8/16/10

Who knew that human and dog hair could help clean up oil spills? The charity Matter of Trust (www.matteroftrust.org) collects hair from salons and pet grooming operations and fills nylon mesh mats with the hair. When placed in polluted water, it can safely soak up oil because hair naturally attracts grease. A haircut here or a grooming there can help keep our waterways clean.

Ever print something from the Web only to find that it also printed out extra pages of useless ads and copyright information you didn't need? The solution is GreenPrint World (printgreener.com), free software you can download to help you avoid unnecessary printing waste. It creates a preview page and suggests "do not print" pages before you print. It works with Microsoft Windows 2000, XP and Vista.

8/15/10

If you're planning a home renovation project and are getting rid of items you think a charity like Habitat for Humanity or the Salvation Army might be able to use, don't load up your truck with them and drop them off; instead, give the charities a call. Many charities will come out to your home, see what items they can find a use for and take only what they really need. It saves you time, helps a good cause and you can get a tax deduction for the value of the donation.

8/14/10