tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61800444026809377652011-12-19T18:57:57.985-05:00The more sustainably we live, the better we're all off. These are some tips and tricks I have come upon during my quest to live cleaner and greener.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.comBlogger441100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-16150858182388224632010-09-13T23:28:00.005-04:002010-09-13T23:52:00.303-04:00

June 16th, 2010... The day I reserved my Nissan Leaf.About two years ago (and two years after we bought our Prius) I vowed that my next car would be fully electric. Back then I figured it would be a plug-in Prius, or something else from Toyota. After all, they lead the way in hybrid technology.Gotta admit, before the Leaf, I never even considered buying a Nissan. Why the change? Well because the

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-11698873081458647902009-12-31T21:28:00.023-05:002010-01-01T00:09:07.061-05:00

As 2009 draws to a close and I look back at the most recent year that will too soon become a distant memory, a feeling of reflection is sweeping over me.2009 was a year unlike any I can remember in my life. As an environmentalist, whatever that means, it's incredible how much negativity enters my life. Polar bears facing extinction. Pollution not being mitigated. Atrocities to the land and the

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-52777194188972636822009-07-13T08:05:00.005-04:002009-12-31T21:26:52.845-05:00

My wife and I had the pleasure of meeting one of our heroes yesterday, Ed Begley, Jr.Ed has been friends with Robert Burns (pictured below demonstrating good composting techniques), of Aiki Farms for years. Robert is an organic farmer in Ledyard, CT and had a small event at the farm to teach some of the practices of organic farming and to get people to come out learn about the challenges small

Ryannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-75128549872736388222009-07-05T23:03:00.000-04:002009-07-05T23:03:51.749-04:00

I mowed my lawn today.Historically, this has not been something worth writing about. But today was different. Today was the first time in my life that I cut the grass and could hear myself think. The first time I could smell the fresh-cut grass as it was being shortened without breathing noxious fumes. The first time I didn't spill gas all over the place while filling my carbon dioxide spewing

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-86116364633149650492009-06-22T21:30:00.009-04:002009-06-28T11:34:05.456-04:00

I have not posted anything in a very long time. Several topics are in the queue but a job change and time constraints have prevented time for writing. With that said, it was going to take something big to break this funk.And big indeed... Norwich, CT, in conjunction with recycling hauler F.E. Crandall Disposal Services Inc. have a new contract under which starting July 6, town residents will be

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-52086444918734001652009-04-16T13:16:00.001-04:002009-04-16T13:17:28.916-04:00

This looks like it will be great:Trailer - The Greening of Southie from Wicked Delicate Films on Vimeo.

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-79029900872847911912009-02-20T08:34:00.003-05:002009-02-20T08:38:21.111-05:00

Instead of spending a small fortune on a bottle of harsh chemicals that translate into basically dumping your money in toxic form down the drain in the form of Liquid Drano (or even a less harsh organic equivalent that is probably even more costly), instead try a small plunger that you can probably buy at the dollar store. Just be sure to plug up the overflow holes in your sink or bathtub. I have

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-77520535009128516122008-09-28T18:40:00.011-04:002008-09-28T20:39:50.318-04:00

We've been working on a project that included removing part of our roof, and with it two layers of shingles and several roof decking boards (tongue and groove). You know, just a little weekend project ;-) So anyway, like all our projects we wanted to figure out a way to make this one as green as possible. Unfortunately, rather than putting on a metal roof or a green roof, we went with 50-year

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-85376087289694981172008-09-24T08:16:00.002-04:002008-09-24T08:20:57.537-04:00

This is so great, and the company that installed the technology has plans for widespread distribution at a rapid pace. Living in a time like this can be depressing sometimes, especially with the current financial mess in this country, but we also live in a time of unbelievable exploration and innovation.From WSHU:With energy costs shooting up in the region and across the country, there's been

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-16680436513352161852008-09-10T09:18:00.002-04:002008-09-10T09:25:57.516-04:00

When I was researching the boiler we got last fall, I found some information about a Rebate Program in the state of Connecticut. I emailed for more information and at the time, it was an unfunded program that was still being established. The Office of Policy and Management was collecting names of people that were interested in the rebate, with the promise to send out the paperwork once they got

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-9481781033220623192008-08-28T22:16:00.003-04:002008-08-28T22:27:32.027-04:00

Nicole and I are in the midst of doing a project on our house that requires a fair amount of lumber. We tried for weeks to track down FSC certified wood and I am very sorry to say that we were not able to find any that made sense for us to buy. What I mean by that is I did track some down but the company is an hour away, they would have charged a couple hundred dollars to deliver the wood, and at

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-78806915229596653882008-08-15T00:11:00.005-04:002008-08-15T00:39:03.718-04:00

Blinker Conservation - Ever notice how people are using their turn signals less and less while driving? I'm calling this "Blinker Conservation." This must be a conscious effort to save both car battery life and blinks out of the blink lifespan of the turn signal bulbs. Well done, people. Every little bit counts... or something.Recycle Bin Space Conservation - Who likes clutter? Not me. Not many

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-62223447295190400422008-08-12T12:52:00.001-04:002008-08-12T12:54:36.119-04:00

This project is not quite full. Drop me a line if you'd like to participate!

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-34837346971558597182008-07-31T21:47:00.002-04:002008-07-31T21:51:41.136-04:00

"The Computer Recycler" reached out to me to tell me about the new eWaste initiatives they are starting in Cromwell, CT. I encourage anyone interested to check them out:We're working to setup programs with several towns and businesses in CT to help keep electronics out of CT's landfills. We've recently expanded our operation to have the ability to service all of Connecticut, and now, with a

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-43896593347971709942008-07-30T09:18:00.003-04:002008-07-30T09:21:07.859-04:00

In case you missed it, I am doing a little project here on the blog and wanted to let you know, in case you were wondering, that I still have four copies of the 11th Hour available if you'd like to participate. Be sure to read the original blog post and email me if you would like to participate and can abide by the rules. Thanks!

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-15000406110674288772008-07-30T09:02:00.004-04:002008-07-30T09:17:34.236-04:00

People multiply at an ungodly rate, CO2 increases, greenhouse gases trap heat, ice melts, less reflective land mass exists, more of the sun's radiation hits darker Earth surfaces, warming things faster, repeat. Canadian Arctic sheds ice chunkOh, and caught in the crossfire right now are polar bears who will eventually have no ice left to raise babies on, rest from fishing, or sleep on. I

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-89770678664842331472008-07-18T16:32:00.001-04:002008-07-18T16:35:29.055-04:00

"The Earth has all the time in the world. And we don't."-Chief Oren LyonsNicole and I recently watched The 11th Hour and I have decided to do something fun. I need your help to carry out a project. I was so moved by the film that I went and purchased 11 copies of Leonardo DiCaprio's documentary about how human beings are pushing ourselves to the brink of extinction. I will send or hand these DVDs

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-38048742159513389912008-07-18T08:26:00.008-04:002008-07-18T08:45:16.469-04:00

I received this as an email forward from my Aunt Lin and thought it was very appropriate to this blog...And then there is this story which is somewhat unrelated, but hilarious. San Francisco seems like a pretty cool place.

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-65680167259136599182008-07-09T08:50:00.003-04:002008-07-09T08:52:35.528-04:00

Suddenly, the investment in solar panels is looking a little less pricey...http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/08/news/economy/electricity_prices/index.htm?postversion=2008070817

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-75195186028071879442008-07-03T12:29:00.004-04:002008-07-03T12:48:02.595-04:00

I am definitely not breaking new ground here, as companies all over the place are adopting both flex time and 4-day work weeks, but I am proudly beginning this next week. Basically, I will be working Tuesday-Friday, from 8-6 with about a 35 minute lunch break (37.5 minutes to be exact)... My employer, Wesleyan University, in Middletown, CT, thankfully has just begun a 1-year trial program for

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-53398058392017840582008-06-26T14:33:00.005-04:002008-07-30T08:14:53.947-04:00

Like many people in New England, and I'm sure elsewhere that it is humid, we run a dehumidifier in our basement all summer. It collects a lot of water. Throughout my life I have seen this water dumped down the drain or in some cases the dehumidifier is connected to the main drainpipe for the house and goes out to the sewer or septic system.We happen to have four cats, as I may have mentioned

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-57858918915627432012008-06-18T23:16:00.002-04:002008-06-18T23:18:34.671-04:00

A nice little set of tips for driving more efficiently can be found here, put together by the Federal Trade Commission. These are a lot of the same things we have all heard over and over but it's a nice reminder as gas approaches $5/gallon.

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-35997192967975066412008-06-17T23:42:00.005-04:002008-07-03T12:59:55.659-04:00

I haven't written lately because a lot of things have been going on, including a re-organization at work, two trips, and an upcoming opening reception for my first real photography exhibition. Incidentally, my series of photos on display are very much inspired by my interest in sustainable living and the impact of human beings on this planet.I am exhausted right now from getting ready for this

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-36868663945326021322008-05-20T09:32:00.003-04:002008-05-20T09:46:36.128-04:00

It's been over a month since I've posted here, which bugs me. A lot has been going on, including a problem with the PV array. It has been producing marvelously. In fact, in the first month of operation, we purchased 288 kWh from CL&P, and sold them 440 kWh, giving us a surplus of 152 kWh that will become a credit on next month's bill... We have a small problem though, and electricians and

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-660010735665546602008-04-08T15:44:00.002-04:002010-09-13T23:55:06.991-04:00

I will use this post for a running summary of the major greenification projects that have gone on at our house/in our lives. You'll be able to find it easily in the future by clicking the SUMMARY OF PROJECTS category in the right column. I wish Blogger would let me create a page instead of a post, but I haven't figured that out yet, if it's even possible. Newest projects are at the top of the

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-78323912471205314422008-04-08T01:04:00.002-04:002008-04-08T01:08:00.675-04:00

The solar panels were officially commissioned at 8:15 a.m. on Monday, April 7, 2008. It was a dark and overcast morning, and turning the system on produced minimal results at best. What a waste of money!!! Just kidding. The sun popped out around noon and for the rest of the day it was mostly sunny. End result? 18.5 kWh of energy produced on Day 1. Considering there was a morning of cloudiness and

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-51878004055661610272008-04-06T23:38:00.004-04:002008-04-08T12:14:38.186-04:00

Get comfortable, this is going to be a long one.About a year ago, Nicole and I were about to sign up for a Green Architecture class at Wesleyan University, in the Graduate Liberal Studies Program in which we are both enrolled. We had already done a lot of research into green building materials, some of which you have read about in past posts, some still to come. But a major investment was sort of

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-79713757496797511992008-03-19T23:42:00.001-04:002008-03-19T23:44:08.807-04:00

This show on CNN was amazing, and of course, frightening. Not to keep posting just to post URL's, but their website for the show is a site that one could spend a lot of time on.

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-53788222056297750012008-03-14T23:32:00.002-04:002008-03-14T23:34:05.841-04:00

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has launched a major worldwide tree planting campaign. Under the Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign, people, communities, business and industry, civil society organizations and governments are encouraged to enter tree planting pledges online with the objective of planting at least one billion trees worldwide each year.

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-60081551107621866652008-03-12T22:57:00.002-04:002008-03-12T23:03:48.681-04:00

I haven't had a chance to check this website out yet but it seems like a really good resource for us Connecticut people. onethingct.com.

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-8009661152033488262008-03-11T12:29:00.011-04:002008-03-27T23:40:48.232-04:00

These are all the rage these days. I guess they have been around in Europe for a long time (we Americans are a little behind the times in many facets of Earth-friendly living it seems), and so we bought one. With the planned solar photovoltaic (PV) system, we went with an electric model made by American Tankless.These are kind of hard to research I found, and most of the information you will find

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-85047505740976420452008-03-11T12:04:00.001-04:002008-03-11T12:13:12.127-04:00

Not to get all morbid or anything, but there was an interesting article on CNN.com a couple months ago (yes, I did forget to publish this post) about natural burials. I guess if one chooses to be buried, unless they plan on being exhumed one day and having their coffin raided for the untold riches within like an Egyptian tomb, why not go with a biodegradable coffin? Or maybe toilet paper

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-79692792948139297822008-03-10T23:02:00.006-04:002008-03-10T23:31:16.860-04:00

Do you live or work in or around Middletown, CT? If so, let's get a little campaign going here. I actually don't live anywhere near there but I've given up on my town (Waterford) to do anything more advanced than they are for recycling plastics. I've posted about this before and a reader of this blog (woohoo, I have one!!!) contacted me about wanting to get something going at the recycling center

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-7225093571109635722008-02-27T11:21:00.003-05:002008-02-27T11:29:15.502-05:00

I didn't start this blog to have a soap box. Or to be political. But when I read stories like this one at cnn.com, I just have to write something down. I want to be sure I am not the only one that is flabbergasted by so many things, least of all the fool we have in charge. The newspapers are plastered with predictions of $4/gallon for gas by as early as this summer. FOUR BUCKS! I drive a Honda

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-89704385022729403012008-02-20T23:00:00.003-05:002008-02-21T00:19:35.931-05:00

There was an article in the local newspaper recently about a guy who takes in stray cats, provides medical care for them (many are in need of it) and gives them food and a place to stay. He doesn't try to make them all his pets, but does care for them. There are about 30 or so that come and go from his property. He also discovered that local shelters and other programs often offer financial

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-24007668954517101762008-01-04T09:47:00.000-05:002008-01-04T10:08:58.220-05:00

There has been so much talk about bamboo lately, and for good reason. I don't even know a fraction of its uses other than for flooring, fabrics, and to use as a blow-gun of you are a ninja. It's one of those really strange things in this world that is almost impossible to kill, grows hearty and rapidly, and is strong. I happen to have some growing in my yard and part of my reason for this post is

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-7422618813629117382007-12-31T15:54:00.001-05:002008-03-27T23:41:22.773-04:00

Is your town participating? Shamefully, my town of Waterford is not, but I can say I have tried to do my part. After several emails to the First Selectman (Dan Steward), and after contacting Connecticut Innovations, I finally after months received the following email back from Steward:Ryan,I apologize for the delay in getting back to you on this idea. I have done some significant research into

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-59541229664082026272007-12-25T11:54:00.000-05:002007-12-26T01:16:24.138-05:00

We have cats. Four of them actually. Some go outside, some don't. It's a zoo. Anyway, with that many cats, one goes through a fair share of litter. We used to get Fresh Step litter ($11.99 for 30 pounds I think at BJs). The stuff is so dusty though and it stinks up the basement, leaving a film of dust on everything.One of my new favorite products in the world is called World's Best Cat Litter.

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-58643441984251935682007-12-22T15:53:00.000-05:002007-12-22T16:05:55.383-05:00

This is a topic I am pretty frustrated about. Our town, and every town in CT, recycles #1 and #2 plastics. What about the rest? We have a pile of #3-7 plastics in our basement that we have been collecting (or not throwing in the garbage, I should say) for four years now. We used to put everything in the bin that goes out by the road on trash/recycling pick-up day until we found out from the

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-55043696891331802322007-12-21T14:53:00.000-05:002007-12-21T14:58:11.260-05:00

I don't have a whole lot to say about this one. I mean, they cost like a buck and are ridiculously useful. The ones we got from Whole Foods are huge and sturdy. The Stop and Shop ones are pretty small, and we have gotten a few at other places and they all seem to be made by the same company or the same template or something. I'm talking about the ones with a plastic insert that goes at the bottom

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-35059341195225699082007-12-19T13:21:00.000-05:002007-12-25T20:53:22.488-05:00

I'll admit it, I love our Toyota Prius. I love that we sacrificed a lot of things to be able to afford it, and every time I sit in the driver's seat, I feel lucky to be sitting there. It's a car. It's not just a car. It is a life-altering vehicle. It is a sign of the times and its popularity speaks volumes about what so many people actually want.Not Hummers. Not Lincoln Navigators.While I don't

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-42069374196213417752007-12-18T22:38:00.006-05:002008-03-11T12:22:03.629-04:00

We live in Connecticut, which is a pretty cold climate. Today it snowed and sleeted and it has been down in the teens at night a few nights. Folks in this part, and other parts of the country are cranking up the thermostats these days, and with it the levels of pollution. it just so happens that of the some 8 million homes heated with oil in the United States, 6 million of those are hear in the

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-10708646743226725812007-12-14T22:39:00.000-05:002007-12-18T22:46:52.741-05:00

This is an absolute no-brainer and I am ashamed that it took this long for me to break out of my old-school ways. I just couldn’t come to grips with the idea that I could stop getting all this paper in the mail and still remember to pay my bills.This coming from someone who checks his email about 1,200 times a day. In fact my student loan was already set up to send me electronic statements. They

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6180044402680937765.post-1225597287660778402007-12-12T22:38:00.000-05:002007-12-18T22:45:46.099-05:00

This blog is an idea that I have been considering doing for quite some time now. Well, as long as you can call “long” in the short amount of time that blogs have been around. Nonetheless, the idea is as follows. I will play the part of a regular person, much like yourself, who along with his wife has decided to throw away the consumer driven ways of the society in which we live, and not only join

Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513171661888894931noreply@blogger.com0