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It’s officially summer! Sure, that means sun and fun, but also soaring temps and sweltering humidity. So, when you’re sticky and sweaty, what can you do to keep cool? Air conditioning isn’t the only way to go – plenty of other options use less energy and have lower costs. Check out these tips to beat the heat:

Become a Fan of Fans

Fans are a great way to create a breeze and move around stale air. In particular, attic fans are ideal because hot air rises, and a lot of heat comes into your home through the roof (1). Also, having a ceiling fan in your bedroom will circulate and cool the air, making your sleeping environment cool and comfortable (2). (continue reading…)

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Everyone’s “going green” nowadays. But, let me ask you: what does the word ‘green’ mean? Advertisers love to use the word ‘Green’ almost everywhere. They have rendered it almost meaningless through “greenwashing.” The result is that our lives are reduced to a mix of lifestyle choices where using expensive so-called “green products,” unaffordable building codes and ridiculous gadgets have become only symbols of eco-friendly practices.

The truth is that we continue to consume as much as before. You can reduce your carbon footprint and go green by practicing some mindful observance of your routines, purchases, and other aspects of your lifestyle. You can start going green in real terms in following ways: (continue reading…)

©iStockphoto.com - Aprad Nagy-Bagoly

When frost comes nipping and the snow falls, the days of popping open a window to get fresh air in are over for another few months. Even when you can get fresh air in periodically, indoor air quality can be questionable, and dust and pollutants build up in homes hunkered down against the cold.  In energy-efficient houses with tight envelopes to reduce energy loss, the lack of air exchange affects indoor air quality even more quickly. With these five steps, you can keep your indoor air quality up all winter.

1. Clean

Keeping a proper cleaning regimen is an overlooked component of indoor air quality in winter. Vacuuming and dusting regularly reduces the amount of particulates that can potentially go airborne. When you’re cleaning hard surfaces, use low-VOC cleaning solutions to limit pollutant buildup. Microfiber mops allow you to clean hard floors with only water, without using floor cleansers. (continue reading…)

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When choosing a safe and effective home fragrance product, one of the biggest barriers with commercial products is that manufacturers are not required to disclose the exact ingredients of their products. The components that give a home fragrance its smell are only required to be listed as “Fragrance.” Some of these may be relatively safe essential oils, or they may be Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), compounds that readily vaporize at room temperature. Common scented VOCs are limonene, which gives a lemon-orange scent, and pinene, which gives a pine scent.

Even though it can be all but impossible to determine what the health impact of the fragrance itself may be, the delivery systems for these fragrances are somewhat more transparent, and each has its own health and safety concerns.

(continue reading…)

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America needs to reduce transportation emissions. America’s cities face numerous problems because of the polluted air released by increasing number of vehicles on highways. Within the past few years, Americans have become more dependent on car travel and have more cars per capita than any other nation in the world. This has lead to problems like traffic jams, pollution and global warming.

Traffic congestion alone costs America’s economy approximately $78 billion. Transportation in America produces more carbon dioxide emissions than any other country in the world except China. Studies have found that, bus travel is 79% safer than driving your own vehicle. In addition, sedentary, car-dependent lifestyles contribute to health problems from lack of exercise. (continue reading…)

©iStockphoto.com - Aprad Nagy-Bagoly

We all know that plants can improve our air quality, but which plants are best or just how much they can help? Not only can a few specific plants improve our lives at home, but they can also be used to drastically improve air quality in buildings in some of our world’s most polluted cities.

Kamal Meattle, a green energy specialist from New Delhi, India, recommends three plants to grow your own fresh air indoors. These are not specialized plants that are hard to come by. All three of these plants are very common and familiar to most of us. In fact, it’s likely that you’ve walked by all three of these plants the last time you were in a nearby nursery or greenhouse. (continue reading…)

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To watch television commercials for air fresheners, one could think them to be made from fresh cut flowers. We place them all around our homes. But these fresheners don’t freshen the air, but rather make our home’s air more polluted. Air fresheners used in a confined area, like homes, offices or cars create an intense amount of toxins in a small area.

Indoor air quality can be lower than the air quality outdoors.  The fine particulate matter from outdoor air pollution comes in through doors and windows. Dust mites, mold, pet dander and fur, tobacco smoke and fumes from combustion appliances like gas heaters and stoves contribute as well, as do building materials that out-gas, such as paints, varnishes, insulation, particle board, plywood, carpets and furniture. (continue reading…)