ArcaMax

For long-distance driving on roads with very little traffic, it’s always a good idea to use the cruise-control function on your vehicle. By helping your car maintain a continuous speed, cruise control takes acceleration out of your hands, which saves gas over time. In fact, studies have shown that cruise control (when used properly) can save ...Read more

Sitting in traffic on the highway wastes more than just time to get to your destination. Numerous studies have shown that the environmental impact is huge -- massive amounts of petroleum are wasted as cars sit idle, and air pollution increases significantly with nitrous oxides and particulates polluting the air. To avoid traffic, use a GPS, take...Read more

Does your smartphone have hundreds, if not thousands, of photos on it? Storing all of those photos "in the cloud" has a big environmental impact. The energy required to store, manage and back up your images on servers is quite significant. In fact, a recent study showed the average person takes just under 1,000 photos a year, which is equal to ...Read more

Do you want to use your social media platforms to spread helpful, important and verified information on how others can help protect the environment? The nonprofit EarthDay.org wants you to join their social squad. They’ll send you formatted emails that are easy to post directly on social platforms like Instagram and Facebook. It takes just a ...Read more

This is an all-star tip worth repeating to save water at home. About 30% of water usage in your home occurs through toilets, and older toilets often leak water without you even knowing it. Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank of your toilet, then wait about 10-15 minutes and see if there is any color in the bowl. If there is color ...Read more

Yes, your dog’s kibble can go bad, and you should monitor it just like you check to make sure your own food is fresh. Once open, you have about six weeks to use dried food, but it can still go bad very easily. Pay attention to any foul odors and signs of mold or insects, or if the kibble easily breaks apart in your hands. If so, it’s lost a ...Read more

If you live in a colder climate with harsh winters, now is a good time to consider investing in thermal curtains. These fabric curtains look just like regular window dressing, but they are made with much heavier and thicker fabrics designed to help prevent cold air from getting into your home through your windows. They also work as blackout ...Read more

With nearly 146 billion cups of coffee sold every year in the United States, we produce a lot of single-use waste every single day. One of the easiest ways to reduce waste is to bring your own reusable thermos, but you also can reduce your use of items like sugar packets and stirrers (wooden or plastic). Instead, pre-load your thermos at home ...Read more

Shiny paper often is considered nonrecyclable, but some glossy paper materials, like magazines and catalogs, are recyclable -- the paper stock is coated with a white clay that makes the pages appear more brilliant, but that shiny surface does not interfere with the recycling process. According to Waste Management, about 45% of all magazines/...Read more

Using an automatic dishwasher at home is more energy- and water-efficient than washing by hand. And it’s even more efficient if you run the dishwasher during nonpeak hours, which are usually after midnight. But instead of waking up in the middle of the night to turn on the dishwasher, check to see if yours has a “delay” feature. This ...Read more

There’s another reason to consider solar instead of hardwired when it comes to outdoor lighting. Yes, it harnesses the power of the sun’s rays to charge up solar panels, which makes it incredibly energy-efficient. But the solar lights' lower intensity is also good for wildlife. Birds often can be disoriented by bright lights, so solar lights...Read more

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