Daily Eco Tips

Tip #304: Eco-Friendly Patio Furniture

Jenni — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:35:33 +0000

Warm weather is upon us and it is nice to be able to go outside and sit. The one thing that many people will begin to think about is patio and lawn furniture. There are many types of outdoor furniture available out on the market. Now there is eco-friendly outdoor furniture that will make your lawn or patio a comfortable place to relax during the warm weather. This eco-friendly furniture is made out of recycled or earth friendly materials. This means that there is no harmful ingredients placed into the woods or they have been salvaged from old furniture.

Copyright © 2008 to 2009 Daily Eco Tips. Got a tip to contribute? Find out more on our Get Involved page.

Tip #304: Eco-Friendly Patio Furniture

Tip #303: Eco-Friendly Gardening Tips

Jenni — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:17:05 +0000

I love gardening as it is a great time to be close to nature but also a great time for quiet thinking. The only thing about gardening is that I have never known how to keep it on the natural side, what I mean by that is not use the harmful chemicals to keep bugs away. So this winter I decided that I would research what some of the best things I could do for the normal things that occur in the garden. This is what I have come up with.

Weeds- Take wet newspaper and layer is on the plants. Overlap it and then add mulch. It is better than plastic because it is biodegradable.
Mosquitoes- Keep a dryer sheet in your pocket but if you think you might be allergic to the stuff in the dryer sheet avoid contact with your skin.
Squirrels- Sprinkle cayenne pepper around the plants and bulbs
Fruit Flies- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar and 2 drops of dish soap, mix it well in a container (we use the small glass fruit container or baby food jars)
Ants- Sprinkle cornmeal around your kitchen baseboards or the edge of the garden will kill the ants
Slugs and Snails- Crushed egg shells work to keep the slugs out or you can put some copper wire in the garden to keep them out.
Dandelion- Dig them out as soon as you find them. A great way to keep them out of the yard is to maintain your lawn and keep your grass deeply rooted, this will leave no room for the weeds to root and grow.

Copyright © 2008 to 2009 Daily Eco Tips. Got a tip to contribute? Find out more on our Get Involved page.

Tip #303: Eco-Friendly Gardening Tips

Tip #302: Solar Powered Grilling

Jenni — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:40:56 +0000

The past warm days have gotten our family thinking about cooking outdoors and how much fun it is. This year, I think we are going to try something that is more environmentally friendly. I came across these cool solar powered ovens and knew this was something I wanted to know more about. There are several different kinds of solar powered ovens and grills that have been designed to harness the power of the sun to cook our food without the use of harmful fossil fuels. Here are some of the things that I found that make this a great alternative for anyone who loves to grill outdoors or even camp.

Cook for free- Since you are cooking with solar power, all you need is the sun.
Like a home oven- Most solar powered cookers can reach temperatures of 360-400 degrees.
Safe- Since there is not fire, there is no danger of setting a campsite on fire (or forgetting to put out the campfire when all go to bed)
Versatile- Most of the solar cookers can be folded to the size of a small suitcase. Meaning they are are not only easy to use but can be taken nearly anywhere you want to cook outdoors.

Copyright © 2008 to 2009 Daily Eco Tips. Got a tip to contribute? Find out more on our Get Involved page.

Tip #302: Solar Powered Grilling

Tip #300: Solar Panels

Tip #301: Silicone Bakeware

Jenni — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:04:30 +0000

Anyone who has baked something to only have it stick, knows how frustrating it is. Just last year, I invested in some silicone bakeware and have not had anything stick since using it. Most people when they look at this type of bakeware don’t believe that it can withstand cooking anything because it is so flimsy and flexible. But I have baked just about everything in them, including a pull apart cake, and they stand up to the thickest and heaviest of batter. The benefit to them being so flexible is that you can flip them inside out and your baked goods will just come out. This is especially helpful when you cook breads. Another wonderful benefit is that they can withstand temperatures over 400 degrees F. Storage of them is easy because since they are flexible they can fit almost anywhere.

Copyright © 2008 to 2009 Daily Eco Tips. Got a tip to contribute? Find out more on our Get Involved page.

Tip #301: Silicone Bakeware

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Tip #300: Solar Panels

Jenni — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:53:59 +0000

With Spring not that far off, I wanted to take a look at something that we have been thinking about getting for awhile now. That is solar panels and their benefits. Many people know that they are used for energy and that they are a great alternative. The best thing about them is after you have saved money on energy bills that they have paid for themselves, the rest of the energy collected is free. Most places even have to buy back the extra energy that you are producing from your solar panels. This means that you can have enough energy collected to run your house as well as make money because the energy company has to buy it back from you. They do cost a bit up front but will pay for themselves and can even make you money in the future.

Copyright © 2008 to 2009 Daily Eco Tips. Got a tip to contribute? Find out more on our Get Involved page.

Tip #300: Solar Panels

Tip #299: General Tips for Becoming More Eco-Friendly

Jenni — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:33:54 +0000

I was thinking about what to write for today’s blog post and couldn’t decide on just one topic to write about. Therefore, I have compiled a short 10 item list of things that you can do to make your household more eco-friendly.

1. Pay as many of your bills online as you can. This helps with the amount of paper that is sent out and eventually just thrown away. Many of the bills can also be put on paperless billing where they will send you your bill through email, saving even more paper.
2. Recycle everything you can. Most items in your house can be recycled including cans of food(after washed out), glass, plastics and paper.
3. Buy products from companies that don’t use more packaging then needed. If there is not other solution then call the these companies and ask them to rethink using less packaging for their good.
4. Switch your light bulbs to the compact fluorescent bulbs. Not only will they last longer but they will use less energy.
5. Plan your errands out so that you are using less gas when running them. This will also save you time in the long run because you will have a plan and not just running around as you think of what you have to do.
6. Use low-flow toilets and shower heads. Also fix leaks as soon as you know about them.
7. Get a library card to borrow books you want to read or use Bookmooch.
8. Turn lights off when not in the room and unplug any electronic devices you are not using, because even if they are off they are still drawing energy.
9. Turn your thermostat down 2 degrees in the winter and up 2 degrees in the summer.
10. Use cold water and only do full loads of laundry.

Copyright © 2008 to 2009 Daily Eco Tips. Got a tip to contribute? Find out more on our Get Involved page.

Tip #299: General Tips for Becoming More Eco-Friendly

Tip #297: Online Coupons/Store Cards

Jenni — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:31:13 +0000

Saving money has become very important with the state of the economy. It is also important to find ways to save money that are good for the environment. Some stores have taken this to heart and are offering a new and exciting way for their customers to save money. This is done by finding coupons online and having them put onto your store card, which will then be take off your bill when you swipe your store card. This cuts down on the amount of paper coupons are being printing, which in turn cuts down on the amount of paper and printer ink being wasted. This is something that you should check to see if it is available in your area the next time you want to use coupons to go shopping.

Copyright © 2008 to 2009 Daily Eco Tips. Got a tip to contribute? Find out more on our Get Involved page.

Tip #297: Online Coupons/Store Cards

Tip #296: Homemade Bath Fizzes

Jenni — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:34:51 +0000

Bath time is the perfect time of the day to relax. Many people add things to their baths to make it even more relaxing. This is often done by adding bath fizzes to the water that will dissolve and leave a relaxing scent. Often it is hard to find scents that you really enjoy and this is where making them at home to use are perfect. They also make the perfect gift to give to all of your friends and family.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup citric acid
1 cup baking soda
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup organic cane sugar
About 6 drops food coloring
10 to 15 drops essential oil(s)
Special equipment: 2-ounce travel-size spray bottle, plastic pipette, silicone ice-cube tray, storage jars

Directions:

1. Stir together citric acid, baking soda, and cornstarch in a glass measuring cup.

2. Pass mixture through a fine sieve or a flour sifter into a mixing bowl. Stir in sugar.

3. Fill spray bottle with water, and add food coloring. Spritz mixture lightly (it should become damp but not fizzy) until you can pack mixture with your hands.

4. Using pipette, add oil, 1 drop at a time, until strength of scent is to your liking. Using a metal spoon or your hands, mix ingredients until color is even throughout (mixture will begin to dry out; when this happens, spritz until packable again).

5. Spoon into ice-cube tray, pressing firmly. Let dry at room temperature overnight. Pop out of tray gently. Transfer to jars.

Tip #295: Homemade Lip Balm

Jenni — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:09:39 +0000

Lip balm is something that millions of people every year. It is a necessity for anyone during the winter months to protect your lips from the cold and wind. The biggest problem with most commercial lip balms on the market is that they are made from petroleum products which are harmful to the body. Lip balm is must safer if made at home or from a certified organic supplier that uses beeswax. Making your own lip balm is easy and you get to choose if it has a scent or flavor to it.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon beeswax pearls (also called pellets or pastilles)
1 tablespoon pure Shea butter
2 tablespoons sweet almond oil
10-15 drops essential oils

Directions:

1. Melt beeswax, Shea butter, and almond oil together in the top of a double boiler or in a heat-safe bowl set over a pot of simmering water; stir continuously with a whisk.

2. Once the ingredients are liquefied, remove them from heat. Whisk in essential oils. Working quickly, transfer the liquid to a measuring cup or a container with a pour spout and then divide it among four 1/2-ounce lip balm tins.

3. Let balms cool completely until solid, about 20 minutes. Store in a cool, dry place.

Variation: Peppermint-Eucalyptus Lip Balm
Use 6 drops of peppermint essential oil and 4 drops of eucalyptus essential oil.

Variation: Vanilla-Rose Lip Balm
Use 10 drops of rose oil, also called rose otto, and 5 drops of vanilla oil, also known as vanilla absolute.

Tip #294: Reusable Gift Baskets

Jenni — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 08:59:26 +0000

I have been thinking a lot about gift baskets in the past month. Mainly because my best friend is about ready to have her first baby and I wanted to get her something that would be useful for her but also be good towards the environment. Gift baskets can create a lot of unnecessary trash mainly because most of them that you might buy at the store have the clear wrap around them and include things that are already in packages. All of this trash can be cut down by making your own gift baskets and thinking about what is going into them. For my friend I have decided to buy a basket that she can later put things in for the baby and then buy stuff like cloth diapers, towels, soft toys not in packages and a photo album. This will cut down on trash and is a thoughtful gift for someone.

Daily Eco Tips

Tip #304: Eco-Friendly Patio Furniture

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Tip #303: Eco-Friendly Gardening Tips

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Tip #302: Solar Powered Grilling

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Tip #301: Silicone Bakeware

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Tip #300: Solar Panels

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Tip #299: General Tips for Becoming More Eco-Friendly

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Tip #297: Online Coupons/Store Cards

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Tip #296: Homemade Bath Fizzes

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Tip #295: Homemade Lip Balm

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Tip #294: Reusable Gift Baskets

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