Sunday, May 19, 2013
Sealing windows and adding insulation to your home can take as much as 30 percent off your heating bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Time is money, the old adage goes, but so is a well-winterized house. Stopping air leakages can take as much as 30 percent off your heating bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Check out these three tips for closing up air leaks around your home: Here is a list of local places and resources where you can find supplies and advice for insulating your home: The Home Depot True Value Hardware Moynihan Lumber McLaughlin Weatherization: 12 Twin Oaks Rd, Reading, MA 01867. Phone: (508) 916-2791 Anchor Insulation Co.: 236 Andover St, Wilmington, MA 01887. Phone: (978) 658-9592
Friday, May 17, 2013
Does Reading make it easy for you to live an earth-friendly lifestyle? What do you wish was different?
- GOING GREEN
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Friday, May 17
Towns across the country are getting new recycling centers, giving away rain barrels and installing parking meters with solar panels. Here at Patch, we want to know: What makes Reading green? The Mother Nature Network recently listed their Top 10 Greenest Cities in the U.S. Of the top 10 greenest cities in the U.S., Massachusetts boasts two: Cambridge at No. 6, Boston at No. 3, TELL US: What does Reading do to help you go green? Do you use any resources from the town to stay green? Share in the comments below.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
If you are working on Spring cleaning, here are some ways to recycle unwanted items.
Have you finished your Spring cleaning? According to the town's website, there are plenty of avenues to get rid of your unwanted items. Don't just throw them in the trash. Do you have unwanted appliances? Call JRM at (800) 323-4285 to schedule a pick-up for items like stoves, microwaves, washing machines, air conditioners, dehumidifiers and more. Have a used car you want to donate? Contact the Special Olympics or Habitat for Humanity. You may even get a tax deduction. How about batteries? Alkaline batteries manufactured after 1994 can be thrown out with your regular trash, according to the town's website. However, if you have batteries made later than 1994, bring them to the Household Hazardous Waste Day. To recycle rechargeable batteries…
Monday, May 6, 2013
Here is a list of ways to live a greener lifestyle, plus some resources to help you go green right here in Reading.
If you aren’t ready to throw some solar panels on the roof and ditch your power company, but would like to save some money by living a greener life, here are 20 tips to help you get started. Around the house: 1. Buy food, including spices and flour, in bulk. You’ll save money and reduce the amount of packaging that goes in the trash. BJ's in Stoneham offers bulk food options. 2. Make sure your thermostat is set properly. Lowering the default settings during the summer and at night could save you almost $200 a year, according to Energy Star. More tips at energystar.gov. 3. Insulate your hot water heater. To see if you need to insulate, touch your heater. If it is warm to the touch, it needs additional insulation. You will lower your water …
Sunday, May 5, 2013
If your New Year's resolution is to live a greener lifestyle, check out these 20 tips to help you stick to your plan.
- GOING GREEN
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Sunday, May 5
If you want to be kinder to the planet and save some money at the same time, here are 20 ways to go green in 2013. TELL US: Do you think you could stick to a green New Year's resolution? Share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments sections below.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Here are some family activities you can do to foster environmentalism. Sponsored by Sony.
- GOING GREEN
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Friday, May 3
Very few events are celebrated around the globe, but Earth Day is. This year, it’s come and gone. But we’re here to ask: What can we do to show our love of the earth on that day, and every day? On May 31st, Sony will release After Earth, an action-packed movie that takes place 1,000 years after cataclysmic events forced humanity to leave. It’s the kind of scenario that makes you want to donate to Greenpeace, recycle everything, and start biking every where, immediately. So, in honor of Earth Day, Patch has teamed up with Sony to present these ideas for making every day Earth Day. How can we make every day Earth Day? Begin with little things. Easy things. Obvious things. Things we take for granted each day, and use and/or abuse because of …
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Share your best tips and tricks for living the green life here in Reading.
We're looking for all the great ways Reading natives are working to preserve and protect the Earth. From composting to creative recycling, we want to hear what you do to minimize your carbon footprint, reduce waste, and just live a greener lifestyle. Please tell us in the comments below or upload a picture!
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Encourage children to love the earth and all will bloom naturally. Here are some family activities you can do to foster environmentalism in Reading.
On April 22 we celebrated Earth Day, and it is celebrated across the entire world. But what can we do to show our love of the earth every day? Love begins in the home and so does the love for our earth. If you teach your children to respect the earth on every level, they will continue to realize the global impact of environmentalism when they become adults. This is important for the sustainability of life as we know it. Perhaps we can set off that spark in a child, making them want to learn more about the process and do more to help. If we've done our part, they might strive to become an environmentalist—professionally or at heart. Inspire children, plant the seeds early on, and they will flourish. We all strive to do "acts of …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Hey neighbors: It's always a good time to save energy. We've got five easy things you can do to conserve and save money on your electric bill, but we need your ideas too. Please share your best tips in the comments.
Allyson Schmutter, spokesperson for the national nonprofit Alliance to Save Energy, offers these five tips for saving energy and money: 1. Unplug All Those Devices: Believe it or not, many devices still consume energy even when turned off. The typical culprits are televisions and cable boxes, or anything that stays lit with an LED or standby light even when turned off. Schmutter says those devices can suck a month’s worth of electricity from your home each year. 2. Change Your Bulbs: If you haven't already switched your incandescent bulbs out for more energy-efficient options, now's the time to do it. You'll save 75 percent by switching to CFL bulbs. Not sold on CFLs? Take a look at this light bulb checklist for more ideas. They sell a …
Monday, March 25, 2013
All the tools you need to start composting in Reading, plus where to get free or low-cost compost for your garden.
If composting is an activity on your list of ways to live greener, here's a how to get started in Reading. Emily Bishton, a designer of sustainable landscapes and an environmental educator for children and adults, says, "Home composting is a fun and easy way to make fabulous and free soil amendments to make all the plants in your garden healthier," Bishton says. "It also eliminates the carbon emissions that are needed to truck your food and yard waste to composting facilities, truck the finished compost back to a retail outlet, and then to your home.” Collecting Kitchen Compost Composting starts in the kitchen. First, you'll want to set up a system for catching compostable materials during your meal and snack clean up process. These …
Ellen E Hill
5:37 am on Monday, May 27, 2013
I totally agree. I am a Senior Citizen and walk this route frequently. I have to get onto the grass to avoid cars especially when two are passing next to me. Iam concerned about the young people going back and forth to school, as well. Becky, do you know about the Walkable Reading Group? They are working hard on our behalf. more ›