8/27/13

Many beachfront vacation destinations are home to delicate habitats, including nesting grounds for endangered sea turtles. Sea turtle hatchlings use the light and reflections from the moon to find their way to the water at night, but artificial light from hotel rooms can cause confusion for them, forcing them to crawl inland instead of into the ocean. Plus, lights from fixtures reflecting onto the beach discourage adult female turtles from nesting on the shore. One easy way to help is to make sure your drapes and blinds in your hotel room are fully closed to block all light from reaching the beach. This will help keep the natural cycle intact and protect sea turtles.

8/26/13

One way to conserve water when taking care of your lawn is to turn on the hose early in the morning or at night, when the sun's rays are not at their hottest and won't evaporate the water droplets. But one other consideration to keep in mind before turning on the sprinklers is whether it's windy outside. A windy day can disperse water away from the intended target and onto areas that don't need watering, like driveways, sidewalks and the sides of your house. Wind can also speed up evaporation, causing inefficient watering.

8/25/13

If wearing perfume triggers headaches or makes you feel ill, there are two options for you. One is to look for Department of Agriculture-certified organic scents, which use food-grade natural oils free of any synthetic chemicals. Just like how produce with the USDA certified organic mark must be proven to be grown without chemical pesticides or herbicides, the same rules apply to organic fragrances. If you can't find an organic scent you like, another option would be to wear single-note scents or absolutes. Traditional perfumes use about 200 chemicals to create their complicated scents; a single note -- like sandalwood or rose -- uses significantly less and may be a calmer alternative to help you smell delicious and fresh.