Blog Posts

Water plants with water from dehumidifier reservoir

8/8/2025

Reduce your municipal water usage by watering plants with water generated by your dehumidifier.

If you run a dehumidifier to keep your basement less humid throughout the summer, you could be producing a gallon or so of water daily that can be useful in your garden. The water collected by your dehumidifier is a great water source for your plants! Fill your watering can every time you empty the reservoir. Reduce your municipal water use by taking advantage of this source of water.

Keep AC unit unblocked

7/25/2025

Your outdoor AC unit will work more efficiently if the area within two feet around it is kept clear of vegetation and debris that could block air flow.

Clear vegetation within two feet of your outdoor AC unit and clean debris from the interior and exterior of the unit. If airflow is obstructed, the unit will have to work harder, using more energy and driving up your electric bills. Leaves and grass clippings can also cause damage leading to costly repairs and shortening the life of the system.

Water outdoor plants in the morning

7/18/2025

Water outdoor plants in the early morning or late afternoon for better plant health and to minimize water lost to evaporation.

The best time to water your outdoor plants is in the early morning between 5:00-9:00 AM. This gives the water time to soak into the soil and time for the leaves to dry off, preventing the development of fungal diseases. Evening watering is also beneficial for minimizing evaporation, but it is best to use a soaker hose or drip irrigation at this time of day because when the foliage stays wet overnight, the plants are susceptible to diseases. Avoid watering in the middle of the day when more water will be wasted due to evaporation.

For more information, see Better Homes & Gardens

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Beans instead of beef

7/11/2025

Beans, a superstar food, ward off hunger as well as beef, according to a new study using breakfast tortillas. Consider the option of mixing the two together.

Beans and other legumes are superstars, easy on the planet and packed with nutrients, fiber, and protein. A new study shows they ward off hunger as well as beef. Consider the option of mixing the two together.

Read more here.

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Plan ahead to reduce single-use plastics

7/4/2025

Since 2011, the Plastic Free July movement encourages us to build new habits, such as carrying a kit for leftovers when we go out.
Americans go through five pounds of plastic a week. The Plastic Free July movement was founded in 2011 aiming to engage people to reduce single-use plastic use as well as push for systemic change. Reducing plastic use requires more planning and the changes that stick are the ones that work with your current lifestyle.
Photo by Susan O'Donnell
Read more at NPR.org

Fiber reduces PFAS

6/27/2025

Eating more fiber can reduce the levels of two common PFAS or “forever chemicals” in both children and adults, finds a new study in the journal Environmental Health.

Forever chemicals are present in the blood of almost everyone on the planet, with growing concerns about their toxicity. Researchers hypothesized that a gel formed by dietary fiber could stop the gut’s cell lining from absorbing PFAS.

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Read more at Ecowatch.com

Gardening is healthy

6/13/2025

The physical and mental health benefits of gardening are fully backed by science, including decreased dementia risk and cortisol levels.

Robust evidence exists for the significant positive effects of gardening on a wide range of health outcomes, beyond other forms of physical activity.

Read more at TreeHugger.com

Automate light use with sensors, motions detectors, and timers

5/23/2025

Having both indoor and outdoor lights with light sensors, motion detectors, or on timers automates turning lights on only when you need them, saving energy and money.

PECO estimates that you can save up to $15 per year by installing wall-mounted light sensors in your house and putting devices on timers so that they are turned off during the hours that they are not needed. You can save another $25 per year by installing outdoor lights with light sensors, so that they only turn on after dark, and motion sensors, so that they turn on just while you need them to see while you unlock your door. You get the benefit of security lights while minimizing the use of these higher wattage lights.

Read more from the Department of Energy.

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Buy sustainably harvested wood

5/16/2025

For your building projects, buy wood harvested from sustainably managed forests by choosing FSC and SFI certified materials.

When shopping for wood for building and projects, look for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certification labels. When you see these labels, you can be confident that the wood was harvested from sustainably managed forests.

SFI promotes responsible forest management in the US and Canada while the FSC operates worldwide. The certifications offered by FSC ensure that forests harvested for wood are “being managed in a way that preserves biological diversity and benefits the lives of local people and workers, while ensuring it sustains economic viability.” SFI certification requirements “include measures to help protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk and forests with exceptional conservation value.”

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Reuse glass jars for food storage

5/9/2025

Glass is safer than plastic for food storage: give used glass jars a new life by using them to store food.

This is especially the case for hot food which can cause chemicals to leach from the plastic container into the food. You can buy canning jars and re-usable screw-on lids, or even better, wash out jam, peanut butter, or spaghetti sauce jars and use them for storing leftovers. They are also great for storing food items that you buy in the bulk section, like dry pasta, dried beans, and rice. Another advantage to glass for storage is that you can see the contents so that you can remember what leftovers need to be eaten (link to other tip). When your glass jars are no longer useful, recycle them at the Swarthmore Recycling Center.

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