Yes, the kids are going back to school, the leaves will soon begin to change and a chill will be in the air...summer is ending. But that doesn't mean that you should stop wearing sunscreen. It is important all year round. You want a sunscreen that will provide you with great protection, but not harmful chemicals that will be absorbed by your skin. This is a great resource...put in your sunscreen to see how it rates or just find the top rated products for you and your family.
www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen
Where do you start when you want to fill the apartment with stuff but be green about it? Garage sales are a good option to start out with, then move up to buying new, green products to fill in gaps.
Do you have a cat in your home? If you have a furry companion and you are looking for ways to make your home more sustainable, you might want to consider switching up your pet's bathroom routine.
Greywater irrigation can enable us to not only reuse an increasingly precious commodity, but also to improve our lives, homes, and gardens.
If you want an energy-efficient replacement for an old tank water heater or if you have limited space for a tank heater, like in a cabin or condo, then going tankless can be a great option. Tankless, or on demand water heaters operate on a simple principle: Heat water instantly and only when you need it. It's a great tool for conserving energy in your home.
Out of all indoor household water use, toilets are the number one consumer. More than 35% of household water use goes towards flushing the toilet. There are some ways you can reduce the amount of water being flushed down the toilet though. The low-flow, composting, and dual flush toilets are all options to help you conserve water.
Sunscreen is needed to protect your skins from harmful cancer causing UV rays. Not all sunscreens are alike though, many sunscreens contain chemicals that are detrimental to your health.
Avoid "Antibacterial" products, as they can reduce your immunity and resistance to bacteria. Choose simple soap or detergent for cleaning....
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.
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.
Green Scam Alert - "no CFCs" on the label makes you think that you are buying a "green" product, when in fact CFCs have been banned in all aerosols since 1978....
Essential oils are a natural and effective way to help manage stress, boost mood, fight off infection, and deal with pain. Inhalation, application to the skin, and internal ingestion of some oils are all methods of using essential oils.
A typical home bathroom impacts the environment in many ways besides the consumption of water. From manufacturing to disposal, cleaning supplies and personal care products that we use every day in the bathroom create a lot of pollution and waste that can be avoided. Here are some tips on how to turn your bathroom into a more environmentally friendly place.
No home is immune from pests. Instead of using toxic chemicals to manage your pest problems, there are less harmful and budget friendly natural alternatives.
We use our hands for so many daily activities, and we want to take care of our skin and nails, but the selection of products can be overwhelming, as well as possibly toxic. While conventional nail polish is one of the most toxic consumer products, a nail color enthusiast looking for green options has a few to choose from.
With earth friendly products hailing from all directions, our green decor choices have shifted from a trendy fad to a way of life. Consumers are becoming more selective and most companies are taking the hints rather well. New products are lining the shelves of almost every major retailer and specialty stores are developing more substantial green product lists. Knowing what to look for and where to find it can save you both time and money.
Normally, New Year's Resolutions are about bettering yourself, your body, or relationships. This year make sure to include the environment in your vows of improvement, and you're sure to transform yourself.
Doesn't it seem as though every time we pick up an eco-friendly newspaper or venture online to a green-news site, we are bombarded with advertisements for eco-friendly products that all claim to be the latest and the greatest, or la creme de la creme of household cleaning greendom?
Water is a universal solvent because it dissolves more substances than any other liquid. That's what makes it a great cleaner. To increase its cleaning power, heat it up a little or augment it with baking soda or liquid detergent.
Another green cleaner in its own right, and a good partner to baking soda, vinegar is a wise substitute for harsh commercial cleaners.
Making cement creates carbon dioxide, a lot of it. If you are planning to renovate your house or add on to it, consider using concrete mixes or pre-fabricated concrete modules that use less traditional cement or lower carbon cement. These products are also innovative in the way they add recycled paper and glass to create unusual and unique textures and coloring.
More than a baking ingredient, this common household product does everything from deodorize to polish. It can even fight fires.
Check the label and the product description of your bamboo towel, upholstery, wall covering, even your baby's crib linen, it may use terms like "organic", "environmentally-safe", "biodegradable", "natural", or "antimicrobial". Items made out of bamboo fiber and fabric may not live up to those claims.
In the fight against drain clogs, boiling water, baking soda, vinegar and a plunger are your greenest allies.
A wash cloth made from organic cotton yarn is a gentle way to care for sensitive skin, and an easy project for a beginner.
Even though they are considered dinosaurs in the modern lighting world, incandescent bulbs and the warm light they create still have a wide appeal. So how can we reconcile energy-gulping incandescents with a greener home?
Selecting the right water heater for your home is a serious commitment- one that could last up to 20 years. Before you take the plunge, here's some extra information to help you decide between a conventional tank or a tankless water heater.
It should go without saying, pouring a quart of Liquid-Plumr® or Drano ® down the drain to 'burn' through a clog is hardly a nod to personal safety or environmental responsibility. For those concerned with general good health and wellness, there are several safe alternatives to chemical cleaning products that will prove to be just as effective.
As a typical American husband, I know a thing or two about hot water since I'm often in it. There are different home water-heating systems to choose from. However, when your conventional tank water heater fails, the easiest and more affordable option is usually to replace it with another tank water heater. But how do you choose one that fits your house, budget and eco-conscience?
Standard kitchen and bathroom water faucets use 4 to 7 gallons of water per minute (gpm) and non-conserving shower heads use 5 to 8 gpm, consuming up to 40 gallons of water for a single five-minute shower. Simply installing a high-efficiency shower head and faucet aerator will save about 7,800 gallons of water per year in an average household.
If you thought your home was a haven from the pollution of the city, it's important to note that levels of pollutants inside the home can actually be almost 20 times higher than outdoors. Indoor pollution is due in large part to volatile organic compounds that off-gas from home cleaning and decorating products.
According to studies done by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, standard showers average about 7-10 gallons per minute (gpm). And if you have an old toilet it can use approximately 5-7 gallons per flush!. Another 12 gallons to brush your teeth and 2 to wash your hands...
If there's one brand that deserves a shout-out for helping make a difference, it's Seventh Generation. Seventh Generation is the leading brand of non-toxic and environmentally friendly household products today. From their biodegradable cleaners to their plant-derived laundry...
The products used to cover the walls of your home with colorful textures and patterns can be made from non-sustainable materials. These ingredients can include many chemicals that will be harmful to you and your family. Here are some interesting eco-friendly wallcovering options that you might consider in your home. These products will not only make your residence look great, but your purchase will contribute to a green way of life and a healthier home.
Countertops have been included in the shift towards eco-friendly living and now there are some fantastic materials being used in kitchens that have little impact on the planet. There are many green countertop solutions that will withstand the heavy abuse of water and food preparation of daily household use. Using recycled content and non-toxic chemicals, manufacturers have created eco-friendly countertops that not only perform well, but they rival traditional materials in appearance too!
The next time you're in the market for some new towels, why not consider all of your options first. While cotton is still an excellent, not to mention probably the most common choice, bamboo and hemp towels are also great alternatives if you're looking to stay on the greener side of things. Of course, with all three, choosing organic is best.
Cleaning products are a necessity in every household. But perhaps, after a long day of cleaning, you've noticed you have shortness in breath, nausea, dizziness or irritated skin. This is the result of dangerous chemicals that are prominently found in household cleaning products are toxic to your health.
Light is important. Whether from sunlight or the light produced inside your home, humans need it to survive. A room can be transformed just by a flick of the switch. It seems logical, then, that one would turn to the most energy efficient and long-lasting light sources.
Seventh Generation is the leading brand of non-toxic and environmentally friendly household products today. From their biodegradable cleaners to their plant-derived laundry supplies to their recycled paper products, Seventh Generation offers the one of the most comprehensive supplies of eco-friendly household products on the market.