Technology can help you lower your utility bills, increase your comfort levels and improve your home’s air quality. Five Wilmette homes were highlighted June 16 on the ecoBuild Architectural Bicycle Tour. The intent of the tour, according to event coordinator, Scott Krone of CODA, a Wilmette-based architecture firm, was to showcase easy and affordable “green” […]
If you have ever wanted to grow healthy foods in your backyard, here is your chance. Smart Gardener, an online service that makes it easy to plan the perfect garden, is now introducing Smart Backyard. Smart Backyard works with you to create a one of a kind backyard garden full of your favorite food. […]
Enjoy an afternoon exploring some of Wilmette’s most beautiful green homes. Bring your bike and head over to the Wilmette Historical Museum on Saturday, June 16 to take part in the first ever EcoBuild Architectural Bike Tour, hosted by the Wilmette Historical Society. There you can pick up a map of the homes, which […]
As the world is making strides in being more eco-friendly, the light bulbs that Thomas Edison once gave us are becoming a thing of the past. Starting January 1, 2012 all light bulbs in the U.S. must be at least 25% more efficient, and have labels on both sides of their packaging that explain the […]
Sealing up a home tightly for the cold Chicago winters may save on energy bills, but what will it do to a home’s indoor air quality? Don’t trade one problem for another by locking in stale, unhealthy air. Instead, spend this winter in a home that’s both comfortable and healthy. First, manage the moisture. According […]
January is when people start noticing that their houseplants do not look “perfect”. After our furnaces have been running all Fall, the humidity percentages in our homes drop to the single digits. Plants and people do better when the humidity is at least 10-15%. Dormant eggs of insects like scales and white flies hatch when […]
The key to keeping your wrapping environmentally friendly (and inexpensive) is to use supplies you already have in your house. Here are 10 creative tips to spruce up your gifts without buying anything. (Or at least less than usual!) Use scrap paper ― You know all of that extra paper that comes out when you […]
You probably want to limit your family’s exposure to toxins. That’s why it’s surprising that companies are not required to list the ingredients in their cleaning products on the labels. Women’s Voices for the Earth commissioned an independent lab to test 20 top household cleaners for potentially dangerous substances. “Dirty Secrets: What’s Hiding in Your […]
Winter is just around the corner, which means higher gas and electric bills is also quickly approaching. Even though most gas users pay an average of $160 a month, there are a few things you can do to help lower your heating costs as the temperature drops. 1. Calculator and Lower Energy Use. Nicor Gas […]
We’ve heard about reducing our carbon footprint—but what about our pets’ paw print? Here a five ways from The Nature Conservancy to help your pet tread a little lighter: 1. Purchase Eco-Friendly Gifts Give your furry friends products made from recycled materials or sustainable fibers and with nontoxic ingredients. A hemp collar and matching leash […]
