2016 Green Resources to Remember

Everyday Green Living Resources

The most popular post last year was Grady Management's list of green living resources that are user-friendly and perfect for every member of the family.

1) Want to recycle or visit a recycling center?  Find local recycling centers here.

2) Spring is on its way!  Do you want to bike to work instead of drive?  You can track your bike miles on plenty of online resources, including mapmyride.

3) Like farmers markets?  Find the one closest to you here!

Random Acts of Kindness Week: Environmental Focus

Direct Some Kindness to the Environment This Week 

February 14-20 is Random Acts of Kindness Week.  This week is centered on looking beyond oneself and genuinely helping out other people and performing actions in an altruistic manner.  Along with assisting a neighbor or donating to a charity, consider several other green ways to show kindness during this week:

1) Throw away a piece of discarded litter when stopping to discard trash.

2) Plant a tree or a garden.

3) Volunteer to sort the recyclables for roommates or neighbors.

Valentine's Day 2016: Green Tips and Tricks

Eco-Friendly Holiday Ideas

Valentine's Day is typically a time to spend times with a spouse or significant other, exchange gifts, and profess declarations of love.  This year, share affection with the planet and try to organize some plans that promote green living ideals.

Valentine's Day Date Ideas:

1) Take a hike or walk: If the weather is nice, it might be the perfect day to take a stroll through a state park or mountain trail and appreciate all of the natural beauty.

2) Visit a museum or art gallery: Take a bus or Metro over to the nearest museum to spend an afternoon looking at works of art.  Besides for saving gas, the visit will be a truly memorable experience.

Heat Pumps: Report and Review

Geothermal Heat Pumps

A Guide To Understanding Heat Pumps and Utilizing Heat Pumps More Effectively

Last year, a GreenLiving blog post detailed important facts about heat pumps that apartment renters and homeowners alike should know to be better able to understand the heat pump and how the device impacts a home.

Essentially, heat pumps are energy efficient devices that pump air from one location to another.  Read below to find out more about how heat pumps work:

What Are Heat Pumps?

A heat pump is a device that provides heat energy to a specific and desired location.  This procedure is referred to as "heat sink".  In the process, heat pumps absorb heat, or the thermal energy, from a cold location and release that energy to warm space.

Air conditioners and freezers are common examples of heat pumps.  A common heat pump is an "air source heat pump" which shifts air from inside to the outside.  Thus, heat pumps are effective in moving hot air in the home (during winter months) and outside the home (during summer months).