Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) - Portion Control

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)!

Wondering how to live greener? You've come to the right place. Each week we challenge ourselves to try a new task ... or "amp up" something we're already doing. We raise our awareness, learn from each other and develop Eco-friendly skills which will improve our lives and protect our planet. Doing so together gives us power ... the power to Change The World!

If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far.

This post contains great information and I encourage you to read through it at your leisure ... however, if you are short on time, you might find the following quick links helpful:

• The #CTWW Gang
• The Honor Society
• My Final Thoughts on Our Last Challenge
• This Week's Challenge

Last week we adjusted our thermostats by 1-2 degrees. In my area of "the woods" it was cold so turning the temperature down was, indeed, a challenge. To meet it, we put on extra layers of clothing and closed off all but the living area of our home. In the evening, we cuddled up under blankets. I also found that eating certain foods helped keep us warm. Indian food, with its use of spices like cumin, ginger, cinnamon, etc., actually seemed to raise our body temperature. It was an interesting week and hopefully we all learned some new strategies for staying warm (or cool) without the use of extra energy.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing an article about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments.

Lois has some unusual health issues which make her more susceptible to hypothermia. Ever the "green" trouper, though, she has taken preventative measures which don't impact the environment. Find out how she deals with cold weather in Change the World Wednesday, Baby it’s Cold.

Mrs. Green, a Super Star in the green world, refused the challenge. Oh my!! Didn't she agree with reducing energy use? Didn't she want to join us and help the planet? Couldn't she turn down the heat??? All will be answered in Six ways to keep warm without turning up the thermostat.

From our challenge on GMO foods, Mrs. Green did some research about policies in the UK. In UK laws regarding GM foods and labeling she talks about what's allowed, what isn't, importing foods, and labeling. Her research points out just how pervasive genetically modified ingredients are in the world.

CelloMom brought up an excellent point about adjusting the heat and health. She says, "Alas! CelloDad has a cold this week, and is shivering even layered in wool plus one outdoor jacket; I don't have the heart to turn down the thermostat below 60F right now: I'll do this challenge later, when he's better. Even so, our house is the only one of its kind on the street that still has the snow cover intact on the roof: Either our attic insulation is great (which I know it's not), or we keep it cool enough inside that the heat rising through the attic is not enough to melt the rooftop snow. This means we have an extra layer of insulation for the cold nights. But I have resorted to my last line of defense: the angora-merino blend base layers. I sing the praises of itchless warm washable wool here: http://www.cellomomcars.com/2013/01/mom-in-sheeps-clothing.html"

While we, in the US, are shivering and wishing for a sign of spring, Argentum Vulgaris is celebrating the first guava on his tree. He shares a picture of his treasure in Change the World Wednesday – 29th Jan and talks about how he stays comfortable without a thermostat.

Alicia accepted the challenge and shares this, " We have been having really cold weather here in Tennessee, the third coldest on record. We had turned the thermostat up a few degrees to be warmer.We make a real effort in the Fall to get the house ready for the Winter months and think we do a pretty good job. Well with all of the gusty winds we had a few weeks ago we realized that their were quite a few places in our home that cold air was coming in. We got to work immediately to fix these areas. Oh what a difference it made!! We were able to turn the thermostat down even more than we had turned it up! Also a few years ago I bought us a twin size insulated comforter for us to use when we are watching television. It keeps us so warm and that helps us be able to keep the house cooler in the Winter. Our house is two stories and we are not using one of the extra bedrooms or the bonus room right now so we closed the vents and the doors to these rooms and that has helped make a big difference also. I am so looking forward to Spring and warmer weather!" By the way, if you haven't visited Alicia's blog lately, hop over and check it out ... she's sharing a bunch of recipes this year ... yummy recipes.

James Paulson dropped by and says, "The Second Polar Vortex has just passed by us here in Chicago and I'm learning that turning down the thermostat to at least 60 while at work is excellent at keeping the heating bill in check!"

Melanie G. accepted the challenge and shares this, "Great challenge! During the daytime in the winter our thermostat is set at 65F, and 67F at night. If we get cold we cuddle under blankets or put on a hoodie. It saves energy & our electric bill! In addition, my husband has done a great job of insulating the house, so the heater runs even less."

The Green Verbs Eco Daily gave CTWW a nice mention. I also found articles about upcycled jewelry and green buildings.

CTWW also got a nice mention in Greening it Forward ‘Daily’. One of your articles, from the previous challenge on GMO foods, was picked up as well. Was it yours?

Katie joined the fun and shares this, "Yes! Great challenge and indeed, is a challenge for me. The low thermostat settings during the winter increased to ensure the baby does not get cold. Now that the baby is getting older, I will start to turn the thermostat down during the day and dress the baby in more layers if he's cold. I turned down 1 degree today! As long as the Polar Vortex isn't around, I don't mind turning it down 1-2 degrees."

Our Twitter friends joined the conversation and shared the following:

From @KrmbalClothing
- We've turned down the thermostat twice already, but I've been wanting to do it even lower during the day. #CTWW just reminded me!

From @GiveTreeGifts
- Reduce home heating and electricity use by 10% ow.ly/t4ZDM via @DavidSuzuki @DavidSuzukiFDN #CTWW
- How to Program a Digital Thermostat to Save Money on Utility Bills | Gaiam Life life.gaiam.com/article/how-pr… #CTWW
- 10 Tips for the Thermostat: Your Key to Savings care2.com/greenliving/10… #CTWW

From @rulesofgreen
- Yey! Did this week's #CTWW challenge already in the morning because I was so warm in the apartment. All without even knowing the challenge:)

From @VioletsBuds
- Live greener by adjusting your thermostat reducefootprints.blogspot.com/2014/01/change… #CTWW @smallftprints We leave ours at 65F during the day all winter long

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who tweet our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I recommend following them ... they share great things. Let's meet them:

@2kidsandacoupon	@89linz	@allnaturalkatie
@biculturalmama	@biggreenpen	@bstoneblog
@ciaraballintyne	@collegegogreen	@commplacegr
@como_water	@crazedkitchen	@crazykids6
@dcccd	@dieselelephants	@eco_novice
@ecoexpert1	@ecofriendlyfurn	@elizabethalextv
@gastarbooks	@givetreegifts	@groovygreenlivi
@guayaba	@herbgir1972	@jamiewauthor
@jnjgogreen	@johncbader	@justanotherhat
@kayelleallen	@kirschan	@krmbalclothing
@laalicia	@lady_bren	@leslieveg
@lorcadamon	@mamapoolecooks	@marjoriemcatee
@momfindsout	@myzerowaste	@mzazeela
@ourfavadventure	@pinkladyapril	@rckweddings
@realityarts	@rulesofgreen	@sayhaytomeg
@shannongrissom	@treesgroup	@violetsbuds
@wencdj	@whopaysthepiper	@zenfarmz

My Final Thoughts:

Adjusting our thermostats by 1 or 2 degrees seems easy enough. At the worst, it's a bit inconvenient and we might feel a little uncomfortable. But saving energy has bigger implications. Coal generates electricity for much of the world. You may have seen the news, recently, about the problems Virginia is having. Approximately 300,000 residents have been banned from using water because of contamination via the mining process. Hydroelectric power, another large source of electricity worldwide, appears to be Eco-friendly until we take a look at the amount of greenhouse gases produced by rotting vegetation, in the water, as a result of man-made reservoirs. The CO2 produced by hydroelectric power is roughly equivalent to that of power supplied via fossil fuels. The point is that regardless of where our energy comes from, there is an environmental cost. Reducing our use by a small amount can have a huge impact.

Thanks, everyone! If you wrote an article, I Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share features located below this post.

This Week's Challenge:

We all love our indulgences, right?

But, have you ever been the victim of "your eyes are bigger than your stomach"? Buying and cooking too much food often causes food waste.

Here's your challenge:

This week, monitor food portion sizes and cook accordingly. Even if you are cooking once for more than one meal, pay attention to portions and resist cooking more than necessary, which often leads to waste. Need help determining portion size? This SITE will give you a general discussion on the topic with some clever ideas on how to determine a proper portion. The CALORIE COUNTER is a search tool. Type in the food you want to make and it'll bring up calories associated with various servings sizes ... the first listing is typically considered a proper serving. The idea, here, is not to restrict calories or in any way "diet". Instead, we are educating ourselves on portion sizes and then cooking just enough so that we eliminate food waste.

Are you up for this challenge? I know that you are!

Sneak Peek: Tomorrow I'm reviewing an Eco-friendly body care product ... if you're lucky, you might win some for yourself.

Until then ...

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!

Vegan Enchilada Recipe

I recently discovered a terrific site, Recipe-To-Make.com, Recipes To Make Delicious Food.

But wait, let me back up ...

I love trying foods from different countries. There are unique flavor combinations to intrigue my taste buds and ingredients which I might not otherwise try out. I also believe that experiencing foods from around the world helps give us an appreciation for other cultures.

So back to my recent discovery, Recipe-To-Make.com, Recipes To Make Delicious Food.

This site is very simple in design. The main page lists thumbnails of delicious dishes from around the world. The countries are in alphabetical order which makes it easy to browse. The left sidebar shows how many recipes are featured for each country. I found recipes from Brazil, France, and Vietnam.

If you'd rather just look at collections of recipes, like sandwiches or pies, you'll find those categories in the left sidebar as well.

Quite a few of the recipes are vegetarian/vegan. All of them look fabulous!

The kind owner of Recipe-To-Make.com, Recipes To Make Delicious Food has generously agreed to allow me to republish a recipe for you. I hope you enjoy it!

Vegan Enchilada Recipe

Corn tortillas stuffed with a vegan filling

Vegan Enchilada Recipe Ingredients:

1 block firm tofu, drained and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 can black beans, drained and diced
1/2 onion, diced
1 zuchinni, grated
2 carrots, grated
1 can black olives
1 can enchilada sauce
3/4 cup water
10-12 flour tortillas
dairy or vegan cheese crumbles

Vegan Enchilada Recipe Directions:

Add water to enchilada sauce and stir until well combined.

Using a food processor for quickest results, dice the carrots, zucchini, olives and onion. To this mixture add half the enchilada sauce and water mixture, diced tofu and black beans and combine well.

Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of the vegetable, bean and tofu mix into each flour tortilla. Wrap and place in a baking pan.

When the pan is full, spoon half of the leftover enchilada sauce on top of the wrapped flour tortillas - be sure to get all the edges! Sprinkle the top with cheese if desired.

Bake 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees or until done, spooning the rest of the enchilada sauce on top when halfway done cooking.

Find the original recipe HERE.

If you have a vegan recipe which you'd like to share, please contact me HERE. And for all the recipes we've shared so far, be sure to visit our recipe page using the tabs at the top of this blog ... or by clicking HERE.


Sneak Peek: Want to change the world? Join us tomorrow for another thrilling challenge.

Image and recipe courtesy of Recipe-To-Make.com

Posted at Healthy Vegan Fridays

Guest Post - Winter Check-Up for Energy Savings

The middle of winter and the end of a long cold spell tagged a “winter vortex” gives plenty of reminders about the cost of energy and heating in the winter months. It is also an opportunity to do more than begrudgingly pay the bill. It can be a perfect time to do some easy self-checks to save energy both now and in future years. Some of the corrections can be done immediately, and others will require a contractor in the spring, but now is the best time to schedule those jobs as well.

Mid-Winter Inspection for Energy Efficiency

Take advantage of the very cold weather to do your own inspection to find places to reduce energy usage and costs. It will allow you to help the environment as well as your own budget. The cold weather makes easy work of identifying key areas to save.

Windows

While thermal efficiency ratings and e-ratings are the fodder of a sales pitch, one of the best methods to determine the energy efficiency of your current windows is simply using your hand. Run your hand around the trim of your windows holding it an inch or two from the trim on a cold night or morning. You can easily feel any cool air coming in by doing this on a cold day. To make it even more pronounced use a damp hand. If you feel any drafts or cool air around the trim then pulling off the trim and stuffing gaps with loose insulation is an easy fix. Sometimes a little caulking can be used on the narrow gaps. Doing from the inside, you can do this even in the middle of winter for immediate savings.

Check the air temperature an inch or so in front of the glass on the windows. If the air is noticeably cooler near the glass than in the center of room, you will benefit from a better thermally insulated window. If any frost is visible between the panes of glass then the vacuum or gas sealed in between the panes has escaped and you have lost most of the insulating power of the windows. In this case it is time to consider replacement windows. Look for energy star replacement windows as those give easy to read measurements on energy savings and also often qualify for tax incentives when upgrading.

Doors

A similar method can be used to check exterior doors. As well as check around the trim for needed insulation, ensure that gaps around doors are sealed with weather stripping. You can purchase weather stripping in a variety of widths to fill any gap for a tight seal. When you touch the interior of the door, it should be roughly the same temperature as any wall. If the door panel is cooler than an exterior wall, you need a better insulated door or to add a storm door.

Exterior Walls

Check the exterior walls of your home in two ways. First, by simply touching the surface of an interior wall and comparing the warmth of that to the surface of the exterior wall. You should not be able to tell the difference by surface temperature to touch of the interior or exterior walls. If you can feel a difference then the insulation in your walls is deficient. This will require adding cavity wall insulation as one possible solution, or depending on construction and needs, you may want to consider adding an energy efficient siding with exterior insulation.

The other method to simply determine the energy efficiency of exterior walls is to go outside on a cold snowy day and watch to see if snow that hits the side of the house gets wet and melts. If the exterior of your home is warm enough to melt snow away, that heat is coming from inside your house and leaking out.

Roof

If you are in a snowy climate, look at the roof on your home. This is best done a few hours after a new snow. If the snow is rapidly melting off the roof (and it is not due to sunshine) then you are losing too much heat. This is especially easy if you have an unheated garage or outbuilding to compare it to. If the snow is significantly less on your heated areas than unheated nearby rooftops then you need to add additional loft or attic insulation. In many homes this can account for 20% or more of all heat loss. Anytime the temperature outside is below 32f and it is not sunny there should not be dripping eves and icicles forming. In addition to saving a lot of energy, correcting this will help prevent the need for expensive roof repairs due to ice building up under the edges of shingles.

A semi-retired freelance writer and blogger living in the United States, Reuben Dickison holds degrees in Marketing and Public Administration. His career path has included consumer financial management and private business management training and consulting. His passion is promoting an environmentally sound business ethos and planet.

Sneak Peek: Do you love Mexican food? Stay tuned because tomorrow I have a fabulous recipe for you!

Images courtesy of Sira Anamwong, nuttakit, photostock, and Evgeni Dinev / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This post was featured at Healthy, Happy, Green & Natural Party Hop and shared at Small Footprint Friday