ArcaMax

We all know that air-drying clothes is better than using the dryer -- but many of us don’t always have that option. Still, regardless of environmental impact, there are certain items that should never go in the dryer because heat and tumbling can break down their fabric and construction. These include intimate apparel like bras and lingerie; ...Read more

It’s true: Antique furniture is better than new. A recent study by Carbon Clear found that buying vintage produces six times fewer carbon emissions than purchasing new pieces, since no additional resources are required to manufacture that armoire, table or set of chairs. Antiques are also built to last -- on average, they’re resold every 30 ...Read more

To cut back on food waste at home, try doing a "family-style" dinner where you and your guests serve yourselves in the kitchen and bring your plates of food to the table. When we plate food at the dining table, we tend to overindulge and leave food on the plate. That food ends up in the trash instead of being saved for leftovers. With nearly 1.3...Read more

The more you can do to help bring dinner to the table quickly, the better. The next time you’re boiling water for pasta, consider placing a metal steamer basket on top of the pot and then placing the pot’s lid on top of that. This action allows you to do double duty: You can cook the pasta and steam veggies or a protein like fish at the same...Read more

Turn off auto-play on streaming platforms and social feeds so videos only play when you choose to watch them. Auto-playing content quietly consumes data and energy, even when you’re not paying attention. Disabling it also helps curb mindless scrolling, making it easier to reduce social media use and be more intentional with your time online. ...Read more

Cloud-based bytes of information come from data centers where an incredible amount of energy is consumed to meet the constant demand from users. In fact, these centers currently use a whopping 2% of the world's energy. Easy ways to reduce energy usage include choosing Wi-Fi over cellular data, since mobile networks use more energy; choosing text...Read more

Here’s a smart, easy way to reduce electricity use when working on your desktop computer -- and lessen your impact on the environment. Lower your monitor brightness from 100% to about 70%. The change is barely noticeable, yet it can cut the monitor’s energy use by roughly 20%, reducing demand on power plants and helping lower greenhouse gas ...Read more

When traveling abroad, you may encounter stray dogs who could use a little help. While it’s natural to think they need food, one of the easiest and most important things you can offer is water. Simply find a sturdy bowl and fill it with fresh, clean water. Place it in the shade, refresh the water daily and rinse the bowl when you can. Reliable...Read more