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Reduce Waste And Create a Tree-Free Home

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date December 22, 2015
No Comments on Reduce Waste And Create a Tree-Free Home

Yes, you read that right, a tree-free home can actually help the planet! We are not talking about live trees, though. Feel free to have as many of those in your backyard as you want. This is about reducing your consumption of products made out of trees, such as paper. Especially if they are disposable ones. Creating a tree-free home can seem like a daunting task. But if you take it one step at the time, it is completely doable. Here are some tips for you to start.

Whenever possible, switch to cloth

If you use paper napkins, stop. Buy a couple of sets of nice cloth napkins. They work the same, they look pretty and they actually make you seem fancier. Your guests will be impressed. Make sure to have at least a couple of sets, so you are not napkin-less when you need to wash them. Paper towels need to go too. Replace them with cloth towels (you can make your own by cutting up some old cotton t-shirts). get a small container to store the sued ones in your kitchen until you wash them for reuse.

Reuse, recycle, reduce waste

If you usually need to print documents, do so in paper that has already been used on one side. Reuse envelopes, wrapping paper, note pads and any other paper product you can. For paper products that cannot be reused (say, toilet paper), consider buying bleach-free, recycled and with the highest percentage of post-consumer waste content available. Consider getting a dry-erase board instead of buying post-its, or buy a bunch of letter magnets for the fridge to leave messages to your family.

Go digital

One of the greatest advantages of the modern world is that is easier than ever to be paperless. Call every company that sends you bills and ask if they can send you only digital copies from now on. Buy an e-book reader and stop buying paper books and magazines. As an extra advantage, you will save so much space and you will be able to carry your entire library around. If you are afraid of tiring your eyes, make sure you buy a reader with an e-ink display that reduces glare (and saves so much battery). If you truly will miss paper books, consider buying only used books. They are cheaper too! Finally, say goodbye to your paper planner and download an app for your phone or computer. They usually have more functions, they are easier to use and they can track everything from birthdays to grocery lists.

Avoid buying freshly-cut wood

If you are doing construction work at home, look up alternatives to newly cut wood. For example, bamboo is resistant, looks great and it grows really fast, so it’s an eco-friendly alternative. Straw bale, cob and natural linoleum are great too. If you have an eye on a specific type of wood, find local places to buy used wood. You can get pieces that still look great, without cutting down additional trees.

Tags ecohome, garbage, paper, recycling, trash, trees, wood

Home Improvement

Create An Eco-Friendly Bathroom By Following These 3 Tips

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date November 24, 2015
No Comments on Create An Eco-Friendly Bathroom By Following These 3 Tips

The bathroom is one of those places that, unless you are using it right now, you don’t think about too much. But that doesn’t mean that it can’t have a huge impact on the environment. Everybody uses the bathroom, all of our homes have one, and we use it multiple times during the day. If you can make small changes to make your bathroom greener, you can significantly reduce your environmental impact, without changing your lifestyle at all. Here are some tips to have an eco-friendly bathroom.

1. Low-flow toilets

Toilets use up a lot of water. Clean, drinkable water that is getting wasted daily, unless you do something to conserve it. In fact, almost 30% of all water consumption in your house is done by your toilet, that’s a significant portion. Some old toilets use up to 7 gallons of water per flush, way more than it’s actually necessary to get rid of the waste. If you already have a low-flow toilet, you can install a dual flusher that will give you the choice for “liquid waste” and “solid waste”, in order to use just the right amount of water per flush. If you have an old toilet but can’t afford to buy a new one just now, you can do a temporary fix. Fill up an empty water bottle with pebbles and leave it inside the tank to displace some of the water. That way, the tank will fill up with less water and it will be less wasteful. If you are worried about low-flow toilets not being as “powerful”, put a trash can in your bathroom and throw away paper, feminine hygiene products, floss and other trash that you would usually flush. Find a trash can with a lid and empty it regularly, so you don’t have “smell” problems.

2. Low-flow shower heads

We should all strive to cut down on our shower time. Ten minutes is more than enough to get clean, anyway. However, some days we all want to linger a bit and relax. This is why low-flow shower heads can be such life-savers. They will cut down your shower’s water consumption to 2.5 gallons per minute, as opposed to 5-8 gallons that normal shower heads consume. That is a significant change, and it will save you money as well.

3. Sustainable bathroom products

Shampoos, conditioners, body lotions and other similar products can end up contaminating the water sources, filling up landfills or contributing to animal suffering. Strive to buy all-natural and sustainable products in recyclable packaging. Check out vegan and cruelty-free brands. Switching toothpaste brands will make almost no difference in your life, but it can really have a huge impact on the environment.

Tags bathroom, ecohome, recycling, vegan products, water

Home Improvement

Getting Started On Solar Energy. What You Need To Know

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date October 27, 2015
No Comments on Getting Started On Solar Energy. What You Need To Know

We all dream of a world where everyone uses renewable energy that won’t pollute the Earth. for that world to be a reality, we all need to do out part. Solar energy is one of the best ways to live a sustainable life and in recent years it has become more accessible than ever. Both homeowners and companies can enjoy solar power more easily than you might think. However, with so much information going around it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Here are some basic things you need to know about solar energy before you get started.

1. Solar energy is a growing market – In 2014, solar investments grew 25% and the market is expected to be 16-25% larger by the end of 2015. This is the result of both governments and companies trying to become more sustainable in later years. For you, it means having more options to choose from. Today, there are more solar power companies than ever, and they all offer a unique service to fit different needs. Before you commit to any one company, you should definitely research the options in your area.

2. Do your research right – Right now, residential solar power is only a small portion of the market, which means that not every solar energy company will support the residential market. Only 20% of 2014 solar panel installations were done in residential projects, so you need to keep that in mind when looking for the company that’s right for you.

3. There are tax incentives for you – If you live in the US, chances are you can benefit from several federal and local tax incentives for solar power installations. The bad news is that the US investment tax credit, the largest solar subsidy in the country, is set to expire at the end of 2016. This would really be the perfect time to invest in solar panels for your home.

4. The cost of solar energy is going down – Both residential and commercial systems costs are down by over 50%, which means both businesses and homeowners can profit from investing in solar energy. This doesn’t mean that the installation will be cheap, though. The initial investment includes costs for installation, permits and equipment, which can add up to more than $15,000. While that may seem pricey, the real value comes in money saved from your regular energy consumption. Besides, tax credits can really offset the cost and there are several financing and leasing options to make solar energy more accessible for everyone.

5. Not all systems are created the same – A Solar Thermal System will use solar panels to gather sunlight and transform it into energy during daylight to use it for heating water systems. On the other hand, a Photovoltaic System will convert energy into electricity to operate many appliances in your home. Find out what system is the one you need and take that into account when calculating costs and benefits.

Tags ecohome, green energy, renewable energy, solar energy, solar power, sustainable energy

Home Decor Recycling

Quick DIY Projects For Your Home

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date August 11, 2015
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Instead of buying more and more decorations (and in turn piling up trash on our landfills), it’s always satisfying to make your own little projects to pretty up your home. If you are using recycled or organic materials, all the better! If you really want to give DIY a go but feel like you don’t have the time, give these 5 minute projects a go.

From burlap to art

If you have some burlap laying around, you can pretty easily turn it into a chic art piece that will give your home a boho touch. You will need a piece of burlap, a stencil, craft paint and some sponges. Oh, and a frame to display it too. If you don’t want to buy anything, you can make your own stencil out of cardboard too. Place the stencil on the burlap and use the sponges to dab paint in bright colors through the shapes. Carefully retire the stencil and leave the piece to dry. Frame it and display on your favorite corner of the house.

Shoebox projector

Nowadays there are some really fancy iPhone projectors out there. Electronic waste is a problem, though and how often are you going to use that projector? If you really need one right now, you can make your own for one dollar. Get a shoebox with a lid, a paperclip, duct tape (black) and a magnifying glass that you can get for one buck at the dollar store. If the inside of your box is not black, you might want to spray paint it or tape some black paper. Trace the edge of the magnifying glass (without the handle) on one of the short sides of the box and carefully cut it out. Line up the lens with the hole and tape it, covering the entire edge with duct ape, so no light leaks around it. Now bend the paperclip into a phone stand (or use a cheap stand you already have) and place the phone all the way to the back of the box, turn it on and admire the projection on the wall. To find focus, slowly walk forwards or backwards until you see a clear picture. Fine tune the focus by moving the phone closer to the lens if you want. Now sit back, relax and enjoy your photos and videos.

Flower stamps out of okra

If you have some okra handy, you can quickly turn it into a flower stamp. By quickly I mean “in seconds”. Simply cut it in half to reveal the hidden flower within. Turns out that it has a surprisingly flower-like pattern and just the right texture to leave a clear image in paper or fabric. Dip your okra in ink, fabric paint or any other pigment and press down to see pretty flowers in your next project.

Tags diy, easy projects, ecohome, upcycle

Home Improvement Recycling

Recently Moved? Upcycle Your Cardboard Boxes!

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date May 13, 2015
No Comments on Recently Moved? Upcycle Your Cardboard Boxes!

What is “upcycling”? It’s when you use discarded materials to create something new. Something useful, beautiful and with much more value than it originally had. For example, instead of throwing out or recycling cardboard boxes, your can upcycle them to create these great items.

Desktop organizer – If you are normally dealing with a lot of clutter in your desk and don’t know what to do about it, then this project is for you if you have a lot of leftover cardboard from the move, use them to cut around 20 square sheets (or any shape, as long as they are identical). Leave one to serve as a base and then cut slots in different sizes on the rest, to hold your items. The idea is to have around 5-10 sheets with the same slots (depending on the depth you need) and then simply stack them all and clue them together. You can later paint the whole ensemble or add details to make it match the rest of your desk. Now you have a single place to keep your little notepads, your keys, spare change and your cellphone.

Bookcase – This process is similar to the one used for the desktop organizer. You simply pick a shape that works for what you have in mind and cut several sheets of cardboard with that same shape. Carve out some slots of the desired size and make sure your books and notepads will fit. Now hang it on the wall and enjoy your new stylish and environmentally friendly bookcase.

Modern wall art – This is a fun project that anyone can manage, no matter their artistic ability. Get all your cardboard scarps and cut them into small squares and rectangles of different sizes. Now place them together in a geometric composition. Don’t be afraid to make them overlap to get an interesting sense of depth. Once you are satisfied with the look of your piece, carefully glue them all together and finish with a coat or two of metallic paint. Glue the whole set to a support to be able to hang it from the wall and decorate your favorite room with it.

Geometric lamp – Cut out a cardboard frame for these lanterns, glue it together and coat it with your favorite color of spray paint. Then, use a colored tissue paper to cover the panels of the lamp, gluing it on the inside of the frame. Use cardboard for the top panel of the lamp, painted in the same color as the rest of the frame. Cut out a small slot to hang a string of twine. Tape the twine to the back of a battery-operated LED light and hang it on the inside of your lamp. Now you can enjoy a beautiful light fixture that people won’t believe you made yourself.

Tags boxes, cardboard, diy, ecohome, upcycling

Home Improvement

Improve Your Home On The Cheap With These DIY Projects

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date April 24, 2015
No Comments on Improve Your Home On The Cheap With These DIY Projects

If you are thinking about improving your home but are not particularly keen on paying ridiculous amounts of money to do so, you probably thought about doing it yourself. And you can, with these cheap and easy DIY projects, your home will look and feel so much better, without breaking the bank.

1. Create wainscoting with cheap frames. Instead of paying all the money for it, go to your favorite craft store and buy basic, cheap frames. Secure them to the wall to create that classic pattern and then paint them to match. Your living room will look so much classier and your guests will be none the wiser.

2. Peel-and-stick tiles hide water stains. If your bathroom or kitchen cabinet has leaked for any amount of time, chances are, there are water stains on the cabinet bottom. Instead of removing the bottom or sighing every time you open the doors, cover the water damage with peel and stick tiles. They are incredibly easy to install, they will make the whole thing look better, and nobody inspects your cabinet bottoms close enough to determine they are peel and stick tiles.

3. Hopelessly moldy shower? Re-grout and Re-caulk it. We are all fans of homemade cleaning products and other hacks to remove mold from the shower, but some times not even all the vinegar in the world can fix it. You have to address the root of the problem. Removing all the caulk and grout from your shower tiles is not a difficult process, it’s just time consuming. After you do that, clean well with a bleach solution, let it dry for 24 hours and apply new grout and caulk. Make sure you look for a brand specifically made for bathrooms, as it will be mold-resistant. Just remember, when in doubt, look up YouTube videos to really get the technique down.

4. Don’t throw out the old, tired armchair and sofa, just re-stuff the cushions. Instead of buying a new armchair and sofa, renew them with more stuffing. Perk up the cushions and get rid of the sagging look on the cheap by simply buying new stuffing. It won’t only look better, it will also feel more comfortable as well.

5. Stop your shoes from ruining your floors. If you have carpet or wood floors, you know shoes are your greatest enemies. Snow, rain, dirt, all of that takes its toll. And it doesn’t matter if you force everyone to remove their shoes as soon as they come in, because the floor near the door will still get ruined. Fix this with a simple pebble tray. It’s extremely cheap, all you need is pebbles and a tray. Put it near the door, and leave soaking wet shoes there. It looks nice, it’s practical and it costs almost nothing.

Tags cheap projects, decor tips, diy, ecohome, hacks, home improvement

Articles Home Decor Home Improvement

Turn Your Bathroom Into Your Favorite Place In The World

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date April 17, 2015
No Comments on Turn Your Bathroom Into Your Favorite Place In The World

When I’m at home, my bathroom is my sanctuary. I go there to clean and groom myself, to relax, to think and maybe play a little Angry Birds on my phone, (don’t judge.) The important thing is, you probably start and end your day in your bathroom, so it makes sense to try to make it as cozy and pretty as possible.

1. Read your To-Do list while brushing your teeth

Or while doing your make up and hair. Organize your day and go over your tasks just as you are waking up with a little dry-erase board for your bathroom counter. If you are confused about where to buy a tiny dry-erase board, you can make one with a photograph frame, a white sheet of paper and, of course, a dry-erase marker.

2. Make your shower feel bigger with a curved curtain bar

Showers are the actual best thing, it’s the one moment of your day when you can relax and let your thoughts wander while the hot water soothes your muscles. And they would be infinitely more relaxing if they were not as tiny and cramped as they usually are. The good news is that you don’t have to rear your bathroom down to enjoy a roomier shower. All you need is a curved curtain bar, that you can get for less than $20.

3. Ditch your big plastic bottles

If you are anything like me, your bathtub or shower is basically a graveyard for half-empty plastic bottles for shampoo, conditioning, lotion, bubble bath, body wash and more assorted goo. But this not only takes up a lot of space, it looks ugly and cramped too. To solve this, take your Starbucks frappuchino glass bottles, clean them out well and reuse them to store “portion sizes” of your bathroom products. You can keep your big bottles out of sight under the sink and your bathtub or shower will look cute and cleaner, which will put you in a great mood.

4. Bring a tiny spa inside your bathroom

This is one of those things that look super expensive and actually cost nothing. For a spa-like experience, reinvent your bathroom mat with ocean stones. All you need is a common rubber mat (with holes in it, to drain water), water-resistant glue and a lot of soft, round (and relatively flat) stones, like the ones you find on the beach. Glue them to your mat and feel the relaxing sensation of walking barefoot on the beach every time you get in or out of the shower.

5. Move your shower caddies under the sink

The shower is not the only place in your bathroom that needs organizing. And the cabinets under the sink are usually pure chaos. Get a couple of shower caddies and secure them to the walls, and you will always be able to find that one bottle you need.

Tags bathroom, decor, ecohome, tips

Articles Home Improvement

Speed Clean Your House With A New Strategy

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date April 7, 2015
No Comments on Speed Clean Your House With A New Strategy

In a survey I just made up, the amount of time the average person wants to spend cleaning their house is “zero”. It’s something we all have to do, but we end up pushing it until the last minute and then panic because we don’t have enough time. But that’s about to change. With the right strategy you will clean faster and finish right on time to host that dinner party tonight.

1. Don’t underestimate the soundtrack

It sounds silly, but listening to your favorite, preferably upbeat music will put you in a better mood and help you clean faster, with less pain.

2. Arm yourself with everything you need beforehand

You know what sucks? Going back-and-forth to the cleaning cabinet to get that one cleaning product you need now. Avoid this, get a basket and put all the cleaning products you think you’ll need (include gloves, sponges, tissues and vodka… trust me on this one), and carry it around while you clean.

3. Reconnaissance mission

Get an empty box or basket and a trash can, and walk through every room in your house, twice. As you walk the first time, put every item that doesn’t belong in that room in the basket, and throw the trash away. When you walk back, put every item in the basket in its rightful place.

4. I don’t have a clever title for doing the dishes

But you have to do them. Get them out of the way fast, especially if you are dreading this task. After you straightened everything in step three and you get a clean sink, your whole house will look so much cleaner immediately, which will motivate you to continue, because you are almost done.

5. Heavy duty weapons

If you have to vacuum, find the longest extension cord you have. It’s super simple, but it makes it so much easier. As long as you pay attention to where you are going and don’t entangle yourself, you won’t have to start and stop ten times and you’ll be done so much sooner.

6. Chemical warfare

Now is a good time to clean counters, tiles and similar surfaces. The top-secret, unexpected surface cleaner you have at home? Vodka. Or rubbing alcohol works as well, but with vodka you can have a motivational drink while you are cleaning. Get rid of greasy kitchen gunk and moldy bathroom muck, and shine your surfaces with the same product. Don’t worry about the smell, it will evaporate and dissipate quickly.

7. Victory!

You did it! Congratulations. Light a few candles (nice smells make everything feel extra clean) and have a celebratory screwdriver. You’ve earned it.

Tags cleaning, ecohome, homemade cleaning products, speed-cleaning, tips, tricks

Articles Home Decor Recycling

8 Smart Ways To Organize Your Life With Magazine Holders

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date April 3, 2015
No Comments on 8 Smart Ways To Organize Your Life With Magazine Holders

If you really want to have an eco-friendly house, then recycling is the way to go. But there are more ways to do that than separating glass from plastic when taking the trash out. Another big part of recycling is finding new life for common objects. Like magazine holders. Despite having an incredibly specific name, they can be used for more than just holding magazines. Organize your house (and your life), save space and impress your friends with your craftiness, all with the help of the humble magazine holder.

1. Organize your make-up

With the help of a cute, decorative magazine holder, instantly get rid of the chaos that seems to follow your make-up wherever it goes.

2. Organize your toilet paper

This is the last time you will find yourself in the toilet without toilet paper. Your rolls will be dry and always at reach so you can finally do your business in peace. Your guests will silently thank you too, since they will avoid the awkward “there’s no toilet paper how do I ask the host” dance.

3. Organize your clutter

Find a nice wooden magazine holder and secure it to the wall in an unused corner. Now you have a place to store all the tiny objects that clutter your desks and tables but somehow manage to get lost every time you need them.

4. Organize your cling wrap

And your tin foil, wax paper, etc. Instead of letting those boxes occupy space in your drawers, store them in a magazine holder in the inside of a cabinet door. This will save you space and time.

5. Organize your mail

Secure a magazine holder (or several) to your wall and file all your mail, bills, important and unimportant documents, and every other piece of paper that always ends up getting lost when you need it.

6. Organize your produce

Keep your onions, potatoes and other non-refrigerated produce from rolling away with a couple of well-placed magazine holders. You will keep your counters and cabinet clean, and you will always know when you need to buy more produce.

7. Organize your curling irons

Hair styling requires a whole lot of products and appliances (at least, if you are like me it does). Keep your hot irons safely stored, secured and organized with a decorative magazine holder. This will also prevent all the cords from tangling, which will prolong their lifespan and save you time in the mornings.

8. Organize your cutting boards

Secure a magazine holder to the inside of a kitchen cabinet and keep your cutting boards dry, organized and always at reach. This will help you save space in your kitchen, reduce all the clutter and make your cooking a lot easier.

Tags diy, ecohome, home decor, magazine holder, organizing, recycling, save space

Articles Furnishings Home Decor Home Design Home Improvement

8 Hacks To Instantly Upsize Your Kitchen

Post author By Ginny Green
Post date March 25, 2015
No Comments on 8 Hacks To Instantly Upsize Your Kitchen

We all dream with a big, spacious kitchen, like the ones in TV cooking shows. And even maybe one of those gigantic mansions we often see on MTV. Unfortunately for most of us, reality does not come with huge stainless steel counters and infinite room to put bowls away. If you want your tiny kitchen to feel bigger and maximize your space, here are some hacks that will make your kitchen go form “cramped” to “cozy”.

1. Think Vertically: use your wall space

Just because there’s no more room for cabinets, it doesn’t mean you should let those precious free inches go to waste. Put up shelves all the way to the ceiling and store cups, classes and mugs there instead of a cabinets.

2. Use the inside of your cabinet doors

Maximize the space inside of your cabinets and hang your measuring cups, spices or pot lids there. As a bonus, it really is more practical to have certain items ready and organized as soon as you open the cabinet door.

3. Bring a pegboard to your kitchen

Pegboards are not only for the garage anymore. After all, pots and pans are nothing more than the tools you use in the kitchen, right? Hang your pots, pans and other kitchenware in a pegboard, it will look good and keep your items organized.

4. Change to an over-the-sink cutting board

Saving space is not only important when storing things. There’s nothing more annoying than not having enough room to comfortably prep your meal. Use an over-the-sink cutting board and save your counter space for other things.

5. Hide a dish rack over your sink

Instead of wasting precious counter real state, install a dish rack over your sink. You’ll save space, and your drying dishes will be neatly tucked away from your sight.

6. Magnetize your spices

You know what never gets used? Your refrigerator door. Buy small containers with magnets in them and display your spices, have them always on hand and save space, all in the same move.

7. Bye bye knife block

Use a magnetic strip to store knives and free up counter space. Have your knives always on hand and reduce damage to the blade.

8. Get a nice fold-up kitchen table

If you don’t have a big family, a small kitchen table that folds up on the wall will save you a lot of space and make your kitchen feel bigger. You can find small, cute tables, that are practical and stylish.

Tags kitchen, life hacks, save space