One of my favorite magazines is E The Environmental Magazine. This is an informative magazine with some good reading in it.  The issue that I recently received has an article entitled Is Green Getting Too Upscale? The article explores the building of homes from 7,000 to 20,000 square feet.  While these homes are adding solar panels to their homes, according to the editor of the article, “The biggest energy savings come from reducing the size of homes.  Solar is the last thing they should consider – after the size of the home, the level of insulation and the materials.”

In addition to the really great feature articles, you will find articles pertaining to your health, your home, finances, going green suggestions and much more.

I would encourage you to take a look at this magazine and even include it in your Christmas shopping.  Your friends and relatives would love this also.  I certainly do!

Are you thinking of buying or building a solar power system for your home?

Solar systems make use of a renewable source of energy, the sun. These systems are becoming more affordable all the time.  Solar works best in an energy efficient environment, so having energy efficient lighting and appliances are important to reduce your energy needs before installing the unit.

Solar power is amazing.  The sun blasts enough energy over the surface each day to provide us with more than enough power to sustain us.  Solar power works by collecting energy output by the sun on  specified surfaces and converting it into electricity that we can use to power our homes. This system will never run out of fuel.

Solar power units are reliable, have no moving parts, require little maintenance and cause no noise or pollution. Properly installed, this system should last for about 50 years.

Thin film solar panels are produced by applying silicon material on glass or stainless steel or between 2 pieces of flexible laminate material.  The laminate thin film panels are most popular and can be applied to any surface and are sometimes used as roofing material.

These solar systems can be purchased and installed on your home.  There are books available that will lead you through installing your own solar unit at a reasonable cost to you.

What can we as caretakers of our earth and caregivers of the poor do to affect our environment? Christians have a sacred responsibility to the earth and to the creatures within it. God put man and woman on the earth to work it and to take care of it.

There are common themes across all faith traditions that we are called to be stewards of the earth and we are to preserve life for future generations. To love, serve, manage and protect what God has given to us and to care for one another is a form of worshiping the Creator. The biblical command to care and love other persons must include caring for the environment in which we live.

As Christians, we need to understand our responsibility to respond to the environmental challenges and to be in right relationship with creation. The movement to heal our earth should begin with us.

We, as Christians, have been called to this vocation. Doing nothing is an action. Is it the right action? Please think about our earth and some of the things you can do to help.

Both mold and mildew thrive on and devour an organic object. They are often referred to in the same sentence. Mold and mildew are both known as fungi and have enzymes used to break down organisms. Mold and Mildew reproduce by spores. In our environment they eat away old trees and decompose things that are dead. However, in our homes they are a problem that we need to deal with.

We know mildew as the substance that grows on the tile in the bathtub, on the shower curtain or other surfaces in the bathroom. Mildew is not as toxic as mold and is found in areas that are continually damp. Mildew can be controlled with low humidity in the bathroom. Ventilate your bathroom and let in fresh air every day to reduce humidity.

Mold is an ugly word and describes a growth in the walls of your home. Mold can grow on anything in or out of doors, such as wood, plaster, cement and fabric to name a few. A dark stain on your wall or a deep musty smell indicates that mold may be growing in the walls. This can cause problems such as headaches, dizziness, breathing problems and learning disabilities. Keeping the environment dry will help to prevent the growth of mold which can take only a few days to germinate.

There are mold and mildew products available that are environmentally safe and biodegradable. You should find one that is safe for people, pets, plants, children and the environment as well.

In an article published by the Kansas City Star, voters in Missouri will decide that issue on November 4.  Proposition C, also known as the Missouri Clean Energy Initiative, would commit the state to increase renewable energy sources for electricity, trim consumers’ utility bills and slash pollution by coal-burning power plants.

The proposal was placed on the ballot through an initiative petition led by a progressive effort to boost the state’s use of wind, solar, biomass, hydrogen fuel cells and other renewable sources.

Proposition C requires the state’s investor-owned  utilities to acquire 15% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2021.  The current figure is less than 1%.  Coal now accounts for 82% of the electricity produced by these utilities.

Kansas City Power & Light supports Proposition C.  This utility, which delivers electricity to hundreds of thousands in the metropolitan area, already has said it intends to invest in more wind forms.

Twenty-six states already have renewable electricity standards.  Some are stricter than Missouri’s; others are less strict.

A “Yes”vote is recommended by The Star.  The Clean Energy Initiative would dramatically increase the state’s supply of clean renewable electricity.

Since we spend about 90% of our lives indoors, the air quality inside your house is as important as the air quality outdoors.  We purchase products everyday, like air fresheners, draperies, shampoos, TV sets which add harmful chemicals to the air inside the home.  In our tightly sealed homes, we have not only allergens like mold, dander and pollen, but many fragrances and pollutants from household goods.

Indoor chemicals have been linked to learning disabilities, allergies, asthma, birth defects and disability in children. Formaldehyde in solvents from fresh paint, and phthalates which are used in soft plastics and fragrances are connected to air quality.

Phthalates are put into air fresheners, dryer sheets, cleaning supplies, shampoos and other products under the term of fragrance,  Instead of disappearing quickly they stick to household dust which can be inhaled or ingested and can cause allergies or asthma.

Toss out the air fresheners and open your windows.  Eliminate dryer sheets and fabric softeners. Using baking soda in the rinse water will soften fabric and stop static cling.
Formaldehyde is released for years from pressed wood items like cabinets and tables.  Formaldehyde is a volatile organic compound (VOC) that escapes easily into the air.  Other VOCs are emitted from glues used in furniture and some brands of paint.

Picking products made from solid wood and natural fibers is best.  You can also pick low or no-VOC paint.

Flame retardants, polybrominated diphenyl ether’s (PBDEs) are causing hyperactivity and learning problems and has shown up in breast milk.  PBDEs are found in the dust around your computers and television sets.  Children are found with the highest exposure as crawling on the floor exposes them to more dust.

Vacuum regularly and turn off the televisions and computers when not using them.  When they are warm, they release more PBDE.

Improving the air quality in your home is imperative to your good health.

They redirect water from your roof to your home or garden

Rainfall of one inch within a 24 hour period can produce more than 700 gallons of water that runs off the roof.  Much of the water runs from gutters on to surfaces that do not allow water to soak into the ground.  These are called impervious surfaces and include concrete, asphalt and compacted soil. Runoff collects and transports soil, pet waste, salt, pesticides, fertilizer, oil and grease, litter and other pollutants.   This water drains into nearby creeks, streams and rivers. Polluted storm water contaminates local waterways.  It can harm plants, fish and wildlife, while degrading the quality of the water.

They irrigate your lawn and garden

During summer months it is estimated that 40 percent of household water is used for lawn and garden maintenance.  A rain barrel collects water and stores it for the dry summer months when you need it most.  Using rain barrels helps to lower water bills while improving lawn, plants, flowers and trees. Water collected from the roofs of houses picks up little contamination and is healthy for plant life. Rain barrels can be constructed in a number of ways, or prefabricated rain barrels can be purchased.  Using rain barrels is one way to decrease your household’s impact on local waterways and to be a good steward of the local watershed.