Start A Green Living Now!
Green at Home
Eco-Friendly Rodent Control
In most instances, rodents like rats and mice are pests, not pets, which you will agree with. So, you use commercially available rodenticide to kill off the critters and prevent the spread of rodent-borne diseases like typhus. On the downside, the collateral damage upon the environment, your pets and your health often will not justify the use of these rat poisons. For example, your cats and dogs can develop fatal health problems once they ingest the rat poison. Plus, rodenticides pose deadly threats to aquatic environments and may even end up in your drinking water! It’s a good thing then that there are eco-friendly and cost-friendly rodent measures you can adopt. Fill In the Gaps Rodents are very good at squeezing their lithe bodies through the smallest of cracks. In fact, just a quarter of an inch hole in a wall will allow countless mice access to your kitchen and, from there, your house! Thus, it is very important to fill in the gaps in your house especially those at floor levels. For brick homes, you have to ensure that the expansion joints are well-covered with sealant. Or you can also use crumpled chicken wire as well as steel/copper wool that will allow ...- Bookmark :
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Moving Junk
People love to collect junk. This is so true. Maybe some people collect more junk than others, but be honest, we all collect some type of junk. It is some natural inclination we have to make sure every piece of junk on the earth has a home whether we need it or not. Stopping the junk habit is a realization you come to when you decide to move. Nobody wants to move junk, but what do you do with it? Why We Collect Junk There are many reasons why people collect junk. For many of us we are simply afraid to throw something out because we may need it one day. Seriously, though, if you have not used something in years then you probably never will. Stopping the junk starts with being able to let go. Sometimes we collect junk for sentimental reasons. This type of junk may be more difficult to part with. If you have this type of junk then find a way to put it to use or find somewhere to store it. Just remember when you are moving you have to move it all, too. Sometimes just the idea of taking all our junk along when we move can be ...- Bookmark :
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Reduce Water Pollution In and Around Your Home
Pollution in our waterways is a significant environmental problem. As rain water runs downward, it takes toxic chemicals with it, washing them into creeks, streams, and rivers. You can take steps to reduce this kind of pollution by becoming aware and making some changes around your home. Here are some ideas. 1. If you change your car's oil, never dump the oil out onto the ground, bury it, or toss it into the trash. Collect it in a drum and have it recycled, or contact your local waste management authority to find out how to dispose of it in your area. 2. Wash your car with biodegradable, non-toxic cleaners and soaps which are available commercially. You can also use biodegradable, natural, liquid vegetable soap to wash your car. 3. Maintain your vehicle to make sure that no fluids are leaking. 4. Freon leaks are slow and often unnoticed by the homeowner until his or her air conditioning fails to kick on in the summer. Have your heating and cooling system regularly inspected to make sure that there is no Freon leaking into the ground. Rainwater will wash it right into the nearest stream. 5. Don't throw out old cleaners, furniture polishes, or other chemicals by ...- Bookmark :
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Bottled Water Is Bad for the Environment
Many people don’t trust the water that comes out of their tap, and so instead of drinking it, they spend hundreds of dollars a year on bottled water. Sure, it costs money to drink the water that comes out of the tap, but that’s only a few extra cents on your water bill. If you drink tap water instead of bottled water, you will save hundreds of dollars a year (depending on how many bottles of water you drink, of course), and you will save hundreds of plastic or glass bottles from the need to be recycled or, worse, go into landfills. All states have water treatment plants that ensure that your tap water is safe to drink. The problem is what the water picks up as it goes through the pipes to your home. Some pipes are old and can deposit rust or bacteria in your drinking water. However, that’s where water purifiers come in. You can purchase water purifiers that fit onto your faucet, or you can purchase refrigerators that have drinking water receptacles, after first purifying that water with filters. Pitchers and faucet-mount filters must be changed every 1-3 months…and this will cost you about $100 a year or ...- Bookmark :
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Not All Green Roofs Are Created Equal
The idea of going green has led many people to completely change all aspects of their lives. This includes major renovations to their homes. Installing solar power systems, increasing energy efficiency and changing to a green roof are just some things people are doing. However, any changes you make are only good if they are done right. This is especially true of green roofs. Proper installation is just as important as the materials that are used. Problems With Green Roofs Too often when a person decides to install a green roof they focus too much on the materials being used. While it is important to use green materials, there still needs to be some focus on the actual installation. Installing a green roof is only beneficial if the roof is installed correctly so that it works. When there is too much focus on materials and not enough focus on installation, you risk spending money on a roof that won't last through a season. It may end up with leaks, damage or even cave in if it is not installed correctly. If this happens you have to get it replaced. That means you spend more money and use more materials, so in the end ...- Bookmark :
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