I heard it hasn’t snowed in Scandinavia, which has thrown their winter sport plans into disarray. The temperature here has been steadily dropping though. For some reason, friends have been complaining to me about the thermostat battles that have ensued, the resulting increase in home heating fees, and the effect the added heat has on the environment.
To me, it seems obvious that if you are the only person in the house who is feeling the chill, then there are at least two things you can do before turning the heat up. The first is to have something to eat
Wrong Ways to Recycle
by Mackenzie M. November 21st, 2011 | Household Hints
Many writers often choose the promotion of and instructions for recycling as green topics; however, often times we do not focus on ways to incorrectly recycle. Yes, those do exist, and until recently, I found myself making a majority of these mistakes. Whether it be an outdated recycling technique, or just a careless mixing of incompatible materials, it is possible to recycle entirely wrong. Many green tips sites have been focusing on the wrong ways to recycle lately, and I have compiled a list below of some common mistakes made when recycling in households.
-Many people have been taught since
-Many people have been taught since
Plants Improve Indoor Air Quality
by Heather Duchan November 15th, 2011 | Household Hints
In the 1970s, awareness about energy efficient buildings began to bloom. This movement encouraged air-tight construction with lots of installation. This noble cause, which I'm a big fan of, has done wonders for reducing pollution-causing fossil fuels. Unfortunately, it has not come without disadvantages. One negative effect of this movement has been the rise of a once unheard of ailment: sick-building syndrome.
Sick-building syndrome is a term used to describe a number of symtoms, ranging from running eyes to fatique to respitory illness, which have all been attributed to energy efficient buildings. These buildings, both new and retro-fitted, are air-tight and often
Sick-building syndrome is a term used to describe a number of symtoms, ranging from running eyes to fatique to respitory illness, which have all been attributed to energy efficient buildings. These buildings, both new and retro-fitted, are air-tight and often
Lining up Your Linens
by Angela Yorke October 31st, 2011 | Household Hints
It just occurred to me that, where fabrics are concerned, we’ve made a lot of changes that “save” time, but incur a heavy cost in terms of sustainability and resources used. Plastic bags are the most obvious example of fabric bag usurpation, given that we use and discard them without a second thought. Of course, the push to use reusable bags came into prominence thanks to Anya Hindmarch, although I certainly wouldn’t use a bag that costs that much for regular grocery shopping.
Where dining is concerned, my household made the switch to disposable paper napkins somewhere along the way,
Where dining is concerned, my household made the switch to disposable paper napkins somewhere along the way,
Remodel with the Earth in Mind
by Mackenzie M. October 25th, 2011 | Household Hints
Many people decide to remodel their house to either the biggest size they can afford, or with top of the line furniture and decorations; however, to live a truly green lifestyle, and to even save money, there are a few green tips to remember when doing a major remodel, major redecorating, or even re-arranging your home. Remodeling your home should be a time to make it a more efficient living environment, and even to reduce your eco-footprint.
The cardinal rule of either building or remodeling a house is that bigger, in fact, is not always better. Take a second to
The cardinal rule of either building or remodeling a house is that bigger, in fact, is not always better. Take a second to
