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Letter to the editor

If it's important, write it down

By Times Staff, Wires
Published October 27, 2007

Professional organizer Heather Lambie of St. Petersburg writes a blog called "The Pile High Club" (www.findingwhitespace.com). She offers this tip: We all know we should compile a notebook for hurricane season with key household information: contact information for family, doctors, caregivers, etc.; important paperwork, legal information, insurance documents. She points out that this is an invaluable resource even when hurricanes aren't threatening. If parents are hospitalized, for example, a caregiver who steps in to be with the children might be glad to know how to contact the pediatrician, what the kids are allergic to, how to reach the grandparents, and who's your plumber or vet. Get busy. And then tell a couple of people where to find that notebook.

Get a charge out of this green device

The HYmini is a portable, wind- and solar-powered recharger for cameras, cell phones, MP3 players, PDAs and other 5-volt devices. Charge things while you're sitting at a sunny sidewalk cafe or riding your bike. Sounds handy any time of year, but when the power's out for any length of time and your cell phone or iPod is fading, you might be glad to have one of these miniature green power stations. The base unit is $50; with an accessories package, $80. Details: www.HYmini.com.

It's home show time

Florida's Largest Fall Home Show is Friday through Nov. 4 at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 US 301 N, Tampa. Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Nov. 3, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 4. Tickets: adults, $8; seniors (55 and older), $7; children under 12 with adult, free. More than 950 vendors will display green products, hurricane items, electronics, appliances, remodeling, decorating, landscaping. Details: www.bighomeshow.com.

Blame the house, not the car

A majority of Americans incorrectly believe that road transportation is the largest energy-consumer and the biggest source of greenhouse gases. Actually, American homes are the biggest energy consumer in the world. Residential and commercial buildings are responsible for 48 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. The survey was conducted for Johns Manville, the building-materials manufacturer. "A typical house releases almost twice as much carbon dioxide annually as a typical car," said Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy. "When you consider the energy needed for heating, cooling, lighting and appliances, it becomes apparent that today's homes can be real 'energy guzzlers.' "

[Last modified October 26, 2007, 12:17:54]