There’s something distinctly satisfying about having a sparkling clean floor. Clearing away dust, grit and grime that’s been tracked in from outdoors leaves your home looking much brighter and smelling great. It’s also crucial if you have babies and toddlers underfoot — little ones are uniquely adept at finding any crumb or speck of dirt that [...]
Whether you are looking to live a greener lifestyle, or simply looking for a way to lower your monthly utility bills, switching to solar is one of the best decisions you can make as a home- owner. Solar panels capture free energy from the sun and convert it into electricity that can be use to power the lights, [...]
I have fond memories of the pride I felt as a little girl from saving our white potato skins, replanting them, watching them grow--but most of all--eating my potatoes. I also remember immersing avocado pits in water with toothpicks to grow lovely new plants from them. But many years have passed and I got away from doing that. Well, it's time to get back [...]
Most everyone is well-aware of the Amazon Rainforest’s slow and steady disappearance. “Save the Rainforest!” has been the motto of environmentalists for decades, but rates of deforestation seem to be increasing of late, indicating that one of Earth’s most precious ecological regions will soon vanish forever ― unless we do something about it. Unlike most folks, [...]
Light bulbs have come a long way, including the old clunky energy efficient ones of just a year or two ago. Here are some of the updates that have taken place in the industry, how much energy they use, and how to buy them. Traditional Bulbs Everyone is familiar with tungsten filament incandescent or GLS bulbs. They were [...]
You've finally seized those coveted vacation days. But you don't want to travel this year -- you want to spend some downtime with your family. That's OK! You don't have to go to Disney World or on a fancy cruise to make the most of your week off from work. A staycation -- that is, a vacation [...]
On average, homeowners spend more than $2000 every year on their energy bills, and half of that goes directly into heating and cooling the home. Most of the electricity used by homeowners comes from power plants that burn fossil fuels to create the electricity. When you are able to reduce the use of electricity in your [...]
The chilly temperatures and the bad weather may have put an end to the outdoor gardening for now, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a thriving harvest. There are many options to grow healthy and happy vegetables inside your home. The key is to pick the right greenery and location and you will get [...]
Backyard vegetable gardens and flower gardens can be so pretty, they can make anyone smile -- including little birds and animals from miles around. You might even pat yourself on the back at first for creating a garden worthy of their interest. It's when they begin to dig everything up that their interest is no longer [...]
Domestic water conservation is a goal that's easy to achieve. Effective water-saving measures in the home can be as simple as not leaving the faucet running while you brush your teeth and collecting rainwater for watering your plants. Kids can also be taught to do their part in helping to lower energy costs and to learn about [...]
With the holidays right around the corner, many of us are already feeling the stress of buying, baking, and decorating for Christmas. The chaos and messiness of the holiday season can be fun, but can often also leave us frustrated and overwhelmed. So why not bring some natural peace and tranquility into your home? "Eco-friendly [...]
When most people think about saving money and energy with their appliances, they think about it from the perspective of reducing usage, buying more energy-efficient models, and utilizing greener fuels when possible. They purchase programmable thermostats, upgrade to high-efficiency laundry machines, check into solar-powered add-ons, and much more. All of those steps are great, [...]
This year, as you’re resolving to eat better and exercise regularly, to spend less and to save more, why not add “be more eco-friendly” to your list? Believe it or not, “greening up” your house and making the reduction of your carbon footprint a priority can play well into the other resolutions you will likely be [...]
Are you trying to find smart ways to make your home more energy-efficient? Would you love to save more money on your home expenses? Sure, you cut coupons to save at the grocery store or maybe put money away in a jar for a special purchase, but what are you doing to save on your home expenses and reduce your [...]
Combatting deforestation is perhaps the best defense against the dangerous effects of climate change. To this end, many people seek to restrict their use of paper products to keep forests around the world thriving. As well intentioned as these actions are, they might be having the opposite effect when it comes to encouraging new tree growth. [...]
Ahh! We all love the look, feel and smell of a fresh, clean home! It's so satisfying! But have you ever thought about the safety of cleaning products you use in your house apartment, garage or even your car? Do you have a clue what is in the products that you clean your home with daily? [...]
Although I prefer to shop locally, I still love to see what my favorite UPS deliveryman has for me each time he rings my bell. It's such fun to tear open the box and reveal a delightful selection of healthy, green, natural, organic or plant-based/vegan goodies. This week, when I opened the box, I was pleased to unwrap a wholesome selection of organic rice and ramen products [...]
Seasons change and so do you. While spring and summer inspire more eco-friendly initiatives, autumn and winter may put a damper on your green living habits. Here are some useful lifestyle and gardening tips that will help you stay green this fall. Cook Often, Stay Organic As the colder weather kicks in, you tend to stay [...]
Forests are an essential part of the global ecosystem and trees are essential to life on earth. Trees actually create the air we breathe and filter air pollution. In addition, trees build soil and help soak up stormwater before it can create a flood, and they offer energy-saving shade that reduces global warming and creates habitat [...]
Humans are literally drowning in trash! The rapidly-growing amount of waste is a critical environmental issue. The average person creates 4.3 pounds of waste per day—added up, that’s a lot of trash coming out of one household! Not to mention that this number has only increased over the decades. There are recycling programs in place to help, and many [...]
Anthropogenic climate change has been frequently in the news, especially over the past decade. The vast majority of scientists accept it as a reality and warn that it could have dire consequences. Our excessive use of carbon-based fossil fuels has been adding far more carbon to the atmosphere and oceans than is normally there, and that extra [...]
Spiders are awesome around Halloween, but only the fake ones. The real ones are slightly less awesome, and they’re not even remotely cool when they’re inside your house. Those buggers need to go back outside! Thankfully, you can keep them out without dousing your entryways in biohazard materials, which is not very green or good for [...]
Do you know how many items you have in your home that you thought you had no use for and were planning to throw away at some point? You should hit the stop button on that plan as many of them can actually be repurposed into something useful and something that will stop you from wasting away a [...]
If living green is your thing, you've certainly changed your lifestyle to do as much as you can for the environment. You're probably using energy efficient appliances in your house, have grown indoor or outdoor plants, have installed artificial turf to cut down on water, electricity, and fertilizer costs, and more. Keeping these things in mind [...]
