Vegan Builders: Energy Saving Home Improvements

Post by AVN Member, Dave

Many homeowners are looking for quick and easy green home improvements. Whether you want to make these improvements for the sake of going green or you want to make a few improvements before placing a home on the market, that will make it more competitive with new homes, there are plenty of options.

Joining the green revolution will make your home comfortable and less costly to heat and cool. Many of these improvements will also make your home more comparable to newer homes on the market. Make a record of your utility bills for the last year, then look for the savings on your future heating, cooling, and water costs.

Seven quick, easy, economical and green home improvements:

1. Switch to energy efficient light bulbs
Compact fluorescent bulbs cost a bit more when you buy them, but they will last years longer and use only a fraction of the energy that a regular light bulb uses. Start with the lights you tend to use for the longest period of time; like in the kitchen or bathroom. If you are planning to put your home on the market, you might want to start with bulbs in permanent light fixtures.

2. Install insulating/reflective window coverings
Film window coverings are available in several levels of light and UV ray blockage and colors. You can also choose different textures depending on the amount of direct sunlight in various windows. The window film is available in most hardware and home improvement stores, and it is easy to install.

3. Install weather stripping on doors and window frames
Weather stripping is relatively inexpensive and it is easy to install on door and window frames. It will reduce the amount of heat exchange by sealing up the cracks or openings. This will make your home more comfortable, more energy efficient, and more environmentally friendly.

4. Install low flow shower heads and faucets
Most homeowners can install new shower heads and faucets or can hire an inexpensive freelance handyman to do it. These faucets and shower heads use less water without blocking adequate water flow. They will save water and reduce your water and sewer bills.

5. Adjust the float in the toilet tank to use less water
This is a fairly simple adjustment that can be accomplished by most homewoners or an inexpensive freelance handyman. If you can't adjust it, try putting something in the bottom of the tank that will displace some of the water; like a container of rocks. Just be sure that what you use won't rust and won't get in the way of the the flushing mechanism.

6. Insulate the hot water distribution pipes
This is also relatively inexpensive and easy. Simply wrap the pipes that go from the hot water heat to the various plumbing fixtures (kitchens, bathrooms). Keeping the water warmer as it moves through the pipes will reduce the amount of water you have to run from a faucet while you wait for the water to warm up.

7. Install insulating or reflective window treatments
Install reflective blinds or shades on your windows. Then be sure to close them at times when the sun shines on them directly or during the warmest part of the day. This will reduce your heating and cooling bills.

Try these seven steps to make some quick and easy green home improvements. The money that you will save on utility bills will very quickly make up for the cost of making these adjustments.

Events: ThanksLiving

Post by AVN Member, Kristin

Yes, you read it right, I did in fact replace the G with an L! Coined by Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, their ThanksLiving 2008 event (this year being the third one) gave me and a few other Albany VegNetwork (AVN) members the opportunity to spend a harmonious (and bundled-up) afternoon with like-minded, animal loving, vegetarians and vegans to celebrate the LIFE of the animal that receives the most attention during this time of the year - the turkey.

Hundreds of compassionate people came together to visit the Farm's beloved critters, participate in a bountiful raffle and silent auction, scarf down sensational vegan eats, meet and listen to some of the most influential people in the animal welfare movement, and enjoy the rhythmic tunes of "Echo."

The Farm began bustling around noon and quickly filled with people anxious to snuggle up to the friendly cows, chickens, goats, sheep, pigs and turkeys - who seemed just as excited to see us as we were to see them. I was looking forward to seeing Dylan in particular, a veal calf my parents rescued a few years ago from a dairy farm. 

Some Goodies and the Food

After making new farm friends we jumped in line to drop our raffle tickets into the various bins for a chance to win any of the amazing prizes - some of which included lotion gift baskets, cook books, shopping spree gift certificates, jewelry, hand bags, and much more. If the 1.5 hour trip from Albany to Woodstock left any of us looking for something to snack on before the main meal, problem solved! Event volunteers walked around armed with plates full of scrumptious, vegan hors d'oeuvres including black-eyed pea cakes with chipotle aioli, stuffed mushrooms with heart of palm, wild truffle tart with white truffle oil, Dr. Cow tree nut cheese on crisp baguette with tapenade, and mini meatballs with mustard caper sauce. Can anyone say YUM!?

Following the raffle we sat down to hearty vegan-filled plates of goodness which were made up of Celebration Roasts smothered in mushroom brown rice gravy,grilled island yams, savory vegan stuffing, herbed roasted seasonal vegetables, winter kale salad, wild rice salad, cranberry sauce, sumptuous sweet potato biscuits, and herbed foccacia. If that wasn't enough, there also was pumpkin spice cheesecake and chocolate peanut butter mousse layer cake encased in Belgian chocolate, for dessert. With a ridiculously satisfied stomach, I couldn't help but remember a comment that a non-veg friend of mine once made: "Being vegan, do you ever actually feel full?" How I wish she could have been with me on this day!

The Speakers

Now that we were all settled, full and warm we enjoyed the comedic intermediary likings of Dan Piraro. He certainly kept things rolling with raffle winner announcements, hilarious speaker introductions and of course, his clever, no-nonsense quips to keep us all on our toes and laughing.

The Director and subject of the documentary Crazy Sexy Cancer, Kris Carr (best-selling author, filmmaker and inspirational speaker) shared her experience with cancer and how a plant-based diet has changed her life. "Kris has been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Access Hollywood and The Oprah Winfrey Show. In 2008 Kris and her husband Brian Fassett founded Crazy Sexy Wellness, a company dedicated to supporting individuals on the interconnected journey to personal and planetary health" (ThanksLiving 2008, program).

Next in line: Rory Freedman, animal rights activist and co-author of Skinny Bitch - #1 NY Times bestseller. Rory gave insight into why she chose a vegan lifestyle and how that relates to her love and compassion for all animals. She has a newly released book entitled Skinny Bitch in the Kitch and was named "Person of the Year" by VegNews Magazine. 

Pictured from left: Michelle (AVN Volunteer), Rory Freedman, Kris Carr, & Dawn (AVN Member)

Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary's co-founder, Jenny Brown closed with many thanks and appreciation for those who attended, donated gifts and food for the event, and reminded us how important we all are to the survival of the Farm. Jenny co-founded the Farm with her husband Doug Abel in 2004 and they have never looked back. In the event's brochure, Jenny and Doug provided a beautiful re-cap of the animal-related victories of 2008 - including the hopeful opportunities with President-elect Barack Obama, the passage of Prop 2 in California, the end of greyhound racing in Massachusetts, three major book publications (Farm Sanctuary, Thanking the Monkey, and Skinny Bitch), HSUS' downed farm animals undercover video, Ellen Degeneres' vegan 'outing,' Oprah's "widely publicized 21 day vegan diet," several New York Times articles on factory farming and Heather Mills philanthropic efforts. 2008 has truly been an amazing year!

The Band and More Goodies

But wait, there's more! Feeling well informed and motivated for 2009, we all enjoyed the music stylings of Joy Askew and her band "Echo," as we readied ourselves for the trip back home. Joy and her group (Kirsti Gholson, Amanda Homi, Kevin Bartlett and Bruce Milner) performed beautiful and ethically inspired tunes that kept many people hanging around until the bitty end. Joy is vegan and a farm animal activist, as well as a teacher of Humane Education in NYC public schools. 

On our way out the door every attendee was given a goody bag chock full of amazing vegan treats, coupons, books, the latest issue of VegNews Magazine, many veg resources, and much more!

There is nothing quite like spending an afternoon with hundreds of people, under one [tent] roof, who truly understand what it means to be compassionate, all while enjoying the company of some of the most inspirational people in the movement, paired with amazing vegan food and goodies - and for the sake of the most important guests of honor - our feathery turkey friends.

For the Turkeys

During this time of thanks please don't forget about the millions of helpless turkeys that will be sacrificed in the name of holiday tradition. One person can make a difference and one of the most important decisions that we make everyday takes place when we sit down to eat. 

Pictured from left: AVN Members - Jim, Olga, baby Nicholas, Dave, Kristin, Jan, Dawn, Mary, and Richard