12/25/12

After the holiday season, many people wonder: Is gift wrap recyclable? Well, it depends. Since many companies and communities now recycle magazines, newspapers and office paper, one would think you could toss gift wrap into the recycling bin. But with festive gift wrap now coming dyed in laminated colors with flecks of metal, glitter and other plastics embedded in it, these shiny scraps of paper can actually pollute recyclable paper. Instead of risking it, it's best to toss the gift wrap and add only undyed and unembellished paper to the recycling stream. When in doubt, toss it out.

12/24/12

If you would love to adopt a dog as a companion animal but don't have the time or space for it, do the next best thing: Help train adoptable dogs. Volunteering to train dogs to follow basic commands like sit and stay and how to walk calmly helps make them more adoptable to potential families. You'll get your one-on-one time with a puppy, and you're helping your local animal shelter at the same time.

12/23/12

Today, many new cars contain smart glass: car windshields and windows that have integrated SPF to help block the sun's harmful rays from hurting you. But many older cars do not have this feature, which means people who spend a significant amount of time in their cars can get a sunburn or worse from the sun's rays permeating the glass. Instead of replacing it with costly new glass, you can invest in clear sheets that cling onto the inside of the window and effectively block 99 percent of the sun's harmful UV rays and help reduce glare. They're a cinch to install and nearly invisible.