9/18/12

Always Buy Organic: raisins. In independent studies, up to 26 pesticides have been found on conventional grapes. Fresh grapes are plucked and dried to make raisins, leaving you to question how well the grapes are washed before the drying process begins. And since grapes are thin-skinned, whatever is sprayed on them is often absorbed into the fruit. Give the popular snack an eco upgrade and always choose organic.

9/17/12

Always Buy Organic: milk. When you buy organic, it means the cows aren't treated with synthetic hormones or antibiotics, and they have spent at least one year in open fields grazing on grass. Organic milk lasts longer than conventional milk; it is sterilized at a higher temperature than regular milk -- 280 degrees vs. 145 degrees -- so organic milk's shelf life is up to two months. Less spoiled milk means you save money in the long run.

9/16/12

Programmable thermostats help you save on energy costs since they turn your heating or cooling on only to maintain a set temperature in the house. While most of us know that placing a thermostat near a heat-generating source -- like a stove or space heater -- is bad planning, so is placing it near a television or lamp. Any electric product that generates heat can trigger the thermostat to think it's hotter than the room is, forcing units to work longer, using more energy.