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Green and Eco-Friendly Tips
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Posted on
May. 6, 2008
@ 4:40pm
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Green Tip Tuesday: Green Skincare
A few months ago we wrote about using green products for household cleaning. Today, we want to take it one step further and talk about green cleaning....for your face. There are many fruits, vegetables, and other natural products that make healthy, earth-friendly, and economical body scrubs, face-washes, and masks. Here are a few of the best concoctions we found:
- To start, the Anti-Wrinkle Honey Mask. Now, we're used to seeing anti-wrinkle creams and masks go for $50 per tiny container, but this homemade mask consists of honey, a little carrot juice, and baking soda. It's natural... and very cheap! The same website says that one apple, mashed, will make an excellent tightening mask. Maybe an apple a day keeps the wrinkles away?
- For sunburned or otherwise inflamed skin, yogourt is said to make an excellent soother. Simply spread it on, let it sink in for roughly 15 minutes, and then rinse it away.
- Care2.com and other beauty websites also provide simple directions for a homemade Sugar Scrub. We've seen jars of factory-produced Sugar Scrub sell for $45 or more, so the thought of making our own with $1 worth of sugar and a little oil is very appealing.
- Last but not least is the Honey Facial. If you've already washed your body with sugar, why not treat your face with honey? There are directions on creating an effective facial mask from honey, oatmeal and buttermilk here, and we've also seen recommendations to use straight honey as a nightly face wash.
Although these products are all-natural, you'll want to use caution and common sense. Don't apply anything to your skin that you're allergic too, and don't use spoiled products, either. If you wouldn't eat it, don't put it on your face!
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Posted on
Apr. 15, 2008
@ 4:48pm
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Green Tip Tuesday: Composting
Today, as a continuation of the gardening theme from last week, we'll be tackling the subject of composting! Just so no one is left wondering, compost is the end result of different organisms (such as bacteria and worms) breaking down organic materials. It's a cheap, highly effective, natural fertilizer and mulch, which is fantastic for gardens big and small. The only cost associated with composting is a composting bin (which you can do without, if you want to), and only as much time and effort as you want to put into it. As for the benefits, you will reduce the amount of waste you produce, and have natural and free fertilizer for your garden and plants.
So, how does one go about composting? It's quite easy.
- Select a place in your yard to have a compost pile. Just about anywhere will work, but if you are going to have a loose pile with no bin, pick somewhere shaded and offers some protection from rain.
- You'll need matter to get going. When referring to compost, there is generally "green" and "brown" matter. Most compost friendly kitchen waste (most items excluding meats, bones, dairy products etc.) falls under the green category, as do things like grass clippings. Brown items include things like leaves, woody material, shredded paper/newspaper and cardboard egg cartons. Make sure you have some green and brown matter to start and layer them (starting and finishing with a brown layer).
- As you add kitchen and yard waste to your compost pile, there may be periodic maintenance, but it's a simple process - add some water if it is too dry, add some brown materials if it is too wet, turn the material from time to time, and you should be well on your way.
- That's about it! Give it time, and add green and brown material sensibly. Try not to leave green items on top as covering them in brown materials will speed up decomposition and reduce the chance of odours.
- In anywhere from a few months to a year or two, you will have compost ready for your garden. This all depends on how much effort you want to expend. Keeping your compost pile balanced in terms of green/brown material, keeping it moist, and turning/mixing the matter regularly (like once every couple of weeks) will speed things up.
You can find more information on composting at CompostGuide.com (including a broad list of materials that are good and bad for composting) and this Environment Canada page (which contains an informative PDF document that you can print out).
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Posted on
Apr. 8, 2008
@ 12:43pm
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Green Tip Tuesday: Greener Gardening For Spring
The snow has melted and it's time to get busy in the yard. This year, why not try to be as green as possible in your garden-growing? With help from TreeHugger and others, we've compiled a list of easy, money-saving green gardening tips.
- Are slugs destroying your flowers and other plants? Use beer in shallow bowls or sprinkle crushed egg shells or oat bran on the ground to get of the slugs before resorting to more costly and harmful chemicals.
- If you've got aphids, ladybugs are considered one of the best -- and most green solutions out there. You can even buy them in bulk to release in your garden! And of course, ladybugs are very earth-friendly. If you don't want to buy ladybugs for your garden, try attracting them by planting "fennel, dill, cilantro, caraway, tansy, wild carrot & yarrow... and scented geraniums."
- Watering your lawn or plants at night or in the early morning means less water evaporates, which is good for your plants -- and your water bill.
- Try to pull your weeds, rather than spraying with weed-killer. Hey, as an added bonus, all that bending will be a great work-out!
- Last but not least, compost, compost, compost. It's free, it's waste-reducing, and it's great for the earth. In next week's Green Tip Tuesday, we'll be talking more in-depth about the particulars of composting, so be sure to tune in.
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Posted on
Apr. 1, 2008
@ 4:26pm
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Green Tip Tuesday: Car Maintenance And Saving Gas
Now that the bulk of winter appears to be behind us, perhaps it's time we all get around to heading outside and taking care of some auto maintenance. Of course, you can save plenty of gas by simply driving less, but that's not necessarily going to work for everyone. For those of you that do drive, here are some general ideas about keeping your car well maintained and fuel efficient:
- Change your oil regularly, as dirty oil has a direct, negative impact on the efficiency of your engine.
- The same goes for your air filter. Changing it regularly not only ensures that your engine is operating efficiently, but also keeps impurities like dirt and sand from damaging the inside of your engine.
- Remove unnecessary weight from your car. We're not talking about taking a power saw to your car, but rather, just don't lug around unnecessary items in your backseat or trunk. It's estimated that every 100lbs of weight removed from your car can increase fuel efficiency by 2%. So, don't lug around a heavy toolbox, golf clubs, that old stereo you're planning on dumping, and any other items you can do without.
- Under inflated tires can increase fuel consumption. Check your tire pressure regularly to ensure that your tires are inflated to the level specified in the owner's manual.
- Staying at a constant speed helps to save fuel, so if you drive for long stretches on open road, make use of cruise control.
Of course, there are the usual money and gas saving tips like car pooling, combining errands, and shopping with a friend or neighbour when you can, but auto maintenance is good for the life of your car, your wallet, and for the environment, so stay on top of it! For even more ideas on saving gas, you can check out the Canadian Auto Association's page on the subject and even more tips at care2.com.
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Posted on
Mar. 11, 2008
@ 3:24pm
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Green Cleaners: Household Cleaning Without Cleaning Out Your Pocketbook
For years, many have stuck to the "spray it with toxic chemicals and dry it with paper towels" school of cleaning, mostly because people figured, if we weren't spraying it with cleaning agents, how could it get clean? It's lamentable enough that people reach for cleaners that contain environementally harmful compounds such as phosphates, but rampant paper towel usage as well? Ouch! Fortunately we, with some help from the internet, have found some potential remedies. As it turns out, there are many earth-friendly cleaning products that are safe, effective, and very importantly, cheap. Here are some green approaches to getting your household cleaning done:
- Baking Soda: it's about a buck a box and it's used for deodorizing everything from your fridge to your gym socks. It can also be used to clean porcelain fixtures, and a mix of baking soda, white vinegar, and boiling water will clear your sink drains in no time.
- We mentioned white vinegar up there, and there's a good reason for it: it's non-toxic, cheap, and it cleans almost everything! One RFD Staffer uses it in his dishwasher instead of Jet Dry -- the same result, for a fraction of the price! Mixed with water, it cleans everything from mirrors and windows to linoleum and wood floors.
- Next on the Green Cleaning Superstar List? Tea Tree Oil. It's not as common as baking soda and vinegar, but it's an all-natural plant-derived oil that kills mold and mildew and disinfects.
- Last but certainly not least is Salt. Now, we have always loved salt. On our French Fries. But actually, salt comes in handy around the house! It's a natural abrasive that works wonderfully well in conjunction with vinegar or lemon juice to polish copper, pewter and brass. It will also remove red wine and grease stains.
- One last green cleaning product? Rags! Old clothes and old sheets and towels make really great rags. And since you're reusing them rather them throwing them away, they're free!
The best part about all these Green Cleaning products? You can find them anywhere (we bet you've got at least three of them at home already) and they're much cheaper than traditional products. Happy Cleaning!
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Posted on
Mar. 4, 2008
@ 5:15pm
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Green Activities For March Break
March Break is here, and with it, a whole new vista of green activities! By now, most of the snow has started to melt and you're itching to get back outside again. Here are some green activities you can share with kids over March Break:
- Canada Trails is a comprehensive online directory of bicycling, hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing trails in Canada. It's well-organized and provides a fair bit of information about each possible use (whether bike, foot, ski or otherwise) for the trail.
- If you're in the GTA, High Park has some neat drop-in programs for little ones over March Break. All the info you need is right here. And even if you're not into a drop-in program, High Park has some other great green activities -- a zoo, a pond, and lots of room to roam. And if you're not in the GTA? Check out a park near you.
- Outdoor Adventure Canada is another website that full of information about the great outdoors in Canada.
- Last but not least, IKEA has some free, green-themed kids activities planned for March Break: they're going to be planting trees, decorating a plant pot, and making garden tags.
And, listen, while you're out and about on March Break? Why not bring a plastic bag or two with you to pick up the litter you come across. You can think of it as a little Thank You to the Earth!
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Posted on
Feb. 26, 2008
@ 5:05pm
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Green Birthdays For Kids
Sure, you're green, but are your birthday parties green? We have some neat tips here for green-friendly parties for kids: you might find that your green birthday parties are more fun (and a whole lot cheaper!) than your old parties used to be.
- Every child's birthday party has a craft or activity, and the internet is FULL of green-friendly crafts just waiting to be plucked from your recycling bin. To start we have the adorable plastic bag snowman, perfect for a winter party, and the Blue's Clues Bank, made out of clean, used drink mix containers, and last but not least, the super-sweet bunch of daffodils made out of drinking straws, paper towel rolls, and other odds and ends.
- Now, this tip might not be super-popular, but hear us out: your kid probably has enough plastic stuff. What if you had a themed birthday party and instead of asking for (plastic) gifts you asked for canned goods for the local food pantry, or, better yet, children's books for a local shelter. That way, you're not accumulating more plastic junk, and the less fortunate benefit, too. This idea is probably best used for kids who are too young to "get" the idea of birthday presents, or old enough to know it's a nice idea.
- Another green idea, perfect for a little girl's party, is to make a trip to the local Goodwill or consignment shop and buy old prom dresses, frilly skirts, and other odds and ends for a Dress Up/Costume Box. You might even let each girl take home a costume piece as their party favor!
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Posted on
Feb. 19, 2008
@ 5:01pm
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Green Tip Tuesday: Green Laundry
No, we're not talking about grass stains, we're talking about ways to save money and help the environment when doing your laundry! There are a few ideas to cover here, but the most explicit tip is to do laundry loads with cold water. According to the U.S Department of Energy, "about 90% of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water". Roll that figure around in your lint trap for a while! As it turns out, the practice of washing clothes and linens in warm or hot water is increasingly unnecessary as the technology in washers and in detergents has come a long way and continues to advance. The only time you should really need warm or hot water is for particularly tough stains. For those situations, you can use spot remover or presoak the affected item/area to get a head start. Cold water washing not only uses less energy, but it also has the wonderful bonus of maintaining fabric integrity and colour longer. Save on your energy and your clothing bill.
Looking for more weighs to green your laundry load? Keep these ideas in mind:
- Wash and dry full loads to maximize energy efficiency.
- Use cold water specific detergents and environmentally friendly detergents where possible.
- Be sensible and conservative with your dryer usage - don't over dry, use a moisture sensor if you have one, or better yet, hang dry when you can.
- Keep the the lint trap and dryer vent clean for efficiency and safety purposes.
To learn more, check out the U.S Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy page covering laundry.
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Posted on
Feb. 12, 2008
@ 3:11pm
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Green Tip Tuesday: Keep Green When You Travel
Many of us have made efforts to be more green at home, but what about being green when you travel? Surprisingly, it's really easy to do!
- Stay close to home. The single greatest environmental impact in travel is flying. Why not visit a city near you, or, better yet, become tourists in your own city?
- If you're renting a car, rent something small and fuel efficient (maybe even a hybrid!) rather a hulking behemoth. The Earth will thank you -- and so will your wallet.
- If you're staying in a hotel, participate in their water/laundry reduction programs: hang up your bath towels so they aren't replaced with fresh ones, and let the maid service know you don't require new sheets every night. The more people that do this, the more water and energy we save!
- Visit cities with excellent public transit.
- Use small toiletry containers that you refill from your home supply. So much more earth-friendly than buying and discarding travel-sized shampoo with each trip you take.
- Bring a refillable water bottle and a refillable coffee mug with you. Just think of all the paper and styrofoam you'll save!
- Prepare your home for reduced energy use while you're away: turn down the thermostat, unplug unused appliances, cancel your newspaper service, and make sure there aren't any leaky faucets dripping.
Lots more ideas over here. Happy Travels!
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Posted on
Feb. 5, 2008
@ 3:24pm
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Green Tip Tuesday: Have A Green Valentine’s Day
The classic Valentine's colour is, of course, red. But what about having a green Valentine's Day instead? After all, the Earth needs a little of your love, too. Here are some ways to go about making your Valentine's Day green:
- Rather than give cut flowers, buy a small tree or flowering plant that can be planted at a later date. That way, your gifts lasts longer, and the Earth benefits, too.
- If your Valentine expects the gift of jewelry, shop estate sales and vintage jewelry shops, rather than buying a newly-created silver or gold bauble.
- Whenever possible, send e-cards rather than throw-away paper cards. Or, better yet, buy a plantable card embedded with seeds, which your Valentine can bury and watch bloom.
- Buy organic chocolate made from cocoa beans farmed in earth-friendly ways rather than mass-produced chocolate whose beans were cultivated with unfriendly farming practices.
- Rather then head out for dinner, why not have dinner at home? And while you're at it, use local fruits, vegetables, and other products. The closer to home your food is grown, the lower its environmental impact is. Try to eat things that haven't been shipped across the country by tractor trailer!
For even more ideas on how to green up your Valentine's Day, check out this National Geographic Green Guide on the subject. Did you have a Green Valentine's Day last year? We'd love to hear your all your very greenest suggestions.
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Posted on
Jan. 29, 2008
@ 5:54pm
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Green Tip Tuesday - Green Around the Kitchen
In this week's Green Tip Tuesday installment, we'll take a look at some simple ideas to keep your kitchen running efficiently and with an eye toward green living.
- Ensure that your fridge is in good operating condition and well sealed. If you can close the door on a piece of paper and then pull it out, your fridge seal may require service.
- Use cookware that is appropriate to the size of your meal. You don't need to cook with a large pan if you're only preparing a meal for one.
- Boil water in an electric kettle instead of a stove top version.
- Keep problems like a drippy faucet in check. Every bit helps!
- Find a reusable alternative to paper towels, be it much sturdier wipes, sponges, or towels.
- If you must use your dishwasher, wait until you have a full load. Once washed, consider letting items air dry or towel them off.
- If you're doing dishes the old fashioned way, fill your sink or a basin with water instead of leaving the tap running while washing dishes.
For more ideas on keeping your kitchen green and efficient, you can check out this Greenpeace.org page and the wealth of other ideas at GreenLivingTips.com.
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Posted on
Jan. 22, 2008
@ 5:56pm
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Green Tip Tuesday: Pet-Care the Green Way
So, you're very conscientious about the "greenness" of your lifestyle, but what about those around you? No, we're not talking about your brother or your sister or your lazy roomate - today, we're talking about pets! Here are some ways to incorporate some green ideas into how we live with our furry companions:
- Considering rescuing a pet instead of buying one from a pet store or breeder.
- Use biodegradable poop bags instead of plastic bags. In the same vein, use biodegradable kitty litter instead of the regular variety.
- Where possible, wash your pet at home instead of taking it to a groomer. You (should) end up saving water and money, even if you might get a little wet in the process.
- Instead of using manufactured chew toys, old items around the house can certainly suffice (something many of you are familiar with). Use old shoes (delace them first!), tie knots in old socks or other rags, or old tennis balls.
- Combine your errands (like walking to the mailbox or corner store) with walking your dog instead of firing up the car.
For even more ideas, check out TreeHugger.com's ideas on how to "green your pet".
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Posted on
Jan. 15, 2008
@ 12:57pm
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Green Tip Tuesday: Breaking Bad Habits
Being proactively green or environmentally conscious is great. We can all make the extra effort to buy green products like compact fluorescent lights, locally grown food products, or taking public transit, but what about breaking some everyday bad habits that we often don't give a second thought? Here are some common bad habits that we should all look to break:
- running the water while brushing your teeth or shaving
- buying copious amounts of bottled water instead of refilling with tap water or filtered water
- idling your car for minutes at a time
- leaving your computer and monitor on when they are not in use
- doing half loads of laundry when you could wait and do full loads
- unnecessarily printing out emails or reports when you're doing electronic presentations
- using and throwing out plastic utensils instead of washing metal utensils
- accepting plastic bags each time at the supermarket instead of simply reusing bags
- using paper or styrofoam coffee cups instead of a mug
Got more ideas on some bad habits we should look to break or avoid? Share them in our green forums!
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Posted on
Jan. 8, 2008
@ 2:22pm
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Green Tip Tuesday - 8 Ways to Make 2008 Greener!
We're back with the first installment of Green Tip Tuesday for 2008. In this edition, we'll take a look at some simple and accessible ways you can make 2008 much greener.
- Forgo harsh cleaners, detergents and solvents and switch to some inexpensive and natural alternatives. With readily available and safe products like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and borax, you can clean just about anything around the house.
- Install low-flow shower heads to conserve water.
- Lower your thermostat by a few degrees. It's simple, effective, and gives you a great reason to wear that new sweater or to get warm and cozy under a blanket with a person of your choice!
- Walk, jog, rollerblade, and bike more often. Your New Year's resolution to get fit and active ties in very nicely with a green lifestyle.
- Ease up on the plastic shopping bags. Use reusable alternatives, or at the very least, reuse your existing plastic shopping bags instead of throwing them out.
- Turn off your computer and or monitor when it's not in use!
- Buy only as much as you need, and where possible, buy in bulk! These two may seem slightly contradictory, but shopping smart is the best way to be green. Don't buy so much as to be wasteful, but if you can buy in larger quantities that you will use, do so! It'll help save money and packaging.
- Rechargeable batteries - use them!
For more green goals that you can work toward in the new year, check out this feature from Green Living Online.
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Posted on
Dec. 18, 2007
@ 4:09pm
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That's it for now, enjoy the holidays and stay green until next Tuesday!
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