Green at Home

Eco-Friendly Furniture - Tips & Ideas

Although the price of furniture has gone down recently, which is mostly because of imports that are cheap, the environment is actually paying the price for this.  Many pieces of modern furniture today have substances included in them that are toxic to humans and to the environment today. If you look around your office or home, you may find a lot of furniture that is made out of particle board.  Some may have some veneer made of wood, and you may really not have any idea about the wood that is being used in the furniture.  Most people end up thinking about price, not the environment, when they purchase their furniture. The problem with furniture that is made out of particle board is that the resin in it that binds the chips of wood together actually has formaldehyde in it.  This is a toxin and a carcinogen.  Of course, you can't be quite sure what wood is in the veneer and the chips of wood.  It could be from any type of wood out there today. Many of the covers and cushions for today's furniture is made out of materials that can be pretty nasty.  PVC is often used, which has formaldehyde in ...

Easy Steps to Make your Own Handmade Paper at Home

Recycle Crafts - Homemade Paper It is also extra special to send out a letter that is handwritten and beautiful stationary makes it even more special.  It can definitely be a lot of fun visiting a store that offers a variety of different stationary options with various designs, textures, and colors.  There are so many different beautiful options that you can choose from. Of course, instead of purchasing your stationary paper, a greener option is to make your own paper.  You can actually make your own paper - it's an art.  This allows you to use up all kinds of papers, so you are recycling that paper instead of just throwing it away.  It also allows you to create some art that you can use up or you can even put together some of it and give it away to a friend or family member as an extra special gift. When you are just starting out, the paper may come up a bit on the thick side.  Of course, with some practice, you'll get better and better at making this paper.  It is a great thing that you can do with your kids as well.  It's a wonderful way to spend a rainy ...

Home Solar Panels: The Future has arrived, and it’s green!

Solar energy has come to the rescue of Haiti after it was struck with January 12 earthquake that claimed thousands of lives.  There is no electricity to energize hospitals and relief work past dusk.  Sol Inc. a Palm City based company donated solar lighting supplies that would help relief workers work round the clock.  The solar revolution has finally caught up after several decades. Solar Panels for Clean Energy For decades, the world relied on the earth's resources for energy.  These resources are non-renewable and are feared to be on the decline and some of these have cause havoc on the environment causing air and water pollution.  An alternative is solar energy.  To use the sun's energy, the sun's energy is trapped and stored in solar panels. Solar panels do not produce energy, but stores the sun's energy and processed later into usable energy for homes and using this type of energy reduces C02 emissions.  With a growing awareness of environmental hazards, the world is shifting to go green with the government-approved installation of solar panels in homes, schools, churches, hospitals and other government and ...

Looking to Save Money on Your Hot Water Bill?

Everyone likes to take a hot shower all year round, it does not even matter if it is over 100 degrees outside, and we still love our hot water!  So when you buy a new or older house, you want to make sure you look at your water heater and find out how old your water heater is.  Most water heaters that are built within older homes lose their insulation over time, which means that your water will not get very hot.  When this happens you should look into purchasing a water heater blanket for your water heater! Water heater blankets are a great thing to have when you realize your water heater is not holding on to your hot water like you need it to.  Buying a water heater blanket will also save you money from having to go out and buy a brand new water heater! Not only will it save you money on a new water heater, but water heater blankets can also save you money on your water bill every year considering you will not be using as much energy or water once you get a new water heater blanket! There are a few things that you need ...

Perks of Cooking with Cast Iron

Cast iron cookware has been in use since 513 BC when it was first introduced by the Chinese.  Known for its immense health benefits, cooking in cast iron utensils is making a huge comeback amongst the health conscious.  Apart from the obvious health benefits, cast iron cookware is sturdy and easy to maintain and has the ability to withstand the abuse meted out to utensils of everyday use in a busy kitchen. These utensils are very long lasting and can be very easily seasoned and reused irrespective of its age.  So, if you find your mothers or grandmother's cast iron utensils lying around gathering dust, don't throw them away.  Seasoned cooks claim that food that is cooked in cast iron utensils always tastes better than the one cooked otherwise. One of the biggest health benefits of cooking in cast iron is the ability of this metal to increase the source of iron in the food.  Iron as a dietary supplement is important to generate proper blood flow and circulate oxygen.  Iron deficiency in the human system can lead to a number of health issues such as anemia, headaches, a general lack of energy and tiredness.  Cooking with cast iron is a great ...