In the Kitchen
- A Better Beer
- Ban The Bottled Water
- Clip and Save While Doing Your Part
- Don't Pour Kitchen Grease Down The Drain
- ENERGY STAR Refrigerators and Dishwashers Will Save You Money
- Hidden Dangers In Your Cookware
- Homemade Baby Food Is A Great Way To Do Your Part
- How To Break The Paper Towel Habit
- How to Buy Organic Foods on a Budget!
- Is Organic Pet Food Worth The Cost?
- Organic Produce That's Worth The Money
- Party Time!
- Pick Your Own Produce & Save Big!
- The Benefits Of Buying Local Produce
- The Great Wine Debate: Box or Bottle?
- The Never Ending Glass Recycling Story - Local
- The Never Ending Glass Recycling Story - National
- Turkey Time - What do all those labels really mean?
- What Those Produce Stickers Tell You
- What's Better Than An Apple? A Locally-Grown One!
In the Bathroom
All Through the House
- A Big Break for Making Better Choices!
- A Cleaner Candle
- An Easy Attic Fix To Save Money!
- CFLs: The Good and The Bad
- Cleaning With Vinegar
- Control Indoor Pests Naturally
- Diapers: What's the Eco-Friendly Choice?
- Does Your Clogged Dryer Vent Cost You $20 A Month?
- Don't Trash it! Freecycle It!
- Earth 911 can help you recycle!
- ENERGY STAR products save energy, water and money!
- ENERGY STAR- New Homes
- ENERGY STAR: TVs: What's the Greener Choice?
- Father's Day Green Gift Ideas
- Get To Know Those Plastic Recycling Numbers - Local
- Get To Know Those Plastic Recycling Numbers - National
- Get Your Carpet Cleaned WITHOUT All The Chemicals!
- Green Gifts for Mother's Day!
- Green Holiday Table Decorations
- Green Volunteering
- High Fashion, Low Cost
- Home Energy Audit Makes Dollars and Cents
- Home Goods For A Lot Less!
- How Big Is Your Eco-Footprint?
- How Plastic Is Made
- How To (Safely) Get Rid of Household Hazardous Waste
- In With The New and Recycle The Old
- Is The Air Inside Your Home Polluted?
- Is Your Make-Up Making You Sick?
- It's In The Shampoo
- Junk The Junk Mail
- Let the Holidays Shine with LED Lights!
- Limitless Fashion On Limited Budget!
- My House Leaks Like A Sieve
- New Life For Old Shoes
- Paperless Tax Return Filing
- Programmable Thermostat: A Quick Fix for High Utility Bills
- Put Your Old Cell Phone To Good Use
- Put Your Old Clothes & Cloths To Good Use!
- Recycle Batteries and Recharge Your Battery Purchases
- Recycle Your Way To A Lower Eco-Footprint
- Recycling A Can - Can Change The World!
- Recycling Paper Is A Success - Local
- Recycling Paper Is A Success - National
- Recycling Plastic
- Reduce Your Eco-Footprint
- Rent Your Way To An Eco Friendly Party!
- Reuse Items You Already Own To Lower Eco-Footprint
- Safer Soaps, Shampoos, & Scrubs
- Shipping Solutions
- Shop (for organic cotton) til you drop!
- Soap: Bar vs Liquid
- Sponges
- Start Simply - At Home
- The Better Choice For Kitty Litter
- The Dirt On Clothes Washers
- This is it
- Treating Pet Smells and Accidents....Naturally
- Try Baking Soda Instead of Costly Chemical Cleaners
- Unique & Green Valentine's Cards
- What Do You Do With Old or Unused Medicine?
- Why It's Important To Do Your Part
In the Garage
In the Garden
- A Natural Jolt For Your Garden
- Adopt A Stream
- Charlotte's Secret Gardens
- Composting: It's Not That Complicated
- Create A Community Garden Where You Live
- Eco Friendly Lawn Tools
- Fall Leaves
- Go Native In Your Charlotte Garden
- How To Set Up A Rain Barrel
- Keep Your Cool And Save!
- Kill Outdoor Pests and Weeds Without Using Toxic Chemicals
- Lightning and trees: A deadly combination
- Local Fresh Food Delivered to Your Door!
- Make Those Mosquitos Go Away - Without Toxic Chemicals!
- Plant A Shade Tree and Reduce Cooling Costs
- Plants That Tolerate Drought Conditions - Local
- Rain Barrels Are Good For The Garden And More!
- Save Our Creeks - Don't Over Fertilize
- Scoop The Poop
- Test Your Soil Before You Fertilize - Local
- Tree Banding - Local
- Use Your Sprinkler System Wisely And Save!
- What's Really In Your Sunscreen?
Hidden Dangers In Your Cookware
Most of us cook because it's enjoyable and it's usually healthier than eating out. But do you really know how healthy your cookware is? Do Your Part to be informed about how you're feeding your family.
For general cooking cast iron pieces are perfect! They are incredibly affordable. A regular skillet will set you back just ten bucks. They are loved by chefs, and best of all, don't contain toxic chemicals. Other safe bets are stainless steel and glass cookware. No toxic fumes are emitted when either is heated up. And these days, you can even find some glass dishes made from recycled materials.
If you want a non-stick option - be careful. Controversy continues over the popular non-stick pots and pans, most of which are made using Teflon. There's a lot of worry that a chemical in that non-stick coating - known as PFOA - will be released when heated up to high temperatures. PFOA is linked to everything from birth defects to cancer. It also doesn't break down in our environment. For more information about PFOA click here.
If you have a teflon pan that's peeling or breaking up, get rid of it immediately and go for an eco-friendly non-stick pan.
Consumer Reports recently tested dozens of the eco friendly varieties and say many out-perform conventional non-stick pans! Some of their favorites are green lines from Earth Pan, Starfrit, and Green Pan. You can find these greener options everywhere from Target to high end stores.
Remember, you can Do Your Part when deciding what to make for your family and *how* to cook it. Isn't that a recipe for a great meal?
