ArcaMax

If you have a dog who loves to jump into ponds, rivers and other waterways when you go for a walk, make sure you let them swim without hurting the natural aquatic habitat. If you treat your dog with a topical flea treatment, those chemicals can harm waterborne insects like dragonflies and beetles. And avoid allowing your dog to trample ...Read more

Do you buy products like instant coffee, electrolytes and vitamins in single-use “sachets”? While it may be convenient to have pre-measured amounts for use, those packets are horrible for the environment. They are made from nonbiodegradable and very hard-to-recycle materials that end up breaking down into microplastics. Try to find bulk ...Read more

Outdoor potted plants like shrubs and evergreens that can't be brought indoors can be protected from the cold, harsh winter weather with some simple upcycling. Wrap the pots with a few layers of old Bubble Wrap and use shipping tape to secure it in place. The air pockets will help insulate the roots of the plant in the same way a greenhouse ...Read more

If you're thinking about investing in a snowblower, think electric and not gas. Besides being quieter, not requiring as much maintenance and starting with the push of a button, electric snow removal products work just as well as their gasoline-powered counterparts, but do not emit any greenhouse gases when being used. Many electric snowblowers ...Read more

Save money when you fly, and help save the environment, too. Opting for economy seating on an airplane is far more eco-friendly than flying in business or first class. More passengers can fit in economy, so the overall emissions per passenger are lower. Flying first class actually produces nine times more emissions than coach. So when you have a...Read more

Witch hazel is a natural astringent made from distilled flowers of an indigenous shrub native to North America. Many people use it to help treat acne-prone and inflamed skin, since it has wonderful anti-inflammatory benefits. But witch hazel is also naturally antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal. By pouring witch hazel into a small spray ...Read more

Ever buy an LED light bulb that’s supposed to last 50,000 hours, but it stops working way too soon? There are two reasons why it probably stopped emitting any light. First, LED bulbs don’t do well when they are hot, so installing them in light fixtures with a tight-fitting shade is a surefire way to make them fail. Second, if you buy cheap ...Read more

What’s the first thing you should do when you buy a new house? Plant a tree. Besides the fact that trees can provide shade, help keep your house cool in the summer and add beauty to your yard, they also increase the value of your home. A mature tree can add up to $10,000 in extra value to your home. And since a tree can take about 10 years to ...Read more

Are your kids' lunches coming home half-eaten every day? It may not be a case of them being disinterested in their food; they actually may have too much food to eat. The reality is, there are different appropriate food portions for kids, and throwing away uneaten food every day is both an ecological and economic waste. The website choosemyplate....Read more

Among the biggest energy hogs in the kitchen are electric ovens. Newer models are more energy-efficient and can hold a temperature longer, even if you’ve turned off the oven. Consider turning off the oven five to 10 minutes before a dish is finished; the residual heat should be enough to finish the meal properly. And this energy-saving ...Read more

Are you renovating your kitchen and wondering what can be done with old granite, stone or marble countertops? The last thing you should do is have them sent to a landfill. Fabricators can do more than just cut and install countertops. They can take your old surfaces and upcycle them into shelves, benches, coasters and trays. Or have the stone ...Read more

When you turn on the faucet to wash your hands or brush your teeth, do you turn it all the way on? When you don’t need the full force of maximum water pressure, consider lightly turning on the faucet to have less water flowing. You'll use 30% to 50% less water this way. The same holds true when you’re simply rinsing out a cup or need a ...Read more

Take advantage of the opportunity colder weather offers to detox the things in your home. When the temperature dips below freezing at night, lay out a clean tarp in your unheated garage and put items like plush toys, throw pillows and comforters on top. The freezing overnight temperatures will kill microscopic dust mites and other allergens, ...Read more

Take the time to delete unnecessary email from your inbox today to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Here’s why: Unread or saved emails in your inbox are archived on the servers that hold your account data. Those servers (which use a ton of energy) are continuously on, which means every saved or unread email is using up energy on those ...Read more

If you want to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a meaningful way, do this: Eat more beans. Researchers at Loma Linda University found that switching out beef for beans is one of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint. And this tip doesn’t mean you need to give up beef entirely. You can also reduce your beef consumption in ...Read more

The United States Postal Service has a simple green tip when shipping through the mail this year: Reuse what you have. Yes, you can use the perfectly sturdy cardboard box your new shoes came in as a gift box to send through the mail. You can run old magazines, direct mailers and old mail through a paper shredder to use as packing material to ...Read more

Do you have lots of little bars of hotel soap at home and you're not sure what to do with them? There’s a good chance your neighbors, fellow churchgoers and co-workers also have some they would like to get rid of. The nonprofit organization Clean the World collects soap and distributes hygiene kits to more than 70 countries to help fight ...Read more

It’s true that cars built more than 10 years ago are not as efficient as cars built today. But many people have their motor oil changed at the same frequency, no matter when their car was made. You might be surprised to learn that you may not need to change your motor oil as frequently as you think. The simplest way to find out is to visit ...Read more

Do you want to prevent moths from destroying your clothes? The most important step is to make sure you vacuum regularly in your closet. Closets typically are dark and dusty, and moths and their larvae love these living conditions. Over time, moth eggs can build up and hatch into sweater-eating pests. Giving your closet a good vacuuming can help ...Read more

Do you use the dining app OpenTable to make reservations at restaurants? If you love to give to those in need, you may want to start. OpenTable offers loyalty points that you can accumulate by using the app, and you can use your saved-up points to do good by donating them to No Kid Hungry, a child hunger nonprofit that was launched in 2010. For ...Read more