| |
 |
A Smart Guide to Plastics [back to top]
Plastic is everywhere. It is widely used to store our everyday use of foods and beverages. As we may have become accustomed to the convenience, durability, and accessibility of plastic, it is important to use... Read full guide |
| |
|
Alternative Fuel Vehicles Guide [back to top]
The personal vehicle revolutionized transportation, but it was a step in the wrong direction for environmental stewardship. Today, more than half a billion cars travel on roads worldwide and the number is expected to... Read full guide |
| |
|
Barbeques: Build Yours Solar Powered![back to top]
During the warmest seasons of the year you will be able to cook your food with zero excess green house gas emissions. And when the summer months come around, you will be grateful that your BBQ will still host delicious summer-time cook outs, without contributing... Read full guide |
| |
|
Beekeeping at Home: Your Introductory Guide [back to top]
Honeybees are a crucial part of our natural world. Not only do they produce honey and beeswax, but also they are responsible for the pollination of thousands of cash crops and various other species of plants. Sadly, bee populations are on the decline... Read full guide |
| |
|
Bring Your Own Shopping Bag [back to top]
In the choice between paper and plastic, there is no right answer. Most people think paper is the no-brainer answer. In reality though, the answer is not as easy as it seems to be. Paper bags are no innocent bystanders... Read full guide |
| |
|
Build Your Own Air Conditioner [back to top]
The US Department of Energy reports that 45% of an average home's energy bill goes to heating and cooling, nationally emitting a total of 150 million tons of carbon Dioxide (CO2) per year. Heating and cooling... Read full guide |
| |
|
Buy a Reusable Water Bottle [back to top]
People often cite convenience, health concerns, and safety as reasons to drink bottled water. However, recent studies suggest that bottled water is no safer or healthier than tap water... Read full guide |
| |
|
Camping: Make it an Even Greener Experience! [back to top]
Our parks, forests, beaches, and protected wilderness areas are national treasures for us to enjoy. Henry David Thoreau once said, “In wilderness is the preservation of the world.” Spending time outdoors is a unique way to support and savor our pristine natural... Read full guide |
| |
|
CFLs vs. LEDs[back to top]
While a lot of people have heard about the benefits of Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs), not as many have heard about or are as familiar with many have heard about Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)... Read full guide |
| |
|
Chairs: Guide to Making Them From Plastic Barrels [back to top]
If life gives you a large plastic barrel, why not make a chair? A chair made out of a plastic bucket may not sound that appealing, but if you have the right equipment to shape and mold the bucket in a certain way, it can look great and feel nice. It has arm rests... Read full guide |
| |
|
Children’s Birthday Party: Guide to Making it Eco-Friendly! [back to top]
Everyone likes a good party, but everyone likes a party more if its eco-friendly. Unless, of course, you are a child, then you probably just like parties regardless of their carbon footprint. If you have a little one of your own you are entirely aware that ... Read full guide |
| |
|
Christmas Tree Guide: Getting Eco-Friendly This Holiday Season! [back to top]
Every Christmas, we use trees as decoration for only a few weeks out of the year. Two of the most popular options, farmed trees and artificial trees, have some harmful consequences for the environment. However, many eco-... Read full guide |
| |
|
Clean or Replace your Air Conditioner Filter [back to top]
What is the Function of an Air Conditioning Filter? Air conditioning filters have a dual-purpose. They keep both the air and the unit's component parts clean. If the filter is not cleaned or replaced regularly... Read full guide |
| |
|
Drink Organic Wine and Beer [back to top]
Why Sip Organic Wine? While we all enjoy our nightly glass of wine, the cultivation of the fruits of our leisure can be quite harmful to the planet. Grapes are one of the most heavily sprayed crops in the US... Read full guide |
| |
|
Dry Your Clothes on a Clothesline [back to top]
Why Hang Dry? Living in the age of iPods, hybrid vehicles, and high-speed wireless internet, many people find the idea of hang-drying clothes ludicrous. With all the technology available, including high efficiency dryers... Read full guide |
| |
|
Eco-Friendly Footwear [back to top]
With fashion trends forever in flux, the shoe industry is booming and the life expectancy of shoes is shriveling. In the span of fourteen years, worldwide shoe production increased 70 percent, reaching 17 billion in 2004... Read full guide |
| |
|
Fix Your Leaky Faucet! [back to top]
Freshwater ecosystems are the most diverse ecosystems (around 12% of all animal species live in fresh water), yet they are also the most threatened. On top of that, with dwindling water supplies, imagine how... Read full guide |
| |
|
Flea Control: A Guide to Controlling These Buggers Naturally! [back to top]
Most over-the-counter flea control products contain an absurd amount of toxins. When you read the warning labels, such as “Hazardous to Humans and Domestic Animals,” “Toxic to Cats or Fish,” “ Harmful if Ingested,” it is safe to say that these toxins will also end up in our natural environment. Many ... Read full guide |
| |
|
Furniture: Guide to Making Yours Eco-Friendly [back to top]
Furniture is one of the biggest and bulkiest products that we buy in our lifetime. Fortunately, when you buy eco-friendly furniture, you are doing something good for the environment, for your health, and for your wallet... Read full guide |
| |
|
Get a Home Energy Audit [back to top]
A home energy audit is an evaluation performed on homes to determine areas where energy can be used more efficiently. You can solicit the services of a professional to conduct the audit or you can do it yourself... Read full guide |
| |
|
Green Health Care Guide [back to top]
Green Health Care is a new idea entering into the mainstream healthcare industry that works to improve the health of humans and the environment. Traditionally, naturopathic medicine can be considered one of the “greenest”... Read full guide |
| |
|
Green Investing Guide [back to top]
You might be doing all the right environmental actions through volunteering, consumer choices, and eco-friendly habits. But what are you doing with all the money you've saved up? A great way to be pro-actively environmentalist with your... Read full guide |
| |
|
Grow Your Own Vegetables [back to top]
If you have the time and patience, you can grow your favorite vegetables right in your backyard! Growing your vegetables outside in your garden utilizes the natural outdoor resources: sun, air, and soil... Read full guide |
| |
|
Have an Eco-Friendly Thanksgiving![back to top]
The time of year is approaching again to gather with family and friends and share your thanks over a big meal. Yes, Thanksgiving Day is right around the corner! While this season is usually a time to celebrate the land and its offerings, it can also be a time... Read full guide |
| |
|
Healthy Eating [back to top]
Eating seasonally is a simple and delicious way to help the environment and your health. How do you do it? Remember which foods are in season, check the labels to make sure the food you're buying is from a relatively similar region, then buy and enjoy your food. As simple as it is, it's got a lot... Read full guide |
| |
|
Heartworm Prevention: A Guide to the Natural Approach [back to top]
Mosquito season is never an enjoyable time of the year. If you are a pet owner, mosquitoes pose more of a problem than just their itchy bites. Mosquitoes can carry heartworm, a parasitic worm that can infect your dog or cat. An infected mosquito that bites your pet can transfer the larvae to the animal’s... Read full guide |
| |
|
How to Become a Bicycling Commuter![back to top]
Tired of spending a small fortune at the gas pump? Hate rush hour traffic? Want to get into shape? If one or more of these things describes you, then you might want to consider commuting by bicycle to work... Read full guide |
| |
|
How to Become a Locavore [back to top]
If you want your diet to reflect your environmentalist ideals, becoming a locavore is one great way to do it! A locavore is a person who tries to eat only locally grown foods. However, there is no strict definition of what “local” means... Read full guide |
| |
|
How to Build a Cob Oven [back to top]
Imagine moving your baking projects outdoors. Imagine constructing your own oven out of natural materials in the same way people have for centuries. Imagine increasing your level of self-sufficiency... Read full guide |
| |
|
How to Build a Composting Toilet [back to top]
Many environmentalists and nature enthusiasts dream of having zero-waste systems. A zero-waste system is exactly what it sounds like: a system in which every material is useful, and nothing at all is thrown away... Read full guide |
| |
|
How to Build a Solar Oven [back to top]
Building a solar oven is a simple and cheap way to help save the environment. While many people like to use solar cookers on the road when they don't have access to electricity, you can actually use the free power of sunshine right... Read full guide |
| |
|
How to Conserve Water in Your Kitchen [back to top]
In 2003 the United Nations reported that over half of the global population would live without enough water, and five years later in 2008 some of this prediction proved to be true. Indian farmers were lacking ample groundwater... Read full guide |
| |
|
Indoor Plants: Guide to Greening Your Plant Care [back to top]
Plants are scientifically proven to have positive psychological effects, plus plants filter air and consume some carbon dioxide, increasing the amount of fresh air in your home. Depending on how green your thumb is, beginning your indoor... Read full guide |
| |
|
Install a Motion-Sensing Light [back to top]
What is a Motion-Sensing Light? A motion-sensing light is one that is activated by a motion sensor rather than by a conventional light switch. A motion-sensor can either replace conventional light switches... Read full guide |
| |
|
Insulate Your Home! [back to top]
The best place to add insulation is in the attic, since it is the area that provides the most savings-potential. However, you can also use these same steps and apply them in basements, garages, and crawlspaces... Read full guide |
| |
|
Join a Carpool [back to top]
With gas prices constantly on the rise, carpooling is a great way to mitigate the costs. Find people in your area who have a commute similar to yours and start reaping the benefits! Carpooling enables you to save money... Read full guide |
| |
|
Join a Community Supported Agriculture Operation [back to top]
A community supported agriculture operation is a local farm funded by community members. In return for their patronage members receive a share of the farm's harvest - typically in the form of a weekly produce box... Read full guide |
| |
|
Junk Mail: Your Guide to Stopping it Today! [back to top]
Considering the small percentage of junk mail that people actually respond to,2 that's a huge waste. What's worse is that a lot of junk mail is printed on virgin paper, and sometimes with toxic inks that can seep back into the environment when so much of it goes to a landfill.3 Even recycled paper requires ... Read full guide |
| |
|
Laundry: Make it Eco-Friendly! [back to top]
the most important thing you should think about when doing laundry is:
How can I lower my electricity bill? Thinking about it financially
often puts energy use into perspective and helps you reduce at home
energy consumption. Just... Read full guide |
| |
|
Lawns: Guide to Making Yours Eco-Friendly [back to top]
For whatever reason, lawns have long been a staple of American suburban life. Lawns cover about 40.5 million acres of the country. We spend about $30 billion maintaining lawns every year. 30-60% of residential water bills are... Read full guide |
| |
|
Make Your Own Birdfeeder [back to top]
Why Construct Your Own Birdfeeder? Having a birdfeeder will allow you to observe many different kinds of birds in close proximity. You'll be able to recognize certain species in no time, and bird watching is... Read full guide |
| |
|
Make Your Own Compost [back to top]
All organic matter will naturally decompose in the presence of plants and its nutrients will be returned to the earth. Composting accelerates the speed at which decomposition occurs. It is the environmentally preferred... Read full guide |
| |
|
Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Cosmetic Supplies [back to top]
From their contents to packaging, cosmetics have quite an impact on the environment. Many cosmetics consist of synthetic chemicals that are harmful to your skin and the environment. Additionally, many people suffer... Read full guide |
| |
|
Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Household Cleaners [back to top]
Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Household Cleaners Chemically infused cleaning products have an undeserved reputation of immaculate cleanliness. The truth is these products that are intended to rid our homes... Read full guide |
| |
|
Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Soap [back to top]
Despite all of the safety claims regarding industrial soap, no one really knows what effect the myriad of chemicals will have on the environment. One study by the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found... Read full guide |
| |
|
Make Your Own Hair Care Products [back to top]
Hair products, like most cosmetic products, contain hundreds of chemicals that can pose a threat to your health and the environment. Many of the ingredients and chemicals found in these products are made from petrochem... Read full guide |
| |
|
Make your Own iPod Case [back to top]
Why Make a Cover for Your MP3 Player? Reusing old clothing fabric to make a cover for your mp3 player may seem more like an arts and crafts project than an environmentally friendly action, but it can be quite... Read full guide |
| |
|
Make Your Own Non-Toxic Pesticides [back to top]
Non-toxic pesticides may sound like an oxymoron, but they are becoming more and more popular, as seen in the boom of organic foods. Although most pesticides, by definition, must be toxic to the targeted pests, non-toxic pesticides minimize... Read full guide |
| |
|
Make Your Own Rugs [back to top]
Why make rugs when you can buy them? Because it's easy and fun! Making "Rag Rugs" became particularly popular from 1890 to 1910 especially among women in the country or frontier. Instructions are often... Read full guide |
| |
|
Marathons: Guide to Making Them and Other Races Eco-Friendly! [back to top]
Marathons are one of the most strenuous events known to man, and not just for the runner who must speed—or trudge, depending—through 26 miles on foot, but also for the event staff. Think about what it takes to put on a race: first, tons of volunteers filled with alacrity for handing out water or sports ... Read full guide |
| |
|
Monitoring Your Water Heater Settings [back to top]
In general, water heating accounts for 13% of your home utility bill. Most homes maintain their hot water heaters at a pre-set temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit, which is much higher than needed. By lowering your water... Read full guide |
| |
|
Outdoor Gardening: Guide to Greening Your Plant Care
[back to top]
Gardens can make any yard both beautiful and intricate while providing
you with a healthy, outdoor hobby. But just because you're growing your
own vegetables doesn't mean your being environmentally-friendly about
it. Implementing used water... Read full guide |
| |
|
Pet Care: Make it Eco-Friendly [back to top]
Taking a more eco-friendly approach to the world does not have to stop
at you. If you are a pet owner, there are several steps that you can
take to help reduce your pets’ carbon footprint and make their experience in the world a little... Read full guide |
| |
|
Pet Food: Make it at Home and Make it Green! [back to top]
Many people have switched their daily diets to include natural or
organic products. This trend can translate to your furry friends as
well! Feeding your pet a natural or organic diet has countless benefits
but can tend to get expensive once you... Read full guide |
| |
|
Plant a Tree at Home [back to top]
Having trees around your house can reduce your utility bills by up to 12%! Trees shade your house on sunny days and block wind on stormy days saving you money on both your heating and cooling expenses. In addition, a mature... Read full guide |
| |
|
Power Your Home with Solar Panels! [back to top]
Tired of being taken to the
clearers by your utility provider? The price of conventional electricity is the
function of many variables and can fluctuate quite wildly. In contrast, solar
power is now more affordable than ever... Read full guide |
| |
|
Programmable Thermostats: Make The Switch On Your Own! [back to top]
If you've got a manual thermostat, it's the time to switch to a programmable thermostat. This simple technology can make a huge impact in your life. Once you install it, you won't know how you lived without it. They're great for the environment, save you time and effort, and can lower your... Read full guide |
| |
|
Recycling 101 [back to top]
The amount of waste our country produces is outstanding. We are accumulating, on average, 2 to 5 lbs of waste per person per day. Fortunately, recycling is on the rise. Our country recycles 32% of its waste, compared to... Read full guide |
| |
|
Replace Your Heating Filter [back to top]
Why Take Time for Heating Filter Maintenance? Heating filters function to keep both the air emitted and your heater's components clean. If the filter is dirty, the effectiveness of your heater can be significantly reduced... Read full guide |
| |
|
Reuse Your Grey Water [back to top]
Grey water includes water used from bathroom sinks, showers, tubs, and washing machines. Some areas allow water from kitchen sinks and dishwater in this classification. Grey water can be reused to water... Read full guide |
| |
|
Set Up a Home Recycling Station [back to top]
A home recycling station is a sorting system for recyclables. Even though recycling is one of the easiest things to do, at times we neglect to do it simply out of sheer laziness... Read full guide |
| |
|
Skin Care: Guide to Making yours Eco-Friendly [back to top]
The average person uses 10 different skin care products every day. You can easily make or buy your own cleansers, face masks, and moisturizers. Using eco-friendly skin care products has benefits for the environment, your health, and your wallet... Read full guide |
| |
|
Solar Panels: Guide to Building Your Own![back to top]
Solar energy is one of the best ways to reduce your impact on the environment. However, not everyone wants to make the commitment or pay the high cost of the larger, pre-built solar panels. Fortunately, you can actually build your own small solar panel, which will help the environment, your wallet, and
... Read full guide |
| |
|
Sustainable Seafood Guide[back to top]
Overfishing is causing 70% of fish species to be fished close to or at their capacity. Certain methods of fishing pollute and degrade entire ocean ecosystems. In fact, if current trends continue, the populations of almost all... Read full guide |
| |
|
Switch to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs [back to top]
A compact fluorescent light bulb is an energy efficient alternative for your conventional incandescent bulb. If every American changed just one light bulb in their home to an Energy Star... Read full guide |
| |
|
Take an Eco-Day Trip! [back to top]
There are many modes of transportation that can minimize your impact on the environment as you go about your eco-day trip. If you do not drive every day, you may be able to join a car share program in your area... Read full guide
|
| |
|
Take an Eco-Vacation [back to top]
Ecotourism, or sustainable tourism, is a developing trend focused on environmental conservation and the welfare of host cultures. It promotes sustainable travel that will help preserve natural settings for... Read full guide |
| |
|
Toilet Plumbing [back to top]
Checking for a leak in your houseFor a simple way to see if anything's leaking in your house, try this simple trick. Look at the water meter and remember its exact position. Wait two hours and don't use any water in... Read full guide |
| |
|
Trading Books [back to top]
Libraries are great, but sometimes I want to keep a book, or write in it, or find an obscure book my library does not have. Or perhaps you do not live near a big library. Buying new books can be fun, but sometimes... Read full guide |
|
| |
Try Car Sharing [back to top]
Car sharing is a very practical option for those who do not use their cars on a daily basis. Members of car share organizations can use the cars simply by making a reservation online or on the phone... Read full guide |
|
| |
Use Eco-Friendly Paints [back to top]
It may be a surprise that a widely used substance such as paint, whether it be for interior or exterior use, can pose a threat to human health and the environment. The culprit: conventional paints containing high levels... Read full guide |
|
| |
Water Heater: Guide to Going Tankless! [back to top]
You may not have heard of them before, but tankless water heaters are the most common type of water heater in Europe and Asia. By contrast, in the US, the most common type of water heater is the storage tank water heater. Although they... Read full guide |
|
| |
Wind Farms: Start One of Your Own! [back to top]
Right now, wind energy is the fastest growing energy resource in the world. Wind energy is quickly becoming so affordable and accessible that you could start your own wind farm. That thought may have never crossed your mind... Read full guide |
|
| |
Winter Homes [back to top]
As the days become shorter and the nights become colder, we know that winter is near. Depending on what part of the country you live, the winter months may also be the most expensive time of year. Heating and cooling... Read full guide |
Browse all Greeniacs Guides
Browse all Greeniacs Articles
