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How To: Be wary of vampire voltage

Vampire voltage may sound like the next Sci-Fi channel original movie, but it's not. It's something that lives in your very home and can be affecting your energy bill even as you read this. Basically vampire voltage is an appliance that is using electricty although it's not being used. Computers, microwaves, blu-ray disk players, etc are examples of vampires.

How To: Save energy by installing a solar water heater

Saving energy in your home is as easy as pie. There are many areas of the home that you can tackle. One area that can be helpful is the water heater. There are a couple of water heaters that you can use to not only save energy but money. One way is by using an active or passive solar water heating system.

How To: Use a humidifier during winter

It may not sound like an obvious solution, but using a humidifier during the cold winter months, can actually be more efficient and make your home more comfortable. Having low humidity levels inside your home cause several things to occur, but one being the use of your furnace. This can raise prices and cause you to waste more energy.

How To: Install insulation for a water heater

There are many ways that you can lose energy and heat in your home, and one of the most common ways is by the water heater. It may not seem like it, but you can lose a lot of money and energy when using your water heater. So it's important to take the necessary steps when you want to save energy and money. In this tutorial, you'll find out how to install an insulation jacket for your electric or gas water heater. Good luck, be safe, and enjoy!

How To: Make your home more energy efficient

Saving money is the name of the game during any rough financial period. There are many ways to do so, but one of the most obvious ways is by doing it in your home. Being energy efficient is a great way to not only save some green, but be green as well. So in this tutorial, you'll learn a few tips on how to make your home more energy efficient. Enjoy!

How To: Recycle an aluminum can into an indoor mini planter

This video shows how to make a eco friendly plant holder. The first thing you do is trace a fabric around the tin can this is to give it a better look. Then stamp the letters on the fabric of what you want to name your plant. After that poke about ten holes at the bottom of the can. Then glue the back of the fabric to place it on the can. Now wrap the fabric around the can on the sticky side. Lastly tie twine around the can for extra protection to hold up the fabric. Then put in the plants an...

How To: Recycle a milk carton into a tabletop lantern

In this video tutorial, viewers will learn how to make a milk carton lantern. This lantern uses recycled items. The materials required for this lamp are: a milk carton, unryu paper, colored newspaper, raffia, ruler, glue gun, hole puncher, X-acto knife, glue stick and scissors. Flatten the milk carton. Draw a rectangle with each panel and measure about 1/2" form each of the sides. Measure about 3/4" from bottom and top. Cut out the rectangles with the X-acto knife. Glue the newspaper to the c...

How To: Make compost for your herb garden at home

Compost is a very important part of your garden. In order to create the compost you need five very important ingredients: air, water, heat, nitrogen and carbon. You can introduce air circulation by crossing branches. Water your pile so it does not dry out, but you do not want to water it too much so that it gets mushy. your compost pile has to be warm in order for it to compost. You can get nitrogen by using green things from your garden like weeds and grass, and you can get carbon by using h...

How To: Build a compost pile for dummies

The video starts out with the narrator explaining the benefits and uses of a compost pile. He then begins to demonstrate the steps to start a compost pile. He lists the ingredients and demonstrates how to mix it up with a pitchfork and shovel. He advises to put brown organic matter such as wood chips, leaves, sawdust, etc. as the first layer in the pile. Then add a layer of green organic matter such as grass clippings. A layer of kitchen scraps or manure can be added. He then shows how and wh...

How To: Make a dog waste composter

This instructional video demonstrates how to make a doggy doo doo composter. Use a septic enzyme to break things down faster. Add leaves and brush to keep it from smelling. You should not use this soil on your garden, but it is an eco-friendly way of getting rid of dog waste.

How To: Reduce water and energy while doing laundry

Here are a few simple solutions to help you save money and reduce your water and energy consumption. By washing your clothes in cold water you can save ninety percent of the energy normally expended in doing a load of laundry. If you do laundry before 9am or after 9pm you can allow energy companies to utilize more efficient renewable energy.

How To: Make homemade bio-diesel fuel

Watch this how to video and learn the process of making biodiesel fuel using inexpensive ingredients. Proceed with caution when making bio-diesel fuel. This process can be dangerous. You can use bio-diesel fuel in any modern diesel powered car.

How To: Conserve water in your home

Australian native Scott's biggest concern is water conservation. By overhauling his bathroom, hot water, heater and backyard, Scott saves $360 a year on water costs. Learn how you can save money and conserve water by renovating your plumbing with this how to video.

How To: Make papercrete

RyanIsHungry has put together a nice video of Mikey Sklar and Wendy Tremayne making papercrete at their future hotel Green Acre in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. This is an eco-friendly construction compound made from garbage. This is an insulation compound. It's kind of like industrial grade paper mache.

How To: Install a dual flush toilet kit

In this tutorial, we learn how to install a dual flush toilet kit. First, grab the directions from the box that the toilet came in and read them! After this, you will take the lid off the tank of the toilet. Then, install the flusher into the tank of the toilet after removing the flapper and the chain. Continue to install the kit according to the directions and secure it inside the tank. When finished, place the top of the toilet back on the tank and then turn the water back on. Test this out...

How To: Make a homemade compost tumbler

In this tutorial, we learn how to make a homemade compost tumbler. Find a large barrel and mount it on a wood frame. You can use recycled materials, like an old pickle barrel if you can find one. There should be an axle in the middle of the wooden posts that runs through the tumbler as well. There should be a pipe in the middle bottom of the barrel to run air through, that will exit through the top where the handles are at. The aeration system will help your compost work properly, so you can ...

How To: Recycle an old can to make a candle votive

This is a video tutorial in the Home & Garden category where you are going to learn how to recycle an old can to make a candle votive. Take an old can and cut it vertically along the side without cutting off the edges. Now cut along the top and bottom edges starting at the vertical cut and going outwards on each side. Cut up to about half of the circumference of the can. Now pull out the cut halves and you have the basic stand for the votive candle. Now you got to straighten out the jagged ed...

How To: Recycle plastic bottles and make a decorative mobile

In this video we learn how to recycle plastic bottles and make a decorative mobile. Start off by cutting the strips off of the water bottle then pinning them down to a table. After this, you will start to cross each of these with another piece to make a checkered effect. Nail them down on the sides as well to make it stick to where you want it. When finished, you will remove the nails and then place in a needle with beads and shells attached to it on each of the holes. Once you are finished w...

How To: Recycle cans to make garden decor

In this tutorial, we learn how to recycle cans to make garden decor. First, use small scissors to poke a hole in the top of the can, then cur around the top of it until you have removed the mouth. After this, cut a rigid design in the top of the can and then cut five slits going down on all the sides. Push these down, then cut the sides of them so they are slightly rounded. From here, you will attach these to another can that has been spread out with tons of different slits. Place this on a r...

How To: Recycle milk bottles to make decorative flowers

With this video, we learn how to recycle milk bottles to make decorative flowers. First, mark eight coupled marks on four sides of the bottom of the bottom. Then, poke holes into them and cut into them with sharp scissors. From here, you will continue to do this all the way around the bottom of the bottle until you have created petals. Then, cut above these to make long oval types of shapes and then spread the petals out on the bottom and on the top. Pull the longer petals into the open areas...

How To: Make a small windmill from a permanent magnet motor

In this video, we learn how to make a small windmill from a permanent magnet motor. You will need: a motor, a rotor, and a stand to make this. First, you need to find a motor that has permanent magnets on it, like one from a printer. Then, grab a windmill like one from the garden and make a stand by combining three pieces of wood. Then, heat up the side of the motor and connect it to the middle of the windmill so that it spins around. After this, you will connect it to the stand with a fiberg...

How To: Begin composting

In this tutorial, we learn how to begin composting. When you compost, you have a lot of choices of where you want to compost. You can do it inside of a metal bin, in a small tumble type of container, or a wood cedar box. If you are doing a lot of composting, use a large composting bin that you will turn with a shovel. It's important to get oxygen into the pile to keep the bacteria growing. You can use compost accelerator to help get things going and make it more successful. You can compost co...