Quick Tips

Energy Efficiency Day was officially Wednesday, but every day’s a good day to save on your bills. There are simple ways to reduce your energy use at the office and home, whether you rent or own. Tips courtesy of the...

What is Greenworks Philadelphia? Greenworks Philadelphia is Mayor Michael Nutter's comprehensive plan to reach Philadelphia's goal of becoming the greenest city in America by 2015. Released in Spring 2009, Greenworks Philadelphia is a 100 page document outlining sustainability goals  including buildings, businesses, products, streets and more. Greenworks Philadelphia includes 15 sustainability targets, with 166 initiatives in 5 different areas:

All of this snow outside means people rush to treat their sidewalks and driveways. But don't run and buy the nearest rock salt available on your corner store. Common ice melt products and rock salt can become trapped in pets' paws, causing severe irritation and burns. Or, the animals will lick their paws in relief and ingest them, which is even worse and can lead to serious side effects. Even if you have an indoor animal, you'll track some salt in with your shoes in the cold weather. Find out more about choosing safe & pet-friendly ice melt, after the jump!

Whether you are hosting a festive party over the holidays or offering to clean up after one you attended, there's always the dilemma of dishwasher vs. hand-washing dishes. So which is better for the Earth?

Whether you're a jewelry whore or you only don an everyday watch you (or your significant other or whoever) probably spent some hard-earned cash on these pieces. Naturally, you want to keep them looking nice and shiny! The majority of jewelry cleaners are filled with harsh chemicals. I found that using household products can be just as effective, and a lot greener. To clean your jewels mix one cup of warm water (not too hot) with 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of baking soda in a bowl and let jewelry sit (one piece at a time) for about 10 minutes. Voila - shine and sparkle restored! As an aside - I once worked in an office where the engaged girls would bring in their toxic jewelry cleaner every Friday and take turns cleaning their engagement rings while talking loudly about their weddings. Um yeah, this made the single girls and dudes) pretty annoyed. Heads up: clean your jewels at home ladies, not the office please ;)   

My favorite part of autumn CSA shares are all the squashes & pumpkins that are abundant. Besides amazing recipes like butternut squash risotto & gnocchi, soups and delish gourds, there's another hidden gem to savor: the seeds. It's so simple to make! Find out how, after the jump.

Halloween is right around the corner, where most of the population loads up on the dangerous high-fructose corn syrup & sugar-filled candy treats. What can you give out to the neighborhood kids instead of original candy? Here's a few suggestions:

Trying to limit the disposables is an easy thing to get into the habit. We've already mentioned how to stash a BYO cutlery in your purse or on the go. Bring in a reusable 'set' for the office: Silverware (knife, spoon, fork), coffee mug & a small dish or bowl in case you need to heat up your lunch. It also comes in handy for the day your office or fav vendor drops off a lunch to enjoy. Readers, do you stash an office eatery set? Any other tricks you have?

Nothing's worse than rainy days to damper our clothes (and soul) and shock us into autumn. Take advantage of the rain falling outside and use it to your advantage. I'm talking rain barrels. Even as it's getting cooler. How to Use a Rain Barrel: