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Articles Eco Tips

4 Tell-tale Signs of Greenwashing

You may have heard the term, but wondered how exactly greenwashing is defined. Greenwashing occurs when more time and financial resources are spent on advertising, labeling and marketing green products than is spent actually implementing environmentally sound practices. Unfortunately, the terms “natural”, “non-toxic,” and “eco-friendly” are often misused. Here are four tell-tale signs of product greenwashing to be aware of:

  • Fluffy or Vague Language. Terms like “all natural” or “free of (insert toxic chemical name)” are not regulated by the government and are unverified.
  • Partial or Absent List of Ingredients. All ingredients should be listed to provide 100% transparency.
  • Unverified Health Claims. Sad, but true, many companies do fabricate claims or data. Request to see supporting scientific studies.
  • Questionable Parent Company. If a product is marketed by a company that is known for toxic outputs, the chances are good that the product’s formula has not undergone the proper level of greening.
Source:  These tips were in part provided by actor, author and pioneering environmental activist Ed Begley, Jr. who is a prominent figure in the green movement. Begley’s Earth Responsible Products are plant-based, sustainable, and made from rapidly biodegradable ingredients.
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Articles Eco Tips Featured

6 Ways to Green Your Bath & Body

Bathrooms tend to be one of most wasteful places in our homes. Water runs longer than necessary in the shower or in sinks, paper products are over-used, and many dollars are spent on high-end spa or beauty products that usually aren’t very healthy for our homes or bodies. Get greener in the bathroom and make a few of these easy modifications using eco-friendly products.

Create a Home Spa. Use natural ingredients you already have at home to create your own body scrubs such as sugar and sea salt. Blend with herbs and essential oils.

Watch the Water. Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth, shave, or lather up your hair.

Go Low Flow. Invest in a low flow shower head and toilet to conserve water.

Use Multi-Purpose Castile Soap. Organic castile soap has many uses. Use it to clean kids, adults, pets and even as a cleaner for the bathroom.

Buy Recycled Toilet Tissue. 100% post-consumer content tissue cuts back on over consumption of trees, water, and energy resources.

Recycle Empty Glass Jars. Reuse empty glass jars to store cotton swabs, toothbrushes or cotton balls instead of spending the money on special containers.

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Eco Tips

7 Eco-Friendly House Cleaning Tips

Most standard cleaning products and processes are either wasteful or just plain hazardous to humans and pets. Green your cleaning routine by putting these tips into practice.

Keep Cleaning Solutions Simple. Use simple, readily available cleaning solutions made with vinegar, salt, lemon juice and baking soda to make your own safe homemade cleaning solutions. Vinegar and water is great for cleaning glass windows and tile floors.

Naturally Freshen Air. Skip all those toxic artificial air fresheners and boil cinnamon or cloves to scent the air instead. One of our favorite ways to naturally scent the air is by sticking cloves into an orange to make a fragrant orange pomander ball.

Wash Clothes Wisely. Wait until you have a full load of laundry to run the washing machine. You’ll save big bucks on your water bill and spent less time listening to a noisy washing machine.

Recycle Your Rags. Make your own dust rags from old t-shirts, sweatshirts, and socks.

Conserve Cleaning Water. Don’t let the water run unless you are filling a cleaning bucket. Sweep instead of wet mop when possible, and put a tracking mat at the door to collect dirt so you don’t have to wash the floor as often.

Call for Household Hazardous Waste Pickups. Call your local recycling center, town or city hall. Most communities have several Household Hazardous Waste Pickup Days each year.

Start a Compost Bin. Composting food waste minimizes landfill burden and supports healthy soil in which you can grow your own food. Buy or make a compost bin and get the family involved. Household waste that can be composted includes things like paper towels, paper bags, cotton clothing (torn up), egg shells, hair (human, dog, cat etc.) Use all these items in moderation.

 

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Articles Featured Furnishings Home Design

Ways to Get Green When Refurnishing

As our world continues to become more heavily populated, we need to be concerned with the amount of resources that are being consumed and wasted. Homeowners who remodel or refurnish frequently tend to add to the problem; however, the good news is that many are now seeking out environmentally conscious refurnishing and remodeling methods. We found five in particular that are easy to implement.

CFL Light Bulbs. Use lighting that requires the least amount of energy. Incandescent light bulbs have set the standard for household lighting. However, these bulbs pollute the earth and give off excess heat. A much more efficient alternative is the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs, in combination with natural light. These newer bulbs use less energy and last up to ten times longer that incandescent light bulbs. And by using natural light during the day you will use even less energy.

Furniture Made From Recycled Materials. Purchase furniture that’s been made of recycled and environmentally friendly materials. Recycled materials have many uses in the home, so it’s really no surprise that furniture manufacturers are now recycling used materials. When furnishing your home, search for furniture made from recycled woods, cork, or bamboo. These materials are readily available and can easily withstand everyday wear and tear. They are also available in neutral colors that will match any home decor.

Earthy Wall Decor. Plain white walls can definitely bring down the energy in a room. Fortunately, there are options available to liven up those walls without hurting the environment. Wall accents made from glass, paper, shells, and even bamboo will add a sense of quirkiness to any room. Not only are these materials fairly easy to get your hands on, they are also able to be used for multiple purposes when you want to change the decor in the home afterwards.

Live Plants. Plants are a good way to accentuate tables and counter spaces. They add a splash of color to your home environment while also cleaning the air. Another way to add a bright splash of color to your home is by purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables to use as a centerpiece on a table.

Reuse Household Items. Many people throw out candles and other items once they are no longer usable. Instead of being wasteful, recycle the candles by melting down the leftover wax into an empty container.

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Articles Featured Recycling

5 Things You Should Be Recycling

You should already have the basics of recycling down — glass, plastic, paper. However, there are plenty of other household items and materials that can be re-used. Have you thought about recycling hangers, pantyhose or sporting equipment? We’d love to hear about other household items that you recycle. Feel free to send us an email or post helpful comments with your suggestions.

Dry Cleaning Hangers. Dry cleaners are thrilled to have you bring your hangers back for recycling since it saves them the added time and money it takes to buy new ones.

Plastic Grocery Bags. Check to see if your local grocery store has a recycling container for plastic grocery bags outside the main entrance.

Panty Hose. No Nonsense started the first panty hose recycling program and they accept all brands. No Nonsense turns used panty hose into park benches, playground equipment, ropes, and even carpeting. Call 1-800-575-3497 for more information.

CFL Light Bulbs. CFL light bulbs can be taken in to your local Home Depot for recycling. These bulbs also contain mercury, which is toxic to people and the environment, so it’s especially important that they are disposed of in an eco-friendly manner.

Used Sporting Equipment. Equipment that is still useable can be donated to a local Goodwill store or taken to a second-hand sporting good store such as Play It Again Sports.

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Articles Featured Gadgets & Gear

Saving Money with Power Strips

Guess what? If your electronics are plugged in, they are leaching electricity … even if they are turned off. This is referred to as “phantom load” and it accounts for nearly 20% of all electricity that is used in your home. What a waste, right?

You can eliminate “phantom load” and go greener by plugging most of your appliances into a power strip. A power strip will halt the energy drain as long as the switch on the strip is in the “off” position. Flip the power strip switch to “off” or unplug as many appliances as possible before going on vacations or leaving home for long periods of time.

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By Topic Home Decor

Where to Find Eco-Friendly Beverage Glasses

Handmade in Colombia of recycled glass from old car windows, these eco-friendly stemless beverage glasses are super sturdy and make great conversation pieces. The thick glass also has a slight green hue from the tint originally added to lessen the sun’s glare.

The best part of owning a set of these glasses? They are dishwasher safe, which is a big bonus. Who doesn’t dread hand washing all those delicate wine glasses after a big cocktail party?!

The texture of each glass differs due to the hand-crafted process. Air bubbles and small “imperfections” add distinct charm and character. Purchase recycled car window glasses at Uncommon Goods: http://tinyurl.com/2atam8m

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Articles Home Decor Recycling

3 Great Ways to Recycle Wine Bottles

Most of us have played the role of party host and then noticed an array of empty wine bottles left around the house in the aftermath. Sure, you can toss the bottles into a blue recycling bin, but how about getting a little creative? Here are three fun ways you can get the most out of those empty wine bottles after the toast:

  • Cut a small circular hole about a half inch wide in the bottom of the bottle with a glass cutter, fill with a short strand of Christmas lights, put the cork back in the top, and add some raffia to create a unique lighting solution for the top of your wine cabinet or bar area.
  • Use angled cuts on bottles with a glass cutter to create an eco-friendly vase for flowers or vines.
  • Look online or ask your local wine boutique if they sell forged iron wine bottle candelabras. Wisteria.com and WineEnthusiast.com both sell wine bottle candelabras that can be inserted right into the neck of the empty bottle.
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By Topic Home Improvement

Green Materials to Use for Home Improvement

In need of a new look for the inside of your home? Widespread concern regarding pollution and the conservation of natural resources has prompted more homeowners to consider greener ideas and environmentally friendly materials.

Install Bamboo Floors. Most people think bamboo is wood, but bamboo is actually a grass … and one that grows quickly, within three to five years to be precise. This means bamboo is a good renewable resource. Most bamboo is grown and harvested in either Hawaii or China. Bamboo is resilient and comes in a variety of colors and shades.

Use Reclaimed Wood. Reclaimed or salvaged lumber can be used to build walls, as support beams or even in roof construction. Instead of dumping previously used lumber into a landfill, it can be put back into new construction projects.

Choose Low or Zero VOC Paint. A new coat of paint can transform the look of an old room into an exciting new space. However, most paints contain harmful volatile organic compounds that contribute to air pollution, smog and respiratory problems. By choosing low VOC paint, you can help reduce the volatile organic compounds in the air and still have a beautiful, freshly painted room.

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Furnishings Home Decor

Get a Fresh Look with Easy Staging Tips

Give a fresh look to mantels, tables, shelves, bookcases and nooks in your home quickly and inexpensively. These places can be superbly staged using things you already have. Dig into the attic, basement, junk drawers or closets for unique and quirky pieces that can be recycled into an interesting display.

Bookshelves

Bookshelves can be revamped and given a clean consistent look by keeping mostly white or black book spines on the shelves complemented with a colorful accent as a bookend. Think along the lines of a bright piece of coral or blue glass bottle.

Personal Collections

Themed collections are always pleasing to the eye and make a personal statement about what’s important to you. Try contrasting textures and colors such as ceramic or glass paired with rough sea pieces like shells or interesting fossils. Use a mixture of tall with short, smooth and rough, flat and multi-dimensional.