Karen – Page 33 – Eco Karen

Benefits of Adding MCT Oil Online to Your Diet Plan

What is MCT oil?

With the advancement in science and technology, humans are continuously digging for more information and design the ideal diet for an individual. The path-breaking discoveries and innovations have led us in the way to a safer world with excellent diet plans for all. One of the leading topics that nutrition experts and researchers are working on is the benefits of MCT oil.

As mentioned earlier, this oil is used as a supplement as it contains medium-length fat chains or triglycerides. The prime reason to give more priority to this oil is that the medium-chain fats can be easily absorbed, digested and assimilated in our body. The side effects of using MCT oil in food preparation or as a supplement are much less than other oils used popularly.

Benefits of using MCT oil

The excellent benefits of MCT coconut oil in India are mentioned below.

Weight loss promotion

During the consumption of MCT oil, two hormones, Leptin and Peptide YY, are released in our body. Both hormones create a fullness feeling when consumed with food. The concentration of the medium-chain fats is higher in this oil, thus allowing safe applications in high-heat preparations. Due to the full effect, a person does not feel hungry and can easily control the cravings. This oil can aid in weight loss regime management for enthusiasts.

Low calorie

MCT oil which is available online adds 10% fewer calories to the food than traditional coconut oil. It means that a person, on a regular diet, will consume 10% calories from food prepared using coconut oil. Using MCT oil to prepare food can be a good way to cut down unwanted calories.

Instant energy source

Due to its excellent absorption and assimilation rate in the digestive system, it can be used as an instant energy source. This is why it can be used for breaking down stored fat. On regular consumption, it will not get stored in the fat cells yet promote fat metabolism and accelerate losing weight.

Brain fuel

As mentioned earlier, MCT oil breaks down easily and gets assimilated at a cellular level faster than normal coconut oil, it is perfectly absorbed by the brain cells and work as an elegant source of fuel. This oil passes through the liver cells and acts as a fuel source for various tissues, especially the brain.

A good ingredient for ketogenic diet plan

The fitness buffs around the world are fascinated by the concept and usefulness of the ketogenic diet. MCT oil can be used as a perfect ingredient to prepare food according to this diet plan.

It is now easy to find MCT coconut oil in various stores offering supplements. Get the best products and transform your life.

Summary

Medium Chain Triglycerides or (MCT) oil is the latest fad of the fitness buffs. This oil is way different from what we are consuming these days. It is found naturally in various sources. Let us dig deeper and find out its benefits one can avail. It is extracted from coconut oil and then purified to avail in this form.

7 Tips How You Can Save Paper at School

Students use computers today so much that when they use paper, they forget to save it. Online writing services like PaperWritten help students with assignments so they don’t have to write anything. Even though the world is digitalized, we still need paper for many basic tasks, especially in school. So how can students save paper in school?

Paper is a very precious resource because as you know, it is gotten from trees. Saving paper means fewer trees have to be cut to process more. Forests are essential for human survival because they help reduce the carbon Iv oxide levels in the environment. Without trees, the world would feel like a boiling oven.

In many schools, paper accounts for close to half of the trash and most times you’ll find its unused paper. Every school requires a paper-reduction programme that teaches students the importance of saving paper.

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1. A Paper Reduction Policy

This is the best place to begin as a school because if there are rules against wasting paper, students learn to save what they have. The paper reduction policy should not apply to students alone but to teachers as well. After all, the students will most likely follow what the teachers do.

Teachers should lead by example so that students can follow suit. The paper reduction policy should not just be a number of printed rules printed out and pinned on walls around school. It is the institution’s obligation to ensure each student knows about the policy.

Teachers should keep reminding their students why saving paper is so important to the environment. This is an excellent way for society to raise environmentally friendly children.

2. Educate the School’s Entire Fraternity

You realize that schools are not comprised of students and teachers alone. If the entire school is to save paper, everyone should be educated on the importance of doing the same. Educating the school’s entire fraternity ensures the institution works towards a common goal. The parents should also be looped in because school is not the only place students use paper. This should be a principle instilled in students and the practice should not end when they step out of school.

3. Post Signs on Printers

Printing is among the ways in which schools waste paper. Learning institutions should post signs on printers to remind whoever is using it to save paper. You should cross check setting before printing to ensure you’re printing out the right documents. Also, don’t print out extra copies unless it’s absolutely necessary.

4. Re-Use Single-Sided Paper

Many students assume that once one side of paper is used, they can trash it. However, there’s an entire side that remains unused. Re-using single-sided paper is not only environmentally conservative, it also teaches students to maximize the resources they have. Wasting resources just because you have enough is not a sustainable approach.

5. Do Away with Towel Dispensers in Wash Rooms

Instead of using paper towels in washrooms, schools should consider installing hand driers. This is an excellent paper-reduction strategy. Paper driers are convenient and reliable. They dry hands fast and they don’t have to waste output in schools.

Schools should ensure they install hand driers from well-reputed companies so they don’t have to worry about regular repair or replacements. Spending a little more on quality products ensure they last for years.

6. Each Class Should Have Waste Reduction Goals

When each class sets waste reduction goals, the school’s overall waste output will significantly reduce. Institutions should even consider making this a contest where the class with the lowest amount of paper waste wins. This is an excellent motivation for students to maximize the resources they have.

The administration should also track paper usage across the school and centralize paper orders. This is also an excellent cost-saving strategy because schools don’t get paper for free, or do they?

7. Settings on All Printers Should be Double-Sided

Every printer in the institution should print on both sides of the paper. The departments concerned should check all printers and copiers to ensure the default settings have been changed to double-sided. This way, no one will accidentally print on one side without knowing it.

Many times, people hit print without confirming if the settings allow for double-sided printing. This is especially true for people in a rush to get their documents out. Students should also be taught how to use printers and copiers so that they can apply what they’ve learned at home. After all, the aim is to ensure students hold these principles dear throughout their lives.

Conclusion

Saving paper is an excellent environment conservation strategy because papers are manufactured from trees. Schools should ensure they come up with paper reduction policies and educate everyone on why it’s important to save paper. Teachers should lead by example because students are likely to emulate their teachers.

Getting in Touch with Nature at Your Own Home

Being able to spend some time in the open and enjoy nature is one of the most special feelings in the world. But if you do that in the comfort of your own home, it’s even better! If you’re one of those lucky people who live in a home that’s surrounded by a front and back yard, you simply have to make the most of it. Therefore, here are some of the best ways to get in touch with nature at your own home.

Spice up your porch

Some people have a problem spending quality time in their front yard because they feel that everyone who passes by is able to see them. But if you design and build a great porch, you could be spending all your free time here – alone or with other people. You and your family could start having your meals there, or you could have a cup of coffee with your friends. Ultimately, you can even take a nap here or enjoy your books, but the most important thing is that you’ll be spending more time in the open than ever.

Fix your deck

If you’re not a fan of letting random passers-by see you in your private moments, you can always introduce a totally different idea. Making the most of your backyard and giving your deck a brand new life is always a great choice. You don’t have to hide in your living room all summer long but instead, enjoy the outside area. From boosting your motivation to helping you discover a new hangout place, you’ll certainly get in touch with the nature around you. Instead of being stuck in dark, gloomy, improperly illuminated and poorly ventilated spaces, you’ll be surrounded by trees, fresh air, and lots of sunshine, which is great for your health, both mental and physical.

Regulate the exposure

Speaking of sunshine, you have to remember that not just any amount will do, no matter how amazing and healthy this is. Too much sunshine might harm you, especially if you’re living in a hot region with lots of sunny days on a yearly level. That’s why people living in places like Australia, for instance, might look into those handy shade sails that don’t just make your home more visually appealing but also help you connect to nature in a more meaningful way. Being able to spend time protected against too much sunshine will help you fall in love with your outdoor space again and again, and that’s always great.

Add more plants

In case you can’t or don’t want to spend time outside, you can always do the same in the comfort of your own home. Instead of going out, you could bring nature in, and turn your home into an oasis you can enjoy every day of the week. You just need to find some of the most durable house plants and incorporate them into every corner of your home. These will purify your indoor air, give your home a more natural look, boost your motivation, help you wake up in the morning, and turn into the focal points of your indoor space. You could also combine these with some eco-friendly décor, and take the green potential of your home to a much higher level.

As you can see, getting in touch with nature at your own home isn’t as hard or challenging as people generally think. It’s all about finding the right ideas and figuring out a way to make them work in your own space. And if you manage to do so, you too could start enjoying nature straight away!

Move Your Garden for Following Winter!

Being a fan of flowers and plants is a great thing, and that’s a hobby that can make you happy all year long. Still, lots of gardeners have a problem once the winter comes – most of their delicate plants and flowers don’t react well to low temperatures, and that’s why they have to do something about it. Reacting on time and moving your plants before it’s too cold is the only way to save them and avoid a disaster. If you too are thinking about doing that as well, here are a few tips that might help you.

Start on time

As mentioned before, moving your plants on time is the only way to keep them safe, but when is the right time to do so. Different people have different schedules, but if you want to listen to the experts, you have to know that they suggest doing so before the outdoor temperature drops below 45° F. Since temperature varies from one place to the next, you should keep track of the temperature at your home every single day and react as soon as it drops below 45° F. But, if you prefer having tropical plants, you might consider moving them even before, just to make sure they survive the cold weather.

Find the right place inside your home

Moving your plants in your home is a simple and easy task, but it needs to be done carefully and delicately. What’s even more important is to find the right spot for your plants. What most people do is move them into their bedrooms and living rooms, because these are the biggest rooms in their homes. However, bigger isn’t always better, and that means your living room might not be good enough for your plants. You need space that has lots of light, which is particularly vital in the winter, as well as the proper level of humidity that should help your plants live through the cold days. This means you may have to move your plants to your hallway, your dining room, your study, or even your kitchen, so keep an open mind.

Think outside the box

Speaking of areas where you can move your plants, you should take outdoor areas into consideration as well. These may not seem like the perfect choice at first, but actually, make a lot of sense in the long run. Places like decks, patios, and porches might look much better and more visually appealing if they’re full of plants and flowers, so you need to remember that too. You should also consider looking into those amazing sheds that can be quite versatile as well. Since they come in different shapes and sizes, you’ll soon realize why the best solution are sheds that aren’t just protective, but also durable, so your plants and flowers will be protected all winter long.

Keep taking care of your plants

Taking care of your plants in the winter is the only way for you to save them, but if you move them in, you’ll have to adjust your maintenance schedule. Luckily, there are a few methods that should prove to be just enough, so be sure to explore these first. Start by adjusting your watering routine and water your plants less frequently. However, you should try to improve the humidity in your home because that’s more important than watering. Finally, adjust your indoor temperature and make sure your living space is full of natural sunlight too.

Moving your plants in before the winter might take some time and energy, but if you do everything right, you’ll be able to continue enjoying your plants in the spring as well – and that’s something all homeowners want!

Make Your Home Cozy for the Rainy Fall!

Even though going out with your family and spending time in the open is great, that’s sometimes simply not an option. As soon as the fall arrives, the weather isn’t as fine as before, and you can’t spend that much time in the open anymore. That’s when you have to move indoors and spend more time at home, but you need to make your home cozy first. If that’s something you’d like to do as well, here are a few ideas you should consider.

Declutter everything first

Before creating new space for your family, you need to make sure there’s enough space for everyone. The only way to do that – unless you want to move into a new home, of course – is by decluttering every inch of your home. Remove everything you don’t need, and leave only the things that are absolutely necessary. Start by decluttering your living room, for instance, because this is where you’re probably going to be spending the most time in the fall. That way, you’ll have more space for your family, and you can do anything from organizing a movie night to hanging out with your guests.

Install some new lighting

It doesn’t matter if you love watching movies or not – your living room needs to be properly illuminated if you want to be able to spend time there. There are lots of ideas you can look into, from simple floor lamps to vintage chandeliers, and the only thing you have to do is find the right balance. Most families prefer having one main source of light in the middle of their living room – that’s usually a chandelier – and a few smaller sources that are scattered all over the place. You can do whatever you want with this setup and organize it any way you want, but think about turning the lights off as well. Doing that in a matter of seconds is vital, especially when you’re getting ready to watch a movie with your family. Still, whatever idea you go for, don’t forget to use LED light bulbs that aren’t just eco-friendly and sustainable, but also look better than your traditional bulbs.

Create a home theater

Watching TV is one of the best ways for you and your family to spend quality time together during the fall. That’s why you should consider creating a home theater in your living room or your spare bedroom. Doing this might seem like a lot of work, but it’s actually quite easy. Start by getting a new TV and looking into professional TV installation options. Those amazing TV wall mounts will give your home theater a new look and give you more space than you’ve ever had, which is why this is such a cool idea. In addition to that, consider adding some new furniture that’s cozy and durable, as well as a minibar where you can keep your favorite drinks and food.

Create a schedule

Having a big family is amazing, but it’s not the easiest thing in the world when it comes to spending time together in front of the TV. Different members of your family may have different preferences, and this means you’ll have to come up with a certain schedule. This is particularly important if you have kids – after all, your kids shouldn’t watch too much TV in the first place – so doing this as soon as possible is a must.

Making your home cozy and comfortable for the fall is easier than most people think, and it’s all about a few simple ideas. All of these go a long way, so start with them and figure out how to incorporate them into your home as well.

3 Reasons To Have The Drinking Water Filtered

Introduction

The human body consists of 80 % by volume as water. With this information, it would bring to mind immediately the importance of water to daily life. We take in water as moisture from the food that we eat as well as just the plain glass of water that is drunk at the table and elsewhere. Water could be the most carried along with substance wherever people tend to travel or move.

Since water can be found in practically every nook and corner of the world, the second aspect of utilizing water to drink is to understand the quality of the water being ingested. Everyone must always have access to clean drinking water. Compromising on the quality of water does bring on health issues and can, at times, mean fatal conditions being developed.

Considering the importance of water to life as a whole, an entire industry has come up that aims at providing safe and clean drinking water to those that need it – companies such as Bonfilt started emerging to help solve different problems in the water filtering industry.. This has meant that a lot of people are relying on providing an essential commodity to live as their means of earning. Here it would be pertinent to understand the three main reasons why drinking water should be filtered and made safe to drink.

Bacterial Contaminants

When rains fall onto the ground and flow onwards as streams and rivers; one of the most common incidents that take place is that the water gets contaminated with dirt and other extraneous bodies. It must be understood that no place on earth is free from bacteria. Bacteria are so common that there are some useful ones too that grow in our guts and helps with our digestion.

Harmful bacteria are inevitably mixed along with the water as it flows from the source to the reservoirs. This process cannot be controlled or handled without actually involving large sums of money to have it done. The more practical aspect is to clean up the water as it enters the municipal supply to restrict the number of bacteria that enter the water stream.

Complex filtration systems have been put into place to clear the drinking water of its load of contaminants. But at the same time, it must be pointed out that some of the filtration systems are so hard on the cleaning part that not only is the bacteria removed, but essential water-soluble compounds are also cleared away too. So we need to devise methods that would retain the good qualities of stream water and remove just the bacteria in the drinking water.

Dissolved Matter

One of the properties of water that has a lot of good uses is that it can dissolve many substances. Under certain circumstances, it is possible for water even to dissolve glass. Thus most of the municipal water that gets channeled for drinking purposes tends to have a fair bit of dissolved impurities in them.

In certain circumstances, certain minerals that are present in the soil and rock formations that the water flows through tends to give it a unique flavor and even color. There are mineral water companies that tend to use these properties of the water to attract people to use more of their products over their rivals.

Simple filtration does not help remove the dissolved impurities most of the time. When the Fill2Pure NZ Review is undertaken, it would be evident that there are actions in place to eliminate the dissolved contaminants in the drinking water that is processed with the system. This particularly useful in the case of outdoor adventure and tourism as it is possible to arm oneself with a filtering bottle and not carry around large amounts of water most of the time. Additionally, for those involved in trekking, it is possible to have dissolved isotopes of radioactive material in the drinking water as well. Thus the system is suitable to ensure safe drinking water, as well as that is healthy to drink.

Causes of diseases

It is easy to filter out what is visible to the naked eyes most of the time. But a factor with water is that they tend to flow where ever the slope takes them, and it is not possible to keep track of all the places and substances that it has come through. Contaminated drinking water is a cause for a lot of diseases like

-Behavioral and learning problems in children.

-Immune system deficiencies.

-Breast and prostate cancer.

-Risk of weight gain

-Trouble during puberty.

These are some of the more severe issues that would not become apparent with just a single drink of the water but develops into health issues as time goes on. Ideally, water must be filtered to remove any pathogen or material that causes diseases in the short term, as well as in the longer time frame as well. A sound filtration system is thus not just handy to have around but essential too.

What to Consider When You Hire a Pest Control Professional

Dealing with pests is one job that isn’t much fun. Most times, it’s best you hire a professional to help out than handling it by yourself. And if the infestation worsens or the control products needed are only available to authorized personnel, then you don’t have many options. Here are some things to consider when hiring a pest control officer. It isn’t quite as simple as searching for an “exterminator near me” – there is a lot to think about before hiring the help you need.

Here are some things to consider when hiring a pest control officer.

1. The company

The first thing you want to consider when hiring a pest control professional is the type of company. According to Brisbane Bennetts Services Pest Control, you’ll need to find out if the company is insured and bonded, to stay protected against liability. To go about this, visit their website and ask lots of questions.

From your research and findings, you’ll be able to determine if they are knowledgeable and professional enough to control the pest situation for you.

2. The technician

The technician you hire is perhaps the most important consideration to keep in mind. Even after selecting a pest control company you feel is right for you, you still have to confirm if the technician is perfect for the situation.

Before allowing any technician into your home, ask for their license, certification, and identification, and make sure they are all current. Every state mandate that pest control technicians be certified, so there’s no excuse for not having these requirements. The growing number of providers increases the chance that many are not certified, as only technicians who haven’t participated in the annual training have outdated licenses.

3. How knowledgeable the sales representative or technician is

If you just discovered pests in your home, you’ll have lots of control questions to ask. And what better people than technicians and sales representatives to answer them? It’s okay to not know everything since there are so many aspects of pest control. However, a basic understanding of what needs to be done and how the control process will occur is crucial information every technician and sales representative must know.

4. Professional appearance

An aspect of quality that every service company must have is the right appearance. Indeed, most people decide on who they hire based on what they can see and deduce from the technician. Their overall appearance, truck, and equipment must be clean and professional.

5. Price

A low-priced service is perhaps not the best deal, and neither is an expensive one. The ideal price is somewhere in the middle, and the best way to find it is to compare it with the price of other companies. In your search for the right pest control professional to pick, don’t compromise quality for the price.

6. References

What other people have to say about a business or service greatly affects the number of customers they’ll have. Therefore, before you go about ringing a pest control company, ask your neighbors and friends for referrals. You can also check your state’s pest control association. If you don’t seem to find anything, then ask the provider directly for referrals.

7. Contract details

Like in any other service business, ensure you discuss contract details at the onset. You should not assume that the frequency of care is known to the technician or sales representative. Make sure you read carefully through the contract and ask the right questions before you go on to sign it.

8. Chemicals

Chemicals for elimination are usually the most used. However, the technician should be open to discussing their adverse effects and whether non-chemical options are available. In either case, the container should be clean and have a professional appearance. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) should be provided upon request for every chemical used.

9. Service

Before going on to carry out any service, ensure that you discuss with the technician, and they are fully aware of what the problem is. After this discussion, the technician should inspect your property to determine the best plan of action.

10. Documentation

The technician should be able to provide you with a report after the process has been completed. Also, any follow-up action and customer advice should be included to ensure your house and property remains pest-free.

11. Guarantee

A sign of a good pest control company is in its ability to give its customers a guarantee for its services. You should read this guarantee carefully to know when you can invoke it, what it covers, what you need to do to keep it, and how long it lasts for.

In conclusion

If pests or rodents have recently infected your home, then seeking professional help is a smart decision to make. With their advanced equipment and expertise, you should be assured of a complete and proper inspection of your property and the control of pests in it.

Ensure your checklist all the things to consider we have included in this article against your potential pest control professionals.

Afraid Your House May Have Asbestos? The Essential Steps to Protecting the Health of You and Your Family

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Your house is meant to act as your safe zone if you will. It’s where you can spend time with loved ones, feel comfortable and at home, relax and truly enjoy life. So, what happens when the house you love so much, and that you feel so comfortable and safe in, could potentially be harmful to your health? For those who have asbestos in their homes, this is exactly the case, as their house is not only harmful, but it can potentially be deadly.

If you suspect your house may have asbestos, you can use this asbestos testing service. Also, it is absolutely essential you act immediately and follow all the correct steps. These steps will help ensure that everyone’s health is protected and that the asbestos can be safely and permanently removed from the structure.

How to Know if Your House Has Asbestos

The very first step you will want to take if you even have a small suspicion that your house has asbestos is to get confirmation. Checking for asbestos yourself isn’t something you can or should be doing, as it takes a qualified professional to come in and safely inspect your home. This is done by taking very small samplings that will be tested in a lab. The inspector may need to collect samples from more than one area in the home, as often it’s best to play things safe.

Unfortunately, there are no for-sure tell-tale signs that are visible to the naked eye, and this is exactly why it’s so important to have your home tested. In general, for those homes built more than 20 years ago in the United States, it’s a good idea to have an inspection done.

Where Does Asbestos Lurk?

You may be wondering what the most common places in the home are for asbestos, and there are actually quite a few. Some of the biggest culprits include tiling, caulk, vinyl floor tiles, adhesives, joint compound, insulation, cement piping, and ceiling tiles among others.

The Results are Positive for Asbestos

Obviously, the worst-case scenario is to have your test results come back positive for asbestos. At this point, it’s important you take all the proper steps to have it safely and professionally removed. Again, this is not a DIY project you can do yourself, as once the asbestos fibers become airborne, they can get into your lung tissue and cause very serious damage to your body, and lead to disease. Asbestos can lead to mesothelioma, which is cancer that is found in the lung cavity.

In order to properly remove asbestos from your home, special training and materials are needed. In some states, the abatement contractors (those who remove the asbestos), will even need to get a work permit before they can proceed. You want to be sure that anyone you hire has state training, and can show proof that they are EPA-approved. This blog takes a good look at managing asbestos and the steps you can take.

Don’t Take Chances with Asbestos

The most important takeaway when dealing with asbestos is that it is extremely dangerous to everyone’s health, so it’s never wise to take a risk.

How to Design an Eco-Friendly Backyard Kitchen

Are you looking to create an amazing backyard kitchen but worrying about the environmental impacts? Maybe you’ve heard horror stories about the carbon footprint created by an outdoor garden. For example, this article compares a family BBQ to a 90-mile car journey!

In our post, we’re looking at a backyard kitchen, and how you can make one that is both fun and eco-friendly.

Collect Water

You can’t use rainwater for everything in your outdoor kitchen, but it is environmentally friendly to collect water and use it where possible.

For instance, if you’ve chosen an outdoor pavilion as the setting for your backyard kitchen, you could use the rainwater to wash this down or clean the floor if it gets muddy.

This water shouldn’t be used for cooking. However, you can also use it to help with the next tip.

Use Your Garden to Produce

You can produce fruit and vegetables from your garden. This has lots of benefits, one of which is the fact that it is more eco-friendly. You can ensure that pesticides aren’t used on your produce.

Also, you can avoid the environmental impacts of food having to be shipped from other places. If you buy food from the supermarket, it could even come from abroad. The shipping impact can be huge. Many companies aren’t worried about the environmental impact, they just worry about the bottom line and if they are making a profit.

If you can grow the same produce at home you can do your bit in protest to the shipping, which can be Co2 heavy. Sadly, relying on the supermarkets and their providers to be eco-friendly is not an option.

Also, you will then have the opportunity to share. This is another way to be environmentally friendly. Why don’t you and your friends all grow something different and share with one another? This way you have variety and you’re staying eco-friendly.

Another great thing about creating products in your garden is the chance to experiment. You can find out what grows in your local area and then grow fruit, veg, and herbs which can be a part of your cooking experiments. The fact that the veggies or herbs can be right next to your cooking space in your backyard kitchen can make using this product even more convenient.

Natural Gas Grills and Solar Cooking

You may have heard that a charcoal BBQ or smoker, or even an electric grill is pretty bad for the environment. This is 100% correct. This study shows that both propane and charcoal BBQs emit CO2 comparable to car journeys.

Of course, some people argue that you can’t beat the flavor of smoked or grilled food, and you shouldn’t always deprive yourself. However, there are some great alternatives out there.

For example, a natural gas grill is the most environmentally friendly way to have a traditional BBQ.

However, you can go for a method even more eco-friendly.

Many people are turning to solar cooking. This technology embraces the sun’s rays to cook your food in an outdoor space, often over a long period of time. A parabolic cooker can get all the way up to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C) so you can bake or “fry” food.

Solar Power Wherever Possible

As well as solar cooking, you can embrace solar power for the other aspects of your backyard kitchen. Why not install some solar lights around it? This can be a great way to avoid using electricity which can be bad for your carbon footprint.

There are more solar lights available than ever before and you can get string lights among other designs. You shouldn’t be stuck for choice when looking for solar lighting.

In addition, you can install solar generators that can be used to power appliances. You may have thought blenders and food processors were for indoor kitchens, but with a generator providing power outside you could even make a smoothie in your backyard using just solar power to run your blender.

Make Compost from Your Kitchen

You can complete the eco-friendly circle by making your own compost. Your backyard kitchen can incorporate a compost bin and any leftovers and waste which is suitable for composting can be put into the bin.

Include a compost starter and over time you will end up with compost that you can use for your plants, flowers, or vegetable patch. Obviously, you should keep this away from food prep areas as it can be smelly and a little unpleasant.

Repurpose Materials

When building your outdoor kitchen you should be aware of the environmental impact of this, too. If the actual building of the kitchen is not eco-friendly then the benefits of your outdoor kitchen may have been outweighed.

A surprising amount of materials can be salvaged. Chairs can be upcycled, wood can be taken from salvage yards to create tables. There are many ways you can build your outdoor kitchen without having to use materials that are a drain on the environment. Steer clear of plastics, especially single-use plastics.

Repurposing can be a fun project as well as being good for the environment.

Conclusion

Have you enjoyed our guide to creating an eco-friendly backyard garden? Are you inspired to do your own outdoor cooking? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Eco-Friendly Preps for Upcoming Fall and Winter

With the fall just started, there’s still time to get your home ready for the winter. Although green is already giving way to yellow and auburn, it doesn’t mean we should give up green practices throughout the seasons. whichever project you choose to do from the list below, make sure to do it sustainably.

Find and seal leaks

Utility cut-throughs for pipes, chimney gaps, and recessed ceiling lights, are often a source of leaks that reduce the effectiveness of your heating system. You can either hire a licensed technician to perform an energy audit for your home or learn how to detect leaks yourself. Add caulk and weather-stripping to critical gaps, especially around draughty window and door frames.

Shut your fireplace chimney

Ironically, even an essential heating element like a chimney can be a source of heat loss. Even though a crackling fire in the fireplace warms your house, the chimney can act as a natural funnel that sucks heat out of your house. To prevent this, make sure the fireplace damper is closed any time you’re not making a fire, and also make sure the damper fits well. Remind your family members to keep doors and windows to the outside closed at all times, and keep the doors throughout the house closed so that an open window on the far end can’t suck out heated air from the entire house.

Have your furnace inspected

Even if your furnace is working fine, it might not be operating at its top efficiency. A defunct blower fan or a clogged burner can cause unnecessary overloads, where the furnace uses more energy and gives of more carbon than it needs for the same heat output. Prevent this by having your furnace inspected, and if needed, serviced at the first sign of the cool season. The service technician can clean all your burners, tighten the connections, and lubricate the moving parts. At the same time, they will check your air filters, as clogged filters block heat flow, causing your unit to work double time.

Upgrade insulation

In many cases, it’s not the insufficient heat that is the problem but the heat that escapes. Due to laws of thermodynamics, heat is always looking for ways to escape to the cooler environment, which means you should improve the insulation to keep it inside. While insulating the attic should be your first step, you shouldn’t ignore the house siding either. While this project might seem overwhelming, with a mobile scaffolding rental, everything can be done within a week. To make your insulation upgrade sustainable, consider environmentally friendly materials such as cellulose, wood wool, or cork.

Save energy with holiday lighting

Although holiday lights don’t have a high power-rating, they keep flickering day and night throughout the season, easily adding up to your electricity bill which is already ‘loaded’ with increased consumption. Make your fairy lights more sustainable by choosing a LED version. While incandescent bulbs release up to 90% of their energy as wasted heat, LEDs emit very little heat, so they yield the same light intensity with a much smaller wattage.

Install smart thermostat

A smart thermostat can potentially save you hundreds a year on energy costs by automatically lowering and raising your home temperature while you’re away. Unlike traditional thermostats that maintain the temperature at pre-set times, smart models can learn your preferences and self-adjust accordingly, so no energy is wasted on heating while there’s no one at home. Many of them have connectivity features, as well, so you can control their operation with a smartphone even when you’re away.

When the outside temperature begins to fall, these tips and tricks can help you avoid cranking up the heat each day. While these preparations are necessary to keep your home comfortable in the most uncomfortable days, they’re also essential for lowering your home’s carbon footprint in the heating season.