4/23/13

It's easy to "green" your morning cup of java by buying U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic coffee beans. When choosing coffee, you may see all sorts of labels proclaiming the beans are "shade grown," "fair trade" or "rainforest-certified." While these are nice statements, the U.S. government regulates none of them. When you choose USDA-certified organic coffee, it has met strict standards -- the coffee plants are grown without any chemical insecticides or fertilizers and are roasted in a factory free of other beans that may have been grown conventionally.

4/22/13

One easy way to create a healthy indoor air environment is to grow houseplants -- they help filter out toxins and make the air cleaner. But many houseplants can be toxic to cats and dogs if they are ingested, so do what the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends: Use nontoxic plants. Safe houseplants include bamboo, Christmas cacti, button ferns, hens and chickens, pearl plants, ponytail palms and spice orchids.

4/21/13

In the spring, line drying your clothes is the most energy-efficient way to do laundry. But for people with allergies, line drying also means bringing pollen and other allergens into the home. The best solution? Line dry for energy efficiency, and then tumble dry in the dryer for a few minutes to eradicate the allergens. You'll reap the environmental rewards and won't be sniffling or sneezing either.