Here are 3 easy steps you can take to make sure your refrigerator is as efficient as it can be:

• Check the temperature inside—the ideal temperature inside your fridge should range between 38 and 40 degrees F, Many people, however, keep it too cold, which not only increases the energy usage (and therefore costs) but it may also spoil the food. So to check the temperature of your refrigerator (even if you use the recommended setting) put an appliance thermometer in a glass of water and place it on the middle shelf. Keep it there for 5 to 8 hours, after which time check the results. If the temperature is not in the range specified above, reset it and repeat the process.
• Check the seal—there could be two reasons for the refrigerator door not closing tightly: either the fridge is simply too full and all you have to do is clean it out or the seal has worsened with time, which means it lets warm air in causing the compressor to work overtime. To check your refrigerator’s seal, close a piece of thin paper (e.g. a sheet from a notebook, a dollar bill etc) in the door and pull it gently to see if it stays in place and repeat the process along the length of the door frame. If the paper slips out, you need to change the seal. Contact your service provider for details.
• Clean the coils—the refrigerator’s condenser coils get dusty and grimy over time, which reduces their efficiency. The best thing to do is to simply clean them every three months. To do that, unplug the fridge, pull it out (if the coils are mounted on the back) or remove the coil panel ( if it’s at the bottom of the unit) and thoroughly clean the coils with a vacuum or a dry sponge.

Various government agencies and researchers have conducted numerous studies over the past year; some of them were published in journals such as “Environmental Health Perspectives” or “Journal of the American Medical Association”. The findings are that BPA imitates hormones and thus disrupts the brain processes, reproduction and metabolism as well as fetal development. Moreover, the latest study that links BPA levels in blood and urinary tracks to hear disease and diabetes was performed on 1,400 volunteers as opposed to previous similar studies that were done on rats and human tissue. Other findings show that the chemical stops the release of a crucial hormone preventing diabetes and other obesity-related conditions as well as affect the brain functions and behavior in fetuses, infants and children exposed to bisphenol-A.

Despite the wealth of research and data, FDA refuses to face the facts and force the companies to re-examine the use of BPA. Luckily, some of the private manufacturers are replacing BPA in their products with healthier alternatives. Unfortunately, majority is still putting bisphenol-A on the shelves of your local supermarket.

So what can we do to reduce the exposure to the toxic chemical? Here are a few tips:

• Avoid #7 plastic containers, dishes and utensils.
• Don’t microwave in plastic containers.
• Reduce the use of canned food, especially acidic such as tomatoes. The lining of most cans contains BPA and it has been found seeping into the food.
• Replace your plastic bottles with glass or stainless steel for food and drink.
• Get rid of all plastic containers if they are scratched or cloudy.

Both LCDs and plasma TV sets use more energy than the old-fashion CRTs (cathode ray tubes) and both contain nitrogen trifluoride. According to some scientists, this chemical is a more serious threat and a larger contributor than the world’s biggest coal plant. Moreover, it remains in the air for up to 550 years!

So which new technology in TV experience is your best choice? Here’s a closer look to help you decide:

LCDs

• Create images by electricity passing through liquid crystals, which process reduces waste heat and wards off screen burns as well as allows for use in smaller sets that use less energy.
• Contain a fluorescent bulb so a blown bulb equals to the end of the set’s life.
• Their plastic cases are treated with brominated flame retardants, which affix to dust and can be inhaled or ingested and may lead to learning problems in children as well as some hormonal disruption.
• The wiring in the sets contains a number of heavy metals, e.g. chromium, cadmium, antimony and beryllium.
• Sets have a lifespan of 60,000 hours and come in screen sizes ranging from 12 inches and up and use about 106 watts for 27 inch TV in operation mode and .32 to 75.11 in standby.

PLASMA

• The high resolution images and greater picture quality are created by electrically charged phosphorus however the process produces more heat, which makes the sets prone to screen burns.
• Similarly to LCDs, they include brominated retardants and heavy metals posing the same health concern.
• Plasma’s lifespan ranges from 30,000 to 60,000 hours and they come in size 37 inch screens and up and use about 234 watts for a typical 42-inch and up to over 600 for larger screens in operation mode and .3 to 25.12 watts in standby.

Disposal issues are similar for both types. Unfortunately, most of the recycled electronics end up in the developing countries where they are taken apart exposing people (including children) to the heavy metals contained in the TV sets.

Therefore, the best eco-friendly choice is to hold on to your good old CRT set for as long as it functions and purchase the digital-to-analog converter instead.

Conventional plastic is made from petroleum and is one of the materials that are extremely hard to get rid of, since plastic breaks down into toxic particles that pollute water and soil, thus finding their way into the food chain. Biodegradable plastic is supposed to decompose into water, carbon dioxide and biomass when exposed to heat and sunlight.

Two types of biodegradable trash bags are available on the market so far: bio-based, made from corn, sugarcane or potatoes and synthetic, mixed with additives that help the plastic disintegrate when exposed to heat, light and oxygen. The latter kind, however, is a bit problematic since it only ‘biodegrades’ when exposed to the elements and does not when buried underground. While the former is a much better option, both types of bags end up in the landfills and nothing breaks down 100% in an airtight landfill. Moreover, synthetic biodegradable trash bags contain additives that are harmful to animals if ingested. Despite the fact that biodegradable plastic bags are a better choice than conventional plastics, they are still not the best one.

So what can you do to reduce the burden of plastic bags in the landfills? First of all, compost your garbage if possible. A few American cities participate in composting trash and for that purpose biodegradable bags are a way to go. If, however, your trash is destined for landfills your best option are bags made of recycled plastic, for instance EarthSense Kitchen Trash Bags made from 70% recycled plastic and 10% post-consumer plastic or Seventh Generation Drawstring Tall Kitchen Trash Bags made from 45% recycled and 25% post-consumer plastics.

With the cost of electricity and heating oils on the rise, more and more people are looking into alternative sources of energy. And the solar power seems to be the best solution to the problem. With an increasing number of innovations coming to the market, it is becoming more affordable (if still somewhat on the expensive side) to upgrade to this new technology. However, if you cannot afford to invest into solar panel, there are other ways you can use the sun to your benefit.

Here are a few products worth looking into:

• Skylights—not only do they provide additional light, which will help you save on the electric bill, nowadays they also come in a large variety; one of which are tubular skylights that allow you to adjust the illumination factor with a dim switch.
• Solar Cookers—a great solution for outdoor cooking. These types of ovens heat up using solar power and allow you to boil, bake or steam in about half the time than conventional cookers. One product from Sun Ovens International even comes in a compact size for your camping activities.
• Attic Fans—the conventional variety is a good choice to begin with as it fans out the hot air that builds up in your attic and can save you up to 10% of the AC costs but a solar powered fan is the best option. Not only does it save you money on your electric bill by using solar power, it can also fan out about 1800 square feet of hot air.
• Water Heaters—although not inexpensive addition to you household upgrades, solar powered water heaters will save you a lot of money in a long run both on your electric and water bills. Some of the manufacturers offer a solar water preheating system that hooks up to your tank, which gives you the upgrade without having to implement a lot of other changes.
• Home Heating—whole house heating system are the most expensive green upgrade available (other than the solar panels) but there are other option on the market, for instance one-room heating systems. The panels can be set up on the side of the house and increase the temperature in a 150 square foot room by 15 to 20 degrees F. They come equipped with temperature controls, which allow you to set it up to the levels comfortable to you and overall will save you 20-30% on your electricity bills.