Eco-friendly

5 Eco-Friendly Home Repairs That Will Save You Money

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5 Eco-Friendly Home Repairs That Will Save You Money

Did you know that residential energy makes up about 20% of the United States’ greenhouse gas emissions? Want to do your part as a homeowner by reducing your residential carbon footprint? Eco-friendly home repairs can help reduce carbon footprint.

The good news is that converting your home into an environmentally friendly abode doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. There are many available eco-friendly home products that you can use. While more expensive projects do have a bigger impact, small improvements in how you live and how your household operates are great ways to go green while also saving money.

To start your DIY home projects, here are five eco-friendly home repairs that will benefit your wallet and our planet.

1. Install energy-efficient light bulbs

Whether you’re dealing with a flickering lightbulb or one that no longer turns on, when it’s time to replace them, choose LED bulbs. There are LEDs for every light fixture in your home, including smart bulbs that you can control from your smartphone!

LED bulbs use less electricity and last longer when compared to incandescent bulbs. They also last longer, sometimes up to 20 years!

Not only will you save money on bulbs, but you’ll also save on your electricity bill.

2. Repair leaky faucets

Is there a faucet in your home that has a constant drip? While this may not seem like a big problem, the simple fact is that leaky faucets put unused water, and your money, down the drain.

A faucet that drips one drip per second wastes over 3,000 gallons of water each year. This is more than the amount of water needed to take 180 showers.

Depending on the cause of the drip, you may be able to fix the problem by replacing simple parts, such as the aerator, ceramic disc, or gaskets.

3. Install low-flow shower heads

Another great option for improving your home’s water usage is to replace existing shower heads with low-flow options. These show heads dispense less than 2 gallons of water a minute, and range anywhere from $25 to $300.

With a low-flow shower head, you can decrease your home’s water consumption by up to 40% each year.

4. Use low VOC paint

If your house is due for a fresh coat of paint, choose a brand that offers low VOC. This type of paint is better for you, your family, and the earth.

There are many benefits to using low VOC paint, including that it:

  • Has little to no odor
  • Doesn’t impact air quality
  • Reduces contaminants in the ozone layer

There are several notable brands that offer low VOC paint, including Farrow & Ball, Behr, and Para. Benjamin Moore also offers a Natura line, which is splatter resistant, odorless, and is made with 100% acrylic.

5. Install eco-friendly flooring

After years of daily foot traffic, you may be considering a flooring upgrade. New flooring is the perfect time to make your home a little greener.

There are several eco-friendly flooring materials to choose from, including sustainable wood, bamboo, and natural linoleum. These options are sure to look great in any room of your home.

Eco-friendly flooring is durable and is sure to last for years to come. This means less money spent replacing planks or paying for carpet cleaning.

Final thoughts

It’s more important now than ever to reduce your carbon footprint, and what better place to start than right at home? With these five eco-friendly home repairs, you can make your home more eco-conscious while also saving money!

5 Most Common Eco-Friendly Products for Everyday Use

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A family using eco-friendly products

Global warming is increasing, and the circumstances surrounding it are also getting worse and worse. According to the UN landmark report, it’s the “code red for humanity” because of frequent and intense heat waves and rising sea levels. Still, when it comes to climatic changes, the majority of end-users, especially the older generations, put their money where their mouth is. Fortunately, that’s not the case with millennials, as 68 percent of them prefer eco-friendly products. If you’re concerned about global warming, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled a list of the best and most common eco-friendly products that you can buy for everyday use. Let’s get started.

Rechargeable Batteries

Batteries have become essential household items. Yet, a range of different chemicals are used to make batteries, and most of them are toxic. Not only are these chemicals harmful to the soil, but they can also cause water and air pollution. Consider using rechargeable batteries to keep them from landfills by prolonging their usage. You might need to pay more for rechargeable batteries, but in the long run, you’ll be able to save a lot by helping the environment at the same time.

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Eco-Friendly Toothbrush

BPA (Bisphenol-A) can cause infertility, and it’s usually found in plastic. You can now easily find toothbrushes with BPA-free soft bristles and handles made of bamboo. These toothbrushes also have plant-based packaging, and they can easily last as long as traditional plastic-made toothbrushes do. Not only do these toothbrushes help you play your part to save the planet, but they also keep you from medical conditions caused by BPA.

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Reusable Grocery Bags

We use about 500 billion to one trillion plastic bags across the globe every year. Carrying a reusable shopping bag is an easy way to help create a sustainable society. It’s important to note that some malls and big grocery stores have already stopped offering plastic bags to discourage their use. The trending reusable grocery bags such as Tote bags also allows you to stay fashionable. 

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E-Reader

If you’re an avid book reader and a fan of paperback, then you might be negatively affecting the environment. You can eliminate this possibility by getting an e-reader. Kindle is one of the most popular e-readers available in the market, and it’ll come in handy if you frequently buy new books. It allows you to buy any book you want whether you’re interested in the best books about money or on any other subject. Most importantly, you won’t be harming trees this way. 

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Organic Dish Towels

Instead of using paper towels, you can now opt for 100 percent organic dish towels made of cotton. You can wash them multiple times by throwing them in your washing machine as well, just like any other cloth, to reuse them again. 

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Final Words

There are many other common eco-friendly products out there as well to replace your everyday items. These are the most common ones to get you started. You can start using these products right now on a daily basis to play your part in conserving the environment. 

You may also check 5 Best Green Products for Everyday Use!

3 Ways to Make Your Business Eco-Friendly

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People in a meeting talking about eco-friendly business

Businesses across industries have been shifting to make eco-friendly businesses. Such changes can benefit your business financially and achieve your financial goals, while also enabling you to differentiate yourself from competitors. Reports by EY and Nielsen cite that more than 60% of consumers are more inclined to buy a product or survey if it’s sustainable.

To become an eco-friendly business, you have to focus on decreasing the negative impact of your business on the environment. This can be achieved through incorporating sustainable business practices, supplying more green products or services, and becoming greener than conventional competitors.

Embrace greener methods of transportation

In the U.S., transportation accounts for 28 percent of overall greenhouse emissions. To reduce your business’s carbon footprint, you can encourage employees to use green means of transportation.

The greenest transport methods available are bikes and trains, which cut emissions by circa 75% and 80% respectively compared to car trips. Moreover, car-sharing initiatives––which allow the renting of cars without owning one––can decrease the number of cars on the road, ultimately reducing carbon emissions as well.

There are several ways you can incentivize employees to use greener modes of transport. You can purchase public transport passes for your employees, enable (short-distance) business travels through car sharing, and offer gift vouchers for sports equipment to encourage employees to walk or cycle.

Use sustainable packaging

Green packaging makes use of materials makes use of sustainable materials that don’t require a lot of energy to produce (or discard). These often include recyclable and biodegradable materials––as opposed to more harmful packaging materials like plastic. You can also save money by switching to a sustainable lifestyle.

The use of sustainable materials can have many advantages for your company. These can help reduce your carbon footprint, make disposal of packaging materials easier, and ultimately improve the way your brand is perceived by consumers. A survey conducted by the Recycled Paperboard Alliance found that 81% of consumers felt better about purchasing a product whose packaging constituted of such materials. Moreover, a separate study found that one-third of consumers cited environmentally friendly packaging as their most important purchase criterion.

To implement this change, there are several eco-friendly packaging materials you can use as viable alternatives for your products. Biodegradable air peanuts, cornstarch packaging, recycled cardboard and paper, and organic fabrics are some environmentally friendly packaging options that can be used.

Integrate eco-friendly values into the company

For long-term change towards greener company practices, sustainability has to be engrained within your company’s vision. The best way to do this is by making a green mission statement as part of your eco-friendly business’s overall company culture. Creating an environmental mission statement involves establishing your ‘why’s’ and goals for your green mission statement, and implementing these within your core values, core purpose, and long-term vision.

A 2019 study has found that the presence of a green organizational culture predicts a company’s green performance as well as its competitive advantage. Additionally, a separate study conducted on Turkish companies found that factors influencing sustainable practices have a positive relationship with the presence of a green organizational culture. As such, having a company culture that invests in green practices can help you reap the benefits of eco-friendly businesses.

Making the change

As a business that seeks to successfully reduce its carbon footprint, making the shift to becoming an eco-friendly company involves more than just making the switch away from plastic coffee cups. It requires a sustainable change in company values, business practices, and supply chain operations. While this may seem like a daunting venture, taking small steps over an extended period of time can make environmental sustainability an easy and accessible process.

3 Solar Gadgets That Will Make Your Life Easier

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A phone charging on a solar-powered battery

Solar power is more accessible than ever, without the need for installing huge, expensive panels. Lots of gadgets now have solar panels built into them so you can solar charge them when you’re out and about (and away from power outlets), save on electricity bills, and enjoy using a sustainable energy source. Plus, they’re a life-saver when the power goes down or in the event of a natural disaster.

They’re also a great way to simplify your life. Everyone in the family from kids to seniors can benefit from having solar gadgets on hand.

Top Three Solar-Powered Gadgets That Can Simplify Your Life

1. ABFOCE Solar Bluetooth Speaker

Whether you’re camping, spending a day at the beach, or just enjoying your backyard, a solar Bluetooth speaker helps you keep the music going no matter what. ABFOCE’s Bluetooth speaker comes with a built-in solar panel that gathers enough juice in 10 minutes to provide a half hour of playtime. Another cool feature is that it also functions as a battery bank you can use to power up your phone or other mobile devices.

2. Goal Zero Torch 250 Flashlight

A good flashlight is a must for your home, but it’s useless if it isn’t powered up or you don’t have batteries for it. A solar-powered flashlight, such as the Goal Zero Torch 250 Flashlight, is a good way to make sure you have a flashlight that is ready to go when you need it. When fully charged, it can run for 48 hours, and it has three modes to choose from the flashlight, floodlight, or red light for emergencies. Like the Bluetooth speaker, this gadget also doubles as a battery that can charge up a smartphone—just use the built-in USB plug.

3. Lattis Ellipse Keyless Smart Solar Bike Lock

Bike riders of all ages will love this solar-powered bike lock made by Lattis. It stops thieves from stealing your bike by sending an alert to your smartphone through Bluetooth when someone attempts to tamper with the lock. Plus, it’s a breeze to unlock it. You simply hold your smartphone near it and it opens automatically. You can also use a touchpad to enter your personal code.

Key Takeaway

Solar-powered gadgets are here and they are easy to use for the entire family and offer a ton of money-saving and environmentally friendly benefits.

Related Reading: Solar Panels: Great for you pocket and the environment

5 Awesome Reasons to Buy Used Children’s Clothing

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A toddler walking in a second-hand children's clothing store

Growing children constantly need new clothes. Every growth spurt turns pants into waders and shirts into Incredible Hulk candidates. Kids get taller, fill out, and become more developed as they grow which means new clothes every year. Except that the clothes don’t actually need to be new. As long as your child feels confident and stylish, you can absolutely source kids’ clothes from second-hand children’s clothing stores at a discount in price and an increase in eco-responsibility.

Believe it or not, kids actually love second-hand clothes. You can become a smart-budgeting and eco-friendly parent with a little savvy second-hand shopping.

 1) Children Grow Faster than Clothes can Wear Out

Some kids grow like weeds. Every few months they need a new length of pants or a new cut of the shirt. They grow in size and in stylish taste, so parents are constantly having to replenish childhood closets. You’re not the only parent who doesn’t want to toss perfectly good outgrown clothes. Join the global hand-me-down community by shopping secondhand kid’s clothes and be sure to upcycle when your kids grow out of what they’re wearing now.

2) Second-Hand Children’s Clothes are Less Expensive

If you’re shopping for your children on a budget (aren’t we all?) then used clothing can almost always be found at a lower cost than new garments. Kids go through clothing fast and often kids’ clothing is built to survive more than a few play sessions. You can find some great deals and a cool collection for your child’s closet this year without blowing your budget by shopping for second-hand children’s clothing.

3) Used Clothes are Softer on Sensitive Skin

If you have a picky dresser or a child with sensitive skin, you know how valuable pre-softened clothes can be. New clothes are starched and treated to look good on the shelf. Their fibers are stiff and new, and the tags still have sharp corners. Used clothes, however, have been washed a few times. This means they’re free of retail chemicals and those fibers and tags have softened up for comfy relief on a child’s sensitive skin.

4) Find Hidden Gems Outside Fashion Trends

Parents and kids often don’t care for today’s clothing fashions, and you’re not limited. Shopping for secondhand clothes opens a world of retro fashion and hidden gems for you and your child to explore.

5) The Perfect Source of Costume Supplies

Last but certainly not least, second-hand children’s clothing is perfect for costume supplies. Whether you’re planning for a Halloween or building a child’s dress-up collection, used clothes offer a low-cost and fun way to find all sorts of interesting pieces from novelty shoes to formalwear.

If your children are growing fast and you want to make smart parenting decisions, try using children’s clothing. It’s eco-friendly, soft, and extremely cost-effective for the whole family. You might even find a few hidden gems for yourself in the racks. For more great green living ideas or an apartment with green living priorities, contact us today!

Are Plastic Coffee Makers Bad for You?

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A cup of coffee make from a plastic coffee maker

So you’re convinced that you can live longer if you sip a cup of coffee religiously every day, as shown by many studies. And so you carefully handpick your the best types of coffee like Fairtrade and organic products every time. But have you thought of other ways through which toxins can end up in your morning cups of coffee and undermine your plans to live longer?

BPA (Byphenol A) is no stranger to us. It’s a toxin that’s always lurking around in our kitchen and can make its way into your coffee cups through your plastic coffee maker.

If your joy of owning a new plastic coffee brewer is being dampened by a weird plastic taste in the coffee, you should be worried about more than just the plastic taste. You could be downing significant amounts of BPA, which has been linked to many serious health issues like fertility issues, high blood pressure, endocrine disorders, and certain types of cancer.

How Plastic Coffee Makers Can Lace Your Coffee with BPA

Plastic coffee makers can release BPA into your brew when the plastic holder containing the drink is heated up. The results of a certain study show that plastic bottles release higher amounts of BPA into their contents when filled with boiling water. A similar result occurs with the plastic containers and tubing of coffee makers coming in contact with boiling water.

Even under normal room temperatures, plastic containers can still release significant amounts of BPA. In another study, higher levels of BPA were recorded in the urine samples of participants who drank cold liquids from polycarbonate bottles for a week.

Does Your Coffee Maker Leak BPA?

Many manufacturers of plastic kitchen products that are used to prepare and serve food and drinks have made efforts to remove BPA from their products. Some makers of plastic coffee makers market their products as BPA-free options. However, these claims are usually not verified by independent labs, so there’s no way of guaranteeing their authenticity. In other instances, manufacturers simply substitute BPA for other equally toxic materials like BPS (Byhenol S).

So, how can you tell if your coffee maker or espresso machine contains BPA? In some instances, it can be quite obvious with your coffee has a strong plastic aftertaste. But your coffee can still contain significant amounts of BPA even without leaving a plastic aftertaste.

Other Healthier Ways to Drink Coffee

Since it’s quite difficult to tell if your coffee maker is leaking BPA or not, it’s advisable to avoid coffee makers with any plastic parts, whether it’s their filter, container, or tubing. Most single-serve and drip-brewing coffee makers are made of plastic parts, so you might want to ditch them all together for healthier ways to make coffee. 

You can try coffee-making systems such as those of glass, porcelain, and stainless steel. You can also opt for portable French press coffee makers that come with glass carafes and stainless steel mesh filters. Other alternative methods like pouring hot water over grounded coffee beans and filtering out the water using unbleached coffee meshes are also much healthier.

These alternatives may require more effort compared to single-serve plastic coffee makers, but they’ll help ensure that your morning cups of coffee are as healthy as they ought to be.

Saving and Making Money with Sustainable Products

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Green is a symbol of sustainability

With so many diverse sustainable products, there are many ways to utilize their ability to your advantage. Not only can you use sustainable and eco-friendly products to make and save money, you will also have the peace of mind that you are doing the right thing. There are plenty of ways to do better for yourself while thinking about the world at large. You can start a business or use green products to save money on your day-to-day. Read on to find ways you can use sustainable products to improve your life.

The Business of Bamboo

If you are looking for a way to make money doing something new, you can think about diving into the bamboo business. Bamboo is a very sustainable and lucrative cash crop. You can either cultivate your own bamboo with a small piece of land or buy bamboo to create products. You can even use your backyard and get started for about $800. With just about a quarter acre of space, you can make up to $72,000 and cultivate 2400 containers of bamboo.

You can also sell and use this bamboo to make sustainable products. It is an extremely profitable resource that offers a lucrative business. Cultivating bamboo is cheap and quick, it can be harvested in about a year at the fastest. It also requires no chemicals and is good for the soil, allowing you to grow more bamboo and other cash crops.

Bamboo Products

You may not be interested in cultivating bamboo or starting a business. Bamboo can be used to save money as well as make it. When you use bamboo, you are getting a sturdy product that is sustainable as well as good for you, your pocket, and the world. These products range a lot. You should take a look at all the products available to you, from bamboo paper to toothbrushes and more.

Bamboo paper alternatives are not just stronger than the average hardwood paper products, they can be washed and reused. This will decrease your shopping bills and use less paper. This means more trees will take in carbon dioxide from our emissions and convert them to oxygen for us to breathe. Paper products are used in nearly every household, you can save money by using sturdy, durable, and reusable bamboo paper.

Another bamboo product is the bamboo toothbrush. The vast majority of toothbrushes are made with plastic, which cannot be broken down. Bamboo products are not just environmentally friendly, they are long-lasting. A bamboo toothbrush can last for a long time, it is an alternative that doesn’t even cost more than your average toothbrush. It is cheap, durable, and sustainable.

Bamboo trees

Eco-Friendly Dental Care

Toothpaste tablets are a sustainable alternative to regular toothpaste. These tablets are good for travel and you never waste toothpaste because you use every single one. Simply pop it into your mouth and brush with water. It will foam up and become toothpaste like you are used to. This alternative is made with nine all-natural ingredients. Flavored with mint and fluoride for deep cleaning, you won’t lose out on any hygiene. It is possible to keep your teeth, gums, and mouth clean while supporting a sustainable and cruelty-free product.

Non-toxic dental floss is another area that you can choose sustainable dental products. Most floss has harmful chemicals that can cause cancer. It goes without saying that the cheaper alternative is not to get cancer from toxic chemicals. While non-toxic floss isn’t necessarily cheaper, it isn’t more expensive either. It does well for the world while doing well for your body. There is no need to choose a toxic product. You can choose the sustainable option.

The above information is just the beginning when it comes to saving and making money with sustainable products. Eco-friendly alternatives are the future and there is no reason to resist change. If you embrace it, you could end up saving or making a lot of money. When you change your mindset, you can have a more holistic and sustainable outlook that’s good for the world, your body, and your wallet. It is no coincidence that the economics are turning towards green products and businesses. If you get in on the ground floor, you could be saving and making more money than others who are late to the party.