ArcaMax

As the temperatures dip, it’s a great time to plant in the garden. According to the National Wildlife Federation, planting in the fall reduces “the chance of transplant shock by allowing roots to get established.” And don't forget to pick plant species that are wildlife friendly, like native wildflower seeds, berry-producing bushes and ...Read more

If you have milk in the fridge that’s spoiled or questionable, don’t pour it down the drain. The great thing about milk is that it’s loaded with nutrients like calcium, protein, vitamin B and natural sugars that are also good for plants. Use old milk as an all-natural fertilizer by pouring it around the base of plants in the garden to give...Read more

If you’re replacing your roof or building a new home, it’s really an excellent time to consider upgrading for solar power. As solar panels and solar roofing tiles become more affordable, retrofitting your roof to accept solar panels is an easy step to modernize it for the future. When building a new home or replacing the roof, you can add ...Read more

Did you know that plastic tubes of toothpaste may be recyclable? Major manufacturers have switched from using a plastic tube made from a variety of plastics to the more commonly recyclable No. 2 polyethylene plastic. While any plastic is never really the greenest solution, this is a step in the right direction, since this type of plastic is ...Read more

Many of us keep an older refrigerator for beverages and other items. These second appliances often are much older, and you may not realize how horribly inefficient they are or how much energy they use. In fact, if you have a refrigerator that was made before 1990, it likely uses twice as much energy as a new fridge. Even models that are made ...Read more

Organic bone meal fertilizer is an excellent way to enrich your garden with minerals and nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Instead of buying it from a garden supply store, you actually can make your own. The process to do it yourself can be found online, but it generally involves boiling the bones to strip them clean, baking ...Read more

Your microwave is both faster and better for the planet when it comes to thawing or reheating food, especially over the conventional stove or oven. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the microwave is about 50% more efficient in energy usage. But if you want the kind of crispiness or toastiness a microwave can’t create, opt for a...Read more

The Sierra Club and the Blue Ocean Institute say if you choose to boycott one type of seafood when dining out, it should be bluefin tuna. It’s a staple at sushi restaurants, but if consumption continues at its current rate, there won’t be a bluefin population for much longer. In fact, populations have fallen by 96% from unfished levels. ...Read more

If you’re a tea drinker, one inexpensive investment you can make for both the environment and your health is a stainless-steel diffuser. They come in a whole bunch of shapes and sizes, but a tea ball infuser allows you to easily steep loose tea instead of using pre-measured tea in plastic sachet bags. It’s hard to tell which tea bags are ...Read more

If you have a cargo unit strapped to the roof of your car, get rid of it. While it may be useful for carrying camping gear for a summer road trip, it only wastes gas when you’re not actually using it. Cars are designed to be as aerodynamic as possible, and a cargo unit on the roof creates a significant amount of drag, causing your overall fuel...Read more

Do you chew gum to help keep your breath fresh? You might want to think again. Almost all gums have something called a “gum base” that makes them chewy, and it turns out it’s a mix of plasticizers, fillers, resins and other unknown chemical substances. This also makes chewing gum non-biodegradable. To keep your breath fresh naturally, try ...Read more

Did you know your local Goodwill is a great place to donate electronics? They are happy to take even broken electronics like computers, laptops and keyboards because they have a recycling program in place. Gaming systems, DVD players and even functioning treadmills and stationary bikes are all accepted. One thing that's not accepted, even if ...Read more

Tall native grass plants aren’t just pretty and easy to take care of, they are also fantastic for the environment. While any outdoor plant can help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, tall grasses also are great for helping to clean the air of dust. In fact, nearly 12 million tons of dust is captured by grasses every year, helping to ...Read more

Reusable water bottles have become a fashionable rage, but what do you do with the bottle if it’s damaged and ready to be recycled? Unfortunately, the colorful coatings on stainless steel bottles can make them difficult to recycle via traditional curbside recycling. Instead, these bottles may need to be brought to a scrap metal dealer or sent ...Read more

Do you travel to attend conferences? While it’s nice to interact with peers and learn more to hone your skills, the travel for these events is a huge source of CO2 emissions every year. Staying at home and using telecommuting platforms like Zoom or Teams isn’t just convenient -- it’s way greener. According to a new study by Nature ...Read more

If you’re in the market for a new set of pots and pans, consider copper-bottomed. Copper is the best conductor of heat and creates an even and more efficient cooking surface. The more even the heat, the faster the cooking time, which means you use less energy to whip up dinner. Also, test the lids on your new pots to make sure they are tight-...Read more

Parents who set up a little sandbox in their backyard as a place for their kids to play also may be setting up the perfect environment for insects to nest and build colonies. Instead of reaching for chemical pesticides to keep your sandbox insect-free, head to your pantry. Generously sprinkle cinnamon all over the sandbox, and rake it through ...Read more

The options for cruelty-free alternatives to genuine leather have been booming over the past few years. Known as “vegan leather,” these synthetics have the look, feel, wear and durability of real leather, but are they actually good for the environment? Regarding conventional synthetics made from PVC, which is not recyclable or made from a ...Read more

Keep corn cobs far, far away from your dog. Corn cobs can be deadly because they do not break down in your dog's stomach. In fact, because of their shape, they can cause obstruction, and their sharp edges can tear the lining of the digestive tract. Keep corn cobs away during outdoor dinners, but don't forget to keep them out of your fall decor ...Read more

We all know we're supposed to turn off the lights when we leave a room. But no matter how many times you ask people in your household to do it, they leave them on. Consider investing in an easy-to-install home-occupancy sensor. It’s set up by the door and tracks the entries and exits. It’s smart enough to know how many people are in a room, ...Read more