Joni K. Craig

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Joni K. Craig's Blog

Going GREEN with Joni: Simplify Your Stuff!

Posted On: October 4th, 2017 7:54AM

As Americans, we make up just 5% of the world’s population, but we use more than 25% of the world’s resources.  Below are some tips to responsibly reduce the amount of stuff in your home and to keep down the clutter in the future:

 

  • Recycle, repurpose, re-gift, sell, swap, or donate any and all usable items, remembering that one person’s trash may be another person’s treasure!

     

  • Share your stuff with family and friends—especially items that are only used occasionally (sports equipment, camping gear, garden tools, luggage, party tables, etc.).


  • Only buy what you really need (avoiding non-consumables when possible). 

  • Shop the secondary market first (thrift stores, yard sales, eBay, Craig’s list, etc.) to keep useful items out of the landfill.

     

  • If you buy one item, get rid of two—or MORE.  Give your stuff to a nonprofit charity and get a tax deduction to boot!

     

  • Avoid the trendy and the temporary—look for well-made, classic items that will be useful and attractive for many years to come.

     

  • Watch the video at www.StoryofStuff.com before your next shopping trip (and show it to your kids!)

 

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Going GREEN with Joni: Powerful Plants!

Posted On: October 4th, 2017 7:47AM

In addition to being both beautiful and affordable, common houseplants can greatly improve the air quality in our homes, schools, and workplaces.  Studies have proven that interior plants:

 

  • Reduce carbon dioxide levels

  • Increase humidity

  • Reduce levels of pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, and other VOC’s (volatile organic compounds)

  • Produce oxygen

  • Reduce airborne bacteria

  • Decrease airborne dust levels

  • Lower indoor air temperatures (reducing the need for air conditioning, which saves both money and energy)

 

What’s more, when plants were added to a large workplace in India, researchers found that employees experienced significant decreases in eye irritation, headaches, respiratory conditions, lung impairments, and asthma!

 

Some of the most effective air cleaning plants are the Areca Palm or Chrysalidocarpus lutescens (best in the living room), the Mother-in-law’s Tongue or Sansevieria trifasciata (best in the bedroom), and the Money Plant or Epipremnum aureum (helpful anywhere).  And, of course, the more the better!

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Going GREEN with Joni: Versatile Vinegar!

Posted On: October 4th, 2017 7:36AM

White distilled vinegar is a miracle—all natural, inexpensive, environmentally-friendly, widely available, and so safe that you can eat it!  Plus, there are at least a thousand uses for it—including cleaning, gardening, cooking, laundry, and pet care.  Here are a few of my favorite ways to be clean and green with vinegar:

 

Remove lime and shine chrome fixtures with a paste made of 2 T. salt and 1 t. vinegar, then rinse and dry with a clean soft cloth (avoid contact with marble surfaces).

 

Perk up acid-loving plants (like azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas and gardenias) with a mixture of 1 c. vinegar per gallon of water.

 

Deodorize plastic containers (like trash receptacles and litter boxes) by spraying with a 50/50 vinegar/water mixture.

 

Clean battery contacts using vinegar on a toothbrush, then wipe with a clean damp cloth and allow to dry (works great on solar yard light batteries!).

 

Make food safer by spraying fruits and vegetables with a mixture of 1 c. vinegar and 3 c. water (followed by a clean water rinse) right before eating or cooking.

 

Kill unwanted grass and weeds by pouring vinegar directly on them (especially useful in sidewalk and driveway cracks).

 

Soothe your sunburn by spraying it with ice-cold vinegar (feels fantastic and may reduce peeling).

 

(SOURCE:  www.VinegarTips.com)

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Going GREEN with Joni: Making Plastic Passé!

Posted On: October 4th, 2017 7:02AM

Americans use about 57 billion pounds of plastic every year, but we only recycle 3% of it.  We can all do more to reduce, reuse, and recycle—especially when it comes to plastics, which can take 500 years to decompose!

 

For starters, it’s pretty easy to throw some reusable cloth bags in your car and grab them on your way into a store (and remember they’re not just for groceries—cloth bags work great at book stores, hardware stores, big box stores, and even the shopping mall!).

 

If you already have a stash of plastic bags, try to use them multiple times—then drop them off for recycling.  Most grocery stores have collection bins, and you may also find them at office supply stores, discount stores, electronics stores, etc.

 

When it comes to food storage, those little zipper bags and snap-lid containers are so very convenient, but such a terrible waste!  Glass is a much better choice, since it’s dishwasher- & microwave-safe, it can be used for many years (and then recycled!), there’s no toxic chemical risk, and it’s readily available from products you already buy (containers from pickles, mayo, sauces, etc.).

 

You may be aware that plastic water bottles, specifically, are now a major problem in both our oceans and our landfills.  That’s because they produce about 1.5 million tons of plastic waste every year, and more than 80% of them are simply tossed away.  Consider using a water bottle made of steel, which is practically indestructible, 100% recyclable, and easy to clean and reuse.

 

Perhaps you’ve noticed that some products are ridiculously over-wrapped—like individual rolls of toilet paper that are each sealed in plastic and then surrounded by a larger plastic wrapper!  Whenever you have a choice, look for products that use minimal packaging, or at least packaging that can easily be recycled (like cardboard, paper, & glass).

 

If you live in the City of San Diego, your curbside recycling program recently began accepting more plastic products than ever before—wonderful news indeed!  Check out the latest update (and other products you can recycle) at:  www.RecyclingWorks.com

 

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Going GREEN with Joni: Eco-wise Environments!

Posted On: October 4th, 2017 6:50AM

A couple of years ago, I completed a 16-hour training to become a Green Certified Real Estate Professional, and WOW—did I ever learn a lot!  Historically, many of the products used to build, furnish, and decorate our homes have been made of non-sustainable resources that constantly emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), resulting in harmful indoor air pollution. Fortunately, an increasing number of greener alternatives are now available, so here are some options to consider when buying or remodeling a home:

 

PAINT: Look for nontoxic varieties—those labeled “Low-VOC,” “Zero-VOC,” or “Natural.”

 

FLOORING: Hardwood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council is a good choice, along with bamboo, cork, and reclaimed flooring.

 

CARPETING: Choose a synthetic carpet made with low-VOC recycled content or a natural carpet made with wool, plant fibers, etc.

 

COUNTERS: Green options include recycled postconsumer glass, porcelain, aluminum, and crushed stone, along with bamboo, salvaged wood, and even recycled paper!

 

CABINETS: FSC-certified wood, bamboo, eucalyptus, reconstituted veneers, and wheat are all eco-friendly materials—be sure to look for resins and adhesives that are formaldehyde-free.

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