Your Weekly Green ~ A few more frugal ways to stay warm!

Artic blast? Polar vortex? Freezing cold, plain and simple. We've shared tips on how to keep warm before but on a day like this it's worth sharing a few more tips on how to keep you, your family and your pets toasty without breaking the bank.


Believe it or not, cooking up a storm on a chilly day is a great way to warm your home. Cooking with the oven serves two purposes - feeding your family and staying warm at the same time.


Leave your bathroom door open after you shower, let all of that steamy air out to warm the other areas of your home. Or if you plan on staying in one area, close doors to the other rooms, that will keep the heat concentrated in that area.


Prepare warm drinks, maybe even a hot toddy - they really will  make you feel warm.


Move around - stay active whether you run around with the kids, take brisk walks or hit the gym - exercising is a great way to keep warm and healthy!

Stay safe! 

Your Weekly Green ~ Green Your Ride

Commuting by car in our area is a lifeline so, I thought I'd share a few 'green' tips to keep your wheels in good condition and work more efficiently.  

 

• Once a month, check the pressure of each of the tires (against the guidelines listed in your car manual). Maintaining the air pressure can improve mileage, saving on fuel use and money! Remember, more speed more gas used.
• Replace your air filters regularly since a new oxygen sensor can improve mileage by as much as 15%.
• Drive smarter - How you drive your car has a lot to do with fuel economy. Sudden starts, stops and lane shifts reduces your miles to the gallon and adds wear and tear to your car. 
• Last but not least, try to organize your outings by combing errands for one trip - sounds simple but the savings can really add up for your wallet and the environment.  

  

Your Weekly Green ~ UpCycle

I hope I've been able to show you some of the ways you can live a cleaner, 'greener' life - saving energy, minimizing waste, supporting local business and maybe even saving a little money, too!

For this post I am excited to share a green trend that's rapidly gaining in popularity - UpCycling. In a nutshell, to upcycle is to reuse items that you probably would have thrown away. Turn them into something that you can use and it may be a different purpose then it's original design, which is great because you can get a little creative too.

Take that old trash can that you were going to throw out and use it as a backyard planter. Or use the mason jars that you may have piled up in your basement and make them into soap dispensers or you can even take an old bicycle wheel an make a clock!

The possibilities are endless and even better each step you take continues to help the environment. 

Super cool UpCycled bicycle wheel clock!

Your Weekly Green ~ Wrapping it up

The holiday season is just around the corner and many people have already begun shopping for gifts. This season, why not try a 'green' alternative to all of the paper wrap that's out there! Although wrapping paper can be gorgeous it also leads to so much unnecessary waste. Why not try wrapping the gifts and goodies you purchase in fabric?

You can use remnants that you may have around the house or you can purchase inexpensive fabric. There are even decorated/embellished fabrics that are perfect for the season or occasion.  Most types of yarn or ribbon can be used to tie your package.

Not only would your pals and family love your gift, they'll appreciate the effort of your handmade packaging!

Your Weekly Green ~ Keeping the Chill Out...

There are some really easy ways to keep warm, save on heating your home and be 'green' now that chilly days and nights are here... Start out simple and use a draft snake, which you can purchase or easily make yourself- Just place a rolled bath towel under a drafty door, keep cold air from creeping in and warm air from creeping out.

You can even run your ceiling fan in reverse (most models have this feature) which will help the warmer air that pools near the ceiling circulate back down into the living space. These tips alone can help reduce your heating costs 10%-15%!

Wait, it gets even easier - put on a sweater! Each degree on the thermostat literally costs you money, so get cozy, safe money and our valuable energy resources this winter!

Your Weekly Green is Back!

So happy to get back to sharing tips on how we can all lend a hand in taking care of the environment. 

Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year, with it's vibrant colors and crisp, cool temps. One way we can better handle the bounty of falling leaves is to consider starting a compost pile or bin in your backyard. You do not need to have a big yard or garden to compost. This will help clean up your yard and it will help enrich the soil so it will not need so many fertilizers or pesticides for your grass and garden come the warmer months!

You can learn more about composting by clicking here. 

EAT.SLEEP.RECYLE ~ Your Weekly Green

Xeriscaping, or 'gardening in ways that reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental water from irrigation' is one of the latest trends in eco-friendly gardening and we love it! In a nutshell, selecting plants like thyme that will thrive with little water - here's a link to some plants that work well.

Xeriscaping can still produce an amazing and beautiful garden and landscape but you'll feel even better about it because it will reduce the water you need to use by at least 60 percent. Any effort no matter how small can make a difference!