8/25/10

Don't confuse the words "organic" and "healthy" with each other. Just because a box of chocolate-dipped cookies filled with white frosting are certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it doesn't mean they are good for you. What does make them better is the fact the ingredients have been grown without harmful insecticides or chemical fertilizers. So while your waistline may not go down by eating organic cookies, at least your eco-guilt can lighten up.

8/24/10

If you use a window box air conditioning unit to cool your home in the summer months, choose windows that are shaded from the sun. An air conditioner that draws in cooler air from shade can have a significant improvement on the efficiency of the unit. And because air conditioners can be huge energy hogs in the hot summer months, this can lead to some major savings.

8/23/10

While going completely vegetarian may not be an option to meat-loving folks, even giving up meat just one day a week can have a dramatic effect. By celebrating "Meat Free Mondays," you'll see how a vegetarian diet uses far less resources -- water, fuel and food -- than an animal-based one. If everyone chose to go meat-free for just one day, it could significantly add up.