There is a new environmentally friendly washing machine on the horizon that uses only one cup of water and leaves clothes virtually dry.

The University of Leeds, has set its sights on saving up to 90 percent of water used by conventional machines, use 30 percent less energy and the environmental impact would be like taking 5 million cars off the road and it would save 1.2 billion tons of water per year – the equivalent of 17 million swimming pools. (more…)

Please welcome back, our guest writer Caroline Smith!

Give Your Furniture a Green Makeover with Slipcovers

By Caroline Smith of GetSlipcovers.com

Being green is all about saving energy, reducing waste, recycling and reusing. When it comes to old sofas and chairs, using slipcovers is a green way to give them a new lease of life and keep them out of landfill. I don’t think there’s any excuse to throw away old furniture just because you don’t like the look of the upholstery. Whether it’s the color or pattern that isn’t to your taste, or the fabric is worn or stained, as long as the seat is comfortable to sit on, it still has plenty of life left in it. (more…)

Please give a warm welcome to our guest writer, Caroline Smith!   She is a writer, environmentalist and interior design enthusiast.    Please enjoy her article!

Eco Friendly Furniture – Green Bar Stools Anyone?

By Caroline Smith of www.GetBarStools.com

Green living is all very well when it comes to everyday activities. We all know we should turn off the tap when brushing our teeth, put our groceries in reusable bags and recycle everything we can. Earth friendly cleaning products, organic food and non-toxic toiletries are becoming commonplace in stores. But when it comes to one-off big purchases, such as furniture, it can be difficult to know where to look for green options.

When making any eco friendly purchase, there are always several factors to think about. What is a product made of? Where do the raw materials come from? What is the manufacturer’s attitude to sustainability? (more…)

There is a new thing going on here in Texas that many of you may know about.
Filling your car tires with something other than air. How about Nitrogen! Not
only is nitrogen eco-friendly but also proven better for your tires experts say.

Nitrogen keeps the tires at a consistent pressure level and which extends the
life of the tires.

Every time the weather changes 10 degrees, the tires filled with air lose about
1 lb of pressure. Although it will cost you about $10 per tire. A tire filled
with nitrogen is cheaper in the long run. Nitrogen will last about three months
longer than air. Experts say that tires with nitrogen will also give better (more…)

Just about any company can label their products “green”, but that doesn’t necessarily
mean they’re healthier or more environmentally friendly than others on the market. The
Greenguard Environmental Institute (GEI) set out to change that by implementing an
indoor air certification program. It certifies products that meet the GEI standards
for low chemical and particle emissions.

To obtain certification, products such as insulation, adhesives, flooring, and paint
are tested under conditions that simulate normal use. Researchers measure emissions
of formaldehyde and other VOCs. If a product meets the strict criteria, the
manufacturer may use the Greenguard mark on that product’s packaging. The product
is then tested regularly to ensure that it still meets the certification criteria.

Since children are especially vulnerable to toxins, there’s also a classification
called “GREENGUARD Children and Schools” to insure that products are safe for places
where children are more likely to be.

To search for certified products, visit the online product guide at:

http://www.greenguard.org