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1500 questions
4
votes
1 answer
Solar Install Flat Roof
I want to install 23 305w panels on my roof. It's a flat roof constructed with 2x8 beams spaced at 24". There is no snow load to consider and we get occasional wind and rain storms a few times per year.
Is this structure sufficient to support a…
acpilot
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4
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7 answers
Sustainable Alternative to Aluminium Foil?
As someone who uses a ton of aluminium foil (almost daily) for use in my oven as a protective/convenient layer, (and who didn't know that foil was bad for recycling...) what can I use as an alternative that is better for the environment?
If…
Onyz
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4
votes
2 answers
How far is too far to drive to a recycling centre?
Where we live the council collects recycling, however the quantity you can recycle each fortnight is sadly limited. When I get big cardboard boxes I keep them in the garage until I have. a pretty sizeable pile which I can take to recycle. However,…
ColinE
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4
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1 answer
How bad are incense sticks for environment?
Belonging to a country where incense sticks are used extensively, I wonder how bad are they, althought it is said they are good for air. But at moment, it seems highly misleading to me.
What are the health issues related to regular inhaling of the…
Chirag Mehta
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4
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2 answers
CO2 track of staying in huts which are supplied by helicopter
How much CO2 do we produce by sleeping on average in a hut (including breakfast and dinner)in high-altitude > 3000 m)? Let's assume that the hut offers 50 beds and that a helicopter has to supply the hut every 2/3 weeks. How much is it compared to a…
cerv21
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4
votes
1 answer
When is cleaning recyclables less sustainable than throwing them away?
I live in the middle of the US, our tap water comes from the local river, and our sewer goes back to the local river. Communities up and down the river get their water and return their waste to the same river.
A considerable amount of energy goes…
James Jenkins
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4
votes
2 answers
Should I use a plastic trash bag for my recycling bin at home or not?
I want to have a recycling bin at home in addition to a trash bin.
Should I line my recycling bin with a trash bag and bag it up when it's full to toss in the dumpster's recycling bin? Or should I not line it with a bag and just dump my entire bin…
Pvo
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4
votes
3 answers
Is there a website that lists the environmental impact and/or carbon footprint of many products and practices?
Perhaps a Q&A website like Sustainable Living?
user1199
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4
votes
3 answers
How to reduce energy usage of a window air conditioner?
In the summer, we use a window air conditioner in our bedroom to be able to sleep comfortably at night. It takes a while to cool, and I know it uses quite a bit of energy. Here are a few steps we take to reduce total energy usage:
Set the mode to…
LShaver
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4
votes
2 answers
What is the most sustainable option for writing in the classroom?
I teach in a kindergarten classroom. I would like to know what is the most sustainable out of:
paper (starting new, and then as the year goes on, reclaimed/reused as possible
paper inside of either lamination or page protectors so they can be…
Katie DiCarlo
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4
votes
1 answer
What is the energy payback time of portable solar panels, in hours?
I'm interested in knowing the typical energy pay-back time of a solar photovoltaic panel, in terms of hours operating under an ideal scenario.
Energy pay-back time (EPBT) is usually quoted in terms of years, and often discussed in the context of…
Nic
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4
votes
1 answer
Plastic incineration vs discarding considerations
Firstly, let me say, I am not pro-either. I just hear about people trying to save the environment (and putting an end to bad municipal 'dump site' behaviour) by rather burning their trash. This is especially true for plastics.
While I try to avoid…
Marlon van der Linde
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4
votes
1 answer
Is there a difference between DC \ PV cable and AC cable?
I have now seen a few DIY tutorial videos (not in english) which suggest that one should use DC cable for connecting Solar Panels to the Inverter. They claim that AC cable causes a greater voltage drop, and that the identifying mark of DC cable is…
Hash
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4
votes
1 answer
In the UK, is it ok to recycle plastic food packaging along with carrier bags?
I live in the UK and do most of my groceries shopping online. At the same time I collect my order I can also hand back to the driver all carrier bags from my previous order (which is great).
Some items like cereals, clearly indicate that the plastic…
customcommander
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4
votes
2 answers
Is it possible to make homemade bone meal?
Like many people, we eat some meat, and the resulting bones need to be dealt with after the hens have finished cleaning them or they have been used for stock. I have been burying some bones but am running out of suitable spots! Is it possible for me…
honey8un
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