Happy International Water Day! KEEPING OUR WATER CLEAN IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY Here are some ways you can help do your part to protect our water resources: At Home: • Never dump anything in storm drains • Keep grass clippings, leaves, and lawn chemicals off paved surfaces • Apply pesticides and fertilizers at the correct rate and time • Minimize detergent pollution by using a commercial car wash • Repair auto leaks • Direct downspouts away from hard surfaces, collect rainwater…

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When the weather is cold and frigid we tend to shut and seal all of our doors and windows in order to keep in the heat. So if we shut ourselves in and do not lit in any fresh air then the air in our homes is not fresh at all. One way to clean your indoor air is by removing pollutants with the use of house-plants.  House-plants can remove the 3 main indoor pollutants: formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide. …

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Spring is finally here but as we all know it is still chilly in the mornings and what is better than a hot cup of coffee or tea to get the day started. Now and days there are plenty of reusable alternatives to the paper cup which come in many different designs to fit many personalities.  They also tend to keep your drink warmer for longer.  Imagine the amount of waste that could be kept out of our landfills from…

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In the process of getting that wonderful tax return, which is very much needed in these tough economic times.  Why not try something new this year and get your refund directly deposited into your banking account electronically.  This saves the time you spend waiting for a check to be delivered via snail mail and also saves on resources such as the paper used for stamps, and envelopes.

Do you want to know the effect your household has on the environment.  Check out this simple carbon footprint calculator from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and see how you score. Household Emissions Calculator

Everyone is traveling lately to get away from this cold Minnesota weather.  If you are planning a trip that requires a ticket try using e-tickets (electronic tickets) instead of paper ones.  You can save as much as $30 per ticket, and the airline industry could save as much as $3 billion annually by eliminating paper tickets altogether. With the paper saved, you’d have enough to provide boarding passes for all of the people in India. Facts provided by: The Green Book

Need to wash some of that dirt and salt off of your car?  Instead of doing it at home try visiting your closest commercial car wash.  It is way better for the environment because they not only use significantly less water per wash (up to 100 gallons) but the often recycle and reuse rinse water! If every American who currently washes a vehicle at home chose instead to go to a professional car wash (just once) up to 8.7 billion…

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Winter means cold weather, and cold weather means that there is less moisture in the air which can led to uncomfortable dry skin.  If you already dread doing dishes then try running full loads in your dishwasher and save energy, and don’t pre-rinse your dishes before putting them in.  Do both and you’ll save up to 20 gallons of water per load and 7,300 gallons per year.  That is the same amount of water the average person drinks in a…

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Did you recently get a phone book?  Do you still use your phone book? If not recyle it or the many that you may have.  Another great solution is to call and stop the delivery of your phone books and start using the online version.  Phone books add up to about 10 percent of the waste at dump sites.

Simple Road Salt Removal for Shoes/Boots White vinegar – yes, the inexpensive, nontoxic stuff in your kitchen cabinet – will remove the white residue left on your shoes and boots from road salt without harming them.  Mix together a 1:1 solution of white vinegar and water (small amt needed, 1 T. and 1 T. should be sufficient). Dip a corner of a white rag into the solution and scrub boots/shoes. The salt marks disappear as the shoes dry. From: Colleen…

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