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Must Have Solar Gadgets For Your Next Camping Trip

If you're planning a camping trip this year, you're not alone. According to the 2017 North American Camping Report, an annual independent study supported by Kampgrounds of America, Inc., (KOA) an estimated 13 million U.S. households plan to camp more in 2017 than they did in 2016. More than 1 million new households have started camping each year since 2014. Millennials are driving this growth as they take to the outdoors in greater numbers, and they have no intention of letting up. Some of the most exciting products that utilize solar power are ones that have specific application for the great outdoors and camping experiences. So, the next time you pack up and head out for an adventure in the...

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Lower Your Electricity Bill With These 3 Solar Products in 2017-2018

Every year homeowners with an eye on keeping a budget as well as building for a better future consider ways to save on energy. Apartment dwellers also do the same, especially looking for ways to reduce costs without sacrificing comfort. In the coming year, one of the first steps you can take to add energy-efficient lighting in your home is through the use of solar lighting outdoors. Solar Motion Sensor Security Lights Homes with security lights outside that operate only when turned on at night by the homeowner flipping the switch don’t get the full benefit of having security lights at all. When considering solar lights that save energy, look for solar-powered lights that offer motion detectors. The homeowner doesn’t...

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Part III: Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. A Mantra for our Time.

  This structure was built using more than 100,000 beer and soda cans, wooden windows, hubcaps, screen doors, bicycle reflectors and more. The creator, Dominic “Cano” Espinoza, a Native American Vietnam vet was inspired by “Vitamin Mary Jane” and Jesus. Espinoza has spent over 30 years working on what he calls “Jesus’ Castle.” The castle is popularly referred to as Cano’s Castle. Image credit: Motherwit. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. A Mantra for our Time. Part III Part III of our “Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.” series focuses on recycling. We follow the lead of Mother Nature – the mistress of perpetual mulch. Almost all of us have tossed an ordinary plastic water bottle into a recycling container. The EPA estimates that 94% of...

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Part II: Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. A Mantra for Our Time.

Part II of our “Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.” series concerns reuse. When it comes to reusing, Americans know their stuff. Used products from angora sweaters to zippered coats are bought and sold on Craigslist, eBay, and thousands of garage and yard sales. Reportedly, at 165,000 garage sales each week, 690,000 people spend more than $4.2 million to buy almost 5 million items. Those numbers are impressive, but much more must be done to offset the adverse effects of climate change.  Fortunately, we don’t have to do it one garage sale item at a time. Startling technological advances in energy production and water reuse offer us the best chance for success. These advances will require changes in how we live. We must...

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Part 1: Reduce Waste, Reuse, Recycle: A Mantra For Our Time

Reduce waste. Reuse. Recycle. We have heard this environmental mantra for many years, but what does it give us and why should we care? These three words provide a guide towards rescuing our earth from the harmful effects of climate change. You may not see it, but climate change is already altering our environment. If you lived along the southeast coast of the U.S., you would see the ghost forests killed by the rising salt water. If you lived in southern Florida, you would see the frequently flooded streets and homes. And, if you farmed rice in Vietnam, the salt water would have destroyed your fields. There are more real-time examples than just these, and there will be many more...

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Composting Made Easy

All About Composting There’s a movement among gardeners that is straying from complex fertilizers and dangerous chemical pesticides and towards the process of microbiology. One of the best ways to start making this healthy dirt for growing flowers, herbs, vegetables and fruits is through composting. Basically, compost is organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment. Gardeners don’t make compost; nature creates it! The process of composting at home requires creating a very specific environment. If you have never tried this before, it is well worth your time and financial investment to get this process started. Composting is easy! This process involves collecting organic matter, known as green waste, and waiting for the materials...

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Getting Started With Solar: An Introduction

An Introduction to Solar With so many choices in the marketplace today, getting started with solar powered products can sometimes feel overwhelming. Will you choose to go entirely off grid or partly off grid? Do you want to power just a few of the most important appliances in the home (or business) or do you want to have a complete system using solar powered tools? What do you do about cloudy and rainy days when there is little or no sun? It doesn’t have to be complicated! You can start learning what your options are regarding solar energy, begin with a small investment, and add to your system as time and budget allows. The solar industry is growing in popularity....

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