ArcaMax

Broccoli is considered a super-vegetable by many nutritionists, since the heads are nutrient-dense in vitamins B1, B6, E, calcium, iron, niacin and zinc. But did you know broccoli leaves aren't just edible and nutrient-rich, but really delicious, too? As nutritious as kale, broccoli leaves shouldn't be tossed into the trash. Just wash and treat ...Read more

Did you know there's a right way to water houseplants? First, don't overwater; just stick your finger about 1 inch down in the soil. If it's very dry, the plant needs water. Then determine what type of tap water you have at home. If it's chlorinated -- most towns use chlorine to clean water -- fill your water pitcher with tap water and let it ...Read more

Carpeting is one of the top items sent to landfills every year. If you have wall-to-wall carpet that you want to replace because it looks old and faded, consider hiring someone to re-dye it instead. Yes, you can dye carpet! A trained technician can make your old carpet look brand-new. You can have the carpet dyed to match the original color, or ...Read more

It's fine to reuse potting soil if the plants that were growing in it were healthy and had no signs of disease or pests. But if you're unsure, you can sterilize it yourself to get it ready for reuse. Start by removing all the roots, debris and any rotting material in the soil. Then fill a black plastic garbage bag with the soil and tie it shut. ...Read more

Are you planning to host a large outdoor party where beer will be offered? While beer bottles and cans are recyclable, you can go one step further to green your backyard affair. Consider renting a keg of beer, which eliminates the waste of beverage containers. A full keg holds 31 gallons, but you can also order half kegs if you're having a ...Read more

Do you have a pool and need to dispose of old water? Start by letting it naturally dechlorinate -- remove the cover and avoid adding any chemicals so the chlorine can dissipate. Test the water to ensure chlorine levels are at zero and the pH is between 6.5 and 8.5. Once it’s safe, you can drain the water onto your lawn, landscaping or mulched ...Read more

This is a good time to look at trees and shrubs for sale at your local nursery and plant them in your yard. Early fall is an ideal time for most climates, because it's an "in-between" weather season where it's still warm enough for a new plant to thrive, but not so hot that it could easily wither. Planting now will help ensure the roots are well...Read more

When choosing paint to use indoors, look for semi-gloss or satin finishes instead of flat paint. The slight sheen helps reflect more light off the walls from light fixtures, so you can use fewer lights and lower-wattage bulbs to save energy. When buying paint, you can avoid overbuying by using an online paint calculator to help you purchase the ...Read more

When it's time to collect leaves from the yard, avoid a leaf blower and use a rake. Yes, it's great exercise, but it's also better for your lawn. While you rake up the leaves, you're removing dead blades of grass. It also removes matted grass clumps, which helps create a healthier and better-looking lawn. Add the leaves to your compost pile or ...Read more

Have you ever thought about how unclean the inside of your car really is? Many of us never thoroughly clean the interior, even though our car is a second home. Some independent studies have shown that cars can harbor mold, mildew, bacteria and high levels of unhealthy volatile organic compounds (mostly due to those artificial car fresheners ...Read more

Have you ever gone to check out at a retail chain like a drugstore and been given a receipt that feels like a mile-long waste of paper? The nonprofit organization Green America recently campaigned and convinced one of the largest chains –- CVS -- to give consumers the option to skip receipts and receive them digitally or not at all instead. ...Read more

Choosing fruit as a snack isn’t just healthy for you; it’s good for the planet, too. Many fruits grow on trees, which act as natural carbon sinks by pulling CO2 out of the atmosphere and storing it. Unlike annual crops that require replanting each season, fruit trees keep giving year after year, helping reduce soil erosion, supporting ...Read more

Ever tried cleaning your area rugs with fresh snow? It really works! On a very cold day with a few inches of clean, powdery snow, place your rug right on top of it. Use a broom to beat the surface (either side works) to loosen dust and dirt, then flip and repeat. The snow clings to debris while the freezing temperatures help kill dust mites and ...Read more

Do you enjoy feeding ducks and other waterfowl? Skip the bread -- it’s basically junk food for them, lacking essential nutrients and potentially causing digestive problems. A healthier option is thawed frozen peas, which are rich in niacin and similar to foods ducks naturally forage. Just remember to avoid canned peas, as they’re often ...Read more

It’s believed that people in the city of Los Angeles waste about 100 hours every year sitting in traffic, on average. Even worse than lost time, transportation is now the No. 1 source of carbon pollution in the United States, with much of it coming from cars and gridlock traffic. To cut down on traffic waste, avoid driving during peak hours ...Read more

When it comes to tissues, napkins and paper towels, what do you do with them after they’ve been used? The good news is that used paper products like napkins and towels are compostable; they just need to be layered as “brown” matter in a compost bin with “green” material like kitchen trimmings and grass clippings. But don’t forget the...Read more

Believe it or not, one of the most dangerous things your pet can eat isn’t a food at all: It’s the bag your favorite chips or snack foods come packaged in. When you’re done eating your BBQ potato chips, a few remnants of the snack remain in the bag. If you leave the bag where your dog can find it, they’ll naturally stick their head in. A...Read more

It's important to clean fruits and vegetables before you eat them, whether they are organic or conventionally grown. Just a quick wash under running water helps rinse away microorganisms that can make you sick; it also removes any residual chemicals or pesticides that may be on conventionally grown produce. But here's an important tip: Even if ...Read more

Fall is the best time to transform your lawn into an eco-friendly one. It all starts with spreading a thin layer of organic compost in areas that need the most TLC; just a 1/4-inch layer is enough to give a nutritional boost so it thrives in the spring. Then add grass seed and rake it into the compost mix. Also, use a lawnmower to break up ...Read more

Single-use coffee pods are one of the least sustainable ways to brew coffee -- most plastic pods can’t be recycled, instead ending up in landfills. But new innovations offer an eco-friendly alternative: all-aluminum pods. They work with your existing machine and are 100% recyclable, and since nearly 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still ...Read more