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Seems like everyone these days is trying to become a little greener. You probably already recycle and if you’re lucky, maybe have even upgraded to a hybrid car. But what can you do for your home? There is certainly an environmental benefit of conserving energy and resources and can help the earth stay clean, but in the end it also saves you money to improve your energy at home. There are small things you can start doing today and more long-term solutions that you can plan for in the near future to make your living space much greener and more wallet-friendly. Close Doors Any rooms or spaces in your home that you use on a minimal basis do not need to be consistently heated or cooled. Any spare rooms or even closets that you can close off means less space that you are using energy to heat or cool. Just by simply closing a door or two, you can cut down on heating or cooling costs depending on the season. Use Curtains In the wintertime as soon as the sun is up, open your curtains. Free heat! It will come in through your windows and warm your space so your heater is not working as hard. Likewise, in the hotter months, draw the shades during the warmer hours of the day so you keep the sun out and cool air in. This will decrease the use of central air and any air conditioning units that have a built in thermostat. Insulate It's pretty simple to do at least temporary insulation around your home. Quick weather stripping around doors and plastic covering over unused windows are quick and easy insulating jobs that take minimal time and money. Less obvious insulating options are things like using a propane tank Powerblanket and insulating any indoor duct systems. Lighten Up If you are building a house, or planning to replace your existing roof, choose a lighter color shingle for your roof. It's one of the things that many people don't think of, but darker colors attract sunlight which in turn attract heat which makes for a much more difficult time cooling your home in the hotter seasons. This is a more long-term solution, but can really make a difference in how much energy you spend. Tree Time Obviously, planting a tree at all is a long-term commitment and although you can get fairly mature trees, it takes time for most to reach the point of maturity to offer shade. But it's one of the greenest ways to add shade to your home in a natural and beautiful way. Try deciduous trees for great results, and see if you can add bushes for added shade as well. Install Smart Systems Many new homes come equipped with smart systems for everything, but you can start installing these same systems in your home especially for energy purposes. The easiest solution is a thermostat you can control from your smart phone to regulate temperature and energy use of your heating or cooling system even when you're not home. There are countless small and innovative ways to maximize your energy resourcefulness in your home. Some you can easily start today, and many you can start planning today. Either way, make a plan to have a greener dream home.

It seems inevitable that pollution and temperature levels around the world will increase with growing populations, mass consumption, and related industrial processes. The environmental toll will do more than impact wildlife though. Humans can expect more diseases, food and water shortages, and conflict over habitable land. Business owners have the means to lessen the negative impact that their companies have on the environment. Utilize the following earth-friendly shipping processes to help safeguard everyone's future and make your systems work a little better. Streamline Processes Whether you ship packages or raw materials, any process that forces you to waste energy adds to the ever growing amount of damage to the environment and climate change. Streamline your entire shipping process so you're wasting less electricity, clean water, and fuel. Identify areas where work might be slowing down and come up with a few solutions to speed up common practices. Ship Smarter Most consumers hate big retail shipping boxes filled with more air and packing materials than products. Instead of generating waste, invest in materials that provide better protection in smaller spaces and ship products in boxes that are only slightly larger than product packages. Upgrade Transportation If you are shipping anything using diesel-fueled trucks, it is time to invest in new or used semi-trucks powered by environmentally-friendly or renewable alternative fuels, such as vegetable oil and electricity. If you plan to stick to fossil fuels, invest in designs that cut down on tailpipe emissions. You can ask sellers like Arrow Truck Sales what models they might recommend for better mileage and gas economy. Additionally, try to only run your trucks when they have full loads so they are not pouring pollutants into the air for light shipments. Use Recyclables Make certain you use recyclable materials and previously recycled materials as much as possible throughout your shipping process, including recycled cardboard boxes, packing materials, invoices, and shipping labels. When you replace equipment or parts, ship the old elements back to manufacturers. Metal, plastic and e-waste recycling centers re-purpose the materials or have used equipment or parts repaired so they can be resold. Choose Wisely Some common shipping tools are incredibly cheap, but fail to degrade in landfills, come from environmentally unfriendly manufacturing origins, or waste precious resources. Use products labeled "biodegradable”, "environmentally-friendly", or "green" such as biodegradable packing peanuts and environmentally-friendly lubricants and adhesives whenever possible. Although many of these changes seem expensive and labor intensive, any business can achieve these types of results by making the changes through carefully planned out steps over a two to five year period. Some changes like switching to recyclables can be made even sooner. Make your shipments a little more earth-friendly by implementing some of these changes today!

Nowhere is the phrase, "start them young and early", more appropriately applied than when referring to teaching kids about recycling, sustainability, and being good stewards of this planet. Hopefully they'll be learning about it at school, but the burden falls on parents to assume most of their responsibility and teach youngsters how to keep their environment green. Early Childhood Training Beginning as early as three years old, let kids see you set the example first. In other words, verbalize out loud what it is you're doing as you're doing it. For instance, as you drop a plastic bottle in the blue bin, you might say something like, "This is a plastic bottle, and plastic things always go into this blue container." Doing so can teach them how to sort items and how to dispose of them in their proper place. You might even have them scribble a sign to hang over the proper bins that read, Plastics Here! or Papers Here! You can also have children tape a small plastic jar to the blue bin acquainting with plastic materials. To further involve younger aged children, begin a reward system of giving out little sticker stars with a prize like a sourdough pretzel goes to the child with the most stars. As they grow older, you may substitute little stars for returning bottles, and encourage them to keep the change. Make a Game Of it At this environmental protection government (EPA) website, you'll find imaginative, interactive games to stimulate young minds in the vision for protecting their environment. The Dumptown Game actually makes your child into a city manager with critical decision-making activities that engage municipal residents in their own waste management and waste reduction at-home programs. Use games and prizes to make learning and treating the environment right fun and educational. Young Children to Teens Having learned the basics of colors and plastics, your next job as a parent would be teaching them about composting. Easily done by setting up a separate bin for discarded tea bags, grass cuttings, veggie peelings, coffee grounds, egg shells, toilet paper rolls, and paper towels, this cuts down not only on the waste, but saves you money on fertilizer supplies as well. It all comes down to example. Set the stage for how your home runs and try to make a habit of throwing natural waste into the compost pile, using safe fertilizers like Nature Safe on your lawn, and routinely picking up trash and debris from your yard and local parks. When kids see you doing the right thing, they will naturally follow. Reusing Usable Items As many items can be reused for other purposes, make your kids aware that a peanut butter jar, for instance, can be transformed into a coin bank once it's been washed clean first. Empty tissue boxes are great for storing grocery plastic bags and a small plastic bag can be used in the family car as a trash bin. If you visit your local waste management, you'll see what your municipality recommends as far as dumping and recycling materials go. However, all initiatives really must begin at home by educating the children early.

The key to living healthy starts with farming green. Organic farming is the most recent trend that has now become a billion-dollar industry. Millions of farmers are participating in new techniques that reduce the reliance on heavy machinery and toxic pesticides. If you are interested in green farming, know that this industry is new and growing fast. Learn about a few initiatives that have grown in this past decade. Organic Farming Organic farming is the boldest and most environmentally safe step farmers today have taken. This type of farming involves using few or no chemicals to plant crops and the fertilizers used are all natural without toxic or artificial ingredients. Many crops planted into the ground are eaten or put into skincare products. Organic farming has reduced the harmful effects associated with toxins and pest immunity. Farmers like organic methods because machinery is usually not involved and the instructions are easy to follow. Becoming organic means using the tools and materials that come from nature. No-Tillage Farming Soil is essential in any sustainable farming plan. No-till farming reduces the use of tilling to break up the soil which causes less damage, such as excessive drying and loss of nutrients. Instead of tilling the soil, farmers use herbicides to get rid of weeds. They engage in crop diversity to reduce the growth of weeds naturally. The use of heavy machinery is reduced, and the soil retains its natural state. Recycling Recycling is not a new technique but has increased in popularity over the years. In front of most suburban homes are recycling bins that were not found there a few decades ago. Most products nowadays are being reused and recycled. Glass, metal, and wood come in recycled versions that are exactly the same as the original ones. Green farmers are encouraged to buy recycled tools and most already use quality products like Accurate Products Inc. rubber grommets for their shipping and harvesting processes. Many of them recycle the materials used to produce crops. They build compost piles consisting of soil, leaves and rotting food and are used as natural fertilizers. In the past, green farming was an experimental approach to traditional farming. Few people knew about the idea or its practices. Today, it is an industry that is internationally practiced and regulated by governments it is important to know how farmers have reduced their effects on the environment.

Creating a garden or flowerbed that can come back for a season or two is a talent that requires not only a green thumb but soil and compost rich in nutrients and minerals. For the gardener who wishes to create their own compost, the process is easy and can save money on mulch or other store bought soils. Creating Compost When creating a compost pile, choose a spot in the yard that will not be disturbed by animals or children. This spot should be near the waterspout, but not so close it gets washed away. It should be relatively dry, unless there is rain and it would be ideal if there were shade in this spot as well. It will keep the compost pile cool while completing the decomposition process. Some gardeners choose to create their compost in a wooden box to keep it separated from the dirt. The box makes stirring the compost easier because it is in a separate container. Compost Materials Once the spot and container for the compost is chosen and built, choose the materials that will be placed into the compost pile. Typically, these include any unused fruits, peels, vegetable left overs, lawn clippings, dry dead leaves, any tree waste, like branches and twigs, and leftover coffee beans. Some gardeners use the remains of stalks and husks to help with the decomposition. After all the materials are placed into the container, water is used to wet everything. Then the compost pile is left alone to decompose. Optional Covering Covering the compost pile is also a good idea. It will keep bugs and other animals out of the pile and will allow the water to keep the waste moist enough to continue the decomposition throughout the year. A tarp, which can be purchased at any farm or garden online store, can be used to keep the pile exactly the way the gardener wishes. It will also help keep the smell of the decomposition in the container and not disturbing the gardener. Time Frame The decomposition of the materials depends upon how much heat and water is used in the pile. It can take anywhere from three months to a few years for the pile to decompose. If the decomposition of the pile is needed quickly, placing a few items into the box will start the process, allowing the gardener to have some compost when they need it. You can also find products like fertilizers that can speed the process up at places like Nature Safe. Creating a compost pile does not need to be difficult or overly-complicated. Using these easy steps will help create compost that will nurture a garden for several seasons.

Factory farming is responsible for 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is due to the resource intensive feeding, slaughtering, processing, and transporting involved in the process. This has led many to reach for an alternative to conventional meat, and it may seem surprising that many are choosing to raise their own livestock at home, however if you look at the specifics of the process you may find that it’s not such an outlandish option. Why it is a Green Alternative By keeping the process as small and local as it gets, you can enjoy high quality, ethical meat while negating many of the sources of emissions associated with factory farmed meat. The transportation of both the livestock’s food and the meat itself are cut out of the process, as are the emissions produced by the large farm equipment that industrial producers rely on. Furthermore you can monitor what, if any, antibiotics and hormones are used, making healthier meat that uses less resources. What You Need Obviously this is not the right option if you live in a small apartment. You need at least 1.5 acres per cow for adequate grazing, or the ability to supplement with oats or hay. While you can get by without any expensive farm equipment it may be helpful to have a riding mower for keeping your pasture manageable and a trailer for transporting your livestock. Of course you will also need a sturdy fence and padlock to keep your livestock safe and a large freezer for keeping the resulting meat. It can be ideal though if you have a lot of acres to maintain, and don’t want to spend money on landscaping or a lot of yard upkeep. The Cost There are numerous costs associated with raising livestock, not all of which are upfront. You will need to pay for the livestock itself, any farm equipment you find necessary, supplemental food, veterinarian costs, slaughter, and processing the meat. You can always save money at places like Central Farm and Garden on pasture alfalfa and grass as well. Overall it is difficult to give an estimate for the total cost of raising a cow from birth to slaughter as it varies widely, but most agree that the cost would exceed the market value of the meat due to economies of scale. However, the increased quality of the meat and the peace of mind from knowing that the animal was raised humanely, and sustainably is a huge non-monetary reward for raising livestock at home. Alternatives If you don’t have the space or ability to raise your own livestock, there are other options. You can invest in a share of an animal raised on another person’s property, and receive a portion of the meat. You can also buy your meat from small livestock farmers directly at farmers markets or their farm. Most are happy to answer any questions you may have on their practices. If you have room and time, chickens might be a more sustainable option as well since they provide not only meat, but eggs. If you decide raise your own meat you’re in for a rewarding and eco-friendly experience, but it is important to conduct a lot of research before you begin, both for your own sanity and for the health of the animal. However, all this effort is worth it to enjoy high quality meat with fewer environmental costs.

When you consider that household cleaners are the number-one cause of poisoning in children, it’s important you’re vigilant about which products you use to clean your kitchen. This room is probably the most important, since you prepare food and spend the most time here, especially with kids. What’s more, the toxic chemicals in household cleaners are about three times more likely to cause cancer than air pollution. If you’re anything like the average home in the U.S., which has more than 1,000 different chemicals in it, it’s time to clean up – the safe and green way. All-Purpose Kitchen Cleaner There are plenty of all-purpose cleaners on the market that will take care of tough stains while being hard on your health. For a green all-purpose kitchen cleaner, combine two tablespoons of vinegar, a teaspoon of borax or baking soda, and two cups of hot water in a spray bottle. Shake it, and then add a quarter-cup of liquid soap. Spray your counters and appliances, and wipe clean. Dish Soap When purchasing a dish soap for your kitchen, stick to detergents that are non-phosphate. To make your own detergent, purchase a bar of plain castile soap, place it in a bag and add water in a ratio of one part soap to four parts water - by height. Let it sit for five days, adding 10 to 15 drops of your favorite essential oils like lemon, orange, and lavender for even more disinfecting power. Drain Cleaner To clean your drain without losing cells in your brain, pour a half-cup of baking soda down it followed by a half-cup of vinegar. Let it bubble for about 15 minutes and pour a pot of boiling water over it. It's that easy! Oven Cleaner Typicaly oven cleaners often include some of the harshest chemicals to your health. Have you ever used one and once you smelled the fumes, literally choked? That's a clear sign that whatever is in that cleaner shouldn't be around you or in your home. To clean your oven safely, generously sprinkle water over the bottom of it. Cover the water with baking soda, leave overnight and wipe clean. TIP: Ovens are notoriously hard to clean if they're spills are abandoned. To help, sprinkle salt on spills immediately while the oven is still warm. When the oven cools down, scrape the area and wipe it clean. Stain Removal If you're unable to lift the stains with the green all-purpose kitchen cleaning solution that you've made, try sprinkling the surface with salt and squeezing lime or lemon juice over it. Let it sit for a few hours and then rub it out. Pest Problems With a clean kitchen, you'll keep the critters away. But if you do have a pest problem, investing in an organic pest service instead of a traditional one is also important if you want to save you and your family's health. Examples like Greenleaf Organic Pest Management specialize in “low-impact” solutions to get rid of bugs easily and safely. What green cleaning solutions do you rely on to keep your kitchen and home clean?

If you're like most people, many of the habits you formed as a child remain second nature to you as an adult. Consequently, as a responsible parent, helping your children form their own positive habits is something you have to think about daily. When caring for the environment is concerned, the habits and thoughts kids have now can forever shape the way the earth holds up. Here are a few eco-friendly habits worth passing along to the next generation. Buying Products with Green Credentials Besides reducing harm to the planet's delicate balance, buying eco-friendly products encourages corporations to clean up their act. Involve your children in purchasing decisions for everything from LED light bulbs, to phosphate-free dish soap. Explain to them why you're avoiding products with certain substances and making a statement with your wallet. Recycling Appliances & Materials Wisely There's more to recycling than separating aluminum cans from plastic bottles. Finding a quality recycling company that can properly handle more problematic refuse like PCs, TVs, and smartphones is the key to eco-friendly recycling. Bring the kids along when you take in your recyclables to get them familiar with the process. You should also use companies like Ware Disposal to help get you on a regular cleanup and pickup schedule. Scheduling Activities to Reduce Energy Usage If you're a savvy consumer, you know that energy waste can be easily curtailed with a little forethought. Plotting routes using Google Maps to reduce unnecessary car trips can eliminate literally tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year. Show your kids the ropes by setting a forward-thinking example in everyday scenarios and kill two birds with one stone by helping lower energy and waste as well as your bills. Considering Potential Environmental Impacts Nearly everything we do affects the environment in some way. Demonstrate the importance of making those effects positive by involving children when undertaking a landscaping or home renovation project. If you're a city dweller without a yard, start a balcony garden and educate your kids on the importance of cultivating non-invasive plant species. Going with the Local Option When Possible As you should know by now, transporting goods from one end of the world to the other generates a ton of carbon dioxide. Buy local products instead to cut back on emissions and get started by creating a compost heap with your kids rather than buying commercial topsoil for your organic garden. How to Make Those Teachable Moments Count Getting your children on the green bandwagon isn't terribly difficult. Focus on areas that interest each child so that green life lessons don't seem like homework. Parcel out tidbits of wisdom gradually so that they have a chance to sink in. If you keep things light and take your time, kids will form eco-friendly habits that last a lifetime.

With the amount of pollution pouring into our environment, more people are concerned about their carbon footprint and how they can decrease their contribution to the many problems our world is facing. Being Bugged by Pests? With the warmer weather coming you may be finding little creepy crawlers in your home. Neem oil has been used for natural pest control for ages, as it contains several natural insecticides. You can make your own neem oil spray by adding 1/2 ounce of organic neem oil to 1/2 teaspoon of organic peppermint liquid soap and two quarts of warm water. Simply pour into a spray bottle for immediate use. If flies, bees and wasps are your annoyance, simply put a few drops of Eucalyptus oil in the areas where you are seeing them and they will avoid that area immediately. Bare Feet are Beautiful In any season walking through your home with bare feet is comforting. If your floors are not clean it can be a major vexation, though. For basic floors (wood, tile, laminate or linoleum) simply mix equal parts white vinegar and hot water. There is no need to rinse the floors. The vinegar smell will go away as the floor dries. For bathrooms and kitchens where a good disinfectant is a must, a gallon of hot water to 3/4 cup of Borax works wonders and will clean and disinfect even the nastiest of messes. No rinsing is necessary with this combo either. Curing Clogged Drains Clogged drains can be a messy experience and freeing them up without the use of expensive chemicals sold in stores is quite possible. Everything you need you can get at the grocery store while doing your grocery shopping. You will want to have four cups of boiling water before beginning. To start, pour one cup of baking soda down the drain and be sure the mass majority of it goes directly into the drain. I have found making a funnel out of a piece of paper works great. Then pour two cups of the boiling water in. After five minutes and another cup of baking soda followed by one cup of white vinegar. You should plug the drain immediately. Once the bubbling has dissipated, you should add the remaining two cups of water. If the clog remains to be a problem use a plunger to loosen the clog that the baking soda and vinegar have already broken down and repeat the process one more time. Your pipes should be free flowing after that! Heating and Cooling Hacks If the heat or air conditioning is running constantly, you’re using up much more electricity than you should. This is where a programmable thermostat can come in handy. According to an expert from Lowry Services: Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, you can set the programmable thermostat to only heat or cool your home when you're there. This can reduce both your monthly bills and your carbon footprint. Egg Shell Gardening Looking for an all-natural fertilizer for your garden? Simply save your egg shells. Let them dry out and then put them in a blender and pulse them until they are powder. Simply spread the equivalent of five eggshells around each plant and work the powder into the dirt. The shells will fortify the plants roots with calcium organically. Not only are there alternatives to using store bought chemicals for your home, you will find that you can save a lot of money as well. Once you're done, sit back and enjoy your cleaner, greener home--the earth will thank you!

Spring cleaning is something everyone has to do at some point and you don’t necessarily want to use harsh or toxic chemicals to get the job done. Luckily there are other options. Here are some green and natural products to help your spring cleaning efforts along. Baking Soda One of the best green cleaning products you can use is simple baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda on carpets, allow it to sit for a bit, and then vacuum it up to remove odors. Mix baking soda with vinegar to make a powerful cleaning paste that can be used in sinks, toilets and ovens. Baking soda, a pinch of salt, and a little water can be combined to make an eco-friendly scrubbing paste to get rid of difficult stains. Vinegar Basic white vinegar can clean many things in the common household. It can be used with a little water to create streak-free windows and mirrors, and can be used plain as a disinfectant on most surfaces in kitchens or bathrooms. Leaving a rag soaked with vinegar in a tub or sink will break down mineral scale. Pure Lemon Juice Pure lemon juice or pure lemon extract can be an amazing ally while doing spring cleaning. Use ten drops of lemon in a gallon of water as a fragrant disinfectant. The same mixture can be used as a general purpose cleaner around your home to clean furniture or decorative items. You can also add the lemon to other green products to improve the smell. Olive Oil A little real olive oil can be used to help polish and protect your wood furniture in the spring. Clean your furniture with normal water and dry it then put a little olive oil on a clean rag and buff the surface afterwards. This will bring out the shine and beauty of the wood. It also makes a protective layer that will help to repel dust and allergens. This can relieve symptoms from allergies especially when combined with effective medications like Dymista. Fragrant Essential Oils A final product to have on hand when doing green spring cleaning is essential oil. Get some essential oils with scents you enjoy. You can put a few drops on cotton balls and leave them in key areas to naturally improve the fragrance of a room or drawer. You could also boil essential oils in water to create a sudden rush of pleasant fragrance in the home. Using natural products to do spring cleaning has many benefits. It helps the environment and maintains good indoor air quality. You will also have fewer problems with skin irritation and allergies as a result. These simple products can all help you when spring cleaning time comes around.

Many people during the past decade have made solar energy part of their life. The technology has been refined to the point where it is now competitive with other types of energy. Since it is still new to many consumers, solar energy has been surrounded by a number of myths. People have avoided experiencing the benefits of it because of false rumors. 1. Solar Energy Is Inefficient Since the 1970s, the efficiency of solar energy has quadrupled. Solar energy is different from gas in that it has the potential to become more efficient over time. The technology used to harness its power continues to evolve and become better, leaving gas power looking antiquated and insufficient. 2. Solar Energy Is Unreliable The reality is that solar energy is often more reliable that energy provided by utility companies. Solar energy has no moving parts. It is an off-the-grid system that will never be the victim of a power outage. The government depends on solar energy to power vital systems such as navigational buoys, aircraft warning lights and more. 3. Solar Energy Isn't Possible When It's Cloudy This isn't true. Solar panels do function at peak performance with direct sunlight, but they are still able to provide energy on days that are overcast. There is software designed to calculate electricity production based on an area's weather. This is taken into consideration when solar panels are installed. 4. Solar Panels Don't Function In Climates With Harsh Weather The state of Vermont has been known to have snow, hail, heavy winds, sleet and more. In spite of this, the University of Vermont uses a solar energy system that has been able to function effectively—even on cloudy days. It is almost maintenance-free during the worst months of winter. 5. Solar Energy Requires A Battery Storage System There is no need to store energy. Most solar energy systems remain connected to the utility grid. This is because of net metering. When a solar system produces more electricity than is necessary, a utility company will issue credit to an account. If the solar system produces less, the credit can be used to pay the utility company for energy. 6. Solar Energy Is Not Possible Without Government Subsidies Most of these subsidies are being phased out. The costs associated with providing solar energy to consumers have declined steadily. Now, the average consumer can afford a greener, more sustainable home thanks to advancements in solar power. As a system begins to produce its own solar power, homeowners rely less and less on electricity provided from their local utility company. This means you will save money, in the long run, with a solar system. 7. Costs of A Solar System Is Determined By Home Size In many cases, solar systems are designed to meet the needs of a particular home. There are many factors taken into considerations when determining solar energy design. The orientation of the roof, its slope, shading trees near the home and more are all factors. 8. It's More Difficult To Resell A House With Solar Panels A study conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) showed that homes with solar energy sell 20% faster than homes without (and for 17% more). This research showed the ability to save on energy costs was a very attractive selling point. People like the idea of not depending on a utility company for energy. 9. Solar Energy Is Just A Fad The U.S. government and a number of industries have been using solar energy for decades. It is such a dependable form of energy that the U.S. Military, as well as NASA and industries such as oil, telecommunications, and others regularly use solar energy. 10. Solar Energy Systems Are Large and Ugly Modern solar panels have evolved over the years. The current systems are virtually seamless and function as solar shingles. Solar cells can be used with conventional roofing materials such as asphalt, metal and more. The use of solar energy is growing for a number of reasons. It is a clean, sustainable and reliable form of energy. Solar energy is cost-effective and can provide a home with both a reliable energy source and a greater market value.

Nobody can deny the importance of living a green life. You are able to help preserve the environment while also saving money each month on your energy bills. Most old homes are not very energy efficient, but that does not mean you have to abandon your green life. Making these four easy upgrades to your home will modernize it while also reducing your environmental impact at the same time. Green Floors Few things make a home look better than new hardwood flooring, but you do not have to kill a bunch of trees to get this great look. There are several places where you can get sustainable wood flooring options. They are usually made from bamboo or cork, but you will never be able to tell they are not traditional hardwood floors. The sustainable wood floors are also more durable and easier to clean. Metal Roof Traditional roofs waste energy because they absorb heat into the home. This means that your air conditioner has to work a lot harder on a hot day to cool off your house. Installing a metal roof on the top of your house will reflect the heat the sun away from the house, which will greatly save on your energy usage. Most of the metal roofs available to purchase are made to mimic wood, stone or tile, so you do not have to worry about have a shiny piece of metal on the top of your house. Replace the Water Fixtures If you have any toilets, sinks or showers installed before 1994 in your home, then you are just wasting water and money each month. Government standards started in 1994 now require all water fixtures to conserve as much water as possible. Installing new low-flow toilets and shower heads in your house will potentially save you more than $100 each year on your water bill. Energy-Efficient Water Heater It has been proven that water heaters account for a large chunk of the energy usage in every home. You can drastically lower your energy usage by installing a tankless water heater. These, according to a specialist from Puget Sound Plumbing, heat water only when you need it. Solar or tankless water heaters will provide even more savings than a traditional energy-efficient water heater, but they may require you to adjust a few of your normal routines. All four of these green upgrades are extremely easy to install in any home, so everyone should be attempting to live a greener life. Even if you do not care about preserving the environment, you will still save a lot of money each year with these green home upgrades.

Ongoing trends in kitchen designs and interior home designs in general seem to be going the way of "green" and sustainability, and it helps homeowners to find ways to reduce their carbon footprint on the planet. By simply selecting eco-friendly materials, avoiding use of toxic chemicals, using low-flow faucets, and energy-efficient appliances, your new home design can reduce energy use and improve your own health at the same time. Bigger Is Not Always Better In designing sustainable kitchen areas, a smaller space consumes less building material, and less energy to both heat and cool the interior. Designing a smaller layout for cabinets and counter-tops ultimately makes wise use of a smaller kitchen space as well, and you can find other options like hanging pot and mug racks for simple and clever storage solutions. Creating Kitchen Gardens And Indoor Herb/Veggie Stations Connecting with nature and staying healthy in the kitchen can be done by creating an indoor herb or veggie station by a sunny window, or an outside small container veggie garden nearby the kitchen door. In doing so, you may find that even your indoor air quality improves significantly. Composting Composting, even on a small level, prevents up to 140 pounds of waste from ending up in landfills annually. As you begin composting practices, kitchen scraps turned to compost reduce your own need for fertilizer, pesticides, and even water. Keeping a container by the sink for collecting kitchen scraps goes a long way to help reduce your carbon footprint and make your garden more sustainable. Utilize Biodegradable Materials When Possible Buying kitchen counter-tops made from recycled paper, recycled glass, and reconstituted wood is one option. Likewise, natural paints made from natural ingredients are more environmental-friendly than other varieties. Floor coverings made from reconstituted wood is another good choice, as are tiles made from recycled materials. Consider Buying Energy Star® Appliances Think about retrofitting with energy-saving water efficient appliances. Incredibly, doing so is the equivalent of having 15,000 cars suddenly disappear from the highway. Yes, Energy Star® Appliances are more expensive to buy; however, their savings in energy costs may be worth it to many consumers as well as their long mechanical life. Window Replacement Having an environmental-friendly window arrangement in your home means a lot more energy savings in the long run. New window materials and the use of double-glazed Gilkey windows and fiberglass, are all viable means to help either reduce, or maintain heat in a home. When speaking of eco-friendly or environmental-friendly advice in creating kitchen sustainability, the options are almost innumerable. Since this seems to be an ongoing trend in today's home designs, careful research and selection is a must, so choose wisely.

In an era of information that esteems the progress of science, today’s populous is becoming keenly aware of the impact human activity has on the environment. Particularly and prominently, the decline of the planet has steadily come to international attention. With a cataclysmic global crisis impending, people are left to wonder what is being done. Is there anything proactive, or are our communities continuing in detrimental disinterest? One of the most important variables we can control is our waste output. By mitigating the waste our community produces, we decrease the size of landfills and preserve the earth’s most precious resources. Recycling Communities recognize that most of us can contribute less waste simply by not wasting anything. The average household produces over four pounds of garbage daily. It is becoming more and more important for everyone to pay attention to what is being thrown away. Some of these efforts have been put to good use by recycling plants. Recycling plants are established specifically to reuse resources such as paper, cardboard, and plastic. Companies like Lakeshore Recycling are even making an effort to make it more convenient and easy to recycle by providing bin rentals to communities and private companies alike. Ascribing to a Lifestyle Part of recycling effectively, is making it a part of a daily lifestyle. Families toady are constantly looking for different forms of recycling. Rather than allowing old clothes to go to waste, communities consider passing them on to another, and online sellers and purchasing make it easy to get rid of and recycle old materials all over the world. This way less is contributed to landfills, and more waste is reduced. Families also purchase items that are eco-friendly, such as reusable shopping bags, rechargeable batteries, washable water bottles and other items that have been recycled. A Call to Action Communities are willing to respond to good information about causes that matter. This is what is happening across many communities in the United States. As we encourage more people to live eco-friendly lifestyles, and make them aware of the waste that they produce and how it has compromised the planet, people are willing to listen and change their behavior. Information and education is key. With the internet as pervasive as it is, communities are able to spread information and make their causes known and more easily fought for. Leading an eco-friendly life, and finding better, easier ways to recyle is all a part of how communities today are changing and becoming more aware of limited resources. We are concerned with the sort of world we are leaving for our children and grandchildren. By reducing our landfill waste, they will not be plagued with a dying world.

It's almost impossible to avoid being confronted with waste. Wherever we look, people and industries produce mass amounts of it, littering our environment and spreading toxic chemicals. This alarming trend can however be reversed by using green technologies, like the following. Vertical Farming In vertical farming, plants are grown indoors hydroponically on stacked shelves under artificial light. The crops grow far more quickly than with traditional soil farming methods, plus the land use area is drastically reduced. This can make vertical farms up to 100 times more productive than outdoor fields. LED Lighting LED lights reduce the waste of electricity since they use much less power than regular incandescent bulbs. However, an even more exciting fact might be that using LED lights can help reduce the impact of diseases like malaria, a deadly plight, in places like Africa. LED lights have helped the development of vertical farming there, which takes place indoors, without mosquitoes around. Fuel Cells A fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, heat, and water. Both the fuel and the by-products are clean, making the device waste-free. Most fuel cells run silently, and are commonly used in buildings, but, so far, there are only a few car models running on fuel cells. Think about the huge improvement of our environment, especially in big cities, if cars were quiet and emission-free. Free Fuel for Your Car How would you like to run your car on free fuel? Any diesel vehicle can be readily converted to run on waste vegetable oil instead of toxic diesel. This bio-degradable fuel can be picked up for free from restaurants, who throw it away anyway. The methods of recycling this type of waste have improved with cities like San Francisco even picking up collected food waste. Wave Energy Numerous studies have found that wave power could contribute massive amounts to the energy production worldwide. However, many obstacles have prevented the development of larger wave power plants. Cost, design issues, the hostile environment of saltwater and the ocean, have been reasons why wave energy hasn't been developed yet on a larger scale. Water Treatment We all need fresh, clean water to survive, but getting it can be a challenge. Lead plumbing in older buildings can pose a risk to people, and water waste contaminated with everything from medications and plant waste has been known to harm animals when simply dumped. Luckily companies like Seidler Chemical are making changes by supplying the right kinds of water treatment chlorinators. You can see common ways chemicals are used in this process here. Green Burial Finally, if you care about your environmental dead or alive, you may consider a green burial when that time comes. You can choose to be buried in everything from a biodegradable casket to a mushroom death suit. Another approach could be to have your ashes converted into reef balls for restoration of coral ecosystems. Would you like to reduce the waste in the world by using these green technologies? If so, which do you find most interesting?

When people think about environmentally friendly living, they normally think about their own homes. You might consider how to reduce electrical usage by watching less TV and using lamps, recycle more of your used containers, and reuse all sorts of items to cut down on waste. However, all of these ideas and more can be carried over to the office to create a clean, healthy, and sustainable workplace. Unplug Keeping unused appliances plugged in can drain a huge amount of electricity every day. Employees should be sure to unplug the small things they can, such as toasters and coffee makers, in break rooms and should place computer and printers on electrical strips to enable quick electrical shut off at the end of the day. Reduce Paper Usage Most workplaces go through mountains of paper every week. To decrease this, employees should be instructed to reread and rewrite papers before printing them and to eliminate excessive printing. Many offices can also go completely digital with records kept in virtual clouds. Bring in Fresh Plants Offices that want to take going green quite literally can bring in live plants to set in sunny locations. These plants not only brighten up the atmosphere, but also create cleaner, healthier air without the use of an electrical air purifier. Brown Bag It Instead of using vending machines, employees can be encouraged to bring brown bagged lunches from home using reusable glass containers. You can create a welcoming space with plenty of chairs and tables for socializing and lunch in the break room. This also helps the environment by reducing vehicle emissions from cars being used on lunch breaks. Keep It Clean Every office has to be kept clean and sanitary, but even this can be done in an eco-friendly way. While environmentally friendly cleaning products were quite scarce a few years ago, they can now be found in nearly any big box store. Some examples include Mrs. Meyer’s and Seventh Generation brands. Make It Easy Almost anyone can be convinced to recycle cans, glass, and plastic if it is made easy. Offices should install recycling bins in all break rooms and cans for paper waste near each desk. Even offices going through remodels can search for a building repair company that recycles building materials. Companies like Sullivan Engineering can even be consulted with to explain the beneficial reasons for green roofing and come up with a plan to make your entire building more sustainable. Every person can make at least a small contribution to greener living both at home and at the office. From reducing electrical usage and making use of natural light to coming up with new ways to inspire coworkers to recycle, any size office can have an impact on the health of the earth. It is up to each person to keep the world clean and healthy for future generations.

The demand for energy grows as the population of our planet increases. By conserving, recycling, repurposing, and creating new sources of energy, we can get the same job done without depleting our natural resources and adding to pollution. Here are four modern problems surrounding energy issues and how they can be solved. Sustainable Communities People living in highly populated urban areas need energy resources in large amounts, creating high demand and large impacts on the environment. Developing energy solutions used in highly populated areas have a major impact. For example, making it easier for people to ride public transit, cycle, or walk for everyday trips conserves energy and reduces the use of fossil fuels. Developing green buildings, which emit less pollution, results in cleaner air and water as well. Biosolids The sewage generated from large populated areas was traditionally pumped into the waterways causing pollution. As sewage management progressed, the solids filtered from sewage were transported to landfills or incinerated. None of these methods are earth-friendly. The advent of biosolids, which turns sewage into agricultural materials by using industrial dryers, greatly reduces fuel consumption. Companies like Uzelac Industries use this self-sufficient system to recycle biosolids into useful agricultural materials. Recycling Food Waste Today, high volumes of food waste in the beef and poultry industry, as well as many other types of commercial food waste from manufacturing, is a concern for many environmentalists. As organic removal and recycling services grow, they help many food manufacturers reach recycling goals and reduce waste output. The waste collected is recycled into high-energy animal feed ingredients which reduces the amount of waste put into landfills, provides animal feed, and saves energy that would be used to transport and process the waste. Recycling makes a useful product out of material that would otherwise be an adverse issue. Substitutes for Fossil Fuels Finding alternatives in place of costly fossil fuels is a need in many industries. Many different types are still being experimented with and studied, like ethanol, biofuels, and hydrogen fuels. Urban waste water can be used as an inexpensive, carbon-neutral substitute for fossil fuels. Using drying systems, large metro areas take the huge levels of sludge a large population generates, and reduces the liquid. Then, this dried sludge can be used to produce energy that's sustainable, easily available and cheaper than fossil fuels. The levels of energy needed to sustain the population grow each day. Solutions that preserve the environment and conserve energy are important to the health of the planet. To meet that demand, it's important to look to adopting earth-friendly solutions that recycle and conserve energy while creating renewable sources.

Next time you brush your teeth, wash your hair, or apply deodorant, think about where and how those products came into your home. Many companies will make sure that their products meet basic safety and cruelty-free standards before putting them on store shelves, but few will think about the broader environmental impacts. In response to consumers who are pushing for a greener lifestyle, that standard is changing and buyers who want to stay clean and go green have more options than ever before. Chemical-Free Deodorants Skipping deodorant is a social no-no, but few people can even understand the ingredient lists on the most common deodorant brands. The majority of them prevent odor by filling in underarm pores and stopping your body from regulating its heat through sweat. Some people with certain allergies cannot use the major brands because they contain aluminum, which irritates the nervous system and can trigger a reaction. Natural deodorants can be found at specialized beauty stores and natural food stores. They use a blend of natural oils derived from plants to reduce body odor without resorting to harsh chemicals. The best part for many consumers is that the names on their ingredient lists are all much easier to pronounce. Earth-Friendly Hair Care Hair care products are often made from complicated chemicals blended together and marketed as "healthy." These products are safe to use but frequently have a negative impact on the environment. Companies require a lot of energy to manufacture, bottle, and ship these products. A few weeks later, the bottles are emptied and thrown into a landfill. By switching to more natural hair care products people can reduce the environmental damage that shampoos, conditioners and other hair treatments create. Also, there are many simple recipes for homemade hair care solutions. Skin Care for the Earth and You Acne and skin blemishes can severely impact a person's self-esteem. Puberty makes the condition worse for teenagers than adults, but people of all ages find themselves needing to use skin care treatments to hide blemishes and blackheads. Fortunately, there are easy ways to go green and improve skin tone in your home's pantry. Homemade acne treatments include lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil and many other simple recipes using ingredients found in any kitchen or grocery store. Dental Care Goes Green Brush your teeth. That simple command, used by parents and dentists every day, is an essential part of staying healthy. We all know that brushing prevents plaque, keeps our gums healthy, and makes our teeth shiny and white. Yet many people do not know just how many chemicals are in a bottle of toothpaste: parabens which impact the endocrine system, titanium dioxide for whitening, and fluoride, a chemical known to have health effects in high doses. If you want a more natural toothpaste, you can create your own using a solution of baking soda, salt, peppermint and water. You can also buy natural toothpaste at health food stores. Even your toothbrush can become greener. Each year, 50 million pounds of toothbrushes go to the landfill. A Salt Lake City dentist says toothbrushes should be changed out every two to three months to ensure optimal cleaning, but this doesn’t mean you have to contribute more waste to the world’s landfills. By finding ways to reuse your brush, buying a recyclable toothbrush, or choosing one with a replaceable head you can reduce waste and still have a pearly white smile. Going Green on Hygiene Whether it is dental, skin, hair or underarm care, people can choose to avoid the chemical soup in most products and find organic or all-natural options at health food stores or from basic ingredients in their own homes. This sustainable approach to hygiene allows us to have a healthy lifestyle both for ourselves and the world around us.

As a tourist, you love to see new sights, but as an eco-friendly citizen of the world, you wince at the thought of polluting the Earth as you do it. For green-minded globetrotters, here are an array of tips for staying green as you travel. That way, you can see the world with a clean conscience. Buy Local Wherever you go, be sure to buy local, whether that includes food, souvenirs, or anything else. There are a lot of places that try to trick tourists with souvenirs that were produced far away at low cost and shipped to the destination- make sure everything you buy is a local item. Find crafts and other things that you know came from local artisans. Leave Nothing Littering and leaving trash around poses a real ecological threat to local environments. Do your part by picking up after yourself just as you would if you were at home. If you are feeling so inclined, you can go the extra mile and help clean up after other people as well. It's not easy for some destinations to keep up with the flow of tourists, so many choice locations have problems with trash. Plan Carefully One of the best ways to minimize the impact of your stay is to plan it out in advance so that you reduce the amount of transportation you need, cut down on resource use, and so on. If you take cabs for the convenience instead of planning a ride on public transportation, that's not sustainable. A little bit of planning can do a lot of good, and it doesn't take long to think of ways to act in a sustainable way while in the destination. Transportation The first thing to note is that transportation is one of the biggest sources of pollution out there. Whenever you can, take a low-impact form of transport. If you’re flying, opt for nonstop flights whenever you can. The steps involved in landing and takeoff add significantly more emissions to a trip, so you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint (and saving time) when you book a nonstop flight. While nonstop options can occasionally be more expensive, you can save on these with Expedia coupons from discountrue.com. It's all about the footprint, so make reducing yours a priority. Through all of these points, the key underlying idea is respect for the place you are visiting. That's really the guiding principle of sustainable tourism. As long as you have the respect for the people and places in question, you will have an instinct for how to help preserve them and act sustainably.

Herb gardening is as easy as the fresh herbs are flavorful. Small flower beds, vertical spaces, and even odd corners can be turned into a productive herb garden with these helpful hints and inspirational ideas. If you don’t want to do all the initial digging and planting work, a local Utah landscaping company would be glad to do the ground-breaking work for you, and help make your herb garden idea a reality. Small Spaces Apartment and condo dwellers that have small outdoor spaces can still enjoy the satisfaction of growing an herb garden. As long as there is some type of sunny outdoor space, such as a porch, or accessible roof top, there is the opportunity for planting a container garden. Select a location that receives bright sunlight for 4-5 hours a day to place your planting containers. Fill them with a good quality potting soil mixture and mix in some slow release, granulated fertilizer into the soil. Start the herbs of choice from seeds and place them in a small container of water (use separate containers for each seed variety), then place the containers in the refrigerator for 48 hours. This cold water soak will cause the tiny herb seeds to germinate quicker. Drain seeds, and plant in prepared soil. Keep soil moist and seeds will germinate in 4-7 days. Container Companion Planting Herbs make excellent container companions for other garden favorites like tomatoes and flowers. Select planters large enough to accommodate the root system of the plants, and place a tomato plant in the center of the container with oregano and chives seeds tucked in around the sides. Basil and cilantro make good growing companions for a pepper plant, and the mixed containers are interesting to look at wherever you place them. Containers will dry out quickly, and the growing plants will need a steady supply of water and food. Water daily during the heat of summer and feed plants weekly with a water soluble plant food. Grow Vertical Decorative and space-saving, a vertical herb garden is an easy DIY project. If you have an exterior wall or fence you can plant and grow herbs of your choice upon the structure. Just attach any type of individual planting containers in an upright position on the vertical wall, low enough so that herbs can be tended and harvested as needed. Create a decorative vertical pattern with the containers, then fill them with good quality potting soil that has a good fertilizer mix, then plant herb seedlings or seeds of your choice. Give seeds a cold soak as described above prior to planting and water vertical container daily. Odd Spaces Herbs have shallow roots and are happy growing in most any location as long as they receive 4-6 hours of direct sunlight, and the soil is kept moist. Since the plants are easy to please, think outside the garden plot and look for odd spaces in which to plant and grow your favorite herbs. An old tree stump can become a prime growing location. Hollow out the stump center, fill with good quality potting soil, and plant seedling or seeds. Suspend a window box or two from an easily accessible window and fill with fragrant and flavorful herb plants. Window boxes can also be suspended from porch railing. Tuck in a nice trailing vine, such as a petunia, in the window boxes for some extra flowers and color. Herbs are easy to plant and take care of, even year round. No matter what your outdoor space looks like, you can find a way to make it a happy place for herbs of all kinds.

All families should be interested in saving on their energy costs, but it can be difficult for some to achieve these savings during the winter. Energy costs are going to naturally go up as the temperatures cool down, but there are still several ways you can save some money. If you follow these four tips, then you should be able to live comfortably in your home, while still saving a few dollars each month this winter. Lower Water Heater Temperature Most people have their water heater temperature set higher than they actually need. Setting your water heater around 120 degrees Fahrenheit has the potential to save you a lot this winter. It may take slightly longer to get hotter water in the sink and shower, but the savings makes the wait well worth it. Open Curtains during the Day The sun may not come out every day during the winter months, so you need to take advantage of it when it does appear. Opening the curtains to let the sun in is a great way to naturally heat your home without have to spend any money. Make sure to close the curtains and blinds when the sun goes down so you keep all of this extra heat in your home. Turn down Thermostat The cold weather outside may compel you to turn up your thermostat a few degrees, but you need to resist this urge if you want to save money. Keeping your home a few degrees cooler than normal has the potential to save you hundreds of dollars during the winter season. You should have no problem staying comfortably warm in your home if you wear a sweater or bundle up with an extra blanket. Properly Insulate Your energy costs are going to be high enough this winter, so don’t add to your own costs with poor insulation. If you do not have the proper insulation, then the warm air from the furnace will escape your home at a faster rate. This requires your furnace to run longer than it should to make up for the escaping warm air. A local heating company like Cape Fear Air Conditioning & Heating Co., Inc. should be able to direct you to problem areas you might have, and keep your heat pumps running smoothly. There is no reason to be intimidated by the potentially high energy costs this winter. When you implement these four changes into your normal routine it will help your house run a little less energy, and keep you toasty and warm.

You hear about stories of people who become sick after drinking from the tap in their house, and there are always warnings about the pollutants, bacteria, minerals, and other substances in your water. So how do you know if you water is ok to drink? It's not as hard as you think. Get a Report Checking in with your water company for a consumer confidence report is the first step to knowing if your water is safe. Your water company is required by law to provide you with this report. This report will show any pollutants that have come into contact with your water supply over the past year. Knights Plumbing & Drain also recommend looking at your pipes to make sure they aren’t old or rusting which might give off a strange taste. Government Resources The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, has 18 states participating in their Drinking Water Watch program. This program links to a database of information regarding water quality violation, hazards, and any actions taken by the state to clean up these issues. If you live in a state that participates in this program(Indiana, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and others), all you have to do is enter the name of your county or your public water system number, and you will receive a report of the quality test results. If you received a data report, you can then look up any or all the contaminants listed within the EPA's chemical database. Please, be aware that the data does differ depending on the state of which it was pulled. When you're water supply comes from a private well, you can still look up your well in a state guide, but it becomes a little more cumbersome. If you can't find what you are looking for in the state guide, then you can contact the state government directly to resolve your issues. Often times the state government has more up-to-date information. Test Yourself In many cases, there is no way to be absolutely sure your water is safe to drink besides testing it yourself. To do this, call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline to connect you with your local water testing agency. The Water Quality Association can also help you connect with a testing agency. Once connected simply schedule a time they can come to help test your home’s water sources. Using these steps will help you determine if your drinking water is safe to consume, and will help you keep up to date with issues that have happened recently with your water supply.

Most of us never think about where our water comes from and often take for granted that when we turn on a faucet, water comes out. We take a showers and never think about how much water we use. Watering plants and lawns on a summer day is typical of many suburban homeowners. How quickly are we using up our water supply? Read on and you might be surprised at what you learn. Our Major Supply Typically, our supply for water comes from rivers, lakes, and streams. Over time, however, that water supply begins to become diminished and must be replaced. This is where groundwater comes in. This is water beneath the Earth's surface. Groundwater supplies drinking water for more than half of the US population, and almost 100 percent for rural populations. It helps crops grow, is used in various industries, and recharges our freshwater. In other words, groundwater is critical for survival. Water Scarcity Water scarcity is the lack of available water resources to meet the usage. Over time, our population has grown tremendously, and continues to grow every day. In fact, the population is growing and using water much faster than it can be replaced. Water scarcity affects the entire world. Over a billion people at this time lack access to clean drinking water. Other factors water scarcity can affect includes climate changes, pollution, and waste. Waste is often seen in industry. Used for crops and factories, water is often wasted before it can be used. T. Luckey Sons, Inc. who do dam repair in Ohio are often called to projects where leaks and excavations wasted more water than they saved. The Effects Water scarcity is affecting all of us and many of us don't even realize it. Man-made products can often get into groundwater and pollute it. Examples might be pesticides, road salt, and oil. Drinking this water can cause diseases and our wildlife is harmed continuously through this. If we have lower water levels, wells will no longer be able to reach some groundwater and more energy must be used to pump the water. This causes costs to rise significantly. Lakes and rivers are diminishing rapidly, and the supply to replace is simply not coming in fast enough. Water is constantly wasted by industries and homeowners. For example, many sprinkler systems are set on an automatic timer. Our children and grandchildren are facing limited water supply in the future. Wildlife are dying out due to contamination and low supply. Where will our new water source come from? We need to pay attention and help take care of the environment. This is our future home for our families. Disease, famine, and drought should not be their future.

When the leaves begin to change color, the days get shorter and the evenings get cooler, it’s time to start thinking about readying your home for the fast approaching winter months. It won’t be long before cold weather and snow will be swooping in. Make sure that your heating system is eco-friendly and up for the big tasks ahead by following these four tips. Book a Maintenance Appointment The last thing you want is for your furnace to quit working in the dead of winter. Have a HVAC expert visit your home to inspect and clean your furnace. They’ll make sure that the unit is running correctly and efficiently, and that it doesn’t require any repairs. If there are problems that need to be fixed, they’ll let you know what they are. If you can’t put off heating repair any longer, contact a company like HomeSmart from Xcel Energy. Change the Filter Most people don’t regularly look at their furnace and odds are that the filter is filled with debris from winters past. When the furnace filter is dirty, the system has to work much harder. It will use up more fuel and the life of the unit could even decline. Make sure that you have enough filters to last through the season and remember to change it monthly during the months that you’re using the furnace. Check the Furnace Vents If the vents of your furnace are clogged, it will have to work harder to warm your home. Before the winter season rolls in, make sure to thoroughly wash the covers of the vents. Also, you shouldn’t put furniture or heavy items on the vents during the off season and you certainly need to keep the vents clear while the furnace is being used. Check the Ducts If a furnace duct is leaking or if it’s come apart, you could be losing heated air before it ever warms your home. Not only will your home stay chillier than you want it to, but you’ll pay a lot for all that wasted heat. Double check all of the ducts and connections to ensure that no warm air will escape. Do this before you use the furnace for the first time this year. If you want to stay comfortable and cozy all winter long, make sure to have your heating unit checked and updated in plenty of time. Prepare your furnace for the first day of winter and make sure it runs properly throughout the entire season.

While we likely won’t see a world in which every home is solar powered, trash is turned into fertilizer, and everyone grows their own produce, there are a number of things that you do at home to be a little greener. Going green once meant you simply recycled all your trash bags and conserved water when brushing your teeth, but today there are so many more things you can do. If you want to do your part to make your home environment more green, check out these environmentally friendly living tips to help you reduce your carbon footprint from the inside out. Conserve Energy Energy conservation is one of the first steps you can take toward going green, and today it’s easier than ever to implement these energy-saving practices. Here are just a few ways you can start reducing your energy consumption. • Switch your light bulbs. – Incandescent lightbulbs use up to 75 percent more electricity than compact fluorescent bulbs. Switch all of your existing bulbs to fluorescent bulbs and save energy (and money). • Turn the lights off. – Another great way to save energy is making sure lights get turned off when not in use. If you and your family forget to do this, then consider either installing automatic light sensors or timers on your lights to regulate when lights are turned off. • Unplug unused appliances. – Even when not in use, your appliances and other electronics are using electricity. Conserve energy by unplugging unused appliances and electronics, including your television, computer, lights, toaster, and other items. • Install an alarm system with energy efficiency options. – We have all left a light on at home, or even left the heat running when we were going to be gone for the day or even for several days. This is one of the biggest drains on energy, so help yourself and the environment out by installing an alarm system that will help you manage your energy. NorthStar alarm reviews show great options that allow you remotely power off appliances, control your lighting, and monitor and manage your home energy usage. Improve the Air Quality Another way you can go green at home is by improving the air quality around you. This measure is one few people think about, but is just as effective as other options. • Grow indoor plants. – Plants function as natural filters for the air, removing harmful pollutants and even odors. Fill your home with natural air cleaners including spider plants, palm trees, and Boston ferns. • Install a carbon monoxide detector. – If you heating unit is emitting carbon monoxide, it is polluting your home and the environment, which can even be deadly. Prevent this type of pollution by installing a carbon monoxide detector available from your local hardware store. Reduce Toxins Make an effort to reduce the toxins you use and bring into your home. While this effort isn’t always easy, there are many more options today than ever before. • Get rid of toxic chemical cleaners. – Start with the cleaners you use throughout your home. Ditch toxic chemical cleaners, and choose more natural options instead. There are many varieties available today, but you can also make your own with regular household products like vinegar and baking soda. • Reuse cleaning cloths. – Instead of using paper towels and other disposable items to clean, opt for reusable cloths you can toss in the wash. You’ll cut down on waste and save some money at the same time. Doing your part to go green at home makes a big difference, and it’s not that hard to do. Start on your path today to a greener home environment with these simple tips.