ArcaMax

Does your home have a septic tank? If so, it’s important to check it periodically to make sure that it's working efficiently. Have the tank pumped and inspected every two to three years. Checking regularly to make sure it’s in good working order will ensure that it isn’t leaking pollutants into the ground and waterways. And every septic ...Read more

Whether you’re frying an egg or sauteing vegetables, it matters what size pan you use on your cooktop. If you’re using a small pan on a large burner, you’re wasting heat and throwing money away. Here’s an example: Cooking with a small pan on a large electric burner cooktop can cause up to a 40% decrease in energy efficiency. By choosing ...Read more

Natural mulch is a great way to help retain moisture in the soil and suppress weed growth. However, it's best to avoid black-colored mulch, for several reasons. First, black mulch absorbs more heat, causing it to dry out faster and requiring more frequent watering. Second, it’s often dyed and may contain chipped, chemically treated wood that ...Read more

Did you know the color of your jeans can have an environmental impact? Turns out faded or distressed jeans are created through a process that involves multiple washes in harsh chemicals. It’s estimated that somewhere between 900 and 1,600 gallons of water are used per pair of jeans, and chemicals like bleach end up in waterways. Dark finishes ...Read more

With so many viewing options, ranging from conventional cable boxes to streaming services like Netflix, there are some eco-friendly choices you can make to minimize energy usage when watching movies and TV shows. If you only use streaming platforms, go with an "internet-ready" TV that needs only a small plug-in device for streaming platforms to ...Read more

When buying old books, do a quick inspection to make sure they aren't infested with bed bugs. Look at the edges of the book where the pages stack up; do you see black spots? This may be a sign of bed bugs. Open the book and look at the pages and binding to see if any small insects are nesting inside. Since they can be hard to see, try laying the...Read more

When you need hydration or drinks on the go, the greenest choice is to fill a reusable water bottle. But if you want flavored beverages like sports drinks, coffee and tea, the next best thing is to choose the "instant" or powdered forms of these drinks and make them yourself. When you compare premade beverages in glass or plastic bottles to the ...Read more

If you're in the habit of clipping your fingernails and letting the trimmings go down the drain, stop. While fingernails are composed of organic materials called keratin and biotin, nails really do not biodegrade, so trimmings can clog drains and cause problems over time. And because they are so strong and durable, using a chemical drain cleaner...Read more

The paperboard boxes that grocery items like cereal and frozen food often come packaged in are recyclable materials. If the boxes are greasy, soaked or dirty, they should never be put in your recycling, since they are a contaminant. Also, if the box has a small plastic window (often seen in boxes for things like pasta), just peel off the plastic...Read more