Stick to trail when visiting parks; use metal blinds for cooler home
Ever wonder why it’s so important to stay on designated hiking trails when visiting parks? It’s simple: Soil compaction has a major impact on the environment. When thousands of people step on the same soil, it compresses the soil and reduces space in between particles. Uncompacted soil is living soil, where microbes thrive and water and nutrients are held for plants. The less compacted the soil, the healthier the environment. So sticking to a trail path helps preserve the biodiversity of whatever park you’re visiting.
METAL BLINDS
Adding blinds to your windows is a simple way to block out the sun’s rays and help keep your home cool during the very hot summer months. But there is one type of blind you should avoid for maximum cooling efficiency: metal blinds. While metal blinds do block light, they also heat up and can essentially act like a radiator in your home. Blinds made from fabric or bamboo, or cellular shades that have pockets of air to double-insulate the blinds, are better
solutions.
ALL-STAR VEGGIES
When it comes to shopping for fruits and veggies, there are some green “all-stars” worth noting. Onions, for example, are virtually always pesticide-free, can be grown in almost any climate (so buying local is easy for everyone) and don’t require refrigeration for storage. Some other allstars include avocados, apples (which require very little water to be grown), lettuce, peas, potatoes (pesticide-free, high-yield) and cabbage.
MYLAR BALLOONS
Balloons may be festive, but they pose a risk to wildlife and even our electrical grid when accidentally released into the atmosphere. Modern balloons are made of Mylar and coated with a metallic finish. That shiny finish conducts electricity and can cause problems when balloons contact electric lines. In worstcase scenarios, they can cause power lines to short-circuit, resulting in blackouts. As for wildlife, Mylar balloons never biodegrade after they deflate, and animals often mistake the shiny material for food.
WET DRY-CLEANERS
Often you will see a neighborhood dry cleaner with the words “organic dry-cleaning” in the window. While organic fruits and veggies may be good for the planet, organic dry-cleaning is not so much. The reality is they are simply boasting that the chemicals they use are organic. It’s important to keep in mind that even chemicals like petroleum are considered organic. The standards are not the same in organic dry-cleaning as in growing organic produce. The greenest cleaners are “wet” cleaners who use PERC-chemical-free methods.
BAMBOO COOKWARE
Bamboo is a wonderful eco-friendly material that can be used for a great variety of things, but bamboo cookware may not be the best option for your green kitchen. Since bamboo spatulas and large spoons are glued together in strips, overheating them in bubbly pots of sauce or boiling water could actually cause the glue to melt and seep into your food. Instead of bamboo, invest in solid wood or metal kitchen tools that are intact and free of glues.
AQUARIUM WATER
When it’s time to clean your aquarium at home, never throw the old water down the drain. Water from freshwater aquariums is nutrient-dense from rotting fish food, fish excrement and other organic matter. Use this nutrient-rich water to fertilize your houseplants, or give seedlings a good start by saturating their growing medium with the old aquarium water. One note: Don’t water plants using old saltwater aquarium water! The salt will dry out and kill plants.