Tag: eco-friendly

Categories
Gadgets & Gear

How to Stay on Eco-Forward Time

Sprout Watches

“Simply put, we set out to make the most eco-forward watches available. Truthful, transparent and to the point – we’ll never be anything less.” This is the mission statement of Sprout Watches. They make cute and stylish watches that are made from completely renewable and recyclable materials. Even the packaging is made with 80% post consumer fibers. They have been featured in many magazines such as Instyle, Oprah, People and more!

Sprout Watches have been around for over 50 years and have produced quality watches. All the watches are made from organic corn resin, organic cotton, cork, and Tyvek. Every watch has a lead- and phthalate-free timepiece features a mineral crystal lens, a mercury-free battery, and a mother-of-pearl or bamboo dial. They even have conflict free and certified diamonds!

One of the best part about these watches? None of them are over $80! You read right! These affordable watches range in price from $30-$80. With so many different styles (men and women’s watches are available) and colors (bold, stripes, classics) there is sure to be something you will fall in love with! These watches are stylish, affordable, high quality, eco-friendly, and are made to last.

Check out some of our favorites!

For more information, where to buy, and to purchase your own watch- check out their website.

All photos courtesy of SproutWatches.com.

Categories
Eco Eats

30 Minute Vegetarian Chili for Meatless Monday

Meatless Monday is here again and with this simple vegetarian chili recipe you are guaranteed to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Try to get the produce in this recipe from your local farmer’s market to support your local farmers (if possible). For more information on why to go Meatless on Monday click here.

Vegetarian Chili

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon extra-virgin oil

2 bell peppers (any color), chopped

2 cups chopped mushrooms

3 carrots, peeled and chopped

1 large onion, chopped

3 celery stalks, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 (15 oz) cans of pinto beans

1 (14.5 oz) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes with juices

Optional Ingredients:

Non-fat plain Greek yogurt

Low-fat or Fat-free shredded cheddar cheese

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add bell peppers, mushrooms, onion, celery, and garlic; cook, stirring, until vegetables begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Add chili powder, oregano, cumin, and salt; cook, stirring occasionally for about 5 more minutes.

Add beans and tomatoes with their juices. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until chili is fragrant and slightly thickened, 25 minutes. Serve warm.

Additional Notes:

You can choose to garnish with the chili with nonfat plain yogurt if you like or low-fat or fat-free shredded cheddar cheese.  When I make this chili I follow all these directions then throw it in to the crock pot and let it cook for a couple of hours (when I have the extra time). When you throw the chili in the crock pot the vegetables soften and the ingredients meld together to create a delicious chili. Serve with a mixed green salad on the side and a couple of crackers. Eat and enjoy!

Nutritional Info: Servings: 4/ Amount per serving: 2 C/ Calories per serving: 287.6/ Total Fat: 6.2 g/ Cholesterol: 0.0 mg/ Sodium: 960:5 mg/ Total Carbs: 46.0 g/ Dietary Fiber: 14.1 g/ Protein 14.2 g/

Recipe adapted from the South Beach Diet.

Categories
Green Building Home Design

6 Surprising Benefits of a Green Roof

A green roof or a living roof is the roof of a building that is covered with vegetation (such as grass and flowers) which is planted over a waterproofing membrane. A green roof has many different and intricate layers that all combine to create a living roof. When a rooftop has a garden with potted plants, it not considered a real green rooftop.

Why are roofs going “green?” Believe it or not green roofs significantly help reduce a buildings heating and cooling costs as well as helps with the urban heat island effect. The urban heat island effect is when a metropolitan area is warmer than its rural counterparts due to human activity.  Also green roofs are taking an otherwise unused space and making them environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing. See our list below for some benefits of a living roof and how you can get one for your building!

Some Benefits:

  • With green roofs, water is stored by the membrane and then taken up by the plants from where it is returned to the atmosphere through evaporation.
  • Through the daily dew and evaporation cycle, plants on vertical and horizontal surfaces are able to cool cities during hot summer months and reduce the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect.
  • The plants on green roofs can capture airborne pollutants.
  • Community gardens (e.g. local food production or co-ops)
  • The greater insulation offered by green roofs can reduce the amount of energy needed to moderate the temperature of a building, as roofs are the sight of the greatest heat loss in the winter and the hottest temperatures in the summer.
  • Noise pollution reduction – studies show noise levels in a building can be reduced by as much as 40 decibels

(Facts and benefits taken from greenroofs.org)

Here are some useful websites that you can find out more information and where you can inquire about getting a green rooftop for your building or home!

http://www.greenroofs.org

http://www.greenroofs.com/depot.htm

Categories
Eco Eats Eco Tips Featured

5 Reasons to go Meatless on Mondays

Meatless Mondays is a relatively new way of being eco-friendly and organic.  It’s just one day a week where you abstain from all meat and poultry. Of course, if you were to eat meat every other day of the week, you are encouraged to eat meat that is grass-fed, free range, and hormone-free.  It is both beneficial to your health as well as the environment. Here are a few important health and environmental benefits from applying Meatless Mondays to your lifestyle.

  • Decrease Cancer Risk:  Studies have shown that the consumption of processed red meat and poultry increases the risk of developing colon cancer. Those who eat more fruits and vegetables in their daily diet, with limited amount of meat, lead healthier lives and reduce their chances of getting cancer.
  • Heart Disease:  According to the results from a study performed by Harvard University, you lower the risk of heart disease by 19% if you decrease the amount of saturated fat full foods, such as meats and dairy. You can replace these saturated filled foods with polyunsaturated fats, which are various nuts, seeds, and vegetable or coconut oil.
  • Diabetes and Obesity:  Decreasing red meat consumption reduces the risk of developing type two diabetes.  Ultimately, red meat is filled with saturated fat, which decomposes into sugar in your body.  Sugar build-up will lead to weight gain and diabetes. Also, chicken you buy at a local grocery store are normally not free-range and filled with hormones. Of course, meat and poultry provides required nutrients and protein for our bodies.  But, if we are not careful, this can lead to diabetes and obesity.
  • Eco-Friendly:  According to the United Nations’ food and agricultural organization, the meat industry produces at least 1/5th of the greenhouse gas emanations, which has been accelerating the world’s climate change. This is far more than what transportation devices emit. The demand for meat only increases the amount of gases emitted. Abstaining from meat at least once a week will help decrease the demand that meat industries have to accommodate.

 

Mary Kate Seymour is a professional blogger with an English degree from Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina. She is one of seven children, raised in a Marine Corps family. She loves to read, write, explore new places; research new craft ideas and work on crochet projects.

She has become a frequent user of Pinterest this past year and, as a result, her “to-do” list for crafts has grown immensely. She’s an animal lover and has a miniature poodle named “Rosie.”  Her long term goal is to secure a position as a high school English and Literature teacher. She thoroughly enjoys being a writer, nanny and tutor. 

Categories
Eco Tips Featured

5 Natural Alternatives to at Home Air Fresheners

According to recent studies conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), most store-bought air fresheners contain formaldehyde, petrochemicals, p-dichlorobenzene and aerosol pollutants (these chemicals can cause asthma, watery eyes, respiratory problems and more)! Store-bought air fresheners release pollutants more or less continuously. Upon reading about all those harmful chemicals in air fresheners I immediately started researching natural and eco-friendly ways to freshen my home without risk of potentially putting myself at risk. Here are three ways to leave your home smelling fresh without using harsh chemicals and most of the ingredients can be found in your pantry!

Simmer Spices. You can simmer spices such as whole cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg on the stovetop or place them in a crockpot for all day smell.

Use Essential Oils. Dab a little on a light bulb or a warmer to gently scent a room. You can also combine then with other scents and make one uniquely your own!

Cooking Odors. Eliminate cooking odors by placing a shallow bowl of vinegar nearest the scent. It will help “capture” the scent and rid it of your house!

Create Your Own Potpourri. Create your own potpourri from bulk herbs, flowers, and spices and leave a little in a bowl or place them in sachets. You can use your left over herbs from your herb garden and flowers from your flower garden as well!

Odor Absorbers. Use a neutral odor absorbent such as a box of baking soda in a stinky area (especially in the refrigerator to help capture smells). You can also sprinkle especially smelly spots (such as the garbage can) with a little vinegar and baking soda to help with the smell.

Sources: kimberlysnyder.net, (http://kimberlysnyder.net/blog/2012/03/10/the-danger-of-air-freshener-and-10-alternatives-for-a-great-smelling-home/)

Categories
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.

Categories
Eco Tips

7 Eco-Friendly House Cleaning Tips

Most standard cleaning products and processes are either wasteful or just plain hazardous to humans and pets. Green your cleaning routine by putting these tips into practice.

Keep Cleaning Solutions Simple. Use simple, readily available cleaning solutions made with vinegar, salt, lemon juice and baking soda to make your own safe homemade cleaning solutions. Vinegar and water is great for cleaning glass windows and tile floors.

Naturally Freshen Air. Skip all those toxic artificial air fresheners and boil cinnamon or cloves to scent the air instead. One of our favorite ways to naturally scent the air is by sticking cloves into an orange to make a fragrant orange pomander ball.

Wash Clothes Wisely. Wait until you have a full load of laundry to run the washing machine. You’ll save big bucks on your water bill and spent less time listening to a noisy washing machine.

Recycle Your Rags. Make your own dust rags from old t-shirts, sweatshirts, and socks.

Conserve Cleaning Water. Don’t let the water run unless you are filling a cleaning bucket. Sweep instead of wet mop when possible, and put a tracking mat at the door to collect dirt so you don’t have to wash the floor as often.

Call for Household Hazardous Waste Pickups. Call your local recycling center, town or city hall. Most communities have several Household Hazardous Waste Pickup Days each year.

Start a Compost Bin. Composting food waste minimizes landfill burden and supports healthy soil in which you can grow your own food. Buy or make a compost bin and get the family involved. Household waste that can be composted includes things like paper towels, paper bags, cotton clothing (torn up), egg shells, hair (human, dog, cat etc.) Use all these items in moderation.

 

Categories
Articles Home Decor

4 Ways to Create a Home Spa Atmosphere

A spa environment is synonymous with the feeling of peace and tranquility. By adding just a few accents, it can be easy to create a spa environment in your own home that can have a calming effect on the mind and body.

Use Calming Colors. Use cool, calming color palettes like blue, shades of light green, white or lavender.

Add a Dish of Pebbles or Crystals. Place a bowl of pebbles or dish or crystals in the bathroom or bedroom as a reminder of nature’s endurance and strength.

Use Essential Oils. Scent the room with a diffuser made of natural essential oils such as lavender, almond or sage.

Buy Non-Toxic Soy Candles. Add blue, purple or white candles to a room and create a calming environment for meditation. Candles, plants and essential oils all contribute to a more relaxing, healing atmosphere.

Soothing Sounds. Play a CD or download tracks of the sounds in nature, classical or harp music to bring soothing music into your home and create a spa-like environment.