Category: Eco Tips

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Eco Tips Green Building Home Decor Home Design Home Improvement

10 Mistakes: You Are Building That Green Home Wrong

green-building-mistakes-ruining-existing-ecosystemsSo you want to build a green home? Do not look at me. I am not going to help build it. I will give you some mistakes to avoid when building a green home of your own, but that is it. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint and be environmentally conscious then make sure you know everything you need to know about eco-friendly building.

It is not as easy as it seems.

Avoiding these mistakes will help your green home building process go faster and easier.

Mistake 1: When you plan out your green home, do not make it big like a palace. Keep in mind your lifestyle. The bigger the house, the more it will cost in electricity, heating, and not to mention the unused space.

Mistake 2: Straying off the beaten path is bad. Why? If you build in a new area away from town, and deep in the countryside, then you will ruin an established ecosystem. Know your lot and location before you break ground.

Mistake 3: Not thinking ahead of time can be damaging. Will you be living in your home 20 years from now? To be honest, I would not even know if I were. Knowing how long you plan on staying in your new green home can help with budget and space issues.

Mistake 4: Not doing research on green building can be bad in the long run. Yes those wooden floors are made from recycled wood but are they great with the moisture environment you live in? Knowing what building materials to use for your new home’s location is priceless. Plus, if you get contractors, they cannot screw you on the price because you know what you are talking about.

Mistake 5: Filling your home up with non-eco-friendly appliances is a no-no. Just think before you sink.

Mistake 6: Missing out on the sun’s energy is so wrong. Take advantage of the sun and use solar paneling. Make sure the roof is facing south; actually, your whole house should be facing south. You save lots of energy.

Mistake 7: Listening to your friend who knows nothing about green building, will not help you. Ask for help from a knowledgeable source.

Mistake 8: Insufficient insolation will empty your pockets in a quick minute. Insulate well and keep the cold out. If you do it right, then you will be living cozy and nice. Plus your electric bill will be very low.

Mistake 9: Going flat on the roof design is bad for a green build. Slant the roof to allow drainage. Make sure it too is insulated well. You can also make the drainage pipe connect to the garden to use the water.

Mistake 10: Forgetting to plant the actual green is often overlooked. Plants are very beneficial to green building. Do not plant random trees, bushes, and flowers. Do some research and plant what will thrive in your environment.

Do not follow these mistakes but learn from them. In no time you will have your own green home.

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Eco Tips

6 Eco-Friendly U.S. Cities You Have To Visit

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So what criteria should a city meet to be considered eco-friendly? It could include measuring the quality of the air and water, the way recycling is enforced, the replacement of conventional energy sources with renewal ones like hydraulic, air and solar energies, cleaner modes of transportations that do not leave a carbon footprint. Even farms that produce organic products can put a city on the eco-friendly map.

Here are six cities that meet the criteria.

  1. Austin, Texas is not all about horses and cowboys. They have also devoted a great deal of acres to the creation of parks, preserves and hiking trails. In addition, they are in the process to make their city entirely carbon free by the year 2020 by switching to renewable energy sources. Hybrid and electric cars are rapidly replacing fully gas powered vehicles.
  2. Just because the air in L.A. sucks doesn’t mean that all of California should get a bad rap. Take the city of Berkeley for example. They are known for using an abundant amount of green technology like solar power, wind power, hydro-power, and biofuels to run their city. In addition, they also offer a bunch of options of high quality organic food products at restaurants as well.
  3. What are the advantages of being a port city like Oakland in California? For starters, you are by the ocean, so you can use hydraulics as an energy source. Oakland is also known for having some of the freshest organic food sources available. The tap water is clean so you don’t have to invest in a filter or worry that you’ll suffer from contamination if you need to drink from the tap. Public transportation is hydrogen-powered. By the year 2020, Oakland hopes to be completely independent of oil based energy sources.
  4. Boston, Massachusetts is the place to be in 2015. That’s because they’re implementing a plan called “Green by 2015”, in which they hope to replace gas powered taxi cars, motorcycles and public transportations with hybrid ones. They will also use recycled trash to power the city as well as use solar panels as an energy source.
  5. San Francisco, California may be known for getting a whole lot of fog but it is also considered the country’s largest solar energy user. In addition to encouraging the local residents to recycle through neighborhood programs, the city has also banned the use of plastic bags at grocery stores.
  6. If you hate to drive then ditch that car, buy a bike and move to Portland, Oregon. It has 200 miles worth of bike lanes. This has been instrumental in diminishing the use of gas-powered vehicles, which as we all know really messes with the ozone layer. Plus, the less cars they less of a chance you’ll have of getting hit while bike riding to work.

Some of these cities are bike-friendly, use sustainable sources of energy like solar panels or wind sails, or provide their residents with rich, nutritious organic foods that are free of chemicals and hormones. But however they are accomplishing their environmental-focused efforts, they are succeeding and more cities ought to take their example.

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Eco Eats Eco Tips Lawn & Garden

Food Gone Wild: Super Usefull Foraging Tips

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forage-food-edible-guy-picking-plantsThere will come a day when you are lost in the forest, or even worst, the wild, and you have nothing to eat. Well you have your fingertips, but that is just disgusting, and also a bad habit. Anyway, if you are afraid of finding yourself truly lost and starving then you need to learn about foraging for food. I mean if squirrels can do it…so can you. Let Mother Nature feed you her essence. Why start foraging? Well…food costs are rising, edible plants in nature are free, they give you nutrients, and some are used for medicinal purposes.

Here are some beginner tips on foraging.

  • Tip 1: Do not eat everything that you see. Curiosity killed the dumb brat for a reason. Some plants can be poisonous.
  • Tip 2: Know what environment you are going to end up hiking. Suit up properly too. Gloves are your friends.
  • Tip 3: Bring a bag. Use it to keep your foraging finds.
  • Tip 4: Before you eat the plants, test them out to see if they do not upset your stomach and make you plant one in the toilet.
  • Tip 5: No seconds, my dear. Let the area you picked plants from have a chance to grow back.
  • Tip 6: Stay away from highway, nuclear, and landfill plants.
  • Tip 7: Read twice, pick once. That is the foraging motto…for me. Some plants can fool you, so read the books twice and cross-reference it with other plants to make sure you are eating the right one.
  • Tip 8: Make sure you are not allergic to specific plants. Rub a bit of it on a small area of your arm and then some on your lips. If you are not dead, then go ahead.
  • Tip 9: Be thoughtful. There are some endangered species of plants. Read up and find out which ones they are. The last thing you want is to eat the last one of its kind.
  • Tip 10: Do not make a mess. Littering is frowned upon.
  • Tip 11: Mushrooms are great to eat, but some can kill you on the spot. Always have a picture book of edible plants or food.
  • Tip 12: If you do not know if something is edible then do not collect it.
  • Tip 13: Make it a daily routine. Explore different areas to forage for new items.
  • Tip 14: Bring a camera to take pictures of plants, fruits, herds, weed, etc. that you find to keep track of what is in your environment.
  • Tip 15: Say thank you to Earth for giving you great natural nutrients.

So when you are out and foraging for your food, make sure to follow these tips. Remember that just because Mother Nature is giving you free food; it does not mean that you cannot repay her back. Plant some new seeds or throw some seeds in the wind and let nature take its course.

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Eco Fashion Eco Tips Furnishings Home Design

Here Are The Best Eco-Friendly Holiday Furnishing Ideas

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Now that you have the tree up, all the gifts wrapped, and the dinner menu for the festive night planned out; you look around and figure that you are forgetting something. You tap your forehead and say, “Duh!” You forgot to decorate the house with holiday flare. Now you may be thinking that you do not have the time to decorate the whole house. You may also be thinking about how you are going to decorate and keep it eco-friendly. Well, do not worry my dear friend. I am here to help you with that. It is going to be very simple, and most importantly fun; that is if you follow these tips.

Here are some eco-friendly furnishing ideas to give your home a nice earthy touch.

  • Make stencils using old newspapers. Clip 4 sheets together and while using a cutter, make your stencil. Now you can use it on name cards. Decorate the gift boxes with it. Add some deco art to the window. Or even use it to decorate cakes.
  • Use organic cotton flannel sheets on the sofa. It will keep it warm and get a x-mas pattern.
  • Try to use every decoration you have. There is no need to leave anything undecorated.
  • Use some plants to add natural air purifiers into the space.
  • Gather as many pinecones from outside. There can never be too many pinecones. Use them as a nice center piece. You can also glue string on them to make a quick ornament.

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  • Reuse old holiday decorations. You can even have a neighborhood get together where you exchange ornaments and trimmings. It is so much fun. Plus you all save money and every x-mas deco night is different.
  • Reuse bottles and jars to fill them with candy canes and other sweet treats.
  • Ornaments are not just for trees. Hang some on doorknobs. Use some to hold curtains together.
  • Save energy and only light up your tree. Use led lights. You will be tempted to put lights up outside but remember that it is only for showing off. Plus you are going to spend a lot of green when you get the light bill if you do it.
  • Use candles. Be cautious of where you put them. Use white red, green, or a mix of all three colors to liven the home.
  • Make your own potpourri with holiday spices.

I do hope that with all of these eco-friendly furnishing tips you too can make you home as inviting as mine. The best thing is that you can go to sleep knowing that is all earth friendly. No harm is being done. Well, there will be if you forget to turn off the candles.

Do not forget to sprinkle some cinnamon over door ledges to give your guest an instant kick of the season.

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Eco Tips Gadgets & Gear

10 Super Cool Eco-Friendly Gifts For Kids

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With the holiday season approaching us so quickly, it is time to get all of your loved ones mark off the x-mas list. Have you ever had an eco-friendly holiday? If you have, then thank you for helping prolong Earth’s life. If you have not, then you need to get on board. Start off small this year in purchasing eco-friendly gifts for the kids. Also remember to wrap the gifts with old newspapers. Recycling is the best gift you can give to Mother Nature. Anyway, this article is not about her; it is about gifts the kids can enjoy.

Here are a few eco-friendly gifts.

  • Yogen Charger: Forget about pulling the string on the back of a talking toy. Now you can pull a cord to charge your mp3, or phone. Great for the constant cellphone text addict. It is worth $50 bucks.
  • Upcycled BOOMBOX MP3 Player: Retro in its design and it does not need batteries to make some bombastic sound. It is 18.99. It is made from discarded boxes/wrappers in the likes of Skittles, and Capri Sun.

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  • EcoZoo Cotton Kids Backpacks: Make going back to school after the holidays so much fun with these lovely backpack. Great for sleepovers too. I want the panda one for myself. They are $36 dollars at EcoGear.com.

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  • Finders Re-Gifter: Go in your attic or basement and look for old telescopes, microscopes, cameras, etc. Gifting something of yours from when you were young can make a great vintage gift. Plus it is eco-friendly.
  • Crazy Crayons Eco Stars: These are only $6.95 and you get 20 of them. They will make a great gift or you can split it up and use them as stocking stuffers.
  • Terracycle Drinkpouch Pencil Case: This pencil case will be a kool stocking stuffer gift. It is made from recycled Kool-Aid pouches. It is worth $6.95.
  • Mix & Match Lunch Box System: Lunch is so much fun now with these bento lunch boxes. They range from $12.95 – $23.99. Plus when you wrap them up, do not forget to fill the compartment with holiday treats. Get them at LaptopLunches.com

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  • Dress Up Animals: Who knew you could dress up wooden toys. These lovely wooden animals are $25.00 dollars. You get two outfit options. They are so much fun and are made of recycled wood. Great for the future veterinarian in the house. Get them at PlanToys.com.
  • Memoir Blanket: Use some of the old clothes they no longer wear and make them a quilt. If you cannot sew then ask a family member or friend if they can sew it for you.
  • Mix Match, the Sock Monkey: Hate having only one sock and cannot find the other one? Make a sock monkey.

These are amazing gifts for any kid. They might not be expecting any of them but what kid does not like a gift. Yes it might not be the newest Transformer or Matchbox car, but at least these toys are helping the earth and helping them become more self-conscious of their surroundings.

A merry eco-friendly holiday to you.

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Eco Tips Furnishings Home Decor Home Design Home Improvement

Innovative Multi-Purpose Furniture Ideas

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Maybe you are looking to make your home eco-friendlier. Perhaps you live in a shoebox apartment in New York City and do not have much space for a lot of furniture. Who knows? You might be one of those people who simply hate being conventional like the rest of the world. Whatever your reasons are, multi-purpose furniture items can provide you with a fresh concept that takes your living space to a whole new level.

Shelving space is always an issue in most homes but not everyone can afford to buy a 6 or 8 shelve monstrosity. So why not turn something you don’t use into something useful. Take these folding chairs for example. Not only can you use the area where you park your butt to put books, plants, and decorations but you can also use them for closet space by hanging clothes on the base of the seat. All you have to do is nail those foldable chairs to the wall and you are done.

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If you want a bookshelf and a workstation but don’t have space for both then here’s the best of both worlds. This blue furniture houses a chair, a desk for your desktop computer and plenty of space for your books all in one unit.

Another item that’s super useful for those of you who are spatially challenged is the “madame est servie” mirror that is more than what it seems to be. When you’re ready to iron you simply tilt it and lock the unit into place. Once you’re done, you tilt it back and you have a mirror again which you can use to look at yourself as you get dressed.

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http://goo.gl/yyKg5h

If you’re single renter of a one bedroom apartment who also happens to like bike riding, then you can buy this table which allows you to park your bike and use it as a chair while you enjoy your tea, coffee, a drink or a small meal on top of the wooden table.

There’s nothing worse than sitting alone without a place to rest your martini on, which is why this chair is so cool. The chair within the chair pulls out so that the exterior frame becomes a mini-table where you can rest your drink on.

For those of you looking to redesign your interior space, there are plenty of options to choose from such as the bookcase and levitating sofa. The base works as shelf space for all of your books and magazines and the above it is the sofa where you can sit and read for hours. Whenever you need something just reach under your legs and voila! Instant reading material!

couch-bookshelf-storage-seat
http://goo.gl/bYqFjR

Who says you can’t have fun in the dining room? This table serves as a pool table so you can have fun with family or guests and once the food is done cooking you simply turn it back into a dining table and sit down to eat.

pool-dining-table-elegant
http://goo.gl/UJcBDV

Multi-purpose furniture helps to make your home greener by making your indoors sustainable and healthy without sacrificing design, beauty or functionality.

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Eco Tips Gadgets & Gear

Eco-Friendly Holiday Gift Solutions For The Entire Family

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http://goo.gl/EyzDni

If you are looking for a gift that is environmentally conscious, useful, durable and at the same time expensive looking then you have come to the right place. There are plenty of eco-friendly holiday gift options out there that you probably never considered buying for someone but you will love our suggestions.

When you think about an eco-friendly gift you probably do not imagine that this would apply to electronic gadgets but you would be wrong. There are some green options for the gadget geek in your family.

Would you ever spend $15 on a battery? Well how about a rechargeable battery that connects to a USB port. That way they can charge their USB Cell Battery while surfing the web, writing a report, or updating their blog. And they won’t have to spend so much money on conventional chemically toxic batteries, which ends up in landfills.

If you have a junior Stephen Spielberg in the house then they will love the Sun & Cloud Camera. It not only has a solar panel to charge itself but it also has a crank that they can turn to charge up the camera in case there’s no sun. If you’re worried that this camera does not compare to the standard ones, do not worry. The Sun & Cloud camera shoots digital quality videos and photo stills. But spoiler alert! Prepare to fork over $180 for this baby. So make sure you really love the person you’re buying this for.

sun-cloud-camera-solar
http://goo.gl/TcieEa

For those of you looking for an outdoorsy gift, try the Rydon Pixio bicycle light. It is solar-powered and designed to resist the weather elements. So if the bike rider in your family gets lost in the mountains or a park, they will be guaranteed to have up to 60 hours of light with the Rydon Pixio. At $39.99, this gift is cheap but looks expensive.

For that green thumb family member or friend you can buy them the Apple-Tree-To-Be Kit for just $22. Sure it is not much to look at when they get the gift but it has all the things they will need to plant their own apple tree.

If you have a teen who has rebelled against you by going wiccan, then do them and the environment a favor by buying them sox wax candles. They are scented but they will not release any of those harmful chemicals that a-typical candles release when burned.

Bamboo kitchenware like cutting boards and core bamboo bowls make an excellent gift for the chef in the house because the material is natural, sustainable and durable. Plus they will give the kitchen that tropical island feel as opposed to a sterile feel commonly caused by conventional plastic or metallic kitchenware.

You can also buy a couple of throw blankets for everyone in the family. That way everyone can sit close to each other by the couch while watching reruns of Christmas marathon specials like “A Christmas Story” without wasting energy from using a heater and releasing fumes into the environment.

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http://goo.gl/9ErcKE

Eco-friendly gifts for the holidays are available for every family member and every budget, but best of all, you’ll be contributing to keeping the environment safe.

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Eco Tips Furnishings Recycling

9 Eco-Friendly Baby Nursery Ideas

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http://goo.gl/lq9tR3
eco-friendly-green-cribs-for-baby
http://goo.gl/ItGvqR

Now that your house is all eco-friendly, it is time to work on the new addition. The baby nursery can be beautiful and green (not the paint color, unless you want it to be). Here are some simple steps to help you make the perfect baby nursery eco-friendly.

No Diapers: I know you are maybe saying, “What am I going to use then?” The solution: Cloth diapers. They are more work, but cost less and they are not harming the world buy having a mini-vacation in landfills. They are less pollutant than a diaper. You can also look for companies that make biodegradable diapers.

Fresh Air: Purchase an air purifier. Make sure your princess or prince gets the room with the best view. The natural fresh air and sunlight are perfect. The air purifier will help eliminate mold spores, dust mites, and any excess moisture.

Safe Walls For All: Remember this slogan – VOC-free is better for me. Using paint that is VOC-free (volatile organic compounds) is environment friendly. You can even use mineral pigment paints. If you have to scrap away old paint please be aware that it might be lead paint especially if your house is very old. Just be careful to not chip it but lightly use sandpaper when removing it. You can also look for eco-friendly wallpaper options.

Furniture: When it comes to adding furniture into the nursery, keep this word in mind: RE-USE. Instead of spending more money on baby furniture, spend your time looking for items you already have. You can re-use an old bookshelf for baby toys, and books. Use an old dresser as a changing table. Of course put a comfy pad on the surface. Even ask family members for old baby stuff that they are willing to part with. You can even look up online for sites where you can find used baby furniture, toys, clothes, strollers, etc. Zwaggle.com is a great site.

Know Your Wood: If you do end up purchasing a new crib or rocking chair then make sure you know which wood is best for the baby. Stay away from plywood and fiberboard. The glue in them release chemical fumes after time.  Purchase real wood with water based finishes. Also make sure the wood is sustainable. Look for FSC-certified wood labels. The crib might cost more but you can easily make it an eco-friendly heirloom for future generations.

Perfect Floor: One word- Bamboo. It is a renewable resource. Plus it gives the nursery an elegant look.

Green Windows: Stay away from blinds, and shutters. Use organic cotton window treatments.

Crib Décor: When it comes to a baby’s mattress I recommend Naturepedic. All of their mattresses are made of non-toxic materials. They are great for your baby who will spend most of their early years in bed sleeping. All the crib linens should be made of organic cotton, wool, or linen. You can even make a quilt out of used baby clothes. That is if you sew. If not then have someone make you one.

Minimal Is The Key: Keep the décor of the room minimalistic. A few stuff toys, and books here and there will be sufficient enough. As time passes the baby will get more stuff.

Hopefully these tips help you make your baby nursery eco-friendly and safe for your new addition.

 

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Eco Eats Eco Tips

Eco-Friendly Thanksgiving Party Ideas

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thanksgiving-give-thanks-wreath-deco-pic
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November is here. You all know what does that mean? My birthday of course. Oh, I mean…THANKSGIVING! The happiest time of the year to give thanks to everything good in the world and to be thankful for stretch pants. Gobble gobble. Talking about gobble; I recently have gotten on the eco-friendly craze, and want to throw a Thanksgiving party while at the same time thanking the Earth for all it has given us.

So here are some eco-friendly thanksgiving ideas everyone will love, even the turkey in the backyard.

Table Deco: The leaves are falling in many shades. Instead of raking them up an putting them in glad bags that do not make any landfill glad, use them to make wonderful decorations. Glue some together to make tablemats. Use semi-large ones as coasters so no liquid will damage your reclaimed wood ten seat table. Glue some one inch apart from another on some twine or rope for a festive garland. Acorn turkeys are always fun to make.

Halloween’s Treat:

  • Keep those pumpkins you carved out. You can turn them around and carve thanksgiving theme patterns to illuminate throughout the house. You can even use some as flower holders. Who does not like a cute pumpkin vase?
  • Have any extra face paint from your costume? If you do then use them to make one–of-a-kind hand turkey art with the kids and display them throughout the house or use them as name cards.
  • Use anything orange you saved from your Halloween parties. Reuse and make it look new. No one will know once all the pies are on the table.
  • Left-over candy from trick or treating is always rare. If you have any then use them on your deserts. You can make turkey cookies or leaf cookies and use M&Ms to decorate them.

Faux Turkey: Go vegan for one day. Save a turkey. Yes they taste good especially with a bit of honey. C’mon, stop it. The turkey is an animal and has feelings too. Trust me it will be thankful if you do not kill it. Instead why not kill it with kindness and make a tofu turkey substitute? If your family does not like it then tofu-rkey-ing bad.You get the point.

Energy: Play outside with the family. Have your own football game. Turn off the television, turn off the air conditioner, and go outside for a while. Be thankful you have a family to enjoy such a wonderful holiday with.

Dishes: If you are having a small gathering then use you green set of plates that you bought specifically for this festive holiday. Wash them all at the same time to conserve water. Or do what I do…recycle them. If you are having a potluck type get together then purchase some biodegradable plates, napkins and utensils. If you do own a dishwashing machine, you may want to wait until you can wash a load of dishes that fills it up entirely, therefore you’ll be conserving water and not wasting away our sacred electricity.

Food: Two words…organic and local. Buy in bulk for less packaging waste. Save leftovers, or better yet let your guest take some home to keep them from wasting energy the next day. Recyling leftover food is easy, you can always make a pie out of anything.

Hopefully these tips help you out on your day of thanks. If it does then all I can say is…you are welcome.

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Eco Tips

Eco-Cooler Home in the Summer

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It seems like we never catch a break! During the winter we need the heater on or we will freeze our buns off. In the summer, the heat and humidity is unbearable. We either end up glued to our leather couches by sticky sweat or we pass out from a heat stroke. Those of us who can afford an air conditioner will likely burn a hole through their pockets the size of the artic hole in the ozone layer. The energy cost is simply way too expensive and it is harmful to the environment. But there are a couple of alternative ways to stay cool this summer and it is cost saving and energy-efficient all at the same time.

Start by limiting the amount of electric equipment you have on during the day. You’d be surprised how much heat can be generated by computers, televisions, dishwashers, stoves and oven. You can reduce the amount of heat that gets trapped inside your home by using these devices in the evening when it is cooler.

If you think you are keeping your house cool by opening the windows and doors during the day, you’re wrong! All you are doing is allowing the heat to enter, not to mention all those pesky mosquitoes and bugs that are looking for a safe haven from the searing sun. So during the day, do not open your doors or windows. Once the sun goes down, you can let the house air out and allow the cool air to come in. You can actually speed this process up if the house is too muggy in the evenings by adding fans and directing them towards a window or door. This will push the warm air out.

Ceiling fans are excellent to keep the comfortable temperature level in your house to an acceptable level. I would personally recommend one for every room if possible, except the bathroom of course. It will not feel as cool as an A/C but it will make the summer heat far more manageable.

Remember that humidity is inescapable. Meaning you cannot go in the shade to avoid it like you would sunlight. But you can find a way to block out solar heat. You can achieve this by buying and installing mini-blinds for every window in your home. By doing this you can potentially repel up to 40 percent of the heat from the outside, perhaps more. You can go one step further and get blinds that are made from bamboo material. This natural material can repel the heat by more than 50 percent and as much as 80 percent.

Since we are talking about natural and Eco-friendly material, how about using some shade plants? A couple of carefully planted trees or large plants can act as a buffer between the sun and your window. All in all, it’s symbiotically beneficial. The plant gets some sunlight and your house gets to stay cool.

Air conditioning units are just too bulky and expensive; plus they harm the environment by releasing harmful emissions. You are way better off using these alternative steps to lower the scorching heat in the summer. You will get to keep your hard earned money and you will not have to feel guilty about potentially damaging the Eco-system.