Tag: eco tips

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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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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!

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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.

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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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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.

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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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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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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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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.

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Eco Tips

How To Use 3 Kitchen Appliances the Eco-Friendly Way

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No one wants to spend more money than they have to, especially when they’re on a budget. Fortunately there are ways you can save money in your kitchen and help the environment out in the process.

How many of you have those high tech refrigerators that make ice seemingly out of thin air? Have you ever noticed how when you need ice there never seems to be enough and in times like the winter, there seems to be so much that it’s practically overflowing. Are you ever afraid that you’re going to open the freezer door one day and you’re going to get bombarded by millions of ice cubes? Okay, so maybe that will never happen, but you need to realize that the automatic ice maker in your freezer consumes energy. So if you see that your appliance is producing too much ice, turn the automatic ice maker off, especially if it’s winter. By doing this you can save up to 20 percent from the cost of your next electric bill.

The dishwasher is another kitchen appliance which is quite useful but can consume too much energy if you’re not careful. Leaving dirty dishes in your dishwasher isn’t nearly as bad as leaving them piled up on the kitchen sink. In fact, it’s recommended. Dishwaters not only use up the precious water supply, but also leaves a carbon footprint as well. It’s extremely energy consuming, especially because it uses heat to dry the dishes once they are washed. The same happens when you dry clothes in your dryer. There are a couple of things you can do to go eco-friendly. First of all, when you pile the dishes, make sure they are piled up properly.

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There’s a reason why there are slots for dishes, pots, cups, and silverware. So use them. Otherwise, an overflowed dishwasher can result in your dishes not being cleaned well. This will mean you will have to wash your dishes all over again wasting twice as much energy for what should have been one load. Also, don’t assume that you have to wash dishes after every meal. Wait until you have enough dishes stacked in the washer and then start a cleaning cycle. Of course, you can always go the old fashioned way and wash your dishes with a sponge once and a while.

If you like to bake like Martha Stewart then invest in an oven that actually has a light that allows you to see how the baking is going. If you have the bad habit of opening the oven door to check, you are basically wasting a whole bunch of energy. While you are at it, let us go topside to the coil size. Most stoves have four tops with different coil sizes to match the size of your pot or pan. So make sure that the size of your pot or pan matches the coil. If you want to fry an egg and you use a small pot on a big coil, you will end up producing a lot of heat in your kitchen. This will either make you turn your fans on higher to lower the heat or he air conditioner.

Common sense when using these appliances will not only save you money and electricity, you will also be reducing the carbon footprint that threatens our planet. So sit down with your family to enjoy a nice cooked meal from the oven, a cold drink from the fridge, and then hand wash the dishes together as a family. Ahh, who am I kidding? Put them in the dishwasher. Go enjoy a movie.

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Articles Home Decor Home Design

Four Ways to Furnish Your Home Inexpensively

When it comes to having a home that you are truly comfortable living in, this will take a lot of effort on your part in terms of decorating it. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to break the bank to keep your home looking it’s best.

Here’s a quick look at four ways to inexpensively decorate and furnish your home.

Stack Shelves To the Ceiling

Even in the smallest of living spaces, you always have the option to maximize your square footage by going up. Think about it. If you take an entire wall in your home and line it with shelves that go all the way up to the ceiling, this can add anywhere from 100 square feet or more of storage space, and best of all, high-quality shelves are very affordable.

Freecycling

There are lots of people who have started taking part in freecycling. If you have a local freecycling organization, you should definitely join. In doing so, you can come across lots of free furniture pieces for your home, and in return, you can donate items you don’t want, which will then be available free of charge to other members in the group. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Maximize Air Space

Just the same as you should stack shelves up to the ceilings, you can also optimize the way you use your air space. From floating book shelves to hanging TVs, both of these ideas will go a long way in helping you decorate and furnish your home in an expensive yet stylish manner.

Old Wine Bottles

If you’re a drinker, then it’s time that you start recycling your wine and alcohol bottles. Some of these bottles make for the prettiest center pieces. A great way to get the sticky labels off the bottles is by letting them soak overnight in a small trash can full of one part ammonia and four parts water. The next morning, simply rinse off the bottles, and the sticky labels should come off very easily.

 

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Articles Lawn & Garden Recycling

Turning Your Backyard Into a Green-Living Haven

No home is complete without a spruced up backyard. Even if this outdoor area is rather small, with the right touch, it can look better than ever before, and more importantly, it can be used as a versatile form of living space. From outdoor kitchens to in-ground swimming pools, there are many ways to make use of a backyard. And best of all, there are many green-friendly techniques you can follow to ensure you turn your backyard into a green-living haven.

Revamp Your Used Furniture

Your current outdoor patio furniture may seem a bit worn out, but by upcycling these pieces, you’ll be well on your way to revamping them into completely new pieces. From adding a fresh coat of paint to replacing the cushions, there are many affordable and eco-friendly methods for sprucing up old furniture and extending its longevity.

Be Cautious with the Way You Plant Flowers and Trees

If your backyard is spotted with plants, flowers and trees that require lots of water, you’ll at least want to group these together. In doing so, it will be easier to water these areas on a more consistent basis than you do other areas of the yard. Not only does this help conserve water, but it will do wonders for your water bill.

Do the Work Yourself

One of the best ways to create a backyard haven in a green-friendly way is by doing the work yourself. From raking the yard to digging holes to planting flowers, when you do things yourself, this allows you to accomplish your tasks in the greenest manners possible. And in addition to taking lots of pride in the end-product, you’ll also save a ton of money by doing the work yourself. Do keep in mind, though, that maintaining your backyard will take lots of work; it will need your attention all year long.

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Eco Tips Uncategorized

Go Green in the Kitchen

The kitchen may be one of the busiest rooms in your entire house, and it’s no surprise that kitchen appliances use a large portion of a home’s energy. Additionally, due to dishwashers and sinks, much of a family’s water usage happens in the kitchen. Use these tips to conserve energy in your kitchen every day. Not only will you be helping to save the planet, but you will also be saving yourself some money. There’s no reason not to use these five tips to go green in your kitchen.

1. Washing dishes.

If you wash dishes by hand, don’t run the water constantly. Instead, fill one side of the sink with soapy water for washing, and fill the other side with clean water for rinsing to save water. However, most newer models of dishwashers are much more efficient than washing dishes by hand, and you won’t need to pre-rinse the dishes. However, you should only run the dishwasher when it is completely full to save on electricity and water.

2. Check fridge and freezer seals.

If the seals on the doors of your refrigerator and freezer are leaky, you could be losing money every month as cool air escapes from the fridge. Put a dollar bill in the door so that it is half in and half out. If you can pull the bill from the door easily, you should replace the seal or give it a good cleaning.

3. Use small appliances.

Instead of heating the oven every time you want to cook, try using a slow cooker. This will not only use less power, but it also helps you to avoid heating up your house in the summer. You should also consider using small appliances, like electric teapots, toasters, and rice cookers, instead of your stove if you can.

4. Fix the sink.

If your sink drips, you could be wasting gallons of water every day. A new washer only costs a few cents, but it could save you many times that on your water bill each month.

5. Install a water filter in the sink.

If you are used to using bottled water, try installing a water filter on your kitchen faucet. You can fill a water bottle and still have the convenience of portable water. However, you won’t have the expense of buying water bottles, and you won’t be generating trash. Alternately, you can use a water-filtering pitcher.

The kitchen is the heart of the home, so express your heart for the earth by utilizing these green kitchen tips.

~April F.

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Featured Lawn & Garden

Gardening With Nature–Companion Planting

Planning your garden to include a very diverse mix of plants can do more than just add interest to it. If you plant certain types of flowers, herbs, and vegetables together, they will actually enhance the productivity of your garden. Planning a garden so that particular plants are located in proximity to one another is called companion planting. Companion plants repel pests, attract beneficial insects, and enhance the growth and flavor of one another.

Here are some tips for companion planting, so you can make the most of your garden this summer.

1. Basil is a friend to all

Basil is a friend to almost all garden plants. This aromatic herb repels flies, mosquitoes, and thrips. Basil does especially well near oregano, peppers, and tomatoes. Rather than planting long rows of only tomatoes and peppers, plant your rows with peppers, tomatoes, and basil together.

2. Corn loves beans.

Beans are legumes, which mean that they take nitrogen from the air and put it in the dirt. Since corn feeds heavily on nitrogen, plant beans where the corn was grown last year, and the corn where the beans were grown.

3. Garlic and roses make quite a pair.

If you plant garlic near your roses, the garlic will repel aphids and Japanese beetles. In fact, any plant, including fruit trees, that is plagued by Japanese beetles, will be benefited by garlic. Scientists have found that plants’ roots actually take up secretions by the garlic plants and release them through the plants’ pores.

4. Marigold makes sense for all.

Marigold benefits many plants in the garden because the roots of these lovely flowers kill damaging nematodes that may live in the soil. Additionally, the flowers of this plant repel whiteflies and tomato hornworms. The Mexican variety of marigold is rumored to repel rabbits and Mexican bean beetles.

5. Dill can do it!

Dill improves the flavor and production of cabbages, cucumbers, and lettuces. However, it does attract the tomato hornworm, so you shouldn’t plant dill near tomatoes. Dill can repel squash bugs, so you may want to put a few plants in your hills of squash and pumpkins. Dill flowers attract beneficial bugs like predatory wasps to your garden, and the plant is a food source for the larvae of swallowtail butterflies.

6. Lettuces love lots of plants.

Lettuces pair well with beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, and onions. You can also plant lettuces in the shade of tall sunflowers, since lettuce plants do not do well in the blazing heat of summer.

Companion planting can help you avoid using toxic chemicals in the garden by attracting beneficial insects and discouraging invasions of pesky insects that will damage your plants. This planting style works with nature to bring more food to your table and more beauty to your garden.

~April F.