Dean of Green - HELP Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric

Time for You and Your Loved One to Go on a Green Picnic

Summer is coming to a close quickly, so the time has never been riper for you to get out and enjoy the weather while you can. And what better way to enjoy a warm, sunny day than by taking a picnic in a beautiful, quiet location with your loved one? And what better way to impress and woo your loved one than with an earth-friendly picnic that’s designed to taste delicious and leave no footprint?

Short on ideas? The Dean of Green has your back. Consider these tips for your green picnic:

1. Find the perfect location: Naturally, location is everything. Or almost everything. Have this planned out beforehand. Check out parks in your neighborhood. If you have a pond, river or lake nearby, that never hurts.
2. Take your loved on shopping: Head to a local farmer’s market or natural foods store for a fun-filled shopping excursion. This way you support the local community while enjoying the plethora or wonderful, fresh and healthy foods that you can collaborate on for the perfect lunch.
3. Bring reusable items: Don’t bother with plastic bags, paper plates, cups and utensils that get thrown away and languish in a landfill until the end of time. Bring reusable containers and plates and silverware from home. As for napkins, bring a couple moist towels instead. It’s much more pleasant to wipe with a moist towel than a dry napkin anyway.
4. Go light: Don’t feel like toting plates around for your hike? No problem. When you’re at the food market, pack a healthy lunch of finger foods like pitas, hummus, veggies, dips, wraps or sandwiches. Go even lighter by ditching the basket for a backpack if you feel like strolling around unencumbered.

The folks at Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling are Green Screened Certified – a rare distinction. Have more questions about greening your home and life? Give the Dean of Green a call today.

 

Why Composting?

Composting is a green practice that keeps on giving once you’ve started. Yard remains, kitchen remains and just about anything that was once-living can be gathered and piled to create nutrient-rich soil that’s great for your yard, trees or garden. Importantly, composting requires minimal effort, yet its benefits keep vital, reusable materials out of landfills – where they don’t belong.

All that’s required to compost is a space to do it. Some people take organic remains and simply pile them in a convenient place that’s out of the way. Others create compost bins from other recyclable materials or plywood, or excepting that, most do-it-yourself stores or garden centers sell bins that are attractive, ready for use and affordable.

Just as recycling went from a fringe practice in the 20^th century to a way of life in the 21^st century, many see composting as a practice that will catch on in a similar way. As our knowledge of green practices expands, activities like composting are a no-brainer as individuals and families take on more agency to protect our delicate and compromised environment.

In the fight to minimize waste, many states have already created goals to relieve already overtaxed landfills. Composting is a quick, easy and beneficial way to take kitchen and yard waste – normally bagged and pitched – and turn it into gold.

Want a greener household? Contact Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling today for cleaner air and tips to reduce energy consumption.

 

Guide to Recycling Centers

Don’t let confusion around the recycling process prevent you from taking part in the critical process of recycling materials that can be reused, again and again. Recycling is now easier than ever thanks to an increased number of recycling centers and services designed to eliminate a lot of the fuss previously associated with recycling.

Here’s the easiest way to go about it in your neighborhood:

Thanks to the Internet, all the information you need to know is available with a few clicks of the mouse. For the most comprehensive recycling information in your neck of the woods, we recommend checking out the website earth911.com.

Earth911.com allows users to enter the types of recycling centers they’re looking for (e.g. aluminum, auto parts, aerosol cans, large appliances, bicycles, beverage cans, etc.) in the location nearest their zip code. Simply enter where you are and what you need to recycle, and a list will populate within seconds showing you exactly where to go and what to bring.

There’s no longer any excuse not to recycle. As awareness continues to spread and services continue to expand, recycling your old goods is a necessity to keep our landfills as clear as possible and to get the most out of our stuff!

Find helpful tips from Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling each week. We’re Green Screened certified!