Sustainable Blog
Using Your Shelly 3EM: Free Downloadable CSV Data Template
At this point, you are either contemplating buying or have bought a Shelly power meter such as the 3EM or the EM. If you haven’t bought it and are wondering what it is or why you should look at it, check out our How to monitor Energy from the Palm of Your Hand article. Once you
How to Monitor your Electric Usage from the Palm of Your Hand
A smart home begins with smart decisions. The ability to control your personal space to your liking is the foundation of generating a home eco system for your family to feel safe and comfortable. The ability to control lights, power on & off devices, change temperatures, view baby monitors & security cameras with just picking
Part 2: Portable Standby Generator for Your Home – Choosing your Generator Size
Bigger is not Necessarily Better Sizing your power generation system for your applications is very important. In the event you oversize the power generation equipment you will over allocate funds for equipment and you will most likely not be operating in the efficient range of the equipment resulting in higher fuel consumption or back feeding
Part 1: Turning Our Portable Generator into a Budget Standby Power System
If the events in 2020 have taught us anything, it’s to not take anything for granted. I know that after taking a hard look one of the things that I took for granted was power. I utilize power in every facet of my day-to-day life. Everything from charging phones, laptops, heating & cooling, refrigeration and
Sustainable Ingredients for DIY Household Cleaners
One of the first things we re-evaluate in our homes when we start our sustainable journey is our cleaning products. There are new brands everyday in the sustainable market but I think we need to take a moment to consider the oldie but goodies. There are natural, cheap and very accessible cleaning ingredients that you
Compost Quantity: How Much and How Long Does It Take
How much compost can you make and how long does it take? It’s a reasonable question but not an easy one to answer. Most sources cite a duration of six weeks to up to 2 years as the typical duration for composting. Keep a few things in mind this this range. Critical Variables It’s a
Cold Weather Composting: Can I Compost through the Winter?
Once I made the jump and decided I wanted to start composting, I didn’t think too far into the future. I spent a ridiculous number of hours trying to decide they type of composting (there are more than a few) and where I would put a composter. Did I want to build or buy something?
Avoid The Septic Tank Monster and Keep Enjoying Sustainable Products
Septic systems. Some of us have no idea what they are and the rest of us vary between fear and annoyance when the subject comes up. In reality, septic systems are wonderful things. They provide a clean, sanitary and relatively easy living experience for those of us who don’t live in the city. What is
How to Have a Sustainable Party without Balloons
You’ve got a celebration coming up and you’re planning for a party. What is a party without balloons, especially a kids party, right? So you load up on tons of multi-colored balloons, decorate for the party, cake, food and presents. It’s a whirl of smells, sounds, and emotions. You’ve had a wonderful but exhausting time
Avoid the Compost Nightmare: How to Deal With Meat and Dairy
Before you start throwing EVERYTHING into you composter, we should probably pump the brakes just a tiny bit. Technically everything that comes from nature can go back, but it doesn’t mean it will be easy or pleasant to do. You can compost meat and dairy, however it is a little more involved and it honestly