Home : Maintenance

Microwave Ovens. Are they safe? Are they Environmentally Friendly?

Microwave ovens are tested for radiation and are monitored for the presence of harmful levels of radiation, and there are guidelines to limit the amount of microwaves that could leak from an oven over its lifetime. Microwave ovens should be used as directed, and maintained in good order. They are built to not leak, but seals and catches around the door should be in good working condition and the door shouldn't be warped. Older models can be checked for leaks. Home radiation meters are not very reliable so take it to be checked if you are concerned. Some recommend not standing close to a working microwave for long periods, just in case!

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Sustainable Renovations

Our homes need some updating from time to time. Even though there is nothing that needs changing or fixing, a little refreshing can make a huge difference. But sadly, most people don't choose to use environmentally savvy ways during the renovation process. This may be because they don't know how to do it or because they believe it will take too much time and effort but it actually isn't so. Check out these ways you can use to renovate your home

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Learning about zoned heating systems

What is a zoned heating system? Have you noticed that different rooms or areas in your house are warmer or cooler than others? Your south facing kitchen is likely warmer than your north facing bedroom and the thermostat that controls the heat in both rooms is located in the hallway, which likely has a different temperature too. There are lots of reasons why areas of your house might be a different temperature than others, but there is a way to

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Spring is in the air – Time for a Green Spring Clean?

In days gone by, when people relied on coal and wood fires to heat their homes as well as candles or oil/gas for lighting, people kept their doors and windows firmly shut to keep the cold out and the warmth in.  Ceilings, walls, furnishings and everything else became covered in soot or ash, and by the end of winter possessions would be dusty, dirty and grimy.  They would wait for a dry, warm, sunny, day and would then “spring clean”. 

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Having a Green Home is not Complete Without a Green Garage

Many people think of green products, ideas and principles while planning a new home, but they may not consider the impact of the home's garage. A typical two-car garage is a significant structure, taking up almost a minimum of 400 square feet. Most garages utilize electricity, many are heated, and more than a few are attached to the home, raising issues of indoor air quality and environmental health. Whether you are planning to build a new

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Green Home Furnishing

When we come home from our eco travels and excursions, our communing with nature, work, schooling and other daily pursuits, its good to be able to rest, relax and recuperate.   We spend a large proportion of our time at home.  In a lifetime, it is estimated that humans spend on average of 25 years sleeping, 9.1 years watching TV, plus extra time at the computer, reading, socialising etc, which means that we are in our homes, in bed or on the

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New Year – New Bathroom! (Make it Green)

A New Year is the perfect time to detox your home and become more eco-friendly. For many, the path to an eco-friendly home starts in the bathroom. This is the place where water flows freely, paper products run wild and tile cleaners contain toxins. Don’t fret and worry that remediation is a large or slow progress, for there are quick, easy steps that can make your throne room fit for green royalty. Try some of the following tips to turn this

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Get Your Home Ready for Winter – Eco-Style

It’s easy to throw open the closet, grab out your winter snow suit to check and see if it still fits this winter, but what about your home? When did you last see if your home is still fit for winter? A lot of the systems in our houses run all year and if they don’t give us any problems, we leave them well alone. Left to their own devices they may well continue that hassle free service over the winter, but winter has a way of pushing the

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Water Works – how a quick toilet tune up can save the planet!

How much of the earth is covered with water? A third? A half? No, three quarters of the planet we live on is covered with water. We can afford to waste a little, right? Take a bath, switch on a hose, crack open a hydrant – we have so much water we’re drowning in it! Erm, no, not really. Have you ever asked yourself how much of that water is fresh, drinkable water? Of those billions of gallons we have on the planet, only 3% is fresh water,

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The Cheapskates Guide to a Green and Healthy Home

As a society we have all become too comfortable with the ‘throw it away’ mentality. It seems that we consider everything as disposable and take the first opportunity to replace it without considering the implications of where the item goes, if it is repairable – or how long it takes to decompose wherever it ends up. We are using up the earth’s resources faster than is sustainable and we need to change our train of thought – and our

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