Want to save 5 to 10 percent on your heating bill?
Yeah, who doesn’t!
Turn down your thermostat 5 to 10 degrees before you go to bed at night, and then turn it up again in the morning when the coffee is brewing. By doing this you’ll save 5 to 10 percent of your heating bill each month.
Save money on your energy bill by changing the direction of your ceiling fan. Set it to go clockwise in the winter to bring warm air down, and vice versa in the summer.
Instead of using poly-styrene packing peanuts try making your own packing material. The easiest way to do this is to take paper from your recycling bin and throw it through a shredder. Presto! You have an instant free alternative to plastic packing products & it covers two of the three R’s - Reduce and Reuse.
If you have a puppy dog or are thinking about getting one, here are a few tips on greening your pooch.
Top 10 Tips On Raising A Green Puppy Dog:
1- Adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue group
2- Spay or neuter your dog to help control the population
3- Feed your pup foods & treats that have organic all natural ingredients
4- Use natural non-toxic pet-care & cleaning products to help with any mess your pooch makes
5- Scoop up your doggy doo in biodegradable poop bags
6- Buy products for your pup that are sustainable and made out of all natural materials, like hemp dog collars
7- Curb your doggy to protect native wildlife
8- Use a child- and pet-safe deicer such as Safe Paw’s environmentally friendly ice melter
9- Get creative & make new toys for your dog by turning your old socks into tugging toys
10- Re-use your old blankets to create a comfy bed for your puppy
In these cold winter months it is very common for sidewalks and roads to get icy, instead of using salt based ice melting products consider using a non-hazardous alternative like Safe Paw’s environmentally friendly ice melter.
Safe Paw is 100 percent safe for children, pets, all surfaces and the environment! This is unlike all the salt based products that most consumers use, which contain calcium chloride that can heat up to 175 degrees when exposed to water and ice. Salt based products often sit on ice and snow surfaces for a long time before melting & penetrating into the ice. If children & pets are exposed or digest these salt compounds it can cause health problems. Plus, the salt residue left over from these products cause permanent damage to pavers, asphalt, concrete, wood decks, floors and rugs and can harm the environment, including burnt lawns and plants along with possible contamination of wells and drinking water supplies.
Safe Paw is like no other ice & snow melter on the market. It has a unique patented dual-effect compound, made up of crystalline amide core infused with special glycols. This non-corrosive composition gives Safe Paw a two-way timed-release action. The liquid component starts melting ice instantly while breaking its surface tension. This allows the crystal-core to quickly penetrate and destabilize the ice and speed up the melting process. Safe Paw actually attracts heat to make it even more effective but does not give off heat. This “endothermic” reaction takes advantage of solar effect and provides extra melting power during daylight hours. As an added feature, Safe Paw leaves an invisible protective shield that prevents ice from sticking to the surface for up to three days making shoveling easier.
Pump up your tires!
You can improve your fuel efficiency by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Plus, properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.
Green to Grow is a new company, founded by the need for eco-friendly alternative products for babies.
Husband & wife team, Michael & Shelley Ritterbrow, began Green to Grow, with a commitment to provide the best possible care for their son. As they researched products & materials they were alarmed at the potential dangers presented by polycarbonate plastic, which contains the hormone disruptor bisphenol A. Dissatisfied that there were no eco-friendly options for their new baby boy, they started Green to Grow.
Green to Grow bottles are produced from Polyethersulfone (PES), which is a BPA-free plastic and has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The nipples for the bottles are made from a medical grade silicone, which is nitrosamines free.
Green to Grow uses 100% recycled paper and soy inks, they donate 1% of their annual sales to environmental causes, and they also have programs in place to help recycle used bottles.
Their bottles start at around $8…check them out.
As the holidays come to an end, and the clean up begins, the big question is how to dispose of your Christmas tree. Natural Christmas trees have a few eco-friendly afterlife options…
1- Compost
Real trees are 100 percent biodegradable, and can be added to your compost pile. There is a tad bit of work included here as you can’t just throw a whole Christmas tree onto a compost heap. You will need to reduce the tree into compost-friendly shavings, either by hand or with a shredder.
2- Mulch
You can recycle your tree into mulch for hiking trails in gardens or parks. Most communities offer a program where you either drop off your tree to a designated drop-off site or some cities offer curbside pick up. Check with local resources for more information.
3- Shelter
Real tress can also be converted into shelters for birds, chipmunks and other small wildlife by placing it in your backyard and adding a few snacks like breadcrumbs or birdseed.
4- Erosion Prevention
In some cities they have recycled Christmas trees into barriers for shoreline stabilization and beach front erosion prevention. Check with local resources for more information.
5- Fuel
If you have fireplace or a wood burning stove consider chopping up your tree to use as firewood to heat your home.
For more information:
To find out more information on your community Christmas tree recycling program, you can contact either the local parks and recreation department, public works department, the mayor’s office, National Christmas Tree Association, or Earth 911.
