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1500 questions
16
votes
1 answer
What factors should I consider when deciding if cob construction is appropriate?
So I've read quite a bit about cob construction and even after this kind of research, I don't feel equipped to answer this question. What climates or locations make cob a good or bad idea?
One aspect along these lines with which I am comfortable…
clweeks
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16
votes
3 answers
How can I manage a ton-per-month worm composting?
I already have a composting bin in my kitchen, and I'd like to upscale it to my whole building, which has 32 apartments. This is about a hundred people.
I've explained why and how to my neighbors and got a favorable vote so now I can use the common…
Gabriel
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16
votes
5 answers
Is it practical to use an infrared space heater along with a heat pump system?
We live in a house that has a heat pump system, for AC and heat, with a second-stage heating coil for aux/emergency heat. It frequently gets down to below 30 degrees in our climate, at which point the heat pump is essentially ineffective and the…
trpt4him
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16
votes
1 answer
Can carbon fibre be recycled?
Over time the range of products using carbon fibre appears to be increasing. Carbon by itself is probably quite environmentally friendly, but manufacturing of carbon fibre is probably quite expensive so it may be worth recycling if possible.
What…
Highly Irregular
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15
votes
1 answer
How do I estimate my personal ecological footprint?
In 2000, I was introduced to the concept of the ecological footprint, and for the first time I realised how fundamentally unsustainable my lifestyle was. An environmental group had a small questionnaire in their magazine that could be used to…
gerrit
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15
votes
2 answers
Which gases increase the greenhouse effect more than carbon dioxide?
Everywhere can be read that carbon dioxide increases greenhouse effect. But there are other gases having worse effect than carbon dioxide, e.g. methane. Is carbon dioxide emission the real threat, or can we fight more effectively against global…
Donato Szilagyi
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15
votes
3 answers
What's an effective design for sending sink water to a toilet tank?
This answer to a question about a toilet/sink combo makes me wonder:
What design considerations need to be taken into account if I was to modify my existing sink & toilet so that the sink waste water supplies the toilet tank?
I'm specifically…
bstpierre
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15
votes
1 answer
Is it ok to recycle glass bottles and jars with paper stickers on them?
It's kind of hard to remove paper labels glued onto glass bottles and jars, especially if you have a lot of them.
Does leaving them on cause a problem in recycling the glass?
Does it require a lot of energy to purify the glass if the bottles have…
Nelu
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15
votes
2 answers
Switching to Toilet/Sink Combo
As part of my ongoing downsizing, my new house's bathroom will be smaller, so I'm looking at installing a toilet/sink combo to
save space,
reduce construction costs by making the bathroom as small as possible†, and
reduce my water usage
What did…
BryanH
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15
votes
4 answers
Is burning wood the same as letting it biodegrade from a CO2 emissions perspective?
I always thought, that burning wood, would be bad for the total CO2 in the atmosphere until I heard it being pitched as "renewable energy". Now I am slightly unsure.
The logic goes like this:
Wood has X amount of CO2 in it, which is released when…
user1721135
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15
votes
2 answers
Home delivery versus going to stores: how does fuel usage for transport compare? Any studies available?
We see more and more trucks riding through our streets delivering individual items. This hardly looks sustainable.
I wonder how the transport footprint compares with the 'old' delivery model of goods being shipped to stores and bought by customers…
user2451
15
votes
1 answer
Does transporting plastic offset the benefits of recycling it?
Apparently China has been processing about half the world's waste until this year, and most of that waste is transported over the ocean in large container ships. Recycling plastic uses less energy and fossil fuels than producing virgin plastic, so…
Nic
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15
votes
1 answer
What is BioChar and can I use it to improve my garden?
A 2010 NYT article using BioChar to sequester carbon and improve soil quality.
What is BioChar? Is it possible to use it in a small scale to improve my garden? How do I figure out the best amount to use? If a home garden is too small scale to have…
user141
15
votes
2 answers
Ants and Compost
My community compost pile is now home to a very active ant's nest. As soon as any food goes on the pile, the ants are swarming over it.
Is it anything to worry about, or are the ants a healthy part of the system?
Laizer
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15
votes
2 answers
Should I replace existing inefficient light bulbs?
Similar to this question (except that's about cars), if I can buy more efficient light bulbs than the ones I'm using right now, should I? Or is it better to wait until my current light bulbs expire, based on the environmental cost of creating new…
Alex Hall
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