4/13/13

When working at home or in an office, choosing to turn on a desk light instead of overhead lights can result in a huge savings in electricity and money. Task lighting -- targeted lighting where you need it -- uses up to 40 percent less electricity than turning on overhead lights. Add energy-efficient LED or CFL bulbs into the mix, and the savings adds up even more. So instead of lighting up a whole room, just light up where you are and what you need.

4/12/13

If you brew a pot of coffee in the morning, you might wonder what you can do with the used coffee grinds. There are myriad uses. Here's a good one: Make a ring of grinds around recently deposited plants in the garden to protect them from slugs and other critters. The bugs hate coffee grinds, and over time, the coffee will just degrade right into the soil.

4/11/13

While we may not think twice about asking for a nonsmoking hotel room, one far away from elevators or on a higher floor, have you thought about asking for one far away from the pool? Many hotel rooms are right above indoor pools, which may sound convenient and lovely, but they are actually the unhealthiest rooms in a hotel. As the pool's water evaporates, it turns into chlorine gas, which can rise up right into your room. This creates an unhealthy air environment for you and your family. So be sure to pick a room as far away from the pool as possible for the healthiest stay on the road.