Eco Homes 101

Motivated asked:


I am trying to be a little more green. I am open to commercial brands, as well as how to make home made detergent. I also have a 2 year old with sensitive skin so keep that in mind…

SIDRA

jaime l asked:


3 days ago we bought 2 rats from Petco. They are appx. 12 weeks old and hooded. Sister rats. We bought them and walked home with them after riding home on the city bus. Shortly after one of the girls started sneezing, I thought at first it might be form the cold weather that day but then I realized from other q’s and a’s that the bedding might be the problem, we made the mistake of getting a mix of wood shavings (such as pine) Wellllllll point of the matter, I found a recipe to make my own bedding: shredded newspaper/magazines/reg paper …warm water… eco friendly dish soap and baking soda, I a currently drying it in a pillow case in the dryer. My ULTIMATE question is, has anyone used this method, and dide it work to ease up on the sneezing. I also gave the rats some garlic cloves which they loved, because i read that it might help. Thanks!

RUNE

Cassie asked:


My boyfriend and I are going to start building a new home. I was wondering what the price difference could be per sq ft. if we used eco-friendly materials? Standard materials are $90-$115 per sq. ft. if I am correct. Has anyone built an all eco-friendly house?

TAVEON

Peter S asked:


I have been trying to research what these little bugs are. I can see them with my naked eye, they are different colors some are like khaki color and other are reddish brown. There are a few flying insects in the room that I got under control with sticky paper. Now the issue I am having is there are no webs anywhere on my plants. Not a one. These bugs are only in the soil and I have been loosing a lot of plants. Or they are starting to go. I have tried all the home remedies for spider mites, made the jalapeno garlic mix, I went to Lowe’s and got a spray that is ECO friendly and has not tamed the problem. I am not sure what to do. It seems as though they are only in the soil and killing the plants from there. I don’t want to loose my indoor veggie garden as its really starting to grow well. All the web sites I found on the subject said they were almost impossible to see with the naked eye so that’s why I am thinking that it may not be spider mites. They are about the size of a small tick and crawl much like a tick does. I just don’t know what to do. I have a fan in the room, all my pots are draining well and not over watered. I just don’t know what to do short of killing off all my veggies that are growing huge already. Please any help would be more then great. I would post a picture but I just got on yahoo answers and am not sure that I can post pictures or not. Thanks for any help you may give me and please don’t say just spray them with soapy water cause that is NOT going to work I have tried all home remedies. Not at the same time of course. I have let each try and run there course on separate plants in containers to do more a less a test of what would and would not work. The only one that came close was the purchased eco friendly one and even that didn’t take care of it with a few applications over a month and a half. Please help
Sorry if I wasn’t clear but the insecticidal soap is not working at all. I spray it right on them and they just walk off and bury themselves back into the soil

WESTON

N L asked:


a cleaning service. We are trying to price our houses and I have an extensive product list that I have put together using both eco friendly and over the counter cleansers. My skill is above average in terms of cleaning. When I clean I clean and polish everything. The problem is
1. I have been doing practice runs on my own home and it is taking me forever. I mean forever. I cannot get out of the kitchen in less than an hour. I can’t get out of the living room in less than an hour. I liquid dust everything. Every crack and crevice, which is the service I will be offering. I also do baseboards, windows and the corners of the carpet in every room.
2. In the kitchen I liquid dust all the cabinets, or I have also tried just using light soap and water just to quicken the process. I clean under the stove and refrigerator only 1 inch deep without having to pull it out, which would be an extra price. I scrub the floors on my hands and knees then dry. I then go back and polish everything. The front of the fridge, washer and dryer, faucets, and stove top. All of this takes me forever. But it is clean clean clean. And it shines.

I have no doubt that the customers would love my work. But the problem is I live in a 2 bedroom apartment. If it takes me this long to clean my apartment how in the world will I clean someone’s 3-5 bedroom home and get out of there within 3-5 hours. We are just starting up. We will have no other workers. I will be working by myself until we have enough clients so that my husband can go with me which will lessen the time. I also will not be doing dishes or laundry. I want to average 20 per hour. But if it is taking me an hour per room how will I be able to do this for someone else. Also I am completely exhausted after a while.

RICH

SV asked:


Has anyone taken this tour? I am wondering how much walking there is and how intense? Any other comments would be very helpful. Thanks in advance!

Bushwacker Eco Tours - 1 Day Rainforest Discovery Bushwalk

Discover the World Heritage Rainforests of Springbrook National Park through the eyes of a highly trained professional. Your guide will provide you with insights into characteristics of these Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves. Our first stop for the day’s adventure takes us to Natural Arch. What geological process has created the arch? Following our short walk to view the waterfall crashing into the rock pool below the arch, enjoy a morning tea in the Sub-Tropical Rainforests. Moving on we travel further up the mountain to Springbrook Plateau. With waterfalls cascading overhead, marvel at the wonders of the rainforest while walking the Twin Falls Circuit. Our guided walk through sub-tropical and temperate rainforests takes you a little further, to the view points that most visitors miss out on. Our fresh and delicious lunch is made even better with a chance to stand overlooking the region’s largest waterfall – Purlingbrook Falls. Following lunch, journey into the rainforest to see ancient, endangered, 2000 year old Antarctic Beech trees. Then stand on the edge of the extinct Tweed Shield Volcano. How has this giant shaped the local area? Keep a lookout for native wildlife such as Wallabys, Rainforest Birds, and the elusive Springbrook ‘Yowie’! If you are lucky, there are a number of threatened wildlife that can be spotted from the tracks. Last stop takes us to the GROTTO! This pitch black cave allows the chance to spot Glow Worms! Discover the Bioluminescence. What is this unique natural phenomenon? After walking through this world of glowing darkness, relax and enjoy the scenic drive home. Tour includes: Transport and experienced eco guide, Morning Tea, Afternoon Tea, Picnic Lunch, all activities (including Grotto entry) and all National Park fees.

RUDY

rexkwando123 asked:


I currently use Febreze Air Effects to eliminate odors and it does a great job. However, it comes in aerosol form (although it is a softer mist than most) which can be harmful to the environment or simply unhealthy inside the home.

I’ve seen a few green living/eco-friendly websites suggest Citrus Magic as a natural air freshener that comes as a non-aerosol spray, but it contains minor levels of phthalates according to this document: http://www.nrdc.org/health/home/airfresheners/airfresheners.pdf

I’m thinking that I should stick with Febreze, but I was wondering if any of its ingredients or the fact that it’s an aerosol spray would make it more harmful to use than Citrus Magic.

MILLS

iluvAJ12 asked:


I want to be eco-friendly and I was wondering what I could do. Besides turning off lights and using less water at home, what further steps could I take in order to live an environmentally friendly life?
Any suggestions?

ZAYBIAN

Kyle J asked:


This is my reaction:

This documentary has gave me insights on what would the world be like if we are to continue disregard the harmony of life in this unique unit of ecosystem. I will never give up nature just for the sake of non-sustainable economic development. “It’s too late to be a pessimist”. I am kinda shocked when I heard about the melting of the Siberian permafrost which will release Methane (CH3) which is 20 times stronger than CO2.

The global economy is now in a deep recession and we are still continue to develop technology for the sake of humanity not of nature. I will leave the rest of the message to the documentary. You will know why, we are in an urgent situation.

If I were to compare this to Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth, this docu has a better chance than IT. Why? IT is overloaded with Statistics while this is more on the effects, the processes and the unity and the symphony of natural co-existence. Let me add the impact of the effects of global warming on different landscapes of our HOME.

If you haven’t watched it. click here –> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU&fmt=18
For those who are impatient to watch the whole documentary, can might as well watch the trailer instead - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8IozVfph7I&fmt=18

NATALA

ca7_1874 asked:


*I my job pay 2634 a month.

*I live with my parents free for 1 year.

*I would only be paying for the mortgage of my home.

*Mortgage: 326 a month.

*I would chare 300 for rent monthly.

*The house is 700 square feet

*The rental agreement would include: full usage of the 1 acre.

*Eco friendly electrical (powered by wind, will cut bill in half.. they pay it)

*Free water (Well water)

*And all new amenities (dish washer, stove, and refrigerator)

*8 miles from store hospital, and basic needs

is 300 resonable?
its a mobile home.
i own the land. with insurances and tax it is 450

RUANA