Soybeans are a renewable resource, grown right here in the United States. The production of soy wax candles greatly benefits the American agricultural economy. If soy wax replaced paraffin wax an estimated 60 million pounds of soybeans would be needed for annual candle production. On the other hand, paraffin candles are a by-product of oil refining thereby relying on foreign crude oil markets for manufacture.
Eventually the production of paraffin wax will likely disappear (or become very cost prohibitive) as we deplete the world’s oil reserves. However, soy wax is a sustainable and renewable resource, thereby helping our environment.
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With the talk of lead and bad chemicals in children’s toys, parents are looking for more natural options. Natural toys made of wood and natural fabrics have become more main stream as customers demand higher quality items. Small toy companies are listening, and creating wonderful alternatives to plastic based toys and dolls.
Many stuffed animals are created in factories and made with Petroleum based fake furs and fabrics. They are then stuffed with a plastic-based filling. The eyes are usually a plastic material and the thread is again, made of polyester. Consumers can move away from the Petroleum based products we are all accustomed to, and seek natural alternatives.
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If you were intrigued by using Neem oil for garden pests, or using companion planting to ward off troublesome insects, then you could also make your own pesticides and repellants.
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If you’re moving home any time soon, or you want to store any of your keepsakes, you’ll probably need some cardboard boxes. Rather than pay a removal company or storage company for the boxes, you can actually go to most shops and large companies to get them for free!
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Even if you don’t use a USB-device, the fact it’s plugged in to your computer means that it is consuming energy. Even if that energy is used to light a small LED or LCD display. It might be convenient to have all of your USB devices plugged in at once, but it’ll save you energy to unplug the devices you only use on occasion.
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If you’re drying your clothes indoors, avoid putting them on your radiators. By covering your radiators, you are preventing the heat from reaching the rest of the room.
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When buying new computer equipment for the office, consider buying laptop computers rather than desktop PCs. Old desktop computers can seriously waste energy, often consuming up to 400 Watts of power. Laptop computers are much more energy efficient, using up to 70% less heat.
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If you have to do a tax return like me, then you might be able to keep all of your documentation electronic. For a business that is predominantly web-based, you can keep all electronic receipts in Portable Document Format (PDF) and save them on your computer. Depending on the tax system in your country, this could be a desirable way to keep records.
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Yoghurt pots are notoriously difficult to recycle. Yoghurt pots are made from polystyrene, which is a plastic that is not typically recycled. Since you can’t recycle yoghurt pots, here are some suggestions on how you can reuse them.
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Did you know that there is evidence to suggest that plastic wrap (cling film) is carcinogenic? PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a significant constituent of clear plastic films, and PVC happens to be one of the most toxic forms of plastic. A type of chemical called plasticisers are added to cling film to make it flexible and transparent. Some of these chemicals have been found to cause cancer in laboratory animals.
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For couples, Valentines Day is one of the most important days of the year. That doesn’t mean that it cant be both enjoyable and environmentally friendly.
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To save energy whilst cooking, turn off your cooker hob or oven several minutes before the food has finished cooking.
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Ever fancied making your own eco-friendly mouthwash? Well if you fancy a bit of a basic chemistry experiment, it’s worth having a go. Eco-Friendly Daily has a few recipes you can try. Here’s an example that uses Vodka as a base! Let’s hope it’s eco-friendly vodka!
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Many local city or regional utility companies have joined forces to encourage home owners to upgrade the insulation efficiency of their home. When blown in insulation sits it an attic it settles. The depth of the insulation is the key to a more efficient home. Some homes are found with little or no insulation in the attic.
Many utility companies have rebate programs available to help offset the cost or even rebate the whole amount. With the reduction in new home construction, many insulation companies are doing the work for the price of the rebate. Some will even carry the cost until the rebate is processes, leaving the home owner with zero cost out of pocket.
Search your area for utility rebates for upgraded insulation. Not all areas are offering the same rebate. Talk with your utility company; they may even refer you to a company offering special financing. This will not be around for ever so take advantage now.
This guest tip was written by Steve Feller (Kyanisunrise) from Green Building Ideas.
If you have a wood burner stove, then you might be interested in Heat Logs. Heat Logs are an alternative to logs of wood for a solid fuel burner, made from pure shavings from sawmills. All of the wood in the saw mills is sourced from managed sustainable woodlands too.
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The Do Something Tote Bag is a reusable shopping bag that encourages people to get involved in voluntary work. The bags themselves are machine washable, and usable for shopping, the gym, travel and more. Each of the bags features a number, which if you send a text message, will reply with volunteer opportunities in your community.
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Understandably, it’s hard work coming up with new tips for every single day, and I need some more tips again. Sometimes I get ideas from you guys too! Therefore if you have any great eco tips, please let me know.
The style I prefer is about 150+ words featuring a single useful tip, explained in a little detail. I’m not after a list of “10 tips for eco-friendly gardening”. I’d prefer just one of those tips but in a lot more detail. If you send me an eco tip, I’ll give you a link or two back to your websites in return. I’m particularly looking for eco tips in the following areas, although I welcome anything that’s not already featured on the site.
- Automotive, Cars, Vans, etc
- Childrens activities, toys and clothing
- Craft ideas
- Eco-friendly makeup
- Eco and fairtrade clothes
- Eco cooking tips
- Organic gardening
- Home eco tips, e.g. house keeping, furniture, energy saving, etc.
There’s no doubt that choosing eco-friendly food is a bit of a minefield these days. The Green Food Bible offers information and advice on a range of food issues, such as advertising hype and jargon, how supermarkets address the demand of green-food, and what to look for when purchasing your food.
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Being eco-friendly in this day and age is not just about energy saving light bulbs and composting your food waste. With a focus on sustainable forestry, it’s now possible to buy eco-friendly furniture made from sustainable sources of timber. These managed forests need to abide by strict rules to ensure the environment is not negatively impacted by the repeated harvesting of wood raw materials. By buying eco-friendly products, you are being environmentally responsible without any extra effort on your part.
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If you haven’t heard about Freecycling, it’s basically a way of avoiding sending rubbish to landfill. In the same way you donate items to charity shops, you donate potentially bulky but useful items that you no longer want to other people. There’s no money exchanging hands, it’s completely free!
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