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  • Going Green - Easy Projects 
    Reported by: Nicole Kilmer

    Monday, Mar 31, 2008 @04:00pm CDT

    WTVO/WQRF - In the middle of the golden plains of texas ... There's a very "green" house.  Why should you care?  Well this little house on the praire could put some green in your pocket.  Darryl Birkenfeld's house is chock full of great ideas you could easily copy.  You could start with something simple like changing a light bulb.  If every home in america replaced just one old-fashioned bulb, it'd make a big difference.  Some say it'd have the same environmental impact as taking 800,000 cars off the road.  Or, for something smaller:  "So, instead of having a flourescent, a big flourescent, like a lot of people have, hey're very tiny little lights," says Environmentalist Darryl Birkenfeld.


    Of course you could forget the lights altogether, and open the blinds.  "But, these are low and double-paned, so they're more efficient than single paned or things we had 10 years ago," says Birkenfeld.


    And think about the toilets we had ten years ago.  They used up to five gallons of water with a single flush.  To cut back, hange your toilet flapper.  Or install a new toilet that uses less than 2 gallons a flush.


    Here's another easy project, weather strip your doors and windows.  For a really well-sealed house, forget old fashioned insulation, and consider the spray kind instead.  If it's energy-efficient it's "R-rated."


    Want to do more?  Try these do-it-yourself jobs.  Insulate your water heater.  Just wrap it and duct tape it.  Or buy a programmable thermostat.  When you're not home it can change the temperature automatically.  Install a low flow showerhead, regularly clean your furnace filters and vacuum your refrigerator coils.

     

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  • Stateline Green Archive 

    Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010


    Oregon, IL Bed & Breakfast Goes Green Play Media
    New owners take steps to make an old building a little greener.

    Wednesday, January 27th, 2010


    Byron Public Library Goes Green Play Media
    The new Byron Public Library was built environmentally-friendly.

    Tuesday, January 26th, 2010


    Governor Quinn Announces Guidelines for Illinois' ENERGY STAR® Appliance Rebate Program
    Over $12 Million in Federal Recovery Funds Available to Increase the Use of Energy Efficient ...

    Governor's Green Youth Awards
    Illinois EPA accepting project applications from Illinois students.

    Electric Car Maker Gets Federal Loan
    Tesla will borrow $465M loan to build a factory in Southern California.

    IDNR Makes Plans to Restock Rock River
    Catfish among target species for 2010.

    Thursday, January 21st, 2010


    $6M Recovery Grant for Green Jobs in Illinois
    Rockford will benefit from green energy grant.

    Monday, January 18th, 2010


    Pine Mulch Now Available in Winnebago County
    Get pine mulch from recycled Christmas trees.

    Thursday, January 7th, 2010


    Christmas Tree Recycling Program
    2010 Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful Christmas Tree Recycling Program

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