On hot summer days, ceiling fans can increase air flow and keep you comfortable. In fact, a ceiling fan can lower your room temperature by eight degrees and lower you’re A.C. bill up to 40 percent. Now, those are huge savings!

In the winter, a ceiling fan can help circulate hot air throughout your home and give your furnace a break. It also helps draw heat from things like your stove or fireplace.

Some ceiling fans use less energy than a 10 watt bulb and you can pick one up at your local hardware store. They come is in all sorts of styles, colours and materials—which means you shouldn’t have trouble finding one in your price range. Ceiling fans are pretty simple to install and most come with their own instruction manuals, but I’m going to show you how to install one today.

Materials

• Ceiling fan
• Screw driver
• Electrical tester
• Stepladder if necessary

Steps:

Step 1: Turn off the electrical power in your home.

IMPORTANT: Always test wires with an electrical tester before proceeding with any electrical work. Even if the power is off in your home, there could still be active charges present.

Step 2: Using your screwdriver, remove old light fixture from ceiling. Be sure to disconnect electrical wires correctly and safely.

Step 3: Take your ceiling fan and connect electrical wires correctly and safely. Using your screwdriver, attach ceiling fan to ceiling. If possible, try to fasten your ceiling fan to a joist. Ceiling fans can be heavy and you want to make sure that yours is secured property.

Step 4: Check your work.

Step 5: Turn electrical power back on.

Step 6: Test ceiling fan.

Now that you have your ceiling fan installed you want to remember that heat rises. So in the summer, you want to spin your ceiling fan counter-clockwise to pull the hot air up. In the winter you want to do the reverse and spin your fan clockwise to push the heat down.

Be sure to place them in areas that get lots of traffic, like your kitchen or family room, and always keep your ceiling fan clean by dusting regularly. Ceiling fans are meant to circulate air, not spread dust and mites throughout your home.

Hope you’ve enjoyed this video and don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments section!

Installation is pretty easy, but before we start, here are a few things to know:

• Make sure the bulbs you have are compatible with dimmer switches.

• Before you buy a dimmer, find out how the existing switch is wired. Most of the time you’ll need a 2-way switch, but sometimes you’ll need a 3-way switch. If you’re unfamiliar with this terminology, you may want to consider professional installation.

There are many different dimmer switches on the market. You don’t need a fancy dimmer to save electricity, but choose the one that fits your needs. Make sure you read the manufacturer’s instructions and take all safety precautions. Again, if you are not comfortable working with electricity, please contact a certified electrician.

Here are some tools we will need to get started:

1. Screwdriver
2. Wire strippers
3. Electrical tape
4. Wire nuts
5. Circuit tester

Installation instructions:

1. First, locate your electrical panel and turn off the breaker to that switch. If you’re not sure which breaker it is, turn off the main breaker.
2. Remove the face plate for the light switch.
3. Check the circuit with the tester to insure the power is off.
4. Disconnect the old switch and make note on how it was connected.
5. Determine if you need to strip the wires for proper connection.
6. Connect the wires to the dimmer switch.
7. If your dimmer switch has lead wires connect them to the house wires with wire nuts.
8. Connect the ground wires with wire nuts.
9. Tuck the wires into the circuit box and attach plate with screws.
10. Turn on breaker from the electrical panel and test.
11. If the light does not work, turn breaker off and check connections.

Now that you have a dimmer switch, you can adjust the brightness of the lights. To save power, set you lights to 50-75% brightness or less. This will help save you money, extend the life of the bulb, and give the room a nice relaxed feeling. I hope you have enjoyed this video, and don’t forget to add your thoughts in the comments section.

1. Reuse Old Clothes:

Instead of throwing out old clothes, use them as cleaning rags. This limits the amount of paper towels you use, and they can be used over and over again, by simply tossing them in the wash. If the clothes are still in good condition, donate them to the Goodwill or Salvation Army instead. Or call up your local animal shelter; some may take your old towels and sweaters as bedding for rescued animals. I’ve also heard of textile recycle plants that take old clothes and recycle them into new fabric, insulation or even paper.

2. Limit Bottled Water Use:

It takes about 17 million barrels of oil to create the plastic we use for water bottles each year in the US. That’s a huge amount of waste. Instead of bottled water, use a water cooler in your home. Better yet, use a water crock so you’re not wasting electricity.

3. Use Reusable Lunch containers:

Switch out the old brown paper bag for a reusable lunch bag. Try and use one that’s washer or dishwasher safe, so it’s easy to keep it clean. Also, the amount of plastic bags we use to pack our snacks and lunch in, are not only bad on the environment but also harm animals when we throw them away. Instead, try using washable plastic containers (like Tupperware or Pyrex) for your lunch.

4. Lastly, Use Reusable Shopping Bag:

Did you know that over, 1 billion plastic grocery bags are used in the U.S. each year? By switching to a cloth grocery bag you can limit the amount of wasted plastic. Also, if you only have a few groceries say NO to plastic bags and just carry them by hand.

These are just a few simple ways to reduce the amount of waste we produce each day. Can you think of any other ways? Post your ideas on the blog.

Your refrigerator is usually one of the largest energy users in your home as it’s constantly working to keep your food cool and at the right temperature. Now, here are a few simple tips you can do at home to help reduce the amount of energy your refrigerator uses.

Tips:

1. Locate your refrigerators coils which are located at the back of the fridge or at the bottom behind the kick plate. Once a month, vacuum all the dust off these coils to make sure they run as efficient as possible.

2. Allow frozen food to thaw out in the fridge. It’s safe to defrost meats this way and the frozen food helps keep the fridge cool so it runs less.

3. Before placing leftovers in the fridge, make sure they cool down to room temperature. Hot food makes your fridge work twice as hard as it needs to.

4. Check the door seals on your fridge with a simple test. Close the door on a $1 bill. The seal should hold the bill tightly in place. If the bill is easily removed, you should contact the manufacturer and replace the seal.

Whether or not you have an energy star rated fridge, these tips will help you save money. Remember with everything I share, make sure to tell your friends and family so they can see the savings too.

If you have any other tips or ideas to add, please let me know in the comments section.

1. Turn off your taps:
Turning water taps off while doing daily chores helps save wasted water. For example:
• Brushing your teeth without the water running can save 25 gallons a month.
• When washing your hands, turn off the tap until you’re lathered up and ready to rinse.
• Same with shaving, turning the water off until you need to rinse, this can save another 300 gallons a month.
• If you wash dishes by hand, fill one sink with soapy water and wait until all dishes have been scrubbed and soaped, then rinse all at the same time.

2. Save used water:
Don’t dump used water down the drain, save it. Use a pan to wash your fruits and vegetable instead of washing them under running water. Save the water and use it to water your household plants or garden. Same with the water from your cooked vegetables, give the nutrients to your plants, or save it for a nutritious soup for yourself.

3. Reduce water use on your lawn:
Most water waste is from unattended sprinklers or water systems on your lawn. Always make sure you adjust your sprinklers so only your lawn is getting watered, not the sidewalk, driveway or street. Put your outdoor sprinklers on a timer, or set your kitchen timer while you are inside, so you won’t forget the sprinklers are on. Also before watering, use a spade or trowel to check the root of your lawn or garden for moisture. If there is still moisture two inches under the soil surface, you don’t need to water.

4. Install low flow water fixtures:
The average US family uses 127,000 gallons of water a year; by switching to low flow fixtures around your home you can drastically reduce that number. In past videos, I’ve shown you how to install a low flow showerhead, but think of all the other taps in your home.

A few easy 5 minute changes to your daily routines could save thousands of gallons of wasted water. If you have any more water saving tips, share them on the blog!

Hope you’ve enjoyed this video.

When I first heard this number I was shocked. Over 63 Billion bills were mailed out in 2008 in the United States alone. Each one of these was printed, folded, stuffed into an envelope, delivered to the post office, then delivered to your home and ultimately, thrown in the garbage. Think of all the wasted electricity, gas and natural resources used just to send you your bill.

Well if you haven’t already been using it, I want to welcome you to the world of e-billing. E-bills work the same as regular bills except instead of getting them in the mail, you conveniently get them delivered to your computer as an email. Now I know some of you are already doing this, so to you I say congratulations. To everyone else, it’s simple to switch and here’s how.

1. Make a list of all the bills that you pay monthly. A simple way to do this is to collect your bills for a few months and mark down the ones you still receive by mail.

2. Next call each company that is sending you bills and ask them if they offer electronic billing. If they don’t, encourage them to start doing so. Not only will they help save the environment, they’ll be saving money too. While you’re on the phone with them, ask them what information you’ll need to make the payment electronically through your bank.

3. Lastly, contact you bank and ask them to setup your bill payment in your bank account so you won’t have to re-enter the information each and every month.
And that’s it. And once you’re setup, you’ll just have to check your email for bills and pay them online. Not only are you saving the environment, but your also saving time by not having to travel to the bank to pay your bills.

Now a lot of people ask me if this is safe. I was a little worried when I first got started too, but rest assured many banks offer great protection in the event something was to go wrong. I personally think it’s a lot safer. We’ve all heard stories of identity theft. These criminals actually go through people’s garbage to find bills to steal your personal information. By using eBills, you won’t have to worry about this anymore. Try switching to online billing and let me know what you think in the blog section.

For some people it may seem like too much work, but I love getting my hands dirty and spending time with my family. My kids love learning about natures and helping out. Plus, I can’t tell you have much money we save on produce each year.

Now as you can see, I have a really big garden. Now you don’t need a garden this big to see some benefits. I mean if I could send you one of my mouth watering tomatoes when they’re ready, you’d never go back to the unripe, tasteless grocery store fruits and vegetables. On top of great tasting produce, growing your own food means that you’re helping the planet too. Most food we get today is grown very far away. Many times it comes from another country. This transportation requires huge amounts of fossil fuels which heavily pollutes the environment.

One more thing, if you do plan to grow a garden, I highly recommend planting an organic garden. Here are a few reasons why:

• You won’t have to handle dangerous chemicals that are harmful to your health
• Organically grown foods taste much better
• Organically grown foods are much higher in nutrients
• They’re not genetically modified, who really knows what this does to our food
• Using natural methods is much better for the environment

I hope you enjoyed my tour. Maybe I’ll make another video in the fall to show you my delicious vegetables. I also hope you decide to plant a garden of your own. I know that you’ll love it. Please share your comments in the blog about gardening and growing your own fruits and vegetables.

I’m talking about switching from a Gas Powered lawn mower to a Push Reel Mower.

I’ve made a list of pro’s and con’s, for both the Gas Mower and the Reel Mower to help you decide if switching to a Reel Mower is right for you. Let’s start with the typical Gas Mower which most people own.

Gas Powered Lawn Mower

Pros:
- Cuts everything evenly including, grass, weeds, vines etc.
- Great for large lawns, makes it easy to push for long periods of time.

Cons:
- Creates air pollution that’s bad for the environment.
- Emits high levels of carbon monoxide and other toxins that are bad for your health
- Noisy
- Uses gas, which costs you money!!
- If you don’t already own one, there expensive. And if you do, they cost a lot to repair if they break down.

Man Powered Push Reel Mower:

Pros:
- Emits no pollution.
- Very Quiet
- Inexpensive. No cost wasted on gas!!
- Better for the lawn. If used regularly the scissor-like cut of the reel mower is actually healthier for your lawn.
- It better for your health. Not only are you pushing the reel mower for exercise, you won’t be inhaling toxic fumes like you were with the gas powered mower.

Cons:
- Has trouble cutting tall grass and weeds.
- Not good for large lawns, or pushing for long periods of time.

Push Reel Mowers may not be the best choice for everyone. It really depends on the size of your lawn and the type of grass you have. Be sure to review the pros and cons for each mower before rushing out and buying a new mower. If you have a Push Reel Mower, share your thoughts on our blog for everyone to see.

First, if you’re planning on spending more than a few minutes under the sun, I highly recommend a good sunscreen to help block UV rays from damaging your skin. But don’t just grab any sunscreen, a lot of the brand name sunscreens cause serious environmental damage and negatively impact your health.

Most commercial sunscreen is petroleum based and it’s not biodegradable. These toxic chemicals end up damaging the environment. For example, a study published by the Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives found that up to 6,000 tons of sunscreen is release annually by tourists in coral reef areas and when the sunscreen comes into contact with the reef, the coral becomes stressed and damaged.

Another reason not to use commercial sunscreens is the potential health hazards. Studies have linked dozens of chemical commonly used in sunscreen with many serious health effects. For example, one harmful chemical, oxybenzane, has been linked to babies with low birth weights, hormone disruption, cellular damage, allergies and even cancer.

To be safe I only use natural based sunscreen like this one that you can find at your local health food store. Everything is plant based and is 100% biodegradable. Not only that, but they smell great and work just as good as the toxic brand name versions.

Also, if you’re out in the night, you might want to get something to protect you from those pesky mosquitos. Again, I recommend avoid the commercial brands. Many of them contain Deet with has been linked to many serious health conditions. I don’t really understand why they make these products when such great alternative exist. I guess it’s about corporate profits.

Anyway, here’s a great product you can get from your local health food store. This is the one I use and it works great for me and my family. Hope you’ve found this video helpful, if you have any other tips for when your outdoors, please share them in the comments sections.

Now some people may think am a little crazy, but at the end of the day, I feel responsible for taking care of my family. And although I’ve been fortunate enough to have never experience an emergency like this, I want to make sure that if it ever does, I’m prepared.

Now I want to believe that nothing will ever happen, but there are all sorts of reasons to store food long term. Everything from natural disasters and terrorist attacks to rising food prices, food shortages or the power going out for long periods of time.

Today I want to show you my emergency food storage and share some tips on how you can start your own.

1. Water
You can live many days without food, but only a couple without water. Make sure you have plenty of water for everyone in your home. As you can see, I have many gallons of water stored.
2. Food
Make sure you choose food that lasts at least 5 years. This includes things in cans and jars and dry foods such as pasta and rice. Make sure you have a variety of food so you don’t get bored or miss some key nutrients.
3. Snacks
It might sound weird to store chocolate bars for an emergency, but in a time of stress, having some comfort food makes you feel a little better. So make sure you have some stored. I have some Snickers and some other candies my kids like.
4. Tools
Make sure you have everything you need to use your food. This includes can openers, pots and pans and heating source to cook your food. And don’t forget utensils.
5. Use Your Food
Lastly, make sure to use your food. Buy foods that your family normally eats. So each time you go grocery shopping, put the new food into storage and grab and old can instead. This way you won’t waste your hard earned money on spoiled food.

This isn’t meant to be an extensive emergency food preparation video. I just want to get you thinking about the importance of long term food storage. Something is better than nothing, so don’t wait another day.

Next time I’ll share complete details for emergency food storage and urban survival strategies. Please let know if you’d like more information on survival topics in these videos by commenting in our blog.