-friendly household cleaners, etc. These guys have been around a long time. I like their lemon and aloe vera dishwashing liquid best.
Hand Lotions

  • Avalon Organics - this is a nice line of organic personal Hand Lotionscare products. I like their lavender hand and body lotion.
  • Kiss My Face Organics - they make great lotions. I like their lavender & shea butter, olive & aloe, and Vitamin E scents best.
  • Dr. Bronner's - they make nice soaps and lotions, including a bunch of organic options. They're all nice smelling though I tend to gravitate towards the lavender ones (can you tell???)
Counter & All-Purpose Cleaners


  • Bon Ami - this old standy is environmentally-friendly allpurposecleaners(phosphate and chlorine-free) and will get the job done. Remember, "hasn't scratched yet."
  • BioKleen - this company also offers a full line of eco-friendly cleaners. Their citrus-scented all-purpose cleaner is very concentrated and divine smelling.
  • Citra-Solv - they offer another earth-friendly line of cleaners. This one is great at getting out stains and cutting grease, in particular.
Cutting Boards
  • Bambu - uses organic bamboo to make their products. See my green holiday gift guide for more info on this company.
  • Any plastic or wooden cutting board that is not impregnated with antibacterial agents would be preferable to one that is. You should be able to buy one at your local grocery store or at B,B & E, Ikea, Target, or any of the other big box stores.
Resources
More Ways To Green Your Kitchen
at 8 comments: