Most Popular
1500 questions
8
votes
3 answers
How is sustainability determined for a product or system, and by whom?
I see many questions on this site about the sustainability of various products or practices. I also see that some things which are considered sustainable in one context may be less sustainable when looked at in another – for instance, hybrid…
meetar
- 189
- 4
8
votes
1 answer
What can a smart thermostats and meters tell me about how to reduce my home energy consumption?
I'm considering a smart thermostat for my step-dad as a birthday gift. Here are some characteristics of the home:
3000 sq ft living with two people
climate is arid with highs into the 100s (deg F) in the summer, winter nights dropping as low as 20…
Eric H.
- 1,202
- 1
- 8
- 15
8
votes
1 answer
What is in vermiliquid (worm tea)? Or perhaps more importantly, what is not in vermiliquid?
Worm farming produces vermiliquid (the liquid component) and vermicast (the solid component).
A google search (with the quotes) for "What is in worm tea" or "What is in vermiliquid" returns zero results. Various sites say it has lots of minerals,…
Highly Irregular
- 8,795
- 10
- 38
- 78
8
votes
1 answer
How do you decontaminate land?
How do you decontaminate land that has been contaminated with various toxic materials?
Is it safe to just unearth everything? I live around a lot of contaminated fields and it looks like companies just dig the ground, leave everything in a pile for…
forgetaboutme
- 181
- 4
8
votes
3 answers
Where can I find a comprehensive list of products that can be produced without mining?
According to this article:
Every megaliter of seawater contains about 1300 kg of magnesium, 900
kg of sulfur, 400 kg each of potassium and calcium, and smaller
amounts of virtually every metal on the periodic table of elements.
Sodium also is…
Highly Irregular
- 8,795
- 10
- 38
- 78
8
votes
1 answer
Wood vs. plastic vs. metal furniture and other items, is the wood product generally most environmentally friendly?
Consider a bed or a chair, one made of wood, another of plastic, another of metal. All else being kept similar between the materials to the extent feasible, is the wood product generally the most environmentally friendly?
Each material has a method…
cr0
- 869
- 1
- 5
- 20
8
votes
1 answer
Paper plates vs plastic plates in the landfill
I avoid using disposable plates as much as possible, but there are situations where that's not an option, such as at company events. And in those situations, I'm sometimes faced with deciding between a paper plate and a plastic plate. My guess is…
Josh Withee
- 201
- 1
- 6
8
votes
1 answer
What is the maximum sustainable population of the earth?
This question prompted by discussion regarding this answer to a question about vegetarianism.
I recently came across a U.N. review of studies seeking to determine the earth's maximum sustainable human population: "One Planet, How Many People?
A…
LShaver
- 11,885
- 6
- 30
- 81
8
votes
2 answers
Can mesh produce bags be recycled?
Sometimes produce is packaged in mesh bags, such as the bag of oranges shown below.
What are these bags made of, and can they be recycled? If they cannot be recycled, can we do something else with them other than throwing them in the waste bin?
Nic
- 2,889
- 1
- 24
- 47
8
votes
5 answers
Temperature equalisation throughout the house
We have been living in our home for a number of years now, so have seen several summers and winters, but we are still looking to solve the heating and cooling problems we have.
Heating
The walls and roof of the house are well insulated, and upstairs…
Mark Booth
- 1,652
- 1
- 16
- 31
8
votes
2 answers
Composting bones in a worm bin
I have a composting worm farm and would like a definitive answer, as what I've read so far is confusing.
When adding scraps of dog bones from beef or lamb, or inedible (for small dog breeds) chicken bones, what can I add to maintain the proper…
Jenny Pedersen
- 81
- 1
- 4
8
votes
1 answer
How many times can plastic be recycled?
This answer to another question brought up the point that "recycling" of plastic is often more accurately "downcycling." From Wikipedia:
Downcycling, also referred to as cascading, describes the recycling of waste in cases where the recycled…
LShaver
- 11,885
- 6
- 30
- 81
8
votes
3 answers
Most sustainable way to freshen air?
Looking for some alternatives for air fresheners. I have been looking at various alternatives such as coffee grounds (possibly in a muslin bag), and the like. What works here? I would rather get away from the current mass-produced air freshioners…
Chris Travers
- 7,039
- 20
- 44
8
votes
1 answer
How to attach more sources of energy to your charge controller
Lets say I have an existing solar power system. If I want to add a wind turbine or I get more solar panels, is it as easy as just attaching the new sources of energy to my charge controller (in series or parallel) or is it more involved than…
Jose Martinez
- 183
- 5
8
votes
4 answers
Why should we bother to recycle household waste if it's only a small portion of all waste that is generated?
For the past two months, I have been investing some attention and effort in taking care of setting aside all my dry waste in my room's bin. I wish to separate the recyclable ones and the unrecyclable ones. Dispose the recyclable ones responsibly. I…
Whirl Mind
- 731
- 1
- 5
- 18