Efficient things
Efficient things
Growing microgreens is a metaefficient way to have attractive, flavorful greens available for salads and garnishes. Top class restaurants use freshly cut microgreens to liven up their dishes. Microgreens are tiny plants, no more than 8 to 14 days old.
MetaEfficient: Microgreens Read More »
People often think of using solar energy for producing electricity, but it is actually easier to harness the power of the sun to heat your home. It’s free heat that has been utilized since ancient times but few modern architects or builders really understand the principles involved. The Solar House, by Dan Chiras, explains architectural
The Solar House: Free Heating Read More »
In the growing world, it doesn’t get much easier than sprouting. It’s a easy way to grow fresh ingredients for your sandwich or stir fry. It takes only about 6 to 7 days for sprouts to grow. People often assume sprouts are best grown in jars. But jars were never designed for sprouting. According to
Efficient Sprouting: The Sprout Bag Read More »
If you are going to be doing any kind of cutting in a kitchen, it is definitely worthwhile to invest in a quality chef’s knife. Experts say you don’t necessarily need to buy a lot of knives — a single quality chef’s knife can handle most cutting tasks. It’s generally agreed that the best knives
Top Rated Chef’s Knives Read More »
Originally, jeans were dyed with the color of the actual indigo plant. Today, natural indigo jeans can’t be considered metaefficient because they are expensive and only available as a kind of designer jean. Notwithstanding this, people admire these jeans because of their distinctive, deeply hued appearance. The story behind them is interesting too. There are
Natural Indigo Jeans: Metaefficient? Read More »
Many people are reluctant to plant bamboo because they are afraid it will spread like wildfire and have the entire neighborhood up in arms against them. But there’s a simple solution to this problem — plant the right kind of bamboo — the “clumping” kind. The invasive kind is the “running” bamboo which probably should
Clumping Bamboos: The Ones To Grow Read More »
Composting toilets can be a practical solution even for large businesses. We recently visited the Philip Merrill Environment Center, which is the headquarters for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. It has a Platinum rating for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) from the U.S. Green Building Council. After taking a tour of their offices (about
Composting Toilets: Large Scale Systems Read More »
The people in the photo above are walking through the coils of a “Living Machine” in Emmen Zoo, Netherlands. It is a machine that filters and cleans 260,000 gallons of wastewater per day using nothing but plants. The water that comes out is drinkable.
Sewage In, Clean Water Out: “Living Machines” Read More »
What is Biodiesel? Biodiesel is a vegetable oil-based fuel that runs in diesel engines — cars, buses, trucks, construction equipment, boats, generators, and oil home heating units. It’s usually made from soy or canola oil, and can also be made from recycled fryer oil. You can blend it with regular diesel or run 100% biodiesel.
This is the perfect paint for people who love the dappled, richly textured look of old plaster but find themselves surrounded instead by flat drywall. It is sold as a powder, made according to a recipe that’s been around since the time of the ancient Egyptians. As you need it, you mix it with water
Milk (Casein) Paint Read More »