Bunny Hopping towards a Cleaner, Greener Lunar New Year

FENGSHUI practitioners say green is the colour to be clad in this Chinese New Year. For those who would like to take it a step further, however, here are some tips on how you can don a greener lifestyle, as well.

As some households may declutter in preparation for the coming new lunar year, a fair amount of things will be thrown out.That being said, here’s tip #1:Categorize your things – though it may have been a common practice in the past for you to simply throw everything out in one go, this year why not sort through your belongings for things that may still be useful? Giving to charitable institutions is always a good practice as well.

Chinese New Year celebrations can also generate more waste, especially food and beverage containers. This is where tip #2 comes in: Find the time to set aside all the used cans and empty bottles – it only takes a few minutes to sort them out and put them aside for recycling! Also, remember that mandarin orange peels and other kitchen wastes can be put to good use by turning them into compost for potted plants.

Another way to be kind to our environment (while being gentle on the pocket as well) is this – tip #3: Cook just the right amount of food. Though some people still believe in the ancient tradition that equates the abundance of food for prosperity and blessings, others find that cooking just enough minimizes wastage and allows for everyone to enjoy freshly made meals without having to endure days of eating leftovers

Another way to shrink the carbon footprint of the celebration is to refrain from giving out new banknotes in hong bao. This not only reduces paper waste but also traffic congestion (which can lead to higher carbon emissions) around banks.

Instead, the truly green hong bao you can give to everyone and the planet is by being thoughtful in what you eat, drink, consume and ultimately, discard.

Gong Xi Fa Cai, Everyone!

5 Tips for CNY Green Spring Cleaning Bliss!

Get into The Chinese New Year groove with these eco friendly spring cleaning tips

Spring brings many things: budding flowers, April showers, birds chirping and mops mopping. Yes, besides the new signs of life popping up all around you, spring also brings upon the ritual of spring cleaning. It’s a dirty task, but somebody has to do it, or the mess of the last few winter months will continue to cultivate in your home. Instead of making a bigger mess this spring, make a few smaller changes that will be great for your home and green for the environment. Here are 5 tips that you can follow to have an eco friendly spring cleaning experience:

1. V is for vendetta and vinegar
Vinegar wages a personal vendetta again germs in your house this spring! This acidic liquid can be added to baking soda to make a natural drain cleaner, and it can be added with salt to make a pasty chrome sink cleaner. Want to learn other eco-friendly uses for vinegar? Check out the website below.

2. Become friends with your windows
This means to release them from the bonds of locks and to open them up. Let them enjoy the cool spring air as it comes into your home, and give them a good, clean scrubbing. Your windows will look great and you’ll be reducing your energy bill.

3. Switch from paper to cloth
Reduce your household paper waste consumption by using cloth dish rags or pieces of old clothing to wipe counters and other surfaces. Instead of using wads of paper towels, you can use the rags to clean what you need to. Then the rags can be washed and reused over again. Click on the picture to access a cool blog post on how to make cleaning rags from old clothes.

4. Sweep in sustainable style
Spring brings pollen, buds, loose dirt and other wonders from nature that get tracked into your home and on your porch or deck. Instead of using a vacuum and consuming energy, grab a green broom that will sweep away the mess! Try a Dinuba Broom, which is made with 100% recycled plastic bristles and sustainable wood.

5. Get rid of clutter with recycled storage units
Organization plays a big role in spring cleaning, especially inside your home. You can organize what’s inside your home (after you’ve cleaned and de-cluttered it) with a recycled storage unit. Way Basics is a cool company that offers completely recycled and easy to put together storage units. The best part about the company, besides its cool creations, is that its employees work towards helping victims of natural disasters obtain the furniture that they desperately need. Oh, and they plant trees at the Red River National Wildlife Refuge.

Just try a few of these tips this spring, and you’ll see just how nice it feels being happy with yourself, your cleaning habits and your environment.