Tips to "Green" Your Daily Life

Our impact on the environment is growing and it’s time for each of us to rethink our everyday actions and what that means for our planet in so many ways.

Try calculating your environmental footprint to assess your personal impact on the environmentand see where you can make small changes to help better the planet. With the plethora of environmentally smart ideas and products on the market, going green can be easy.

Do Shop locally. Visit your neighbourhood farmers’ market and support your community.
Don’tBuy international fruit. The fuel used to transport and shipping the product can be wasteful and environmentally damaging.

Do Buy a stainless steel water bottle. You can refill it with water from your tap or from your water filter dispenser.
Don’t Purchase bottled water. Bottles expendenergy in the manufacturing process, transportation and distribution. There are also the costs of garbage pickup, recycling or taking waste to the landfill.

Do Take public transport or start a carpool. Fewer cars on the road mean less greenhouse gases and traffic congestion. You can take advantage of carpool lanes and shared fuel usage to save money and get to work faster.
Don’t Forget to check your tires. According to Pollution Probe, “If every Canadian motorist had properly inflated tires, 375,000 tonnes of CO2 would be prevented from entering the atmosphere.” That’s because under–inflated tires create drag and reduce your car’s fuel efficiency.

Do Learn about the small changes you can make to help the environment. Try using P&G Future Friendly products such as Tide Coldwater – aproduct you know and trust, and that can help you reduce your energy use.
Don’t Overuse your products. Many cleaning products are available in concentrated forms so that you can use less for the same results. Be sure to read product labels for recommended use.

Do Recycle and compost. Be sure to check your local municipal recycling guidelines because different cities may or may not recycle certain items.
Don’t Buy Styrofoam products or overstuff your garbage can. Recycling and composting leftover food and paper products will help reduce garbage build-up, and ultimately the greenhouse gases emitted from landfills.

More information on the simple steps you can take to save energy can be found online at futurefriendlybrands.ca. NC

First Showing Tuesday at Brokers Open House

How to Save on Energy in the Summer

Summertime means an increase in temperature, and if you’re part of the majority of people in the U.S., it may also mean an increase in your utility bills as well. There are some changes you can make this summer that will help reduce your energy consumption and still keep you comfortable. Clean your air conditioning filters every month. Most people ignore the air filters until something goes wrong. Cleaning your air filters every month will help ensure that your system is functioning as efficiently as possible. Unplug electronics when they’re not in use, or use a Smart Strip. Simply turning off the T.V. or other appliances won’t put a stop to your power consumption. While it might not make a huge difference, keeping items plugged in can add up over the year. Shut doors and vents of unused rooms and use ceiling fans when you can. This can all lighten the load on your air conditioner. Turn up your thermostat. Set your thermostat to 77 degrees when you are home and 85 degrees or off when you are away. You will save 1-3% per degree for each degree the thermostat is set above 72 degrees. Shade your windows. Install patio covers, awnings, and solar window screens to shade your home from the sun. Also, plant trees, shrubs, and vines strategically to properly shade your windows and keep the sun from heating up your house.

Plugged Drain

Yuck…your tub or bathroom sink is draining slowly AGAIN. Every time you remove the trap or use a plumbing snake, you know you’ll be dealing with a major mess. And the hair in the trap is disgusting! But you’re tired of standing in water when taking a shower. Well, next time you’re at the grocery store or hardware store, pick up a drain cleaner: a flexible plastic strip with small hooks along its length. It looks like a very thin Christmas tree. Without dismantling anything, you push this thin plastic tool down the drain and pull out all that hair and junk. For some drains, it helps if you remove the stopper for better access. Just be ready for a mess when you pull it out. Have a rag or paper towel ready to catch the junk. You should also wear rubber gloves. After the junk is removed, run very hot water down the drain for several minutes. If you don’t have time to go to the grocery store, you could also try this with a length of thin wire bent to form a hook on one end. This tool is not as effective, and it will take more effort to catch the hair and junk – but it can work.

Happy Mother's Day to All You Fantastic Moms

Natick Open House Saturday Noon - 2

Spring Outdoor Home Hints

Mulch with old newspapers to stop weeds. Wet the sheets and put the layers around plants and garden beds, covering with soil as you go. Weeds won't be able to pierce the wet newspaper layers. You know how kids eat things that aren't good for them? Ants do, too. If you have an ant problem, put small piles of polenta where you see ants; they'll gobble it up, return 'home' and won't be able to digest it. Your ant problem will soon be gone. Use this homemade cleaning formula to scrub your decks: one cup of powdered laundry detergent, a gallon of hot water, and 1/2 cup of chlorine bleach (to kill moss or mildew). Check shrubs and trees for winter damage and prune accordingly. Remove dead wood or broken branches. Replant any shrubs that have heaved out of the soil before the roots dry out. Check your garden hoses for cracks and leaks and examine the washers at the connectors.