Invasive insect species have been wiping out tree species all over the country by creating serpentine tunnels inside the tree, making them weak and susceptible to breakage and death. In Pennsylvania, ... more
Many of us have compost bins in the backyard where we layer raked leaves, grass clippings and kitchen waste to break down into beneficial mulch. Don’t neglect seasonal items for your bin, too, during ... more
Dull knives in the kitchen? A sharp knife is a must-have for a home cook, but what do you do if you don’t have a knife sharpener and don’t want the hassle of taking your knives to a store to get sharp... more
If you’re sick and tired of junk mail, one of the easiest things to do is make sure your information is listed as private and not public. When you set up a home or work landline phone, be sure to have... more
Here’s a fun lesson to teach your children energy efficiency and help them earn a little spending money. Take a look at your electric bill at the start of the month with your kids, then tell them this... more
Appliances like washers, dryers and dishwashers are convenient and common in most homes, but they are also strains on the power grid. The best time to run these appliances is at night or first thing i... more
When you’re using your oven to bake dinner for a crowd, one of the worst things you can do to affect the food and your utility bill is open the oven door unnecessarily. Ovens use a lot of energy to ge... more
If you have food waste, here are some quick and easy ways to use leftover scraps, peels and trimmings in the kitchen. Broccoli stalks are edible and can be sliced, trimmed and made into a nutrient-den... more
Curbside trash service almost makes it too easy to mindlessly fill up a trash can and not consider the impact of all that waste. A new movement of homeowners is suspending their trash pickup service f... more
When you’re shipping something fragile, finding the right sturdy cardboard box can be difficult and cost-prohibitive. One of the best places to find durable boxes with cardboard dividers is at your lo... more
It’s a pretty basic eco-fact that planting a tree is one of the best ways to give back to the Earth and beautify your property. But trees can be expensive, and nothing is worse than a living investmen... more
Want to save money on all-natural and organic groceries where you shop? The secret has been there all along: coupons. As healthy food becomes more mainstream, national brands and supermarkets offer co... more
Lemons have myriad uses around the house beyond just cooking. You can use them for an instant beauty treatment by simply digging your clean, unpolished fingernails into the lemon; its natural antibact... more
A mattress can be a pricey investment, so naturally you’ll want to maintain the quality and lifespan of yours. One very simple way to increase the longevity of your mattress is to rotate it on a regul... more
If you love to craft with kids, it’s important to stock up on supplies that are free of harsh chemicals. Many products like ink pads, markers and craft paints can contain asthma-triggering chemicals o... more
If you create a fire in your fireplace during the winter months, you know it’s important not to burn things like pressure-treated wood, cardboard and plywood, since they can release a significant amou... more
Microfiber cleaning towels have become popular as a cleaning tool because they grip dirt and bacteria, can be used on a variety of surfaces and are seemingly infinitely reusable. But new studies have ... more
Sure, it’s a superfood, but turmeric is also a super-stainer. If you get turmeric on fabric, don’t worry: You can get the deep orange color out. First, don’t try to rinse it out with hot water; this w... more
When you slice open an avocado, don’t toss the skin into the trash or compost bin right away. The skin, which still has some avocado fruit and its natural oils on the reverse side, is a fantastic inst... more
Did you know the shelf life of dried spices is about two years? It can be hard to remember when you bought herbs and spices, so be sure to mark the month and year on the jar when you bring home new co... more
Are you still getting bills in the mail? It may not seem like much, but all of those paper bills for your car lease, utilities and credit cards generate over 2 million tons of carbon pollution every y... more
Just because a product or its packaging has a recycling symbol on it doesn’t mean it is easily recyclable. The question you have to ask is this: Is the item recyclable within your community or in your... more
If you’ve purchased a new washing machine, listen up: Don’t use DIY laundry detergent for your machine. While handmade detergents are a good all-natural alternative, they have a tendency to clog moder... more
Even in this digital world, people still like to have a printed business card ready to share with others. Instead of ordering hundreds of printed business cards -- which can be expensive and wasteful ... more
Do you want to add houseplants to help beautify your home and purify the air? One option is to buy them at your local florist or home improvement center; another option is to get them totally free. Th... more
Did you know it’s possible to eat at a fast-food restaurant without generating any waste? One fast-food chain -- Subway -- actually wraps sandwiches in paper that is fully compostable. If you look clo... more
Does your kitchen or bathroom drain have an unpleasant odor? Instead of dumping chlorine bleach down the drain to neutralize the odor, try this nontoxic solution: regular salt. Sometimes decomposing o... more
When you rinse out a steel or tin can for recycling, you might wonder: Is the lid recyclable? The answer is yes, since it is made from the same material as the body of the can. But before you add it t... more
Modern-day paper shredders do an excellent job of finely cutting, dicing and obliterating important documents so they are impossible to piece back together. While these shredders are great for protect... more
Concentrated cleaning products that you just add water to are gaining popularity for their price and reduced plastic packaging. But when you dilute these concentrated packets using tap water, you can ... more