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Green Living
Say Farewell To The Incandescent Bulb
The incandescent light bulb will soon be no more. IKEA recently sent out a reminder that they will no longer be selling incandescent bulbs at all of its stores in the United States. Incandescent bulbs are being phased out starting next year, as manufacturers in the United States will not be allowed to produce 100-watt bulbs, under federal law. By the start of 2014, the only incandescent bulbs that will be found on the market will be 3 way bulbs, plant lights, and appliance lamps. Despite the fact that incandescent bulbs are disappearing off the shelves, consumers have been slow to the punch when it comes to purchasing the alternative: LEDs and CFLs. Consumers have complained that CFLs, aka compact fluorescent lights, put off a harsh greenish beam of light, which is unappealing when compared to the warm glow of the incandescent bulb. LEDs cost more money and consumers in the United States are less aware of them. Neither CFLs nor LEDs are available as a dimmer and thus, both options are not ideal for people looking for some kind of mood lighting. As a result, incandescent bulbs still dominate sales in the lighting world, holding a high of 82% of ...- Bookmark :
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Put Your Shampoo BACK To Work
Between the wide variety of shampoo brands on the market, scooping up little hotel shampoo bottles when traveling, and moving to new apartments or homes, the average consumer tends to collect more than their fair share of shampoo bottles. Next time you go to clean your share of shampoo bottles out, consider some of the following tips for unique ways to put your shampoo to work. Take Off A Band-Aid Taking off a band-aid can be pretty painful, so to ease the pain, apply a few drops of shampoo to the adhesive part of the band-aid and let it sit there for a few moments. The band-aid will peel off the skin much easier than normal. Hand Washing Your Clothes Instead of purchasing an expensive tailor made hand washing soap for your delicates, drop a couple drops of shampoo in to a bucket or sink to hand wash your clothes. Treat Laundry Stains Apply shampoo to a stain on your laundry; rub the shampoo into the stain, and then let it soak for a while. Then, wash your laundry as normal. Prevent Fogging In Your Swim Mask If you apply a couple drops of shampoo to the inside of your swim mask and then rinse it out, you ...- Bookmark :
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The Ideal Indoor Plants
Indoor plants provide both an aesthetic quality to the home and also have health benefits. Plants are able to filter toxins such as formaldehyde, xylene and toluene, all of which can get into the house via paint and building material. In addition to cleaning the air, plants can help reduce the symptoms of depression and reduce stress. The ideal houseplant would provide some of the above mentioned benefits but also be low maintenance, meaning it would need low to average levels of light and water. The African violet is a popular houseplant and is one of the easiest flowering plants to maintain. Use a long-spouted watering can to water the African violet so as to get the water directly on the soil and avoid getting water on the flower petals. It’s recommended to use room temperature or warm water when watering this plant. Lucky bamboo brings peace, strength and luck to the home it lives in according to Feng Shui. Lucky bamboo is one of the easiest plants to maintain because it only needs its water changed every 2 weeks and as far as light goes, it only needs moderate exposure to indirect sunlight. When the leaves turn yellow or brown, that’s an ...- Bookmark :
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Young Algae: An Emerging Biofuel
The algae industry is getting support from the government as a potential replacement for part of the 18 million barrels of crude oil used everyday in the United States. The federal government has invested in the emerging biofuel and the military, big oil companies, and commercial users like manufacturers and airlines are interested in its potential. Algae biofuel is an experimental type of renewable energy that’s created when algae produce a substance that can be harvested and processed into crude oil. The crude oil is then processed at traditional oil refineries where it’s converted into transportation fuels like gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel. The biofuel from the algae can also be used to replace the oils in foods, pharmaceuticals and soaps. One benefit of algae is that it can be grown domestically, which would cut back on the amount of petroleum the country needs to import. Another benefit is that algae utilizes less carbon overall than fossil fuels do. This is because plants absorb carbon while they grow and then they release it when their fuels are burnt. The petroleum-based fuels release carbon during use. Recently, the Navy tested a river patrol boat that was powered by algae bodies. The ship ...- Bookmark :
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Natural Remedies For Skin Irritation And Insomnia
Calendula Cream Calendula Cream is a great natural remedy for insect bites or stings, and skin irritation. Calendula is made from marigolds and has been a skin itch remedy for hundreds and hundreds of years, helping calm the effects of bee stings, eczema and sunburns. The plants skin relieving properties are due to its combination of essential oils, which have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial traits. To use calendula cream, apply an ointment that contains two to five percent calendula up to 4 times per day on the affected area. Calendula may not be good for those who have ragweed allergies as calendula and ragweed are both members of the Aster (compositae) family. It’s suggested to apply a small amount and wait to see if any red or itchy bumps occur, which would indicate an allergy to calendula. Valerian Capsules or Tincture Valerian Capsules or Tincture are good for treating insomnia. Valerian goes back to the times of Ancient Greece, where it was commonly used as a sleep aid. Thus, it is one of the best-studied herbs for insomnia. Studies have shown that valerian decreases the time it takes to fall asleep without any of the common side effects of prescription sleep aids. Valerian is a plant-based ...- Bookmark :
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