ArcaMax

Thinking about giving the outside of your house a fresh paint job? The color of paint you choose can have a big impact on how energy-efficient your home can be. Lighter-colored homes in warmer climates have a higher light reflective value (LRV). Pure black measures 0% LRV, and pure white measures 100% LRV. By choosing a lighter tint, you reflect...Read more

Here's an easy way to reuse plastic Bubble Wrap to help save energy at home: Use it in your freezer. Since Bubble Wrap has pockets of air that help insulate, wrapping items that need to stay frozen helps them stay ice-cold, especially if you open the freezer door regularly. Consider wrapping containers of ice cream and frozen meats in Bubble ...Read more

Have you ever accidentally put a wool sweater into the washing machine and worried you'd shrunk it? First, don't toss it in the dryer -- that will set the fibers and make it impossible to save. Instead, soak the sweater for 30 minutes in the sink with a few tablespoons of gentle soap (like shampoo). Place it on a large bath towel. Then gently ...Read more

Have you heard of the Swedish term "plogging"? It’s a combination of jogging and picking up litter. The movement began in 2016 as a way to clean up walkways and prevent trash and other debris from ending up in waterways. It also happens to be a great workout, incorporating jogging or walking, bending, squatting and carrying extra weight as you...Read more

Did you know that human hair can be composted? It’s actually a great organic material to add to gardens, compost bins or soil, thanks to its high nitrogen content. The key is to use hair that hasn’t been chemically treated or styled with products, as those can introduce unwanted chemicals into your soil. Composting it is simple: Just mix the...Read more

If you're choosing blinds for your windows and live in a hot climate, avoid metal blinds. During the day, the sun's rays can heat up the metal blinds and essentially turn them into a hanging radiator in your home. The hot blinds can also impact your thermostat, making the indoor environment read hotter than it actually is, which forces your air ...Read more

When it comes to helping wildlife, the best thing you can do is keep them wild. Viewing wild animals should always be done at a distance; never go near them, and especially do not try to feed them. Don't try to make an Instagram moment by getting your photo taken with a wild animal; they are unpredictable and could try to defend themselves. ...Read more

Forgot your reusable coffee thermos, so you grabbed a paper cup instead? It happens! But is it OK to reuse that paper cup? Turns out, it's not. Single-use paper cups are designed for just one use. They’re lined with a thin layer of plastic -- typically polyethylene -- which can begin to break down each time it comes into contact with hot ...Read more

In our ever-evolving digital age, you might wonder: Is it greener to stream a movie or to download it? It turns out downloading is the better choice. Streaming relies on energy-intensive servers and data centers, while downloading content reduces dependence on these systems, leading to lower emissions and energy usage. However, when comparing ...Read more

Are the shoes you just bought too tight? There's no need to wear them and cause your feet to suffer in the hopes of stretching them out. Instead, try this DIY shoe stretcher spray made with two household ingredients: rubbing alcohol and water. Make a mixture of 50% water and 50% rubbing alcohol and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray generously ...Read more

Household plants can be a natural and efficient way to purify the air inside your home. But if your plants get sick -- with white or black mold spores on the outside of the leaves -- they can also contribute to an unhealthy air environment. For sturdy plants, wipe down the leaves with a damp microfiber towel to pick up the mold spores; wash the ...Read more

Have you ever thought about how unclean the inside of your car really is? Many of us rarely clean the interior thoroughly, even though our car is a second home. Some independent studies have shown that cars can harbor mold, mildew, bacteria and high levels of unhealthy volatile organic compounds (mostly due to those artificial car fresheners ...Read more

One of the reasons some people insist on using a plastic straw in their beverages is that it helps prevent drinks from staining their teeth. But dentists have debunked that myth: The liquid still enters the mouth and makes contact with the enamel of your teeth. The only way to avoid your teeth being stained by the liquids you drink would be to ...Read more

Got an old down feather comforter or pillow, and not sure what to do with it? Since old feather-filled home products can also harbor dust, mold, mildew and bacteria, it's best not to donate them to charity. Instead, dump the contents in your garden. Since feathers for these products are just washed (not chemically treated), they break down ...Read more

When shopping online, opt for the slowest possible shipping method to get your order. When you give an online retailer more time for shipping, it allows them to use more eco-friendly methods for getting your package to you. This means making sure the package is on a truck that is close to your home anyway and consolidating your orders in fewer ...Read more

When you’re doing laundry at home, you should always wash towels by themselves. When you wash towels with synthetic fabrics (like those that make up workout clothes), the towels will absorb all the water in the wash and make it tougher for your smelly clothes to get clean. And zippers, snaps and closures on clothes can snag on towels and cause...Read more

Sick houseplant? Make it a healthy cocktail. Try pouring a little carbonated water instead of regular tap water when watering unhealthy plants. The reason? The bubbly water has macronutrients, which include carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, phosphorous, potassium, sulfur and sodium. These are all vital nutrients that plants absorb quickly through water,...Read more

Imagine getting exercise and raising money for charity at the same time! That's exactly what you can do with the free app Charity Miles. When you download the app, you select a charity of your choice (like the World Wildlife Fund or Habitat for Humanity), and a corporate sponsor pledges money for every mile you run, walk, bike or otherwise work ...Read more

When storing leftovers in the refrigerator, it's imperative to cover the food to keep it fresh. But did you know covering your food also helps save energy? The compressor inside your refrigerator is what keeps the air inside cool. Moist air is harder to keep cool, so uncovered food, which emits moisture, causes the compressor to work harder, ...Read more

Ever rent or buy a home that was once inhabited by a cigarette smoker? Getting rid of that lingering smell can seem like a daunting task, but would you believe the most effective way to deodorize is with plants? Plants emit water vapor, which pulls in the stinky, contaminated air and turns it into plant food. The result is cleaner and happy ...Read more