A while back, a friend mentioned that she had swapped out all of her mainstream cleaning products for ones without hazardous chemicals or toxins. I had invested in an organic mattress and plant-based disposable diapers for my son, so why wasn’t I using safer products in my home where my entire family spends most of […]
In recent years, there has been an explosion of lofty landscapes sprouting from every vertical surface, from the fences enclosing tiny urban lots to the interior walls of chic restaurants. Vertical gardens and living walls have unique benefits, not the least of which is efficient utilization of precious space. For backyard-challenged urbanites, a vertical growing […]
Do you know how to make your home more energy efficient, how much those improvements will cost and how much money you will save if you do them? Many homeowners or renters mistakenly delay learning about ways to make their home “greener” because they don’t know where to find good advice—or they believe that the […]
The kitchen? We’re fans – that’s where the food is, after all. But it’s also the heart of the home, a warm and welcoming place to gather. So why not make your kitchen as friendly to the environment as it is to your family and friends? Whether you’re renovating or just greening the lily, so […]
Cozying up to a roaring fire sounds eco-friendly, in theory. After all, what’s a more natural fuel source than wood? Turns out, burning wood is really inefficient if you’re dealing with old fireplaces and woodstoves, which lose much of their heat through the chimney. Inefficient fires also produce excess smoke, which is not so hot […]
When it comes to green décor, it’s a motley mosaic of shades. Some products are a smidge green, while others are a much deeper hue. There is so much variation in environmental responsibility, and no universal standards, which makes it difficult to know what to look for. When hunting for eco-friendly finds, we tend to […]
Heavy spring rains have left us feeling damp and dreary—but rest assured, warmer days are on the way, with promises of open windows and fresh-air adventures.
Could your garden greens be spruced up this spring? If you’re already starting to plan your garden, Tony Abruscato, director of the Chicago Flower & Garden Show, has some artistic tips to offer up. For more inspirational ideas you can use in your own garden, mark your calendar for “The Art of Gardening,” the 2013 Chicago Flower […]
Pollution is distinctly nondiscriminatory—it ignores political, socio-economic and cultural boundaries. The Natural Resource Defense Council’s (NRDC) annual survey of beach water quality, “Testing the Waters,” proves that point. Illinois beaches with the worst contamination rates were on the north shore. In 2011, the worst beach in Illinois was Winnetka Elder Park Beach, which […]
With three teens, our family goes through a lot of paper towels. And what could be more wasteful than something that you use for less then a second, and toss? According to the folks at Bambooee, Americans produce 3,000 tons of paper towel waste each day. Plus, the nice ones that don’t fall apart are […]
