Plastics marketed as "biodegradable" are quickly hitting the market but they may not be as environmentally friendly as the manufacturers make them out to be. Although much better than regular plastic, they are still damaging to the environment in ways people may not be aware of.
For those that have home offices and businesses that produce a lot of printed work, the benefits of switching to soy-based inks in addition to recycled paper can be exponential. Choosing to use soy-based ink is not only a small step we can all take to help the environment, but actually results in higher print quality and longer lasting color than traditional printing ink. Being now available for home laser printers, it's worth switching to.
Avoid "Antibacterial" products, as they can reduce your immunity and resistance to bacteria. Choose simple soap or detergent for cleaning....
With mainstream America finally beginning to embrace the concept of the electric car, there are a lot of questions that prospective car buyers have in purchasing a vehicle that plugs in instead of filling. While not readily available at the moment, a host of electric vehicles are poised to hit the North American market within the year. They may not be right for everyone, but switching to a zero-emission vehicle in the future can greatly impact the environment as we strive to move away from fossil fuel dependency.
Living in a green home means more than just what you live in; where you live affects the eco-friendliness of your home as well. Homes that are located in places that allow for easy walking, biking and mass transit commutes can cut down considerably on carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles.
Car washing can be one of the most environmentally unfriendly activities you can do at your home. With the dirty water full of gasoline, oil exhaust residue and chemical laden detergents being disposed of in storm drains, the environment is directly affected by these toxins.
Much of the water used in a household for washing purposes simply goes down the drain but it can actually be put to better use to cut down on our water consumption and reduce the amount of water that makes its way to sewers. By installing a greywater purification system, washwater can be reused for irrigation and other household functions.
With big, expensive houses looking less attractive as investments consider purchasing an eco-friendly modular home. Modular homes are low cost, but can come with all the new and green amenities and technologies.
Many people are growing their own vegetables and flowers, contributing to the environment by cutting down their carbon footprint and improving oxygen quality but there is a big debate among horticulturists over the use of peat moss in the garden. This soil conditioner may not be as renewable as many people think and much of the evidence suggests that we should avoid using peat to help preserve our shrinking wetlands.
35% of trees being logged are being used in paper products, so buying recycled paper products can have large impact on deforestation as well as other environmental problems.
It's always a good idea to turn off electronics when they're not in use, but few people are aware that many devices are still drawing power even when they're offline. By ensuring that unused devices are disconnected from the grid, you can help do your part in conserving power.
Over the last 4 years there has been a dramatic decline in the bee population throughout the United States, Europe and Japan. The die off, known as Colony Collapse Disorder, has killed about 30 percent of the hives in the United States over the past four winters.
Fast catching on as an easy way to go green, organic clothing made from pesticide-free cotton and bamboo lets you support the environment when purchasing a new wardrobe. Using sustainable techniques, organic fabrics are not only healthier for the planet, but may be healthier to the wearer as well.