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Picture a typical morning routine in the wintertime: waking up and setting the thermostat to combat the cold, taking an extra-long hot shower, and, finally, stepping outside and cleaning the car to commute to work.  Sound familiar?  Remember, the winter is a great time to practice some GreenLiving tips and add eco-friendly practices into the regular routine. Grady's GreenLiving Tips compiled a list of three, easy, strategies to be eco-friendly this winter season: 1. Beat the cold : In the cold weather, it can be very tempting to blast the heat once indoors.  It can also be tempting to take long shows or baths after walking outside or spending time outdoors.  While these are all options to "beat the cold," remember that these are not, necessarily, very eco-friendly.  Having the heat running constantly can be a waste of electricity or gas.  And taking baths or overtly long showers can waste water.  Save these resources and remember to take a greener appr...

Early Winter Tips for the Cold(er) Months It's hard to believe that it is almost December!  With winter only a few weeks away, there are several eco-friendly steps people can take to ensure their homes are both "green" and ready for the upcoming winter temperatures and weather. 1) Set the thermostat : Remember, an easy way to live a green life is to stop wasting energy.  In the wintertime, it can be enticing to turn on the heat full blast all day long.  However, leaving the heat to run all day, even when outside the home, wastes energy.  Try to reset the thermostat before leaving for long periods of time, such as heading to work or visiting family, so the heat doesn't run constantly indoors. 2) Remember seasonal decor : Hanging holiday lights outside or assembling a holiday tree?  Though staples of the holiday season, it can be easy to forget to turn off or unplug holiday decorations at the end of the day.  To save energy, try to unplug seasonal decor when ...

Bicycling in Winter Weather Trying to keep up a green lifestyle this winter?  One way could be to continue bicycling in order to commute to work and run errands instead of driving a car. While biking may not seem popular in the cold and in winter weather, it is doable.  If biking this season, here are some tips to ensure the ride goes as smoothly as possible: 1) Ride an older bike : Try to save new bikes for warmer weather.  Salt, along with snow and slush, can get into bicycle gears and parts and gradually corrode the bike.  It is best to not risk this damage on a bike that was bought during the holidays. 2) Wash and/ or clean the bike after every ride : Again, winter bike riding can cause bikes to contact salt, sand, and winter weather elements.  After every ride, be sure to wash the bike or at least wipe it with a paper towel  to remove excess dirt and grime, especially around the gears. 3) Utilize bike lights : Because it gets darker earlier in the wint...

Seasonal Ideas For a Green Lifestyle Looking for some activities to do this winter season without spending too much time outdoors in the frigid cold?  This season, try out some GreenLiving activity ideas that the entire family can enjoy.  Some seasonal tips for a fun winter include: 1) Create a craft project : Utilize household resources such as paper towel rolls, newspapers, cardboard boxes, and more to create craft projects for the entire family.  In November, Grady's GreenLiving Tips shared a post on how to create a recycled blanket- learn more about that craft here . 2) Get an early start on "spring" cleaning :  Want to dedicate some time to household cleaning and organizing?  Get ahead on spring cleaning by following a green guide.  Remember: vinegar , baking soda , and lemon juice are powerful, green cleaners! 3) Find creative ways to recycle : Recycling isn't just about sorting waste from soda bottles and soup cans.  Find creative ways to recyc...

Recycling Clothes and/ or Fabric to Make a Comfortable Blanket This upcoming winter is a great time to experiment with green ways to stay warm. One green craft this time of year could be to make a recycled blanket or quilt out of materials already available around the house.  In order to create a blanket or quilt, three methods include: 1) Pick the Fabrics : Choose a surplus fabric around the home that can be used as the centerpiece for the new blanket or quilt.  Options could range from college tee shirts, old sweaters, or worn-out jeans for the top of the blanket and another, sturdy, fabric, such as older blankets or fleeces, for the base. 2) Decide on a design : The next step is to decide on a functional design.  A blanket is typically a single layer of heavy fabric with a design while a quilt contains padding or stuffing, oftentimes a cotton material, in between layers of fabric.  Decide on a style that works with the materials available! 3) Create a Finished Pro...

Green Ways To Efficiently Clean After a Blizzard Winter storm Jonas just hit the DC Metro area this past weekend.  For those that live in an apartment building or community, the entire apartment team works hard to clear off sidewalks and pathways for resident safety.  However, those that live in apartment communities still might need to clear of their cars if they park in open lots. Below are a few tips for green, easy snow removal: 1) Skip the rock salt : Nothing is worse for the environment than rock salt which seeps into the roads and soil, damaging plans and ecosystems.  Instead, try natural ice melting products such as alfalfa meal and coffee grinds . 2) Create natural traction for your vehicle : If your car is stuck, try sprinkling some natural products that create traction without damaging the environment.  Natural products include sand or even kitty litter.  While these products won't melt the ice, they do increase the heat around snow and ice and add p...

Simple, Eco-Friendly Tips To Clean and Care for a Vehicle Living in an apartment building or community allows for many conveniences that individuals who live in a single family or town home do not experience. During the winter, some people need to shovel out their sidewalks and driveways; but by living in an apartment community, the dedicated team members and maintenance staff does that task for the residents!  You save a lot of time and energy by being able to get to your car with ease. If your apartment community has an outdoor parking lot, however; you might want to remember some green tips for maintaining, cleaning, and scraping the ice and frost from your car: 1)  Natural Ways To Prevent Frost: It is easy to prevent ice from forming on your car windows without harmful chemicals before a big winter storm hits.  If you know a snow storm is coming through your area, try to prevent ice and frost on your car by rubbing it with a salt-water soaked sponge or soft cloth the ...

Caring For Yourself In The Cold The winter months are notorious for their bitterly cold temperatures and weather conditions that can be damaging on a person's physical health.  Not only are you more susceptible to illnesses during the cold because the weather weakens the immune system, but your skin can also show a change due to the harsh weather.  Read a few tips for green ways to improve your health during the winter: Water, water everywhere : Especially during the winter, drinking water is very important for your overall health.  Even though it is cold, you can still become very dehydrated due to intense wind.  Invest in a durable water bottle and bring water with you.  This will also keep your skin hydrated and healthy. Green skin care : Dry and flaky skin and hair?  You are not alone.  Instead of using products with a lot of chemicals, try to use natural products like aloe, olive oil, or baking soda to give your skin and hair the natural moisture ...

A Green Reminder For The Colder Months The air is turning colder, the days are getting shorter, and people are putting away their Halloween decorations.  That can only mean one thing- winter is right around the corner!  If you are interested in living a green life, you might think that it is tough to conserve energy in the winter.  While it can be a challenge, it is possible!  Below are a few tips to serve as a reminder for staying "green" this winter: 1.  Check your thermostat: No one wants to go through winter cold!  However, there are certain ways to reduce the amount of energy used on heat.  Don't forget to program your thermostat to a reasonable temperature.  While 80 degrees might sound enjoyable on especially frigid days- your home will still be toasty set to 70.  Also, a lot of thermostats now have programmable, energy saving, settings on them; investing in one will ensure that you are living the greenest (and warmest) way possible! 2...