If you buy meat in a grocery store, it likely comes on top of a plastic pad in a plastic container that’s wrapped in plastic. That’s a lot of plastic waste. Can you recycle meat packaging? Not all of it, but let’s look at what you can do. We know how you feel. Walking through the grocery store can be […]
Are you considering making the switch to a cast-iron skillet or other cookware? Extremely durable and virtually indestructible, this cookware lasts decades with proper care. But some people may avoid cast iron because they’re not sure how to care for it. Is it hard to clean? Do you have to season it? How do you keep it from rusting? There […]
Dozens of governments, nonprofits, and companies have introduced carbon calculator websites and apps that promise to help each of us understand our carbon footprint. But it is still early days for these tools, and many questions need to be answered. Are they useful? Do they provide accurate information? How can we choose the right calculator? Choosing a carbon calculator should […]
The image of grandma’s perfectly clean house became even more attractive after a year of staying home. But chances are, your grandma never taught you how she did it. And when it comes to all those DIYs on the internet, well, you can’t believe everything you read. When you’re dealing with dust or dirty dishes, a little elbow grease can […]
Maddy Rotman, head of Sustainability at Imperfect Foods, a delivery service for sustainably sourced produce and packaged food that would otherwise end up in landfills as food waste, joins the conversation to find an end to one of the largest sources of easily avoided greenhouse gas emissions. More than a third of the food humans grow each year goes unused. […]
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last about six times longer, but it’s no secret that CFLs contain a small amount of mercury (about 4 milligrams per bulb on average). Like any glass product, CFLs tend to break occasionally, causing many homeowners to worry about potential mercury exposure and adverse health effects. […]
Michael Hirschhorn and Mona Chun, co-creators of The Circular Design Glossary, introduce the new guide to understanding the future of furniture design. It was developed by Mebl | Transforming Furniture, where Richard and Mona are founder/CEO and chief operating and sustainability officer, respectively, in partnership with the Sustainable Furnishing Council. Our homes are the center of our lives and a […]
Maintaining a comfortable home is important. No one wants to freeze in the wintertime or melt in the summertime. Yet, the cost — both for your bank account and the environment — of heating and cooling a home can be high. Luckily, there are simple ways to limit energy usage without giving up your comfort. One way to do this […]
The U.S. Department of Energy recently released a study showing how America could decarbonize its power grid using solar energy and power 40% of the nation’s electricity by 2035. They predict the transition won’t result in higher electricity prices. This is good news for the environment. Solar prices have dropped so far it is actually profitable to install solar pretty […]
We recently sampled a set of EcoSmart Shades insulated cellular shades, one of the greenest energy-saving window treatments available. EcoSmart’s Champlain Collection Double-Cell Light-Filtering shades feature a top-down, bottom-up design for optimum flexibility and light control. We also appreciate that they are manufactured in the United States and that the company believes in paying factory workers “more than a liveable […]