8/30/13

Is it greener to drink instant iced tea or brew it the old-fashioned way from bags? While powdered tea may seem greener since there's virtually no waste, there is a significant amount of energy used to turn regular tea into instant tea at the factory. Plus, the process removes up to 90 percent of the healthy antioxidants found in traditional brewed tea. The best bet? Brew from tea bags -- organic, whenever possible -- and compost the used bags in your backyard.

8/29/13

Ink cartridges for at-home inkjet printers can be very expensive. One way to conserve ink is to automatically set your printer default to draft mode when the overall quality of the printing really doesn't matter; this uses less ink and will help extend the life of the cartridge. Another way to go green and save money is to replace your inkjet cartridges with remanufactured cartridges. These are recycled cartridges that are refilled and resold at up to 60 percent less than new ones. Try the site carrotink.com to see the savings yourself.

8/28/13

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 15 percent of Americans rely on private drinking water wells as their source of water at home. While public water is routinely tested and regulated for safety, private water is often not. If you use a private well, have your water tested for coliform bacteria and nitrates by a private water-testing lab. It will cost about $10 to $20 and will give you peace of mind. You can learn more and get a list of certification officers in your state at water.epa.gov.