9/8/11

Something to think about when using your pool next summer: According to the green living website www.greenyour.com, "pools evaporate water and heat at an uncommon rate. Not using a pool cover has been compared to heating a home with the doors and windows open, or to building a house without a roof." By using a cover, "pool-related energy costs will be much less -- by about 50 to 70 percent if you heat your pool." Not only is it costly to go without the cover, it can be a drain on the water supply and also release harmful chemicals into the environment. So cover up.

9/7/11

To get your backyard barbecue fire started, skip the toxic lighter fluid and try this instead: Use wine corks and rubbing alcohol. Soak real wine corks in a jar of rubbing alcohol overnight; remove a soaked cork and light it with a match inside the barbecue grill; it will slowly, consistently and cleanly burn, getting any fire roaring in minutes.

9/6/11

Many people think you cannot use coupons at Whole Foods Market like you can at any other supermarket. Not only is this incorrect, but Whole Foods provides money-saving coupons for healthy, natural and organic products right at its own website, www.wholefoodsmarket/coupons. Go green with your grocery shopping and save some greenbacks, too.