See the Light with CFLs

By Nathan Kaufman

Lighting is one of the least expensive ways to go green in your home and business.  It also generally takes the least amount of work, just unscrewing the old bulb and screwing in the new one.  Standard incandescent light bulbs for home lighting are 60 watt bulbs and cost $.50-1.00 each.  By spending a couple dollars more, you can save 75% on your lighting energy expenses by using compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs.

75% is a huge reduction, but that is the average ratio of energy savings when switching from incandescent light bulbs to CFLs.  If you keep a brighter home, 100 watt incandescents translate to a 25 watt CFL and so on.  Another energy saving fact, calculated by ENERGY STAR, states “if every American home replaced just one light bulb with a light bulb that's earned the ENERGY STAR, we would save enough energy to light 3 million homes for a year, save about $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to those from about 800,000 cars.”  Think of all the energy (and yes, read that as money) we would save!

So, CFLs do have their fair share of myths and controversies surrounding them.  One of the biggest legitimate concerns is the mercury in CFLs, which although a very small amount, is important for the functionality of the CFL.  CFLs contain about 5 milligrams of mercury, which in comparison, is less than that of old mercury thermometers.  However, they do require special care when being disposed of.  Mercury disposal guidelines vary by city, so check with your local officials when yours burns out.  Another common complaint is the color of the light emitted by CFLs.  Like their straight-tubed cousins, CFLs come in a variety of colors, called the Correlated Color Temperature.  Without getting into technical details, to get the best results when comparing the light to incandescent bulbs, get bulbs with a 2700K to 3000K Correlated Color Temperature.  CFL packaging should soon be displaying this detail, along with better explanations, on packaging, since it will be required to receive ENERGY STAR certification.  Gone will be confusing color names, like “natural white” or “soft white,” because that does not help any.

In addition to energy savings, I pose a question: how many times do you change your bulbs over the course of a year?  Typical incandescent bulbs are designed to last between 750 and 1000 hours, or about 100 to 200 days when using the light 8 to 12 hours per day.  CFLs are generally rated between 6000 and 15000 hours.  At the high end of things, CFLs can last up to 15 times longer than incandescent bulbs.  At a 100 to 200 day lifespan, incandescent bulbs are almost guaranteed to need at least one replacement during the year.  Even a 6000 hour CFL, running 12 hours per day lasts almost 2 years, the span that between 4 and 6 incandescent bulbs would be running in the one CFL’s place.

An unexpected advantage of CFLs that is rarely touched upon is the heat reduction.  After an incandescent light has been on for a while and you put your hand up to it, how does it feel?  It is pretty hot, right?  Take that 60 watt incandescent bulb and try the same thing with its 15 watt CFL replacement.  The CFL is much cooler after being on all day than the incandescent!  If your home has a lot of lighting, think of all the heat those incandescent bulbs are adding to the air, and how much the air conditioner is running to cool things back down.  While the added heat may be great in the winter (well, where I live we don’t believe in winter!), the amount of energy saved by keeping your home cooler can surprise you, all because of light bulbs.

CFLs are one of the easiest, cheapest ways to make your home more green.  I will admit, there is a surprising amount of negative press surrounding these funky looking bulbs, but if you do research, you will see there are answers and solutions to every problem that people seem to find.  Through energy savings, lower replacement frequency, and even the heat reduction, CFLs can help save costs across the board and can be a way to jumpstart your path to a greener future.

One Stop Green is looking towards a Greener Future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and Green Technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going Green is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP

Power on the Go

Keeping Charged in College

By Nathan Kaufman

As a college student, I am always on the go and always within arm’s reach of some piece of technology.  Whether I am checking emails on my smartphone or taking notes on my new tablet, the batteries in them are constantly running and draining.  I needed a way to keep them running without bringing cords to class and having to find a seat where I could plug in when needed.

I came across a functional set of bags called Powerbags that can help me with my problem while wandering campus.  Powerbags may look like your average backpack, messenger bags, or briefcases, but these appropriately named totes have a powerful rechargeable battery inside that allows me to charge my electronics while I walk from class to class and even in while listening to lectures in class.  It gives me the flexibility to sit anywhere and not potentially trip classmates when my cord runs across the aisle.

Now, Powerbag has a variety of bags to choose from, so the hardest work was finding the one that fits me.  With my long class days, I needed one of the more powerful bags, which rock a 6000 mAh rechargeable battery that can charge my Blackberry four times over (not that I’ve killed my Blackberry that much in a day).  I needed something large enough to carry all my class materials (3 classes per day) including binders, books, and other essentials.  It needs to be light enough to spend a day with and not cause any back pain.  I limited my choice to Powerbag backpacks.  I was never a messenger bag kind of guy, and briefcases and wheeled bags don’t suit college campuses well.  I also have a laptop (which unfortunately can’t be charged in a Powerbag) so I needed something that would fit that as well.  I went with the Deluxe Backpack because it was comparable to the only other large bag in size (the Business Class Pack) but was a little bit cheaper.  My laptop is also kind of big, so the extra-large laptop compartment was a definite plus.

The Powerbag has definitely served its purpose, keeping my phone and tablet alive while saving me from having to bring a bunch of cords.  When its battery is running low, I just plug it into the wall to recharge overnight.  The Powerbags are also pretty stylish for those that are concerned about their image, and are exclusively designed by fūl.

One Stop Green is looking towards a Greener Future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and Green Technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going Green is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP

Going Green in 2012

Green New Year’s Resolutions and Outlooks

By Nathan Kaufman

The New Year is a time to make resolutions, start changing yourself for the better, and create ideas to become a better person.  By Going Green and adopting a Greener Lifestyle, you can greatly reduce the impact on the environment and help promote a cleaner way of living.  So here are some hand-picked Green New Year Resolutions and notable news for 2012

1.       Going Green, like any resolution, starts with baby steps.  In your home, Going Green can have a profound effect on your lifestyle.  Switching over to environmentally friendly products can save so much money in the long run, but sometimes the initial investment is a turnoff.  So start small!  Find one, easy part of your lifestyle to change.  At home, one of the simplest is using energy efficient lighting.  CFL and LED lighting can last many years beyond the life of an incandescent bulb and the energy saved from incandescent to CFL is around 75% (60W incandescent to 13W CFL).  From CFL to LED, it is another approximately 75% energy reduction (13W CFL to a 4W LED).  Some CFL bulbs have been reported to last 5 years, and many LEDs advertise they last 10 years, so you will not be changing bulbs as often.  In addition, existing incandescent bulbs are going to be phased out by newer, more efficient versions, however they still do not come close to the efficiency of CFL and LED bulbs.

If switching your light bulbs out for more efficient ones is still out of your budget, try simply turning the lights off and opening windows during the day.  Natural sunlight is the perfect light source for much of the work you do, and best of all, it’s free!  Opening windows to let in a cool breeze can also save from running your air conditioner, and bundling up while inside can save you from running your heater.  The heating, ventilation, and cooling system in the home is one of the largest energy users.

While roof mounted photovoltaic systems and efficient Energy Star rated appliances would be a big help, those are something you can put your energy savings towards from simply switching your light bulbs.

2.       The Electric Vehicle field expands, and other Green Transportation ideas.  What started in the United States with the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf has exploded as the next great thing in personal vehicles.  The issues with the Volt’s battery should be resolved shortly since Chevy has found a fix, and many well-known brands are rolling out electric vehicles of their own to compete with the Volt and Leaf.  Something to note, not all the cars are straight electrics, some are Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles, including the already mentioned Volt.  Ford has started production on a straight electric Focus as part of Ford’s plan to Green their product line.  Mitsubishi’s much-hyped MiEV is also going to be available for sale starting in 2012 and is especially noted for being the most affordable mass produced electric vehicle in the US.  Toyota has its popular RAV 4 SUV ready to launch as an electric vehicle, the only all-electric SUV available in the US as well, marking a big change from all the currently produced small cars.  Toyota is also coming out with a Plug-In Hybrid Electric version of its extremely popular Prius.  Not to be outdone, Honda is releasing its popular Fit as an Electric Vehicle with an outstanding range of 123 miles between charges.  For higher-end clientele, Tesla is coming out with its Model S sedan with many upgradable features that extend range and increase comfort, and the sporty Fisker Karma is also ramping up production.

Not in the market for an Electric Vehicle?  That’s still ok, all the major manufacturers are seeking ways to increase fuel efficiency across the board, even SUVs and pickup trucks are getting the Green treatment and becoming more efficient, and more and more Hybrid Vehicles are coming out every year.  With new fuel standards mandated by the US Government fast approaching, now is a great time to find a fuel efficient ride.

A much cheaper option would to find alternate transportation to your current car.  As a college student in a college town, I ride my bike to and from campus frequently, as well as between classes.  Living close to campus helps, because going to class all sweaty after a long bike ride is unappealing, but the couple miles I do ride are refreshing and a great way to wake up in the morning.  Taking public transportation is also an option in many locations.  My university has a very busy bus system that sometimes fills up with students going to and from campus, and many cities have their own transit agencies.  Leave your car parked and let someone else do the driving for you and many others.  Many times, transit agencies have passes that allow unlimited use for a monthly payment that will be far less than your average monthly gasoline bill.

3.       Try to find ways to get out and do things that do not consume.  I am even guilty of not doing this, I sit on my couch, writing blogs for you and watching the TV all day.  But Going Green is a Lifestyle, and part of that is being active.  Going outside is free, and you can do nearly anything.  Just going on a walk, whether down the street or on a park trail, gets you active and uses energy you have been consuming in the form of calories instead of using energy generated from a power plant.  Being active not only promotes a Green Lifestyle but also a Healthy Lifestyle.  Many resolutions revolve around improving appearances, and this Green Resolution definitely falls in line with that.  Instead of driving, using gas, bike.  Instead of playing Madden 12 on your Xbox 360, get some friends and play touch football at a local park.

Going Green and adopting a more environmentally lifestyle should be a part of everyone’s New Year Resolutions.  Simple lifestyle changes can generate impressive results when Going Green and every little bit pays off.  Also, as illustrated, your Green Resolutions do not have to be expensive to be successful.  So go out and help make the world a Greener place, one Resolution at a time.

One Stop Green is looking towards a Greener Future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and Green Technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going Green is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP

12 Green Days of Christmas

12 Tips to Have a Green Christmas

On the twelfth day of Christmas: Get that closet ready! Almost 100,000 tons of old clothes will be thrown away this Christmas, so if you know your getting a new wardrobe, be sure to get your closet ready by donating your old clothes to a local charity.

On the eleventh day of Christmas: Avoid buying gifts that require batteries! New gifts at Christmas often mean that households go through a lot of batteries. But remember, batteries contain toxic chemicals, are not biodegradable and are difficult to recycle. As an alternative, One Stop Green recommends using rechargeable batteries or better yet, try buying new USB rechargeable batteries! By opening the batteries cap and plugging it into a USB connector, you can recharge them pretty much anywhere and save them from otherwise being disposed!

On the tenth day of Christmas: Buy in bulk! Instead of purchasing cans of soda and individual small bags of chips, go ahead and stock up on bulk goods you know you’ll end up using to reduce packaging waste and save on trips to the grocery store.

On the ninth day of Christmas: Getting a new cell phone or electronic product for Christmas? Be sure to dispose of that old phone or electronic through an e-recycling program. Each year, approximately 130 million cell phones are thrown out that weigh over 65,000 tons. Recycle your old phone or electronic responsibly to prevent hazardous elements like mercury, cadmium and lead from leaking into our landfills.

On the eight day of Christmas: Buy a Real Christmas Tree and be sure to Recycle! Ninety-eight percent of Christmas trees were grown on farms, not in forests, so it's not as if you're cutting down an ancient tree. Each year, 10 million Christmas trees end up in the landfills and while your tree won't fit in the recycling bin, you can recycle it through various other methods, one of which is through programs offered by the city to turn your tree into mulch.

On the seventh day of Christmas: Add Organic and Local Foods to Your Holiday Feast! Support local farms that grow sustainable meat and produce. Not only does it taste better, but its more humane towards animals and you'll be doing your part for the planet too. Speaking of buying local foods...

On the sixth day of Christmas: Buy Local Gifts - The impact of transportation contributes significantly to greenhouse emissions and global warming so this Christmas, buy locally made and manufactured gifts from places such as fairs and artisan shops that reduce the added costs of transportation.

On the fifth day of Christmas: Christmas is expensive and that means lots of bills! This Christmas, be sure to sign up for paper free billing and pay all your bills online. Not only will this help you cut down on the amount of junk mail you receive but you'll save some trees as well!

On the fourth day of Christmas: Not all gifts have to be store-bought. Give more while spending less by making personal and unique gifts from scratch. Need some ideas? Check out how to make your own Green Terrarium! fwd4.me/0he8

On the third day of Christmas: Use LED Christmas lights to decorate your home! Save money, use less energy, and invest in long term LED energy saving Christmas lights that will give you all the festive cheer without the holiday electricity bill.

On the second day of Christmas: Re-use gift bags! Save your gift bag or wrapping paper and re-use them for other gifts to use less paper. Try also using the comic section of your daily newspaper to wrap gifts – it’s free, saves money, and helps the environment!

And on the first day of Christmas: Buy Green! This Christmas, consider giving the gift of green and give recycled and up-cycled gifts and ornaments! For more eco-friendly gift ideas and tips, visit OneStopGreen.com – your destination for green living! 

One Stop Green is looking towards a ‘greener’ future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and green technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going 'green' is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP

Repair vs. Replace: Repair to Extend the Life of your Appliance & Save the Environment

By Adria Saracino


Did you know that the U.S. is the #1 trash-producing country despite only having about 5% of the world's population? Surprisingly, appliances are a huge part of that waste. In 2009, there were 3.8 million tons of major appliances thrown away.


Some of this waste may be unnecessary. When an appliance breaks, many homeowners spend a lot of money either replacing the whole unit or hiring a repair man to diagnose the problem. While these professionals can offer valuable insight, oftentimes the most common appliance problems can be easily fixed by homeowners.


PartSelect Appliances created this interactive infographic highlighting some of the most common appliance problems in our homes. It shows each common issue and the parts required to correct the problem. It also compares the average cost of replacing the appliance to the cost of the parts required to fix the problem, with a scale showing the difficulty of the repair.










So before you spend a lot of money on a new appliance or handyman services, determine if you can easily fix the problem yourself. Repairing vs. replacing is an environmentally-friendly way to extend the life of your appliance!

One Stop Green is looking towards a ‘greener’ future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and green technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going 'green' is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner. 

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP

About the Author:Adria Saracino is the Head of Outreach at Distilled.net. When she's not talking to interesting people on the web, you can find her writing about Seattle style on her personal fashion blog, The Emerald Closet.

Keystone XL Pipeline - Why it Matters

When the Numbers just don’t add up…

The two main arguments for proponents of the Keystone XL pipeline, a 1,700-mile stretch of pipe and pumps that would link a gargantuan oil patch in Alberta to refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast is that it will create jobs, thus improving the economy, and that it will secure America's future energy resources. Both arguments are refuted in the second of two articles by Tom Zeller at the Huffington Post about the controversy surrounding the development of the oil pipeline. The first installment can be found here, but in summary, the number of jobs and the amount of money the XL pipeline is expected to generate has been greatly over exaggerated. Furthermore, the risks entailed to the environment with a pipeline of this sort far outweigh the proposed benefits that TransCanada, the company behind the project claims. This resistance has in many ways taken on a symbolic tone, putting supporters of clean energy against those who are not and may just be one of the most important decisions the Obama administration makes in its first term.

How does the XL Oil Pipeline effect the environment?

While the estimates on how bad this pipeline will actually be for the environment vary, what we do know is that it will undoubtedly have a negative impact on it. Estimates of the increase in carbon footprint have ranged anywhere from 5 to more than 30 percent depending on who you are asking and the potential for disaster that is a result of a spill or crack in the pipeline makes risks to the environment that much more substantial.

All About Jobs

Perhaps the biggest argument for proponents of the pipeline is that it will create hundreds of thousands of jobs and invest billions into the American economy.  These figures, claimed by TransCanada, which sometimes cites "numerous studies" as its source, have been highly refuted causing TransCanada to adjust their original claims. In the end, the pipeline will undeniably create jobs, just how many and where is the question. Independent studies claim that the impact on the U.S. economy would be at the most 2.3 billion, a far cry from the 7 billion that TransCanada originally declared. A sizable percentage of materials for the pipeline would be obtained from foreign markets, while the direct construction and manufacturing jobs would be only be temporary, with pipeline builders being imported to camps along the planned route. If the jobs argument is not there, is this pipeline really worth risking the preservation of our environment?

But what about Energy Security?

Finally, changing up how America imports its oil is unlikely to provide much security. Oil is a global commodity and thus responds to complex and often unpredictable global events. Last year, an analysis commissioned by the Department of Energy noted that securing America’s energy would have little to do with the Keystone XL. The global nature of the oil market makes it difficult to answer even the most simplest of questions in what will the Keystone XL do for me in terms of reduced gas prices? Perhaps most surprisingly, analyst have suggested that Keystone XL would actually drive up gas prices by 10 or 20 cents a gallon in the Midwest, where tar sands crude is currently bottlenecked. Not only are we failing to secure our country’s energy future but we are also further burdening our economy by asking driver’s to pay for it at the pump.

What do we do now?

It's time for us as a country to think about long-term solutions to our energy crisis and the Keystone XL Pipeline is simply not it. If it weren't for the controversy that has erupted since the announcement of the proposed pipeline in the forms of mass demonstrations and protests, this pipeline would have already been approved and we would have set our country upon yet another doomed path. We need to learn from our past mistakes and quit thinking in terms of how to satisfy our next quick fix and instead, concentrate more on sustainable solutions taking into consideration the long-term impact it will have on our country.

One Stop Green is looking towards a ‘greener’ future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and green technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going 'green' is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP

Want to Go Solar?

Blog Week of October 16, 2011


Read This First!

The best advice for a homeowner interested in a Solar PV system for their home is to first do your homework! Prices for Solar PV systems will vary depending on the size and type of system, as well as the overall structure of your home. An average solar PV system costs between 16k -28k and may be more depending on the type of solar panels you use, however, the industry has seen a 30% drop in solar panel prices in the last six months alone, meaning that solar for the home is becoming more affordable.

Generally, the more electricity the system can generate, the higher the savings – but the bigger the initial cost. A 4kW system typically provides around a quarter of your home’s electricity needs and will save you money on your annual electricity bill.

The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) has information regarding incentives available in your state. You can use energy calculators available on various websites (such as OneStopGreen.com) to determine how much potential your home has to produce electricity from solar.

How much electricity you will generate will depend on:

• The tilt angle of your roof and its orientation (maximum output is for a perfectly south facing roof with a tilt angle of 30 degrees)
• Where you live: the south-west gets more sun than the north, which could impact the amount of electricity your system will generate, although not too significantly.

Our initial site survey will first complete a comprehensive energy audit of your home in order to determine potential problems areas. Otherwise, it’s as if you are just pouring water into a bucket with a hole in it – no matter how much water you pour in, its going to continue to leak out. In much the same way, it is important to address all the other problem areas of the home before even thinking about adding a solar PV system.   

Also, be sure to:

• Make written notes – Inspect your roof and make note of all the measurements, in particular the orientation of the roof.
• Look at the roof – from both inside and outside.
• Be safe – Use access equipment for closer inspection where roof quality is uncertain.
• Record any possible risk of shade – Shade will reduce the effectiveness of your system.  Look for shady spots on the roof from trees, neighboring houses and chimneys.
• Examine the house – Measure the tilt angle of the roof, this is important when determining how big of a system is needed.
• Look at electrical use – Look at your fuse box and metering to see how much energy you are using.
• Identify your main electrical appliances – The biggest users and when you use them can help set a baseline for a solar system.
• Look around your property – Plan and discuss where to locate cables and equipment.
• Be sure to ask about other costs – This includes scaffolding, panel/module information, details of warranties, details of the inverter, the company’s terms and conditions, and information on how it has calculated the payback, rate of return and savings.

One Stop Green is looking towards a ‘greener’ future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and green technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going 'green' is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP