There’s cold and then there’s “COLD”! The last few years have shown us that Texas is not immune from dangerous, widespread cold snaps. Here’s how you can prepare your home for such events while saving precious resources during a critical time.

The new year is a good time to make some changes. Most resolutions are based on personal goals or growth, but by the third week of January many of us are already finding excuses to skip the gym or make time to learn that new language. Why not try dedicating some of your new year energy to the planet? It’s the perfect time to think of ways you could have a more positive impact on the environment.

Here are 12 green resolutions anyone can add to their day-to-day routine: 

It’s the same thing every year. You’ve spent hours preparing a bountiful meal for your family and friends, but now you’ve got an array of leftovers in your fridge. What are you going to do with that extra turkey? The container full of mashed potatoes? Aunt Myrtle’s cranberry sauce? 

When it comes to disposing of food waste, many of us have developed the habit of simply rinsing it down the kitchen sink. However, food items can cause serious problems in our plumbing system, leading to clogs, blockages, and even damage. That’s the last thing you want to deal with when hosting family members during the holiday season. We will explore some surprising food items that should never go down the drain and provide alternative methods for disposing of them effectively and responsibly.  

In today’s fast-paced world, finding sustainable solutions has become more important than ever. One area where many of us can make a meaningful impact is by reducing food waste. An easy way to do this is by making no-waste lunches. Not only does this help the environment but it can also save you money and promote healthier eating habits. Here are some simple steps to create no-waste lunches that are both delicious and eco-friendly. 

Fall is on the way and with that comes football season and, in Texas, that means one thing—tailgating. If you aren’t familiar with tailgating, it’s very simple, you park at or near the stadium and prepare to cheer on your team. How does one tailgate? Another simple answer. Gather your group to share eating and drinking while watching the pregame shows and talking predictions. As you can imagine, such a gathering can leave quite a large footprint behind, but what if that didn’t have to be the case? What if there were ways to help eliminate that footprint?

Whether you prefer gas grilling or charcoal, cooking outside produces more than delicious meats and vegetables. We examine the waste both grilling methods produce and what to do with it.

When we think about recycling, we don't often think about textiles. Textiles are made from natural or synthetic fibers (or a blend), and are used to make clothing, shoes, linens, bedding, upholstery, curtains, mattresses, carpets, and much more. Nearly all domestic textiles are recyclable, but less than 15% of textiles generated in the U.S. are reused or recycled — leaving 85% to be landfilled or incinerated. On average, each American throws away 70 pounds of textiles per year. 

As temperatures rise and everyone gets ready to spend time outside, what better way to celebrate the start of summer than with an eco-friendly party? From the invitations to the decorations, there are many ways to pull off an amazing celebration that also takes care of our environment. Here are some helpful hints to keep in mind when planning your next summer party. 

The beginning of the year is a chance to start new habits or restart some that may have waned during the year. Did you promise to use fewer plastic bags and now find yourself buried in them? How about starting that compost pile? No worries, it happens! But this year can be different if you start with small changes, because small impacts make big ripples.