2/11/14

The exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathroom can do a great job of sucking smelly or smoky air out of your home, but they can also make your home's heating system inefficient. Since they expel unwanted air from the home, leaving an exhaust fan on for too long forces warm air out of your home. So don't leave the exhaust fans on for too long if you want to save money on your heating costs. The same rule also applies in the hot summer months when you're trying to cool down your home.

2/10/14

This winter's unusually cold weather -- the "Polar Vortex" -- may be miserable for many trying to keep warm, but it's actually a good thing for the environment. Invasive insect species that have been ruining crops, trees and other native plants and do not have a natural predator are more likely to freeze to death during the winter months. Come spring, fewer invasive insects means more trees, plant species and farm crops. And invasive plant species that are not indigenous to cold regions will also have their path of growth slowed or destroyed. So bundle up, because the Polar Vortex is helping Mother Nature.

2/9/14

Has your company, church group, nonprofit organization or school printed way too many promotional T-shirts, or does it have a large supply of misprinted or out-of-date shirts? One way to use your excess supply in a good way is to donate it to the nonprofit organization Open Arms. This American-based charity employs refugee women from war-torn countries, like Sudan and Congo, who recycle the T-shirts into new fashions. These stylish new pieces are then sold online and create a business for the women who work at Open Arms. To donate or shop for one-of-a-kind creations, visit theopenarmsshop.com.