House/Home

The World as Home

Author
Eleise Jones
Ruminator Review

Green Roof

Author
Corrie Zoll
Green Institute

A green rooftop is a rooftop that incorporates plants as part of a building’s roofing system. Properly designed, green roofs are stable, living ecosystems that replicate many of the processes found in nature. Green rooftops can provide multiple ecological benefits including stormwater management, water quality improvements, reductions in energy use, air quality improvement and increased wildlife habitat.

Resources

Resources:

Available at www.greenroofs.com:

  • Green Roof Plants: A Resource and Planting Guide, by Edmund C. Snodgrass and Lucie L. Snodgrass, 2006.
  • Roof Gardens: History, Design, and Construction by Theodore Osmundson.
  • The Green Institute
  • 612-278-7100


Live green roof web cam:

  • www.greeninstitute.org
  • Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, 5th Annual North American Conference. Held in the Twin Cities, May 2007.

Cloth Diapering

Author
Gabrielle Hagelstrom
Think Cloth Company

As a mother, I am often questioned about the choices I make in raising my children. Every time I leave the house with my 5 month old I am bombarded with unsolicited advice about all aspects of his well-being ranging from his attire to his diet. Nothing has brought on more comments, though, than my decision to use cloth diapers.

Resources

Resources:

  • Diaper Pin
    www.diaperpin.com
  • Cut of Cloth: A Diaper Pin Site
    www.cutofcloth.com
  • Diapers in the waste stream by Carl Lehrburger 1989.
  • Whitewash by Liz Armstrong and Adrienne Scott, Harpercollins 1993.

 

Local Stores that carry cloth diapers:

 

  • Think Cloth
    612-220-1146
    www.thinkcloth.com
  • Peapods
    251 Snelling Ave S
    St. Paul, MN
    651-695-5559

From “Brown” to “Green”

Author
Erin Barnes-Driscoll
Green Building Specialist, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Most homeowners typically face an array of choices involved in designing, building, outfitting, upgrading, expanding, tweaking, and/or overhauling the sanctuaries in which they reside. For many, it provides an important opportunity to express their personal values in the choices made, be they ethical, social, aesthetic, or environmental.

Resources

Resources: 

Take a Solar Tour!

Take a Twin Cities or Duluth area solar tour!

Products That Make a Difference for the Environment and Your Wallet

Author
Peter Palmieri
D&R International, ENERGY STAR Contractor
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As energy costs rise, consumers must find ways to reduce their energy consumption to not only save money, but to also protect the environment by reducing air pollution and greenhouse gases caused by burning fossil fuels. Using appliances less frequently can cut energy usage or consumers can switch to energy efficient appliances without making the sacrifice. For example, with ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers, dishwashers and refrigerators, homeowners can save energy and money while helping to protect our environment.

Resources

Resources:

A Balancing Act

Author
Dianna Kennedy
Eureka! Recycling

We’ve all seen the lists of things we can do to reduce waste at home – bring a reusable bag to the store, recycle, buy in bulk, compost food scraps, buy less stuff – and the list goes on. Many of us have taken some of these steps toward waste-free living. What is it that keeps us from making more of these lifestyle changes? Are there simply too many to make? Is it hard to know which choices will have the most impact? Are some of the choices more expensive or less convenient than their more environmentally sound alternatives?

Resources

Resources:

 

Compost Bins Available at:

  • www.composters.com
    1-800-233-8438
  • Southside Farm Store
    St. Paul, MN
    612-271-2761
  • Ecogarden Supply
    St. Paul, MN 55108
    651-647-1896
  • Mother Earth Gardens
    Minneapolis, MN
    612-724-2296
  • Dakota County Eco Site
    Eagan, MN
    952-891-7020
  • Carver County Environmental Center
    Chaska, MN
    952-361-1835 or 952-361-1800

Using Water Wisely: Why Not Start Right Now?

--Tara Wesely

Where Does Our Garbage Go?

Includes Listing of Hazardous Waste Collection Sites --Colleen Schoenecker

What is solid waste?

The Nuts and Bolts of Recycling

Includes Listing of Recycling Drop-Off Centers --Mark Snyder Judging by collection rates, Minnesotans love to recycle. Nearly 50% of the garbage we generate is recycled, which places us among the leaders nationally. However, not many of us know much about what happens to all that stuff we collect, and some of us don't always follow the rules for recycling certain items. Here are some facts on a number of common recyclables:
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