There’s no doubt that hardwood floors are both beautiful and functional. Unlike carpet, hardwood floors do not collect dust and dander so they’re great for people with allergies. They’re durable and can last for decades and they make any home design look professional and polished. When it comes to hardwood floors, you can’t do better than bamboo. It’s durable, gorgeous and a safe and eco-friendly alternative.

Think about this, to produce an oak floor it takes several trees. Other trees used to make hardwood floors take upwards 15 to 100 years to grow to maturity. Bamboo takes 6 years. By choosing bamboo flooring, you’re choosing an incredibly sustainable resource.

Bamboo is also just as durable, if not more so than many other types of wood used to create hardwood flooring. In fact, horizontal or vertical bamboo flooring is harder than oak, which is the most popular material used for hardwood floors and strand woven bamboo flooring is harder than the most expensive hardwood, Brazilian Walnut.

Bamboo flooring is also the most economical type of hardwood flooring options available. And for those who do not want the standard light color of bamboo flooring will be happy to learn that bamboo actually can come in a variety of colors from a light honey to a dark amber.

However, it should be noted that all bamboo flooring products are not created equal. Vertical and horizontal grain bamboo flooring may contain urea formaldehyde as a binder, which will emit toxic substances and engineered bamboo may not be really made from bamboo at all. Grainless or strand bamboo may use a low emitting phenol-formaldehyde binder. When purchasing bamboo simply ask how the boards are bound to find out if you’re bringing a potentially toxic substance into your home. Not all manufacturers use this type of binding and there are safe options.

Additionally, for the most environmentally friendly bamboo you may want to choose flooring that comes from a bamboo farm where it is raised specifically for this purpose rather than to choose bamboo, which is cut down in the forest.

Bamboo starts around $2.00 per square foot, which makes it an extremely affordable option. Bamboo is perhaps the single best material for hardwood flooring available. It is sustainable, durable, beautiful and will last you and your family for as long as you live in your home.

Essential oils have been used for centuries to remedy a variety of ailments both physical and emotional. Some, like peppermint oil are great for digestion while others like grapefruit are known for their fat burning properties. However, the most common use for essential oils is to help induce a state of relaxation or calming.

Here are 4 essential calming oils and how to use them:

Rose oil

Rose oil has several uses including being used as an antidepressant, anti-wrinkle, to treat chronic bronchitis and asthma and to help improve sexual potency. It’s also used to induce calming and relaxation. And is said to be able to heal emotions and trauma by bringing warmth to the heart and soul.

It’s often blended with other calming oils to produce an all encompassing calming effect and blends well with Patchouli, Cedarwood Oil, Bergamot, Sandalwood, Chamomile, and Ylang-Ylang. You can place it in a lotion and apply directly to your skin. You can place rose oil in massage oils or bath products. You can also place in a diffuser and enjoy the scent in a room that you find calming. Say your bathroom, bedroom or study. Read the rest of this entry

Saving energy at home means saving money, something everyone can appreciate. It also means conserving resources so we can ensure a healthier planet for all. Here are some simple home energy savings tips you can start using today.

1. Smart strips

   Every day appliances consume energy even when they’re turned off. Microwaves, coffee makers, computers, televisions, the list goes on and on. Rather than let this valuable energy go to waste, plug your appliances and electronic equipment into a smart strip. A smart strip is a strip of outlets with an off/on switch. When you’re not using the appliances and equipment, say at night when you’re asleep, simply turn the smart strip off. You’ll save thousands of watts each year.

2. Compact fluorescent

   Compact fluorescent bulbs use significantly less energy, about 75% less. The added bonus is that while these bulbs cost a bit more at the store, they last for years. The average light bulb used in a high traffic area lasts 4-6 months. A compact fluorescent bulb lasts up to 10 times longer.

3. Adjust your thermostat

   Simply adjusting it a few degrees lower in the winter and higher in the summer will save energy. A programmable thermostat makes it easy.

4. Turn off your dishwasher

   If you use automatic drying with your dishwasher, turn it off and let your dishes air dry.

5. Turn your water heater down

   Your water heater uses energy to keep your water hot and ready for those steamy showers. Turn it down to 120 degrees. Your water will still be good and hot, certainly hot enough for a steamy shower, and yet not too hot to scald. And you’ll save energy.

6. Buy Energy Star appliances

   When replacing appliances, look for energy star appliances. They conserve energy and many communities offer rebates and credits when you purchase these appliances.

7. Close your fireplace damper

   If you have a fireplace, make sure the damper works well and is closed when not in use. You can lose a significant amount of heat during the winter and cool air during the summer through an open fireplace damper.

8. Check doors

   Many doors don’t seal well. Particularly if you live in an older home where the walls and floors may have settled and shifted. Air can easily escape through cracks around your door causing your furnace or air conditioner to work harder thus wasting energy.

9. Embrace passive solar

   The sun is fantastic for heating and lighting our homes. If your home has a southern exposure you can harness the power of the sun to heat your home in the winter and to provide daylight year round. Eastern exposures can open the curtains in the morning to heat and light the home and western exposures can open the curtains in the afternoon.

10. Check your insulation

    Too much insulation causes your energy to be lost through your windows while too little insulation causes energy to be lost through your roof or attic.

Home energy savings doesn’t have to require a home overhaul. A few simple steps can save you hundreds of dollars a year and conserves energy.

Organic gardening is the healthiest way to grow flowers, fruits and vegetables. When you consume your homegrown fruits and vegetables, you ingest whole foods clear of pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers. Additionally, organic gardening is environmentally sound and keeps those toxins out of the soil and water supply. Here are a few organic gardening tips to get started.

1. Rotate your garden.

   Different vegetables and fruits absorb different nutrients from the soil. If you plant tomatoes for example, in the same spot every year, eventually they’ll deplete the soil of the nutrients they need. However, if you rotate your garden, planting flowers where you plant veggies and veggies where you plant flowers or simply rotating where you plant your veggies then you’ll have healthier and tastier produce. Additionally rotation also helps prevent attack by disease and pests.

2. Use friendly insects as natural pesticides.

   Ladybugs are a great tool to eliminate aphids from your garden. You can buy wiggly bags of them at your local nursery or even order them online. Place them in your garden and prevent infestation.

Read the rest of this entry

When choosing between 150 calories and 0 calories, for many the choice is apparent. Zero calories, sounds a whole lot better. Yet that 0-calorie item may be causing more harm than good. Aspartame, also known as Equal and NutraSweet, has a long and questionable history. Here are just a few of the dangers of Aspartame.

Diabetes

Research has shown aspartame to be leading agent in developing clinical diabetes. It has also shown that aspartame causes diabetics to have less control over their condition when they’re on insulin or oral drugs. It’s been linked to diabetic complications and has been shown to cause diabetic convulsions. Read the rest of this entry

Countertops play an important role in your kitchen. You want them to be functional and beautiful. The better the countertop, the higher the value of your kitchen and your home. In fact, some homes are purchased because of their kitchen. However, as people become more and more environmentally conscious, they want countertops that are more than beautiful and functional, they want eco-friendly kitchen counter tops. Read the rest of this entry

While standard paint no longer contains toxic lead, it is still undesirable by many. That being said, non-toxic paint has a few drawbacks too. Let’s take a look at the two side by side so you can make an educated decision for yourself.

Paint, once it’s on your walls, furniture and floors releases gasses for years. These low-level emissions contain toxins called VOCs or volatile organic compounds. Non-Toxic paint does not emit these toxins and is thus preferred by many, particularly those who are chemically sensitive or suffer from illness. Read the rest of this entry

Most of us want to recycle. However, understanding what’s recyclable and what isn’t can be overwhelming. Some communities offer support including bins to sort your items in and clear definitions about what is acceptable. Yet other communities leave their residents alone to figure it out for themselves. Regardless, here’s the low down on how to understand recycling and what to do with those extras like cell phones, paint cans and computers. Read the rest of this entry

We all know that buying organic meat is better for our health. Organic meat means we’re not ingesting harmful antibiotics, hormones or herbicides and pesticides. However buying organic isn’t just good for your immediate health, it’s better for the environment. Here are 10 green reasons to buy organic meat. Read the rest of this entry

Water has become a valuable commodity and it is becoming more and more valuable every day. To protect our environment and to save money, take a look at these easy water conservation tips.

• Turn off the faucet. The easiest way to cut down on water consumption is to not let the faucet run. Whether you’re washing dishes or you’re brushing your teeth, turning off the faucet conserves gallons of water each day.
• Choose xeriscape materials in your landscaping. Xeriscape plants don’t need much water to thrive. Plants like Thyme, lavender and others can grow quite beautifully on very little moisture.
• Water your lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation. This is actually better for your lawn too.
• Trim your shower time by a minute or two and you can save up to 150 gallons each month.
• Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. Longer grass shades roots and retains soil moisture better than if it is closely clipped. Again, this is better for your grass and motivates the roots to grow deep making it hardy and thick.
• Use a rain barrel to collect water and then use this water to water your garden or lawn.
• Use an automatic sprinkler system that’s easy to turn off and on. That way you can turn it off if it’s raining or install a rain sensor so your system won’t run when it’s raining.
• Check your toilet for leaks and fix them or replace your toilet with a low flush toilet.
• Use a water efficient showerhead and put aerators on all your faucets.
• Only wash your clothes or dishes when the machine is full.
• Visit only car washes that use recycled water.
• Use your extra water from cooking or water from pet bowls to water plants.
• Avoid flushing the toilet unless it’s necessary. Avoid using it as a garbage can where you toss tissues, cotton swabs and other items in.
• Wash dishes by hand.
• If you have a dishwasher, don’t wash your dishes before you put them in the washer and rinse them minimally.
• Fix all leaky faucets. Experts estimate we lose about 2700 gallons of water each year from leaky faucets.
• Insulate your pipes so you don’t have to run the water as long to reach your desired temperature.

Conserving water is not only an environmentally sound idea, it saves you money. As water becomes more and more scarce and our resources diminish the cost of water will continue to rise. Practice and instill good water conservation habits now and reap the benefits for years to come.