Use computers longer to help environment
If you’re thinking of upgrading to a new computer, ask yourself if you can extend the life of your monitor or laptop just a few more months, or even a year. The greenhouse gases released to manufacture and transport electronics and new computer equipment are considerable. The University of Edinburgh did a study and found if you can extend computer equipment usage from four to six years, you can prevent around 418 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions from being emitted.
SLIM DOWN THAT EMAIL
The types and sizes of emails you send actually can have an effect on greenhouse gas emissions. Adding photos or data-heavy attachments can increase a digital carbon footprint. Emails have to be sent by servers, and data-heavy emails demand more energy to be processed and sent. If you need to send attachments and photos, opt for lower-res versions and compress your files to save energy.
DON’T CRY OVER LEFTOVER SOAP
When staying in hotels, don’t feel bad about leaving barely used bars of soap and little plastic bottles of body wash and shampoo. Many major hotel chains like Hilton, Kimpton and Hyatt are working with nonprofit organizations to recycle toiletries in the cities their hotels serve and around the world. Local shelters and community support networks distribute the toiletries to those in need. Personal care products are hard to come by and greatly needed by these nonprofit groups. Clean the World melts and sterilizes used bar soaps to make new bars that are given away around the world where soap is literally helping to save lives.
THESE FLOWERS HAVE POWER
Some flowers are more than just beautiful to look at — they’re actually useful to help maintain the natural organic health of your garden. Plant a lot of chrysanthemum flowers in your garden, because they contain a natural chemical called “pyrethin,” which is toxic to insects. These beautiful flowers are easy to grow and come in a wide variety of colors, so you can mix them in between vegetables and other plants that are targeted by ravenous insects. If you have a problem with insects like Japanese beetles attacking your plants, mixing in chrysanthemums can do the trick to keep them at bay.
BUTCHER PAPER NEED TO KNOW
If you think the brown butcher paper or white waxed paper you use when grilling and baking can be torn up and tossed into the compost, think again. There are coatings and linings on these types of paper that make them uncompostable. There is an exception: unbleached parchment paper. This type of paper can be torn up and safely added to the compost bin. Just avoid the white parchment paper, since it’s likely been bleached with chlorine.
BUDGETING TIP FOR ORGANIC GROCERIES
While it would be ideal to buy only organic groceries all the time, the reality is it can be costprohibitive for most of us. The simple compromise is to focus on the items you consume a lot of and to go with conventionally made products you use sporadically. So, if it takes more than a month to go through a package of butter, it’s OK to buy the much less expensive conventional butter than organic. But if your kids eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches morning noon and night, spend a little more on organic spreads. Prioritizing your eco-friendly grocery list will help you save money and be greener at home with ease.
‘HYPOALLERGENIC’ DOESN’T MEAN ECO-FRIENDLY
Don’t confuse hypoallergenic with eco-friendly when buying skin care products and bedding. The word “hypoallergenic” only means it won’t trigger allergic reactions. It’s not a classification that means the product is natural, eco-friendly or organic at all. But even worse: There is no regulation from the U.S. government regarding what the word “hypoallergenic” actually means, so the word can be slapped on any product. Read labels and learn if the ingredients and materials used live up to your green expectations.