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Green Living
Green home improvements that can make a real difference in home value
(BPT) - What your home is worth to you is one thing; what it’s worth to someone else may be totally different. If you want to boost the value of your home for yourself and in the eyes of others, one of the best ways to do that in today’s real estate market is to make green home improvements. Going green can mean a lot ...
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The beauty of upcycling
(BPT) - Everything old is new again. At least that’s a simplistic take on the tenets of upcycling, which translates to giving renewed purpose to something others send to landfills. For consumers with a passion for do-it-yourself projects, and the boards on Pinterest to prove it, upcycling has taken root. Some ideas are ...
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Resolving to be green in 2013
It’s that time of year again, when many Americans resolve to lose weight, get out of debt and spend more time with family and friends. Many Americans also plan to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle in the coming years - so they are looking for simple steps to help the environment, according to a recent national survey. Due to the rapid increase in recycling programs - particularly plastics recycling - it’s now easier than ever for Americans to keep resolutions to live a greener life. Recycl...
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Why greener schools can make a difference in kids' lives
(BPT) - As awareness about the environment continues to grow, it’s becoming more apparent that “going green” not only benefits the planet – it benefits the entire population, especially its youngest segment. When children learn in safe, comfortable, toxin-free school environments, their futures are that much brighter. ...
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Shopping? Seek out recycled plastics to close the recycling loop
Almost all Americans now have access to recycling - and more than 90 percent say they recycle in their daily lives, according to a recent national survey. And it’s never been easier to recycle, including the plastic bottles, caps and containers we use every day. But less than a third of Americans say they actively seek...
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How to earn a Ph.D. in water savings [Infographic]
Drought conditions have hit nearly every corner of the United States in recent years, costing Americans more than $30 billion. Installing high-efficiency products in the bathroom and kitchen enables homeowners to cut back on water usage and save money. For additional tips, visit americanstandard.com/watersense .
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'Green' ideas for winter-white weddings
You're ready to say your "I do's" in front of your family and friends. Planning a memorable celebration of your commitment to each other, however, doesn't mean you have to compromise on your commitment to the environment. It's possible to create the wedding of your dreams and stay "green," even in the cold, white months ...
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Gas-saving holiday travel tips
The holidays are for giving, but with all the driving around for shopping, parties and family events, you may end up giving more at the gas station due to Grinch-like fuel costs. Holiday jeer can quickly become holiday cheer, though, by simply practicing some gas-saving tips.
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Holiday tips on lightening your environmental footprint
Americans generate about 25 percent more waste than usual - an extra million tons - between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That's a lot of garbage. If you typically strive to tread lightly on the Earth, you don't necessarily have to abandon your green lifestyle to ...
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Innovation is key to America's breadbasket
The holiday season is a good time to recognize the important contribution of America's farmers to our quality of life. Agriculture is a tough business. Yet according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, America's 2 million farms are the world's most productive, not only feeding our nation, but providing crucial grains ...
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By David Schwartz PHOENIX (Reuters) - The foreman of an Arizona jury that deadlocked over whether Jodi Arias should be put to death for murdering her ex-boyfriend believes she was mentally abused, but said on Friday that had not been enough to excuse her crime. Arias, a former waitress from California, was found guilty this month of murdering Travis Alexander, whose body was found slumped in the shower of his Phoenix-area home in June 2008. He had been stabbed 27 times, had his throat slashed and been shot in the face. ...
By Joanne von Alroth SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (Reuters) - The Illinois House of Representatives on Friday voted overwhelmingly to allow residents to carry concealed guns, taking the state one step closer to joining all others in allowing some form of carrying guns in public. Illinois is the only state in the nation to ban most people from carrying a concealed gun outside the home. Lawmakers acted on Friday after a federal appeals court in January struck down the ban, saying it violated the right to bear arms enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. ...
By Elaine Porterfield MOUNT VERNON, Washington (Reuters) - A bridge collapse that sent cars and drivers plunging into the frigid Skagit River in Washington state, raising concerns about the safety of the nation's aging infrastructure, was caused when a truck crashed into at least one girder, officials said on Friday. The truck, after the accident, rumbled across the bridge safely before a portion of the structure collapsed, sending two vehicles and a mass of concrete and steel into the river on Thursday evening. Three people had to be rescued, officials said. ...