http://www.neutralexistence.com/begreen/ green your home, green building, green your travel, green your car, green, energy efficiency, en amandakon@gmail.com Copyright 2009 2009-06-29T15:03:08+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/begreen/reusing-the-art-of-the-lost-r/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/begreen/reusing-the-art-of-the-lost-r/#When:14:03:08Z In elementary school, whenever it came to environmental science, they always drilled the “three R’s” into our heads. Like hordes of mini zombies, children the world over would repeat “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle….Reduce, Reuse,… 2009-06-29T14:03:08+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/build-your-own-converted-grain-bin-home/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/build-your-own-converted-grain-bin-home/#When:13:50:09Z For the past two years, I have lived in a grain bin at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage. Or more specifically, a converted grain bin home (pictured to the right). It is insulated with straw bales, has a wood stove… Natural Living 2009-06-26T13:50:09+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/green-education-what-nature-can-teach-our-kids/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/green-education-what-nature-can-teach-our-kids/#When:13:56:41Z Kids today have huge advantages with regard to learning through technology; however, many kids are very - sometimes almost completely - disconnected from nature. Having all the technological advantages for education doesn’t mean that… Natural Living 2009-06-22T13:56:41+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/begreen/heat-your-home-and-save-energy-with-a-super-efficient-wood-buring-rocket-st/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/begreen/heat-your-home-and-save-energy-with-a-super-efficient-wood-buring-rocket-st/#When:16:05:35Z If done responsibly and efficiently, wood heat can keep your home warm without you having to spend hundreds of dollars every month. A rocket stove is a super efficient type of DIY wood stove that can be built using reclaimed and salvaged materials.… Green Your Home 2009-06-15T16:05:35+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/zero-carbon-activities-for-kids/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/zero-carbon-activities-for-kids/#When:18:06:02Z Kids’ entertainment is a massive industry and has a massive impact on the environment. Vast quantities of children’s toys and games are manufactured in the U.S. and also imported, particularly from China. Many are made from non-recyclable… Natural Living 2009-06-01T18:06:02+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/begreen/all-dried-up-water-scarcity-a-growing-issue/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/begreen/all-dried-up-water-scarcity-a-growing-issue/#When:18:35:46Z A UN report released in March projects that half the world will face acute water shortages by 2030. Water scarcity is an ever-growing issue that will only become more prevalent with global warming and climate change. Water shortages, and potential… Green Your Home 2009-05-17T18:35:46+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/begreen/shopping-for-a-green-home-entertainment-system/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/begreen/shopping-for-a-green-home-entertainment-system/#When:21:21:21Z So you’ve finally decided to buckle down and get that 50 inch HD TV with Blu-Ray DVD player and surround sound system. Great! Having a home theater is a great way to enjoy your favorite movies with friends and family, and the high definition… Green Your Home 2009-05-15T21:21:21+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/begreen/stay-cool-eco-friendly-cooling-tips-for-your-apartment-condo/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/begreen/stay-cool-eco-friendly-cooling-tips-for-your-apartment-condo/#When:13:44:57Z As the summer months approach and the weather heats up, you may find yourself dreading that A/C thermostat. Turning up your A/C is not only energy inefficient, but it is also costly. Luckily, living in a small apartment or condo affords you several… Green Your Home 2009-05-08T13:44:57+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/how-to-eat-green-with-your-kids/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/how-to-eat-green-with-your-kids/#When:03:39:57Z Learning how to “eat green” with your kids can be a fun, educational adventure which could have a big impact on your family carbon footprint. Eco-friendly eating is not as simple as just buying expensive organic foods from your supermarket.… Natural Living 2009-05-06T03:39:57+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/how-to-plant-a-space-saving-herb-spiral-for-your-garden/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/how-to-plant-a-space-saving-herb-spiral-for-your-garden/#When:20:31:10Z Do you want to enjoy fresh herbs throughout the season, but you don’t have a lot of garden space to spare? After all, there’s tomatoes, peppers, greens, onions, garlic, and a wealth of other vegetables taking up precious gardening space.… Natural Living 2009-04-23T20:31:10+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/happy-earth-day-2009/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/happy-earth-day-2009/#When:12:34:46Z Hello everyone, I just wanted to take a few minutes to say Happy Earth Day and to thank all of our loyal visitors, readers, subscribers and clients. When we originally started this site over 2 years ago, the goal was to make a difference in… News 2009-04-22T12:34:46+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/a-vegetarian-diet-for-one-day-can-help-stop-global-warming/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/a-vegetarian-diet-for-one-day-can-help-stop-global-warming/#When:17:16:44Z Americans consume a huge amount of meat. So much so that livestock is now one of the leading contributors to global warming, responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions as measured in a carbon dioxide equivalent. A recent United Nations… Global Warming 2009-04-18T17:16:44+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/gettin-wiggly-with-it-worm-composting/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/gettin-wiggly-with-it-worm-composting/#When:04:15:52Z In my household, we recycle everything - cans, plastic, paper, paperboard, wine corks, batteries, electronics, and other items we no longer want or need that could benefit someone else I donate to local homeless and animal shelters. On average,… Natural Living 2009-04-13T04:15:52+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/environmentally-conscious-print-house/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/environmentally-conscious-print-house/#When:14:22:47Z We usually do reviews on specific products, but today I wanted to take a stab at a specific industry and focus on one particular business who is doing their part to make this industry a little greener. We were asked recently to provide physical… Product Reviews 2009-04-10T14:22:47+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/save-energy-and-the-environment-with-a-straw-bale-home/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/save-energy-and-the-environment-with-a-straw-bale-home/#When:12:49:03Z There are many concerns about how we can prevent global warming and save energy in our daily lives. In every aspect of modern life, whether it be transportation,… 2009-04-09T12:49:03+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/fun-in-the-sun-powering-your-rv-with-solar/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/fun-in-the-sun-powering-your-rv-with-solar/#When:06:09:26Z Living in Portland, Oregon, the sun is not something we take for granted seeing how we average only 144 sunny days a year. When the sun does decide to shine down and grace us with its presence, we get out there and soak it up (with appropriate SPF… Solar 2009-03-27T06:09:26+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/earth-hour-2009-is-just-around-the-corner/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/earth-hour-2009-is-just-around-the-corner/#When:13:26:06Z Earth Hour 2009 is just around the corner and it is an important day for you to voice your opinion and show what you stand for. If you are not familiar with Earth Hour, here is a brief history on the event: Earth Hour is an annual international event… News 2009-03-26T13:26:06+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/earth-sheltered-home-green-building-construction-work-exchange/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/earth-sheltered-home-green-building-construction-work-exchange/#When:13:25:43Z Do you want to gain valuable hands-on green building experience this summer? Do you want to learn all about building an earth sheltered home… News 2009-03-23T13:25:43+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/ways-to-prevent-global-warming-while-traveling/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/ways-to-prevent-global-warming-while-traveling/#When:03:20:05Z Travel, and the human thirst for it, presents a tough problem to people like you who want to take bold steps to reduce their impact on global warming. Here, we’ll discuss how your long-distance travel contributes to rising global temperatures,… Global Warming 2009-03-20T03:20:05+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/passive-solar-design-can-help-stop-global-warming/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/blog/passive-solar-design-can-help-stop-global-warming/#When:18:46:32Z There are many ways to prevent global warming through building more energy efficient homes. Conventional houses are large, poorly… Natural Living, Global Warming 2009-03-16T18:46:32+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/begreen/how-to-size-an-inline-tankless-water-heater/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/begreen/how-to-size-an-inline-tankless-water-heater/#When:18:22:10Z Tankless water heaters come in many different shapes and sizes and there really is no "one size fits all" solution. Every home and every end user is different, so the sizing of a tankless inline water heater should be calculated to fit the needs of each… Green Your Home 2009-03-11T18:22:10+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/begreen/change-a-lightbulb-change-the-world/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/begreen/change-a-lightbulb-change-the-world/#When:14:34:02Z There is something about “springing forward” into daylight savings time that makes me want to jump head first into spring. For me, this usually means spring cleaning, but also a time to start fresh; an opportunity to turn over a new green… Green Your Home 2009-03-10T14:34:02+00:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/begreen/how-to-acquire-recycled-building-materials-and-lumber-for-your-home/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/begreen/how-to-acquire-recycled-building-materials-and-lumber-for-your-home/#When:04:49:33Z Do you want a more ecological way to obtain building materials, such as lumber, doors, windows, and bricks for your home? Some of the most sustainable sources for material are soon-to-be demolished homes. You can save money from buying new lumber,… Green Your Home 2009-03-09T04:49:33+00:00