Sustainability
How to Recycle Your Porcelain Bathroom Fixtures
If you’ve ever renovated a bathroom, you’ve probably faced the challenge of recycling porcelain fixtures. Whether it’s a toilet, sink, or even porcelain tile, recycling these items can prove problematic. Because most individuals don’t generate a steady stream of...
What You Should Know About Chlorinated Fluorocarbons
Home is supposed to be a safe haven. But if your home contains dangerous and toxic materials, it could be a threat to your health and the planet’s. The Red List is a list of “worst in class” materials, chemicals, and elements the green building industry tries to...
7 of the Best Compostable Trash Bags
Using compostable trash bags will help you in your efforts to compost food. Food scraps don’t break down in landfills, so by composting them, you’re actually helping the environment. Compostable bags are designed to break down quickly in a compost. As someone who has...
Why air conditioning is a vicious circle
Pumping heat from our cars and buildings into the outside world adds to climate change, increasing the need to stay cool Air conditioning was a luxury 40 years ago, but the long hot summer of 1976 changed that. The scorching heat that summer lasted two months and most...
How to Turn Your Yard Into a Pollinator Paradise
Did you know that almost all of the world’s plants need to be pollinated? Bats, birds, beetles, bees, butterflies, wasps, and moths all play this essential role in ecosystems and are crucial in the reproduction of two-thirds of all crop species. Sadly, pollinators...
What is Hemp Fabric and is it Sustainable?
As the fashion industry becomes increasingly interested in sustainable textiles, many eco-friendly alternatives have emerged. Designers and consumers are now more aware of the environmental impact of common fabrics like polyester. In response, they are turning to...
How to Plant a Garden for the Birds
Planting a Garden for the birds Birds are the most welcome wildlife in the landscape garden. They are beautiful, musical, interesting to watch. Unlike deer and other large visitors that eat plants, birds can even protect your garden by eating harmful bugs. There are...
How Washing Your Hands Impacts the Environment
For something that you use to get clean, most hand soaps have a pretty nasty ingredient list. But no matter how negative their environmental impact, you can’t just avoid them the way you can other product categories. Handwashing is important for health and safety....
6 Simple DIY Green Cleaning Solution Recipes
When you’re shopping for home cleaning solutions, the variety of available options can be overwhelming — even more so when you start reading the ingredients on the label. For example, does “natural” mean the product is nontoxic? What are the ingredients that make up...
Beware of the Red List – Top Materials to Avoid in Your Home
The Red List is a list of “worst in class” materials, chemicals, and elements that the green building industry tries to avoid. Even if you are not a construction professional, knowing about these materials and which products are made from them can help you make your...
What’s the Difference Between Biodegradable and Compostable
The idea of composting is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and go green, but unless you know the difference between biodegradable and compostable, you might not be doing all that you can. Yes, they are two entirely different things! So, what sets them apart...
You Can Start a Green Team in Your Child’s School
Our children care deeply about the environment. You can see this even in young children. Ask a first grader to tell you about their favorite animals. They’ll undoubtedly tell you that those animals — whales, elephants, wolves, butterflies, turtles — are endangered...
How Will Climate Change Impact Your Retirement Plans? *
As climate change transforms our environment planning for retirement becomes more complex. The increasing occurrence of heatwaves, wildfires, and drought, as well as hurricanes and flooding, are all recipes for disaster in the lives of seniors not well suited to cope...
Is Seaweed a Suitable Ingredient in Sustainable Packaging? *
Concern for single-use packaging and plastics in the oceans has skyrocketed in recent years as the consequences of our throwaway culture have become evident in all parts of the world. In fact, studies have shown that the American public is equally or even more...
How Many Times Can That Be Recycled? *
I used to think that plastic water bottles could be infinitely recycled, that every time I tossed one into the blue bin, it eventually came out to be another plastic bottle. As it turns out, that’s not the case. Some materials can be recycled infinitely, but plastic...
Will Going Solar Increase My Property Value? *
Solar energy accounted for 43% of new electricity-generating capacity last year in the United States, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). As more and more homeowners install solar panels on their roofs, they weigh the pros and cons. Whereas...
Mosquitos Driving You Nuts? Attract a Bat Colony *
Is your yard swarming with mosquitos? An excellent way to keep flying insects at bay without harmful chemicals is to recruit bats to eat them. Providing bats with the right habitat encourages them to take up residence nearby. Bats like to live in tight crevices in...
How Do I Identify Sustainable Travel Lodging? *
Are you a globe trotter, but you want to have a small footprint? You aren’t alone. According to a study by Booking.com, 83% of global travelers think sustainability is vital. Green accommodations are an essential element of a more sustainable approach to travel....
Cannabis Industry’s Eco-Friendly Hemp Packaging Alternative *
Hemp packaging may provide an eco-friendly packaging alternative Today, marijuana is legal for some or all adults in more than half of U.S. states. The cannabis industry has the potential to deliver a product with minimal environmental impact. Hemp packaging may...
Now, Is the Time To Start Thinking About Net Zero Homes *
Cities, counties, and states around the U.S. are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and are implementing mandatory “zero” policies or codes regulating new construction, according to New Buildings Institute(NBI). This is a reasonable path for homeowners who...
Developing Habits for a Sustainable Life *
It takes practice to live sustainably and it doesn’t happen overnight. Over time, small daily actions can become habits. But where should we start? By identifying the values that drive us, we can focus on actions that support those values. Sustainable habits that...
Easy DIY Projects to Weatherize Your Home *
Heating and cooling account for nearly half of all U.S. energy use. One of the best ways to save energy and reduce utility bills is to do a few simple weatherization projects. Although some, such as insulating the attic or installing a new HVAC system are quite...
Succession Planting for a Successful Garden *
The combination of increased time at home and growing food insecurity — whether through lost income or the threat of supply chain disruptions — has a lot of people planting a vegetable garden for the first time this year. Most nongardeners imagine that planting a...
Eco-Friendly Holiday Gift Guide for Kids *
Need some help making a list of eco-friendly holiday gifts for kids? We have some ideas for you. Kids are not hard to please. Parents though, especially environmentally focused ones, can be a tougher audience. Whether you’re giving gift suggestions to grandparents or...
Dry Gardening for a Better Tasting Tomorrow *
If your summer water bills – or your local government’s water use restrictions – have you doubting your future as a vegetable gardener, take hope. Farmers in dry climates have developed a suite of strategies to grow crops with little to no irrigation. Called dry...
Should You Move Before Sea Levels Rise? *
Humans are beginning to adapt in response to climate change, and sea level rise represents the biggest potential impact for the 94.7 million Americans who live along our coasts. You may want to sell your coastal home now if you’re afraid of losing property value as...
20 Reef Safe Sunscreens to Keep You Protected *
All natural, organic, eco-friendly, low-waste, and reef safe sunscreens are becoming easier to find! *PRAISE* My mom harped on me wearing sunscreen as a kid, and I can count on two hands the amount of times I’ve been burned. She would always slather me in the stuff...
3 Ways To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint *
What we eat, the food we waste, and how we travel all contribute to global warming. Although we can’t stop eating or traveling completely, we can make simple changes that will make a big difference to our impact on the environment. Here are three impactful steps to...
Which Car Brands Emit the Most Carbon Dioxide? *
Do you know how your car’s carbon dioxide emissions compare to those emitted by other cars? Are some car brands bigger CO2 emitters than others? And do all new car models really produce fewer emissions than the older models on the road? The world saw air quality and...
Are Floating Neighborhoods a Solution for Rising Sea Levels? *
As sea-level rise threatens cities throughout the world, some are looking at how humans can adapt. In North Amsterdam, a collaborative team created a floating neighborhood called Schoonschip on a canal. It consists of 46 dwellings, more than 100 new residents, and...
Explore the Wide World of Sustainable Wine *
Even casual wine drinkers know there is no such thing as a typical bottle of wine; there are hundreds of kinds of wine, and even the same wine tastes subtly different from one bottle to the next. When every small decision made in wine production affects the final...
4 Natural Cleaning Recipes To Drive Away Dirty *
Many store-bought cleaning products contain toxins such as propylene glycol, ammonium hydroxide, and synthetic fragrances. They may smell good, but the odor could be harming you. Making your own cleaning products is an easy way to save money and reduce toxins in the...
Have Fun Riding Your Bike to a Better World *
With everything else that’s going on, you may not have even noticed that June 3 was World Bicycle Day. And who can blame you? No one could argue that celebrating the bicycle should draw attention away from the major issues of pandemic and institutional racism that are...
Is Your Electricity Greenwashed? *
Dozens of electrical utility companies across the country have pledged to become “carbon neutral” by 2050. But recent Sierra Club research shows that hardly any of them are making significant changes to move toward clean energy. Are they greenwashing our electricity?...
How To Create a Rain Garden *
In natural landscapes, rainwater and snowmelt filter down into the ground slowly. This slow infiltration recharges groundwater and filters out contaminants, promoting water quality. A rain garden in your yard can capture and keep vital moisture available for your...
How can we reduce our metal waste? *
Metal is the fifth most common material in household garbage, after paper, food, plastic, and yard waste. Unlike the other top items, metal is inert in a landfill and cannot be burned. Mining metal is among the world’s most environmentally damaging industries....
Tips for an Eco-Friendly Pregnancy *
You’re pregnant. Congratulations! This exciting time will require a lot of preparation. There’s about to be a new addition to your family, and you need to get ready. While you have lots to think about, you don’t have to abandon your sustainability goals. With a bit of...
How To Get Kids Involved in Gardening *
Spring is already pushing its way out whether you are ready for it or not! I am definitely ready to welcome the birds, the buds, and the scent of freshly turned earth back again. And if you’re like me, you’re anxious to get your garden started. This year, is it time...
3 Big Reasons “Wishcycling” Is Always a Bad Idea *
We’ve all been there. You’re standing in front of the recycling bin with something in your hand — perhaps a beverage cap, crinkly cellophane wrapping, the tinfoil lid from a sour cream container, or a pizza box. You’re not entirely sure whether you can recycle it, but...
Shopping for the Best Solar Panels *
Technological advances have transformed the solar energy industry in recent years. Solar panels are significantly more efficient, producing more power in the same amount of space. Meanwhile, prices continue to fall, reducing the cost of solar electricity. But with the...
Can We Break Free From Plastic Pollution? *
In a world where plastic manufacturing is ever-increasing and single-use plastic items are the norm, it’s not surprising that plastic pollution is a major environmental issue. Instead of being the country with the highest per capita rate of plastic waste generation,...
Finding the Real Green Thing *
Most Americans want to buy sustainable products. But it isn’t easy to separate the green from the greenwashed. Even though marketing studies show that 78% of Americans believe companies should be environmentally responsible and 64% say they feel happy when buying...
How to Make Your Own Natural Bee Repellent *
As the weather warms and you start thinking of picnics and barbecues, your thoughts may also go to typical outdoor summer pests. The last thing anyone wants to see once the grill is fired up is bees and wasps buzzing around your guests. The problem is that commercial...
6 Durable Household Items Made From Recycled Plastic *
The ubiquity of plastic is a signature of the modern world, a polluting legacy we need to reverse by using fewer new plastic products and choosing recycled plastic for those household items we need. Half of all plastic produced is for single-use purposes, according to...
Zero-Waste Cleaning and Laundry Tips *
Similar to a forest ecosystem, zero-waste cleaning systems produce nothing that can’t be reused and repurposed. Waste to one system is food for another. This concept is inspiring to many people wishing to make their lives more sustainable and is gaining in popularity....
How To Grow Vegetables With Aquaponics *
If you’re interested in starting a small garden with a minimal carbon footprint, aquaponics is a great method to try. Compared to normal gardens, aquaponics systems use less water, generate less waste, and yield just as much produce. Nitrification is at the heart of...
4 Zero-waste Indoor Plant Fertilizers *
Plants vitalize our homes and offices. They filter toxins from the air we breathe and even help boost our mood and reduce stress. Impressively, plants can even help us minimize waste in the kitchen when we apply these zero-waste plant fertilizers. Mulch With Coffee...
What are the Pros and Cons of going Solar *
A growing number of home and business owners are using solar power. As the solar energy industry matures, there are new ownership models and technology. This also means that the decision to go solar is a complex one with numerous pros and cons. Let’s explore some of...
What are the Recycling Mysteries About Tires *
Let’s be honest: Tires make the world go ’round. Unless you’re a professional speed walker, your method of transportation probably involves tires of some sort. But these tires don’t last forever. Whether it’s an irreparable flat or loss of tread, eventually tires need...
Inspiration: Every Green Tree — Martin Luther King Jr P
This week’s quote is from Martin Luther King, Jr.: “For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver.” Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of...
