Some of the questions people ask when trying to reduce their energy consumption in their home is:’ Where do you start?’ or ’Wouldn’t it be nice to start from scratch’, i.e. build your own eco-home, off the grid, with solar panels and compost toilets etc?
For most people, though, it will stay a dream. Instead, they are looking for ways to convert their own home in a way that reduces the pollution that destroys our planet.

The Carbon Free Home is a superbly written guide to help you in your quest to remodel your home to make it more energy-efficient. It provides 36 fantastic remodelling projects, from small to large, for all budgets. I like the fact that it details the cost involved, time, the skills and the expected energy savings. It is packed full of knowledge on how to reduce your energy consumption by switching to alternative and sustainable energy sources and changing your heating, hot water system, electricity, cooling, cooking and lighting. The section on transportation and gardening also give great advice on renewable methods.

Overall, I think that this book is a must have for anybody wanting to curb their energy wasting/spending and adopt a more thoughtful way of living.

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Being sun safe means protecting your kids and yourself from exposure to harmful UVA and UVB rays. Especially the skin of babies and young children need to be cared for, as their skin is very sensitive to the sun’s rays. Finding the right sunscreen that is right for you and your family is not easy. There are so many different kinds on the market. I like the natural type of sunscreens that are chemical free and non-irritant on my children’s skin.

Sunbrellas Chemical Free Sunblock SPF 30 is a great product by Jason Natural Cosmetics. It is made for young sensitive skin (or sensitive adult skin) and is toxin and fragrance free. It is designed to block out the sun and protect your kids’ skin while spending the day at the beach or playing outside. Sunbrellas Sunblock is made from natural ingredients such as Chamomile and Marigold Extracts.

In my opinion, if you are looking for a natural sun care product that the whole family can use and which is mild enough for babies, the Sunbrellas Chemical Free Sunblock SPF 30 would make a great choice.

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There is lots of literature on the market on how to save water, save energy by making changes in your home. People have caught on to the fact that we need to do something to help our environment. And why not start in our own home?

The Renovation Nation: Learn How To Save Water, Save Money DVD is a great DVD by Steve Thomas. Steve Thomas is the host of a popular green home building show “Renovation Nation” that runs in the US. In this DVD he travels through the country to talk to eco-house owners who made the decision to be more eco-friendly. He showcases their converted homes and talks about the neat ideas that you can adopt. Find out about rainwater collection systems, solar hot water heaters and lots of other nifty green ideas that don’t cost the earth.

Overall, I think this is a good DVD to own. Watching it will, certainly, give you food for thought. There is great advice on how to adopt some of the green ideas given by the author and turn your home into an eco-friendly dwelling.

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Avalon Organics products are – in my opinion – fantastic products. Not only are they made from the finest and purest ingredients and without harsh toxins, but they also respect mother earth. Avalon Organics constantly thrives to reduce their environmental impact. They carry many beautiful organic skin care products that benefit your skin.

The Peppermint Moisturizing Cream Shave keeps your skin (and that of your partner) healthy and moisturized during shaving. It is designed for all skin types and reduces skin irritations and cuts during the shaving process. It contains natural ingredients such as organic peppermint oil, organic sunflower and flax oils, calendula, lavender and chamomile, which gives out a beautiful fragrance.

Overall, the Peppermint Moisturizing Cream Shave doesn’t contain any undesirable ingredients – no parabens, petroleum-based products or synthetic colors and fragrances. Instead, it is a product that uses high quality natural organic and 100% vegetarian ingredients. A highly recommendable product.

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I am definitely a baby sling supporter. For years and years I carried my children around, from when they were newborns to big heavy babies Baby slings have many benefits, from hands free carrying, to emotional benefits. Babies feel protected and cozy snuggled up in a baby sling. They are close to their mother’s body and feel calm, secure and content. As babies get older, they love to see what’s going on around them. Being carried in a sling means that they are higher up and see things from a different perspective. This stimulates their senses and helps their development.

The Midnight Designer Baby Sling is a lovely product. It is handcrafted and made from beautifully soft organic hemp and comes in black. All in all, it looks very stylish for a trip to the mall or a stroll in the park. The slings are strong and can support and carry babies up to 35lbs.

Overall, I think that this model of baby sling, the Midnight Designer, is worth the money spent. It looks great, is made from high quality materials and more importantly, will give you and your baby an easy and hands free way to explore the world. It would also make a well-appreciated gift for any new mother-to-be.

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The James Washer is a great hand washing device that I came across. It feels a bit like going back in time. But if you are keen on doing something good for the environment by saving water and energy, it is certainly worth having a closer look at this popular device.

It is essentially a non-electric hand washing machine with pendulum agitators. The tub and lid is made of high quality stainless steel and it stands on pine legs. The washers are constructed by US Mennonites and are very easy to use. The tub itself has a capacity of about 15 gallons. The washer works in very easy steps: Fill the tub with hot water and soap and soak your clothes. Then move the provided agitator handle back and forth a few times, which in turn moves soap around and forces dirt out. Drain the dirty water with the convenient bottom drain and repeat the process until your clothes are sparkling clean.

There is also an option to purchase a hand wringer that can sit neatly on your James Washer.

Overall, it is a great product in terms of trying to make a difference. It does come at quite a steep price, though, but given the uniqueness of this product in today’s modern world, you might find it a valuable investment. You never know, even your kids might enjoy doing the laundry all of a sudden. It is certainly worth having a further look at the James Washer.

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You might think that this takes being eco-friendly too far, but could you imagine living without owning a car? Well, there are people who can and are already doing it whether for energy-saving or financial reasons.

The author, Chris Balish, explains how he came to live without a car for a period of four years. He talks about his own personal story and how he started from being car-dependent to becoming car-free. He describes the impact this had on his daily life and how he was able to save almost $40,000 by not owning a car. The true financial costs of owning a car as well as the environmental costs of owning a car are well discussed in his book.

The “Getting to Work Without a Car” section describes other ways and modes of transportation, from carpooling, scooters and even the possibility of moving closer to your work. I really like the section on “Living Well Without a Car” as it gives you lots of helpful pointers if you are considering selling your car. But even if you are not quite ready yet to give up your car, the author has great advice on how to go on a date without a car, weekend rental cars, having car-free weekends and how to reduce the numbers of cars in your family.

Overall, the book definitely gives you food for thought, whether you want to reduce the number of cars you own, the miles you spend behind the wheel or how to get rid of your car altogether. This guidebook has lots of good advice that can be put into action.

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Every little bit helps when turning your home into a more eco-friendly place to live. Whether you start collecting rainwater to water your plants, change to eco-friendly household cleaners or be less wasteful. There are lots of ways we can do our bit.

The Gas Green House Eco Kit contains various eco-conscious products for your home. The Earth-Massage Showerhead is a very efficient showerhead that can reduce the water used by up to 40%. Enjoy a relaxing shower with the 9 different jets, which can be adjusted to your own preference, from strong to needle spray.

Also provided in the kit is a kitchen swivel aerator, another energy saving device. It simply attaches to your current faucet.

Other devices in the kit are: two powerful and water-saving bathroom aerators. 12 Draft stoppers, shrink-fit window kits and 2 foam weather strips to keep drafts out of your house and visibly reducing your utility costs. In addition to all of the above eco-conscious and energy-saving products, also included is an Energy Wheel with lots of great advice on everyday energy saving possibilities.

Overall, I think that this kit contains products that are well-worth installing in your house to be more eco-friendly. The products come in a neat-looking box in the shape of a house and would certainly make a great gift to anybody looking to invest in a better and greener future.

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The Citrus Magic Citrus Air Freshener, Tropical Citrus Blend is a must-have product for your home. It has an intense but very pleasant citrusy fragrance that spreads through your house and destroys other unpleasant odors, such as pet odors, bathroom odors etc.

What’s so great about this air freshener is that it is made from 100% pure ingredients, unlike so many other commercial air fresheners that contain chemicals. These can be harmful to our health over time, triggering asthma attacks for example. The big difference to a natural air freshener is that commercial air fresheners just “cover up” the odors instead of dissolving them naturally.

Overall, I think if you like a fresh smelling, odor free, but nevertheless, toxin-free home, the Citrus Magic air freshener is ideal and can be highly recommended.

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We need bees to pollinate our eco-systems. Bee populations are on the decline and, as individuals, we should do everything we can do help bees to recover and keep our environment healthy. We need to learn to respect the work bees do and make our own backyards attractive to them.

One way to attract the North American Orchard Mason Bee is by installing a bee condo in your garden. The North American Orchard Mason Bee is an excellent pollinator, but looks different from the regular honey bee. It has a dark green-blue body and looks more like a fly. No need to be afraid of them as they are unlikely to use their stingers, they are more likely to fly off if disturbed.

The Bee Condo from Gaiam is constructed of reclaimed fir posts and made in the USA. The box is 13 ¾”H x 3½”W x 4 ¾” diameter and should be hung up in a quiet corner of your backyard on any tree, fence post or on a garden shed. It invites the Mason Bees into the garden to lay their eggs. The eggs are ready to hatch in springtime and the bees start pollinating your garden.

Overall, I think that the bee condo by Gaiam not only looks attractive in your backyard, but it also helps the environment and is a great teaching tool for your kids. They will find it very exciting to watch the bees using the condo as their new home.

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