ArcaMax

If you live in a climate that gets a lot of snow, you actually can use it to protect your outdoor plants. The trick is to use it as an insulator by layering clean snow around the base of the plants. Think of the snow like an igloo: It protects the roots from harsh cold temperatures. You also should brush off excess snow from the tops of plants ...Read more

Did you know those who adopt a vegan diet produce 50% less CO2 emissions and use 13 times less water to grow what they eat? But if the thought of going totally plant-based seems impossible to you, you can also just adopt small changes and be semi-vegan. Swap out things like dairy cheese for new creamy vegan cheeses, and opt for things like vegan...Read more

If you drink carbonated beverages, which is better: a plastic bottle or aluminum can? The answer is simple: aluminum. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, aluminum cans are one of the most commonly recycled materials. In less than 60 days, a typical soda can goes from the supermarket to the recycling bin to the recycling facility ...Read more

One of the best things you can do when seeking out consumer goods is to buy used. When it comes to the environmental impact of things like clothing, cars, household items, electronics, books and other nonperishables, lightly used always beats out new in terms of environmental footprint. And with the growth of online marketplaces to connect ...Read more

Bath towels eventually wear out and need to be replaced, but that doesn’t mean the old ones can't be reused for other purposes around the house. The simplest thing is to cut them into rags that can be used to wipe up spills and for regular cleaning around the house. If your old towels are in decent shape, most animal shelters will gladly take ...Read more

It’s important to always run a full dishwasher to get the most energy and water efficiency possible. But what if you need to run it when it’s not quite full? Try loading a few other things from around the house that could benefit from the disinfecting power of the machine. That list could include kitchen sponges, silicone oven mitts and ...Read more

Does your kitchen or bathroom drain have an unpleasant odor? Instead of dumping chlorine bleach down the drain to neutralize the odor, try this nontoxic solution: regular salt. Sometimes decomposing organic matter like food scraps can be stuck on the sides of pipes. The salt helps dislodge the stuck-on waste and acts like a mini scrubber for ...Read more

It’s a pretty basic eco-fact that planting a tree is one of the best ways to give back to the Earth and beautify your property. But trees can be expensive, and nothing is worse than a living investment that ends up dying in the first year you plant it. When buying trees, ask your local nursery if they have any zero-risk guarantees. Many ...Read more

When you’re using your oven to bake dinner for a crowd, one of the worst things you can do to affect the food and your utility bill is to open the oven door unnecessarily. Ovens use a lot of energy to get hot, and every time you open the door, the temperature drops by about 25 degrees. When you close it, the oven uses more energy to get back ...Read more

Yes, even releasing one helium balloon into the sky can be seriously damaging for the environment. Researchers at the University of Michigan studied the environmental impact of balloons and found some can travel thousands of miles. When they pop, they pose a serious threat to wildlife who mistake them for food. For example, sea turtles can ...Read more

A popular gift for all sorts of occasions is a fresh flower arrangement. If you're someone who has received such a gift, the cabinet under your sink may be full of old vases you've collected and stashed over the years. The next time you order flowers for someone, opt to send the bouquet without a vase. Also, your local florist will gladly take ...Read more

If you're a parent throwing a birthday party for your child, why not invite other moms and dads to come to the party and do a toy swap? While the kids are playing, parents can go through bags of unused toys and trade with each other. It’s a great way to reuse toys, save money and give new-to-them toys to your kids. Whatever doesn’t get ...Read more

Did you know nearly 5 million pounds of wrapping paper is used every year in the United States (with the majority used during the holiday season)? While the greenest option is to go gift wrap-free when exchanging gifts, the next best thing is to be resourceful. Raid the office recycling bin for gift wrap freebies! Color copies of charts, graphs,...Read more

When you’re throwing a dinner party or gathering that involves a large number of people, it can be easy to overcook or overorder food and end up with a lot of waste. Catering professionals have a basic rule of thumb for how much food is needed to keep guests from going hungry. For appetizers, think six large bites per guest, plus a few easy ...Read more

Appliance repair professionals want you to know something: Those conventional plastic dishwashing pods are ruining your machine. The water temperature inside your machine does not get high enough to break down the plastic material, so remnants are left behind that clog pumps and drains and slow down the basic functions of the machine. Beyond ...Read more

Did you know it takes about 20,000 liters of water to produce one new T-shirt and jeans? The United States produces 34 billion pounds of textile waste every year -- about 100 pounds per person -- that is sent to landfills. One way to cut back on waste is to swap clothes. Make a pile of lightly worn clothes and shoes and try to find someone who ...Read more

While it’s nice to have real houseplants indoors to add some greenery and freshen up the air, there are certain common types of plants you should avoid if you have pets. English ivy is a popular indoor choice because it’s easy to grow and it grows quickly, but your pet can experience serious health complications if it chews on the leaves. ...Read more

Did you know that honey does not have an expiration date? That’s because the acid in honey makes it naturally antibacterial, so it is impossible for microorganisms and bacteria to grow in it. In fact, scientists have found honey in Egyptian tombs that is thousands of years old, and it was still perfectly edible. Honey can naturally crystalize ...Read more

Organic cotton linens are not only more attainable today than they were years ago, they can have other benefits, too. Buying organic cotton bedding helps support farmers who grow organic cotton, and it also helps eliminate unnecessary chemicals from your life. Conventional cotton bedding is often bleached and then dyed using heavy-metal dyes ...Read more

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, about 14% of total air infiltration in a home enters through a fireplace chimney -- even if the damper is pulled shut --which can make your home less energy efficient in the winter months. Chimney balloons, which are nearly indestructible balloons you place inside the chimney to block drafts, can work ...Read more