Category: Eco Tips

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Eco Tips Featured

6 Eco-Friendly Resolutions To Put Into Practice

As the current year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to assess how we have been running our lives and homes. Most of us can easily take a step back, learn to plan better, and put a few smart practices into place.

Reuse and recycle by donating your stuff. The New Year provides a good opportunity to clean out, simplify and start fresh. Have household items you no longer use? Give them away on Freecycle.org. Have clothes or shoes you don’t wear anymore? Donate the items to a local shelter, drop off at Goodwill or host a clothing swap.

Go dairy free and meat free once a week. Join “Meat Free Mondays” and make a green, animal-friendly, earth-friendly resolution for the coming year. By going meat free, you reduce your carbon footprint, limit cancer risk, reduce the risk of diabetes, help curb obesity and lessen the chances of heart disease.

Grow something. Start small with a pot of basil or thyme on your patio or kitchen windowsill. Plants give off additional oxygen, help clean the air, and bring living energy to a room. Having your own pesticide-free organic herbs to use when cooking isn’t a bad thing either.

Install and use smart power strips. Get in the habit of using smart power strips to turn off TV’s, computers, kitchen appliances, and other electronics completely. You just might notice your electric bill go down.

Replace the standard light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent ones. Energy-smart bulbs use 70-75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to ten times longer.

Replace your air conditioner filter every 30 to 60 days. A dirty filter will block the airflow and cost you more to run since the unit has to work twice as hard. Have extra filters on hand at all times.

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Eco Tips Featured

5 Money-Saving Eco Holiday Tips

Time and money are in high demand for almost everyone during the Yuletide season. How do you keep our environment and your pocketbook from suffering the effects of all the holiday excess? Here are five helpful tips.

Bulk Up. Buy holiday nuts and spices in bulk from bins at your local health food store or supermarket. When you buy in bulk, you can purchase just the right amounts of spices or nuts you need without paying for excess packaging or more of a product than you know you’ll ever use.

Green Décor. Use citrus, nuts in the shells, cinnamon sticks, pomegranates, rosemary, and pomander balls to make gorgeous centerpieces or table arrangements.

Organic Wines. A bottle of conventional wine may contain hundreds of different chemicals and preservatives. Think organic wines are more expensive? It’s a myth. You can pick up a bottle of Tarantas 2007 Cava Sparkling Wine at $14.95 a bottle at EcoVineWine.com.

Creative Ornaments. Deck the halls and your tree by recycling vintage toys, jewelry and small photo frames into ornaments by attaching a hook and ornament hanger.

Reduce Disposable Plastics. Having a holiday party? Don’t spend extra dollars on plastic plates and trays for treats. Ask each guest to bring a favorite Christmas themed metal or ceramic plate. Everyone will enjoy admiring the different designs and there’s less to throw away.

Check back later this week for more green living tips from Ecohomeideas.com.

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Eco Tips Featured Lawn & Garden

8 Non-Toxic Methods to Control Pests

Pest control is an important part of keeping a home safe, clean and comfortable. However, it’s also important to choose natural pest control methods that are safe for our health and the environment since people and pets can be sensitive to the harsh chemicals used in commercial sprays. The following eight suggestions for non-toxic pest control use natural means to effectively repel and eliminate problematic pests.

Power of Mint

Mint is an all-powerful pest repellent that can work in both the home and garden to eradicate unwanted insects. This method can easily be implemented by tossing a few mint tea bags anywhere that pests tend to visit. Mint works well against ants, weevils and can be used as a shampoo to deter lice. Place mint in cupboards, pantries and other kitchen areas to prevent kitchen pests.

Spray Vinegar

Vinegar is also a versatile pest control method that is natural and safe enough to be used around anyone. A spray bottle filled with equal parts of vinegar and water can be used to spray carpets to get rid of fleas. Additionally, vinegar can be used as part of the shampoo to eliminate fleas on pets.

Diatomaceous Earth

This pest control method is a powder consisting of finely ground rock that is formed from fossilized diatoms, a type of algae. Diatomaceous earth is safe and proven to be effective in homes and gardens for eliminating ants, cockroaches, bedbugs, fleas and slugs. It is also easy to use and can be sprinkled in areas of the home that can be hard to reach such as corners and behind furniture.

Borax and Sugar

Borax is a mineral salt that can be mixed with sugar to deter ants and other insects such as cockroaches. This mixture can be dissolved in water to make a solution that can be used to soak cotton balls. Then, the cotton balls can be placed near areas of the home that insects use for access such as windows and beneath doors.

Apply Heat

Many common pests can be destroyed with heat. Bedbugs, dust mites and head lice can be controlled by washing and drying bedding, clothing and other washable fabrics in the hottest water available. Boiling water can also be poured into ant beds to eliminate the pests at their source.

Citrus Control

Citrus scents are a wonderful way to deodorize the home, yet citrus fruits also contain chemical properties that are repelling to pests. Orange peels can be boiled in water to create a solution that can then be used on a dog’s fur to eliminate fleas. This same solution can be sprayed on carpets and upholstery. Spraying lemon juice at the point-of-entry to a home for ants is an effective repellent as the ants will not cross over the lemon.

Soapy Water

Simple soap and water can be used safely in a variety of areas of the home to repel pests. This solution makes an ideal cockroach and ant spray. When placed in a shallow dish, soapy water left on the floor can also trap and kill fleas.

Bait and Trap

There are many effective natural ways to trap pests. A bottle of fruit juice or wine can entice fruit flies and gnats into a container. A basic type of flypaper can be made by covering wax paper in a mixture of corn syrup and sugar. Generally, a combination of repellents and traps will be effective for eliminating most pets.

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Eco Tips Featured Gadgets & Gear

3 Gifts the Eco-Conscious Mom Can’t Live Without

Eco-conscious moms share a bond that keeps an innovative world on track for bettering the earth. So, what can you get for this special lady that recycles, makes compost and cans fresh vegetables? Here are 3 great ideas that save time, money, the environment and may be something that Eco-Mom has been wishing for.

Wool Dryer Balls

Made out of pure New Zealand wool, these soft tennis-ball sized, natural fabric softeners, eliminate the need for ever buying another box of chemically-enhanced dryer sheets.

  • Keeps clothes remarkably soft
  • Eliminates static cling
  • Lasts for 500 loads of drying
  • Does not harm the environment
  • Uses a renewable source – wool

Not to be confused with the dryer balls that are advertised in department stores, wool dryer balls are chemical-free, all natural and have no scent.

Infusing Water Bottle

Getting kids to drink more water can sometimes be like forcing medicine down their throats. Flat and boring, water gets to be old news before long. An infusing water bottle (such as the Aqua Zinger at $25.95) is made to extract the juice from your favorite fruits and vegetables, giving your water a refreshing new twist. A quick shake is all that is required to keep the flavor renewed and abundant.

  • Self Contained
  • No harmful parts
  • Small enough to be portable
  • Reusable and sustainable
  • Perfect for kids

If there is one thing that Eco-conscious moms love, it is the ability to care for children in a safe, natural way. This awesome gadget provides healthy, rich vitamins from fruits and vegetables, and integrates into much needed water, for better bodies.

Bamboo Charcoal Deodorizer

Save mom the trouble of trying to clean pet areas or coping with smelly gym bags by giving her a natural charcoal deodorizer that lifts and eliminates odors. The Moso bamboo plant is highly renewable, growing over two feet in a single day and produces extremely porous charcoal, naturally, unlike any other type.

  • Conveniently packaged for immediate use
  • Lasts for an entire year
  • Rechargeable by placing in the sun
  • Contains no chemicals or harmful ingredients
  • Removes odors instead of merely covering the scent

Mom will find these small packets of bamboo charcoal perfect for drawers, closets, shoes, and any other area that needs a bit of renewing, without the worry of using harsh chemicals.

The ingenuity of a world-wide society, has made it possible to solve problems of waste and pollution, without spending a lot of extra time. Select a gift for your mom this year that will become a welcome part of her efforts in keeping her family and the planet safe. They will be more welcome than a box of chocolates or more decorative, kitchen towels.

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Eco Tips Featured Uncategorized

How To Green Your Beauty Routine

Cosmetic companies are making it easier for consumers to recycle empty beauty containers. Before you throw out that empty container of foundation or bottle of moisturizer, check with your favorite cosmetic company to see if they have a recycling program. The following companies accept used beauty containers in exchange for free product:

Origins. The Origins recycling program allows you to return your empty products to their stores (any brand), and then they take care of shipping the containers off to the proper recycling facility. For every container returned, Origins will offer you a free product sample of your choice.

Kiehl’s. Return your empty Kiehl’s product containers to accumulate stamps for freebies like lip balm or travel sized products.

MAC Cosmetics. By returning six MAC packaging containers to a MAC counter or MAC online, you’ll receive a free lipstick of your choice.

Aveda. Aveda’s cap recycling program accepts caps that are rigid plastic (usually noted with a 5 in the chasing arrows recycling symbol). Caps that twist on with a threaded neck such as those on shampoo, water, soda, milk and other beverage bottles and pharmaceutical lids, flip top caps on tubes and food product bottles, laundry detergents and some jar lids such as peanut butter.

Garnier. Garnier has partnered with a recycling program called TerraCycle. Sign up online at terracycle.net to receive mailing labels and collection materials to shop your used items (regardless of brand) to be recycled.

Make yourself and the world more beautiful by supporting eco-conscious brands.

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Eco Tips Featured

Avoid These 3 Holiday Eco Disasters

With all the hustle and bustle surrounding the holidays, it can be easy to forget about maintaining an eco-friendly home environment. There are lights to string up, trees to trim, fireplaces to be decorated, and tables to set. When purchasing new holiday decor or unpacking the old, be mindful of potentially harmful products or plants. Here are three potential eco disasters to avoid this season:

Lead Wick Candles. About forty percent of candles on the market contain lead wires inside their wicks. Most often these are scented candles, which are used more heavily around the holidays. A candle with a lead-core wick releases five times the amount of lead considered hazardous for children and exceeds EPA pollution standards for outdoor air. If you use candles, look for those made from beeswax or soy. You can also purchase LED candles that can be reused.

Mistletoe and Holly. Mistletoe and holly are toxic to both pets and humans, so opt for silk substitutes that can then be reused year after year. Just be sure to steer clear of faux decor that is made of PVC and may release harmful dioxins into the air.

Electricity Wasting Tree Lights. Burning and breaking lights are fire hazards and waste electricity. Use less electricity and avoid having to deal with burning or breaking lights by purchasing LED tree lights. With the new warm LED colors on the market at lower prices, LED holiday lights give incandescent lights some good eco-friendly competition.

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Eco Tips Featured

Why You Should Use a Green Dry Cleaner

To avoid the additional toxic load on the environment and on your body, find a green cleaner that does not use perc in their cleaning processes. Perchloroethylene (or perc) is a clear, colorless solvent that is used by most dry cleaners because it removes stains and dirt from common types of fabrics. The bad news is that perc is also a toxic chemical tied to both human health and environmental concerns. Perc can pollute the air, water or ground during the various phases of the dry cleaning process.

Take the time to find a professional green dry cleaner that acts responsibly toward the environment. Most experienced dry cleaners are familiar with perc-related health or environmental issues.

Here are some specific actions you can take to minimize the impact on your health and our environment:

  • Know what you are paying for. Learn about the different cleaning processes and options that are available to you.
  • Ask about the cleaning methods used. This includes safety and maintenance practices, and how she/he handles her/his solvent waste streams.
  • Bring clothes to a professional cleaner who follows safety requirements. Also check to be sure the cleaner properly maintains the cleaning equipment.
  • Consider the wet cleaning process as an option. Ask your cleaner if they are familiar with the wet cleaning process and consider having clothes wet cleaned instead.
  • Give your cleaner information on how the clothes were soiled. Provide the fabric content information off of the care labels and point out any stains in advance.
  • If you smell solvent when you enter a cleaning shop, go somewhere else.
  • Ask to have the clothes re-processed if there is a solvent odor. If you think the solvent was not effectively removed, or if the newly dry cleaned clothes have a strong odor, ask your cleaner to re-process your order or take them to another cleaner.

Source:  EPA.gov, Frequently Asked Questions About Dry Cleaning

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Eco Tips Featured

Simple Ways to Make the Holidays Greener

According to Robert Lilienfeld of the ULS Report, Americans dispose of 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s over any other time of the year. Make some slight holiday modifications to help ease the effects of the holidays on our planet.

Holiday Cards. Send e-cards versus traditional paper cards. If you are absolutely set on paper cards, buy cards that are made from recycled card stock.

Conscious Presents. Put thought into what family or friends really want or need. Try to avoid giving a gift will result in more clutter  or waste. Instead, send in a donation to a friend or family member’s favorite charity or use WorldVision.com to give a unique gift of clean water, a fishing kit, or goat to a family in a developing country.

Gift Wrap. Recycled gift bags, magazine pages with holiday themes or the comic pages from the newspaper are all good ways to be eco-conscious when wrapping a gift. Top the gift off with raffia or a cloth ribbon that can also be reused by the receiver.

Holiday Wreaths & Trees. Call your local recycling center to get a list of free tree and wreath drop-off locations. These centers will usually shred your holiday greens for use as mulch. Tree mulch can then be used as an erosion barrier for lake and river shoreline management or as soft bedding for parks and playgrounds.

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Eco Tips Featured Gadgets & Gear

Eco-Friendly Fitness

You make a point of going to the gym or yoga studio in order to be healthy, so it only makes sense to shop for fitness gear that’s healthy for the environment. We searched the best online shops and came away with these five great green gear finds.
 
Gaiam Sol Suddha Eco Yoga Mat. Gaiam is one of the most popular purveyors of yoga mats. The Sol Sudda made our list of green gear finds because it’s made from eco-friendly plastic and is biodegradable.
 
Manduka’s Practice Tote. This awesome tote from Manduka is made from natural cotton and non-AZO dye. Grab one of these bags as a gift for any yoga fans you know, they’ll have plenty of room for a mat and extra change of clothes.
 
Omala’s Kimber Ballet Tank. Slimming side ruching and made from 90% recycled material. The fibers are spun from 90% repurposed plastic bottles, so these tanks take 84% less energy to make.
 
Moving Comfort’s Juno Bra. It can be hard to find an athletic bra that is both supportive and comfortable. We are a fan of Moving Comfort’s Juno Bra since it’s constructed with fabric made from recycled coffee grounds and is odor resistant.
 
Under Armour Catalyst II Hoody. Made with advanced green technology and 100 percent recycled polyester. Ultra-thin and sleek while providing sun and odor protection.
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Articles Eco Tips

4 Tell-tale Signs of Greenwashing

You may have heard the term, but wondered how exactly greenwashing is defined. Greenwashing occurs when more time and financial resources are spent on advertising, labeling and marketing green products than is spent actually implementing environmentally sound practices. Unfortunately, the terms “natural”, “non-toxic,” and “eco-friendly” are often misused. Here are four tell-tale signs of product greenwashing to be aware of:

  • Fluffy or Vague Language. Terms like “all natural” or “free of (insert toxic chemical name)” are not regulated by the government and are unverified.
  • Partial or Absent List of Ingredients. All ingredients should be listed to provide 100% transparency.
  • Unverified Health Claims. Sad, but true, many companies do fabricate claims or data. Request to see supporting scientific studies.
  • Questionable Parent Company. If a product is marketed by a company that is known for toxic outputs, the chances are good that the product’s formula has not undergone the proper level of greening.
Source:  These tips were in part provided by actor, author and pioneering environmental activist Ed Begley, Jr. who is a prominent figure in the green movement. Begley’s Earth Responsible Products are plant-based, sustainable, and made from rapidly biodegradable ingredients.