Stunning Vertical Forest Skyscraper By Stefano Boeri’s

Bosco Verticale: Stefano Boeri's Stunning Vertical Forest Skyscraper

Urban living requires efficient use of space, but it can be a very environmentally-friendly lifestyle:  city residents generally live in small homes with access to walkable neighborhoods and public transportation.  One common downside is a lack of green space, but architect Stefano Boeri aims to change all that with his “Bosco Verticale” concept.  Italian for… [Continue Reading]

The Green Christmas Tree: Tips and Alternatives

Organic Christmas Tree Farms

Is there such a thing as a green Christmas tree? Can you still be kind to the earth while chopping down a piece of it to bring into your home? The question of the artificial vs. the live Christmas tree has sparked more heated online debate than Freddy vs. Jason. Lately the green pendulum has… [Continue Reading]

Chlorine Alternatives For Efficient Swimming Pools

Chlorine Is An Effective Pool Sanitizer, But It Has Drawbacks

Cannonball! Jumping into a swimming pool is a classic way to beat the heat on a hot summer day. But clean pool water requires a combination of filtration, circulation, and sanitization. Chlorine has long been the most common tool for keeping pools free of bacteria and algae – but it has its drawbacks, and there… [Continue Reading]

Efficient Outdoor Water Use

Efficient-Outdoor-Water-Use-thumb

A recent Metaefficient post offered some ideas for reducing water consumption in your home – but why stop there? Read on to learn about some tips and products that will help you manage water use in outdoor spaces like lawns and gardens. Best of all, you’ll reduce both your environmental impact and utility bills in… [Continue Reading]

Efficient, Eco-Friendly Lawn Care

efficient eco friendly lawn care

April showers might bring May flowers – but they also bring an explosion of lawn growth. Traditional lawn care can rely on some pretty nasty chemicals and smoke-belching machines, but luckily there are alternatives. Read on to learn about some innovative products to keep your lawn beautiful and healthy, while keeping the environment healthy too.

Green Roofs – Efficient Design Starts At The Top

vancouver olympic village green roof

Green roofs have seen a surge in popularity recently as sustainable building designs become more mainstream. Soil and plantings on a building’s rooftop can help manage water runoff, improve air quality, and reduce energy use by moderating indoor temperatures. They can also prolong the life of a building’s roof by protecting it from the wear… [Continue Reading]

The Rainwater Pillow – Rain Barrel Meets Cistern

The Rainwater Pillow

Utilizing rainwater runoff is a double bonus for homeowners, both in environmental and financial terms.  It reduces the amount of water consumed from the municipal system, and it lessens the strain on wastewater treatment facilities that must process water after it flows down the drain.  A rain barrel is great for small-scale applications like a… [Continue Reading]

Best Backyard Compost Tumblers

Best Backyard Compost Tumblers

Composting is a great way to reduce the amount of waste your household generates, plus there’s the added benefit of free fertilizer for your yard or garden. There are some nifty options for indoor composting on the market, but to do it on a larger scale you need to move outdoors. Here are four of… [Continue Reading]

Updates From The MetaEfficient Kitchen Labs

csa-vegetables

This summer I’ve been working on food-related optimization projects, here are some updates: I now have subscriptions with two local farmers (through a CSA or Community Support Agriculture). One farmer provides me with raw milk, raw butter and eggs, the other farmer provides vegetables and fruit. They both happen to deliver to same street in my neighborhood,… [Continue Reading]

Incredible Vegetables from Self-Watering Containers

Self-watering container gardens are an efficient method of growing. You can go on vacation and not have to worry that your tomatoes will be wilted when you get back. Ed Smith, the author of Incredible Vegetables from Self-Watering Containers, became fascinated with the possibilities of self-watering containers and began testing dozens of vegetables in various… [Continue Reading]