The older I get and the deeper the utility companies dig into my pocket, the more I want to green up my life. As a boy, one of my chores was to hang out and retrieve the laundry. Hated it then, but have some good memories of the whole process now and am seriously considering installing a clothesline in the back yard next spring. Rain barrels are getting pretty popular around here too and if I hurry, I could have the first one on the block. Just wondering if anyone else uses one or both of these things. Also looking for other ways to reduce my carbon footprint without a large cash outlay upfront. Already a straight razor user by the way.
Clotheslines, rain barrels (green on the cheap)
- Thread starter Tolduonce
- Start date
Clothesline is a good idea (I have 2 dogs so this would be a BAD idea for me) rainbarrels sound like a good idea (going to do this) as far as stuff I do. I'm a DE shaver, I have my bills emailed to me (less paper usage). Other than that nothing I can think of at the moment.
I have a clothesline but no rain barrels i'm afraid. the missus and I have been meaning to get a rain barrel or two but just haven't gotten around to it. we're also gonna invest in a compost bin as well
I put in our first rain barrel this summer and I think it's a great idea. It's worked well for watering our landscaping plants during a recent try spell. I think next year, I'll get another one for the back of the house. I've also thought about an outdoor clothesline, but can't seem to overcome the convenience factor of the electric dryer. Is it good enough if I just feel guilty about that 
Clothesline, yep. Compost ben, yep. Undecided about a rain barrel.
Some areas don't permit clotheslines.
Some areas don't permit clotheslines.
I need to get new rain gutters and when I do I will also add a rain barrel. I think it is an excellent idea to save a limited resource.
We had a clothesline also when I was growing up. I'm not as inclined to use one just because of the dust and allergens that float about these days. We have a couple of drying racks that we use inside for a number of articles which we don't dry.
I've been composting for about 16 years now. No bin, just an open pile. Most of our food scraps (no grease or oil) go in as do lawn trimmings (grass, tree limbs/branches) I also shred empty TP and paper towel rolls and other odd cardboard which go in also, never to be seen again.
Our city recycles #1 PETE and #2 HDPE plastics, newsprint, magazines, steel and aluminum cans, glass (all colors) via curbside pickup. Additionally we have a recycling station where you can drop off corrugated cardboard, cereal box type paper board, phone books.
The recycling and composting result in a single bag of trash in the weekly trash pickup.
We also strive to use organic methods for cleaning and lawn maintenance when appropriate.
We had a clothesline also when I was growing up. I'm not as inclined to use one just because of the dust and allergens that float about these days. We have a couple of drying racks that we use inside for a number of articles which we don't dry.
I've been composting for about 16 years now. No bin, just an open pile. Most of our food scraps (no grease or oil) go in as do lawn trimmings (grass, tree limbs/branches) I also shred empty TP and paper towel rolls and other odd cardboard which go in also, never to be seen again.
Our city recycles #1 PETE and #2 HDPE plastics, newsprint, magazines, steel and aluminum cans, glass (all colors) via curbside pickup. Additionally we have a recycling station where you can drop off corrugated cardboard, cereal box type paper board, phone books.
The recycling and composting result in a single bag of trash in the weekly trash pickup.
We also strive to use organic methods for cleaning and lawn maintenance when appropriate.
I have installed a few rain barrels at my house and my parents. They are getting pretty popular around here. One thing I do recomend is installing gutter guards (I have the gutter waterfall system) to keep debris out of the barrel.
If you can find a source for empty plastic 50 gal drums they are really easy to make, and a whole lot cheaper than buying a kit. Check with the car washes in the area, they generally have empty soap barrels they are happy to get rid of.
If you can find a source for empty plastic 50 gal drums they are really easy to make, and a whole lot cheaper than buying a kit. Check with the car washes in the area, they generally have empty soap barrels they are happy to get rid of.
For sure.. rain barrel water is THE best for garden plants as well as houseplants.. just have to put a screen cover over it or at least a board in the barrel to save poor squirrels who may fall in.. lost two that way at first 
Also for the clothes line. if it is dusty it is not so great but if the weather allows there is not much better than putting on a sundried fresh shirt or crawling under sundried sheets. no bounce fabric softener can top that freshness.. stiff, yes, but that soon changes.
compost bin, most everything can be reduced back to the earth where it started.. good for the garden, good for the enviroment.. whats not too love
my actual garbage bag has been reduced to just one small grocery bag full after a week of gathering
I like all three mentions and use them and endorse them.
this is not a paid announcement
Also for the clothes line. if it is dusty it is not so great but if the weather allows there is not much better than putting on a sundried fresh shirt or crawling under sundried sheets. no bounce fabric softener can top that freshness.. stiff, yes, but that soon changes.
compost bin, most everything can be reduced back to the earth where it started.. good for the garden, good for the enviroment.. whats not too love
my actual garbage bag has been reduced to just one small grocery bag full after a week of gathering
I like all three mentions and use them and endorse them.
this is not a paid announcement
Rain barrels are a great idea, but can be as cheap or as costly as you like. My aunt has coopered barrels with bronze rain chain and spigots. Not cheap, but very attractive and functional. One thing you should be aware of that has not been mentioned is that the bottom of the barrel must be higher than what you want to water, a 1-2 foot pedestal usually works well. Also you will need to treat the water to prevent mosquito larva in most places.
Good call,For sure.. rain barrel water is THE best for garden plants as well as houseplants.. just have to put a screen cover over it or at least a board in the barrel to save poor squirrels who may fall in.. lost two that way at first
...
a fine mesh screen cover will prove helpful as will a drop or two of oil or a mosquito dunk to eliminate an infestation. The drowning of a few pesky rodents provide additional "food" for the compost. I could use a few less of them around here.
Edit to add: I see jwhite's post beat mine re: the mosquito subject.
Also that copper and bronze combination sounds wonderful!
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As grad students, the wife and I are always looking to save buck. We do the clothesline when we can, and have drying racks indoors for the wet and cold seasons (though that won't last, as we now have a baby soiling cloth diapers by the dozen, and the dryer is becoming our friend). Haven't done the rain bucket (no need out here, unless we want to pipe it into the house, which we don't).
We also keep electric stuff on power strips (the AV corner, the stereo corner, the kitchen appliances), which we turn off when not in use--you have to get used to flashing 12:00 on your clocks, but you can save a bundle. We also use those HE lightbulbs. Oh, and no AC, just well-placed fans on hot nights. We've cut our electric usage down to less than 300 kwh/month for an older (1917) 1200 sf house, and are often closer to 200, depending on weather and usage.
We also putty and plastic the windows in the winter, and have an automatic thermostat that bounces between 60 and 65 degrees (depending on when we're around) during the winter months. We'd love to have a woodstove, or HE gas stove, or on-demand hot water system, but so it goes ... the old school natural gas furnace and tank water heater will have to do for now.
I'll be checking back in to see if any other tips--I'm always up for new ways to shave off that bill ...
Ryan
We also keep electric stuff on power strips (the AV corner, the stereo corner, the kitchen appliances), which we turn off when not in use--you have to get used to flashing 12:00 on your clocks, but you can save a bundle. We also use those HE lightbulbs. Oh, and no AC, just well-placed fans on hot nights. We've cut our electric usage down to less than 300 kwh/month for an older (1917) 1200 sf house, and are often closer to 200, depending on weather and usage.
We also putty and plastic the windows in the winter, and have an automatic thermostat that bounces between 60 and 65 degrees (depending on when we're around) during the winter months. We'd love to have a woodstove, or HE gas stove, or on-demand hot water system, but so it goes ... the old school natural gas furnace and tank water heater will have to do for now.
I'll be checking back in to see if any other tips--I'm always up for new ways to shave off that bill ...
Ryan
You can also set it up with a sealed barrel to prevent mosquitos. Mine is set up that way and it's worked great so far. It looks something like the first picture On this page. The last photo on the page is of the diverter that I'm using. It works great.
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i'm in the process of winterizing the house. just put up the storm windows but still need to take out 1 AC unit. I know AC units are bad for the environment but it's a trade-off imo. I'm gonna use some removable caulking for the windows but need to put plastic sheets up on a couple of others. the energy bills last year were horrible. I suppose I should check the attic and make sure there's enough insulation too
- Thread starter
- #14
Haven't done the rain bucket (no need out here, unless we want to pipe it into the house, which we don't).
It would be kinda nice to use rain water in the toilet tanks. Probably all kind of ordinances against that.
We also keep electric stuff on power strips (the AV corner, the stereo corner, the kitchen appliances), which we turn off when not in use--you have to get used to flashing 12:00 on your clocks, but you can save a bundle.
Another good idea. I know a lot of appliances never totally power down even when they're off. Here's a million $ idea. Power strips you can turn on/off via remote control. Keeps you from having to crawl under and behind things to get at 'em.
We also use those HE lightbulbs. Oh, and no AC, just well-placed fans on hot nights. We've cut our electric usage down to less than 300 kwh/month for an older (1917) 1200 sf house, and are often closer to 200, depending on weather and usage.
Six hours total AC use this summer. Discovered I really don't need it as much as a once thought.
We also putty and plastic the windows in the winter, and have an automatic thermostat that bounces between 60 and 65 degrees (depending on when we're around) during the winter months.
60 to 65 may be doable. Gonna give it a try.
We'd love to have a woodstove,
This is my ultimate goal, a woodstove. Hear they can be pretty pricy and I'd have to buy the wood. Don't have cutable wood on the property.
or HE gas stove, or on-demand hot water system, but so it goes ... the old school natural gas furnace and tank water heater will have to do for now.
I'll be checking back in to see if any other tips--I'm always up for new ways to shave off that bill ...
Ryan[/QUOTE]
It would be kinda nice to use rain water in the toilet tanks. Probably all kind of ordinances against that.
We also keep electric stuff on power strips (the AV corner, the stereo corner, the kitchen appliances), which we turn off when not in use--you have to get used to flashing 12:00 on your clocks, but you can save a bundle.
Another good idea. I know a lot of appliances never totally power down even when they're off. Here's a million $ idea. Power strips you can turn on/off via remote control. Keeps you from having to crawl under and behind things to get at 'em.
We also use those HE lightbulbs. Oh, and no AC, just well-placed fans on hot nights. We've cut our electric usage down to less than 300 kwh/month for an older (1917) 1200 sf house, and are often closer to 200, depending on weather and usage.
Six hours total AC use this summer. Discovered I really don't need it as much as a once thought.
We also putty and plastic the windows in the winter, and have an automatic thermostat that bounces between 60 and 65 degrees (depending on when we're around) during the winter months.
60 to 65 may be doable. Gonna give it a try.
We'd love to have a woodstove,
This is my ultimate goal, a woodstove. Hear they can be pretty pricy and I'd have to buy the wood. Don't have cutable wood on the property.
or HE gas stove, or on-demand hot water system, but so it goes ... the old school natural gas furnace and tank water heater will have to do for now.
I'll be checking back in to see if any other tips--I'm always up for new ways to shave off that bill ...
Ryan[/QUOTE]
Yeah, we've checked it out. Woodstoves are pretty pricey just by themselves, and you both have to have a good place to put one, and either the cash or the know-how to get it installed and chimneyed and buttressed and such. We've got a spot for one, but it'll cost more than the price of a stove to put it in, and we're only going to be here for another year or two anyway.
Ryan
Ryan
- Thread starter
- #17
I'll be checking back in to see if any other tips--I'm always up for new ways to shave off that bill ...
Here's a potential energy waster that came to mind yesterday. Floor Drains With No Water In The Traps! One day while cleaning the basement, I swept a plastic bag toward a floor drain and it moved further than it should have and eventually was sucked to the drain and was vacuumed to it. Afterwards, I could actually hear the airflow at the drain. Turns out the house had a positive pressure compared to the outside. Long story made short, warm air (it was winter time) was being sucked out of the house, into the drain and down the sewer or wherever. This same thing happened the following summer with cool air. I now habitually top off the drains every couple of weeks or so. Somebody who knows more about this kinda thing please comment. I know the danger of sewer gas leaking into the house through a dry drain, but never heard of the reverse happening. What's going on here?
Here's a potential energy waster that came to mind yesterday. Floor Drains With No Water In The Traps! One day while cleaning the basement, I swept a plastic bag toward a floor drain and it moved further than it should have and eventually was sucked to the drain and was vacuumed to it. Afterwards, I could actually hear the airflow at the drain. Turns out the house had a positive pressure compared to the outside. Long story made short, warm air (it was winter time) was being sucked out of the house, into the drain and down the sewer or wherever. This same thing happened the following summer with cool air. I now habitually top off the drains every couple of weeks or so. Somebody who knows more about this kinda thing please comment. I know the danger of sewer gas leaking into the house through a dry drain, but never heard of the reverse happening. What's going on here?
You can also get a condensate pump for a air conditioner (about $50), instead of letting the condensate water drain into the floor drain, you can use the condensate water for watering plants. I have a crawl space that my AC used to drain into. Now I pump use the condensate water to water a flower bed in front of my house.
