Thursday, May 9, 2013
Want your grass to be greener? Here are some tips from the professionals and a list of local resources to help your grass grow without harmful chemicals and pesticides.
If you want a lawn that's easier to take care of, safe to play on and beautiful to look at, then follow these tips from the pros this spring. Ditch The Chemicals Since 1994 Paul Tukey, author of The Organic Lawn Care Manual and founder of SafeLawns.org, has helped homeowners get beautiful lawns without harmful chemicals. Tukey became a leader in the natural lawn care industry after becoming sick himself from excessive exposure to pesticides. Tukey says in addition to keeping pets and children safer, “organic lawn care also conserves resources, saves money and ultimately saves time.” Start with the Soil Your first step to a beautiful lawn is a soil test, says Tukey. “Get a soil test and check the most important three factors: Organic …
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
There are several options available for people who want to start clearing out their mailbox.
One good thing about bulk mail is that unlike its distant cousin, the telemarketer, it can’t wake you up or interrupt your dinner. But that said, it does have a way of clogging up your mailbox in any given week with lots of paper and not necessarily much else of interest. So what can you do about unwanted bulk mailings? A call last week to the post office confirms that there is indeed a “Do Not Mail” list to go along with the “Do Not Call” list. The Federal Trade Commission has a page with various links for people to use, depending on what kind of mail they wish to stop receiving. For example, OptOutPreScreen.com, an official credit industry site, will allow you to stop receiving pre-screened credit and insurance-related offers. The …
Thursday, March 21, 2013
If fuel efficiency is your number-one factor when looking for a car, here are five green automobiles we found on the North Shore, Andover and North Andover.
There are a lot of factors to consider when buying a car. If fuel efficiency is at the top of your list, here's a feature you'll enjoy. We scanned cars.com and AOL Autos for the greenest cars for sale on the North Shore and near Andover/North Andover. Here's what we found: * Obviously, mpg stands for miles per gallon but these cars all use some or all electricity. Here's a physicist explaining the drawbacks to using mpg as a measure. 1. 2010 Honda Insight EX — $16,395 This hybrid gets 43 mpg on the highway and 41 in the city. It has 26,041 miles on it and is for sale at Rockingham Honda in Salem, N.H. For more on this vehicle, check out the listing on AOL Autos. 2. 2013 Toyota Prius Plug-In — $32,477 This new Prius gets 49 mpg on the …
Thursday, March 14, 2013
NSTAR is offering an online tool that shows where electric vehicle recharging stations are located.
Drivers who are considering a switch to electric vehicles or current vehicle owners looking for a place nearby to charge their rides have a couple of places to find their outlet. This week, NSTAR launched a new hotline and website to provide customers with information about electric vehicles, including local options for charging, payment options and details about electric vehicle technology, according to a statement released Wednesday. According to the website, the closest electric vehicle charging stations in the Wakefield area are at Ira Nissan Woburn close to the junction of Routes 93 and 95, and Kelly Nissan of Lynnfield on Route 1 North heading toward Peabody. Launched in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Energy …
Friday, March 8, 2013
Bill Benedetto Jr. reports electricity, water and soap usage down at least a third at Flo's Auto Bath in Wakefield with eco-friendly machinery. If you have a hybrid or electric car, he's got a special for you.
A Wakefield car wash has invested in efficient new technology, and so far, it's reportedly paying financial dividends as well as environmental ones. Bill Benedetto Jr., owner of Flo's Auto Bath on Water Street in Wakefield, reports that the new self-service car wash equipment gets the job done in less than seven minutes - compared to about 10 minutes on older equipment. Along with that, the new generation of car wash technology uses about a third the electricty, water, and soap as older machines, said Benedetto, who noted that the equipment is also made in the U.S. "Everybody's trying to do something. It directly affects your bottom line, whatever you can save," said Benedetto, a lifelong Wakefield resident whose family members first moved…
J.M. Electrical Company worked on energy effiicient boilers for a large Boston Housing Authority Project.
J.M. Electrical Company announced recently that it has completed construction and project operations for a Boston Housing Authority project in Charleston. The company specializes in advanced automated building system installations. In its announcement, the Lynnfield company reported that it had installed Alerton controls, emergency lighting and wiring for new energy efficient boilers in 24 buildings for low- and moderate-income residents. Boston Mayor Tom Menino was quoted in the announcement as saying that "projects like this prove that low-income housing can also be energy-efficient housing." J.M. Electrical's project manager, Adam Palmer, cited the environmental and job creation benefits of focusing on energy efficiency. In its …
Monday, February 25, 2013
Here is a list of ways to live a greener lifestyle, plus some resources to help you go green right here in Wakefield.
If you aren’t ready to throw some solar panels on the roof and ditch your power company, but would like to save some money by living a greener life, here are 20 tips to help you get started. Around the house: 1. Buy food, including spices and flour, in bulk. You’ll save money and reduce the amount of packaging that goes in the trash. The nearest Costco, located in Danvers, offers bulk food options, as does the nearest BJ's Wholesale, located in Stoneham. 2. Make sure your thermostat is set properly. Lowering the default settings during the summer and at night could save you almost $200 a year, according to Energy Star. More tips at energystar.gov. 3. Insulate your hot water heater. To see if you need to insulate, touch your heater. If it …
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Sealing windows and adding insulation to your home can take as much as 30 percent off your heating bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Time is money, the old adage goes, but so is a well-winterized house. Stopping air leakages can take as much as 30 percent off your heating bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Check out these three tips for closing up air leaks around your home: In Lynnfield, one local business to check with about more efficient window options is Lynnfield Glass Co. on Salem Street near the rotary. Also in the area: The Home Depot on Route 1 or the Lowe's on Andover Street in Danvers.
Header Dad
3:25 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
My friend just bought a Kia Optima Hybrid. He LOVES it! more ›