Q. It’s Denise here with a question regarding your oil lamps.
Somewhere on your site I saw that you use bio fuel for your lamps. Are these your typical oil lamps? And the bio fuel is used rather than the toxic stuff from the stores? How bright does it burn? I have some olive oil lamps [...]
Q. I came across your website while researching a project I’m working on. I’m currently working as an horticultural intern at Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York City. As part of the internship we’re required to do a project on any horticultural or environmental topic of our choice. My choice is urban homesteading. I’m extremely [...]
Q. Besides replacing your appliances and the solar power, what other ways do you cut electricity?
A. Besides changing over the majority of our appliances and such (computer, tv, fridge, washer) over to Energy Efficient models, we do without all “unnecessary gadgets” such as hair dryers, electric shavers, blender (use a hand crank one), microwave, can [...]
Q. What type of refrigerator did you buy?
A. We purchased a energy efficient Kenmore model from Sears back in 2002. The City of Pasadena offered(s) money back incentives to buy energy star appliances and we got a considerable rebate! I can’t seem to find it now, but a friend of ours posted on [...]
Q. You’ve written a bit about installing a metal roof. Can you explain the benefits?
A. There are many benefits of owning a metal roof. Here are just a few to consider:
Energy Efficient
Metal roofing is on the leading edge of technology with a wide variety of finishes, designs and colors that provide greater energy savings compared [...]
Q. I appreciate the info on your roof saga! What kind of insulation are you doing? I’m thinking about that more and more for my house, since heat loss is undoubtedly one of the biggest expenses for the winter. I’m trying to reduce my footprint, but there are so many things to be done! Baby [...]
Q. So I guess there’s still going to be Teflon in the metal roof?
A. Nope, we choose the lesser of two evils. The metal roof has drinking water safe acrylic coating.
Q. We follow the mellow yellow method too and I try to remember to flush all toilets before bedtime but sometimes I forget and the toilet stains like crazy, especially in the summer (we are a household of 7). I use only natural cleaners and nothing seems to remove the stain from the very bottom [...]
Q. Is the metal roof drinking water safe
A. YES! Our roof is considered “drinking water SAFE” by World Health Organization’s standards. This element was a major factor in what brand we chose.
Q. What brand of Metal Roofing did you choose?
A. We did choose a brand of stone coated metal shakes [there are about 1/2 dozen companies companies that make such products]
We chose this brand because:
» the metal “shakes” are not too “fake Disneyish-looking,”
» has acrylic not Teflon or PVC coating
» ENERGY STAR rated
» contains recycled [...]
