Eco Friendly Halloween Tips

Three Easy Ways to be "Green" for Halloween

It's Halloween!  A time for many that includes costumes, candy, and, most of all, fun!  This year, remember that Halloween can provide an opportunity to practice some green and eco-friendly tips.  Below are three ways to be "green" for Halloween:

1) Prepare a flashlight: Preparing a flashlight for trick or treating or passing out candy is not only a smart way to celebrate Halloween, but a chance to practice eco-friendly living.  Remember to pick out an LED flashlight, as these light sources last longer and save energy.  In addition, another great way to save energy is by using glow sticks.  Glow sticks are long lasting, are often cheaper than flashlights, and come in a variety of colors (perfect for this spooky holiday).

2) Trick or treat the "green" way: If collecting candy this year, or even just handing out candy, remember some green tips.  Watch out for litter, such as candy wrappers, that can accidentally become strewn and, eventually, contaminate waterways and plant and animal life. 

3) Organize Halloween decorations after: Halloween decorations can be a chance to creatively recycle, or "upcycle", resources for future use.  After the holiday, take stock of what decorations are still in good conditions to neatly pack away for next year.  Some decorations, like streamers and balloons, can be upcycled into craft projects.  Other decorations may need to be recycled in a more traditional way or simply thrown away.  Remember, there are even ways to recycle pumpkins that are in a good condition after the holiday.

Happy Halloween to everyone celebrating!

Grady's GreenLiving Tips was created in 2014 by Grady Management, Inc.  Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more from our website or Facebook page.

Five Ways to Prevent Energy Vampires

How and Why to Stop Wasting Energy

With Halloween one week away, it is easier than ever to find vampire costumes or decorations in stores and outside neighborhoods and homes.  But a certain type of vampire can lurk inside the home without anyone knowing: energy vampires!  While not the scary character featured in books or movies, "energy vampires" is a term used to describe appliances or devices that use small amounts of energy even when the appliance is turned off and not used for hours or days at a time.  But what exactly are energy vampires and why and how can they be prevented?  Learn more here:

What exactly are energy vampires?

An "energy vampire" is any device or appliance that plugs into a wall outlet for an extended period of time when turned off.  Many people believe that appliances only use energy when turned on and in use.  However, small amounts of energy are used when devices are turned off but remain plugged into outlets.  Common energy vampires include coffeemakers, laptop and phone chargers, and even floor lamps. These devices may be turned off but the appliances are still using energy.

Why are energy vampires negative for "green": and eco-friendly homes?

Those who live a green life often try to find creative and effective ways to limit energy use and reduce waste.  Energy vampires may use small amounts of energy when not in use, but that amount of energy can add up over the days, weeks, and months that appliances are plugged into the same wall outlet.  Small amounts of wasted energy eventually may cause a large, negative, problem for the environment.  

Three Art Crafts for Autumn Leaves

Seasonal Crafts Perfect for the Entire Family!

This autumn, try to turn some common natural resources into beautiful crafts or creative projects the whole family will enjoy.  In an earlier October blog post, Grady's GreenLiving Tips detailed how to use excess pumpkins for crafts or DIY projects.  This week, learn how to utilize another natural, autumn staple, fallen leaves, in art projects.  Below are three different type of craft ideas for autumn leaves:

1) Wall Decor: Once collected, leaves can be added to photo frames to create seasonal decor inside any home.  Additionally, leaves can act as a stencil for paintings or an addition to drawings to create a more realistic look for any autumnal scene.  Leaves can also be painted, dipped in wax, or brushed with glitter and then hung on walls and/ or doorways as another type of seasonal decor.

2) Unique Centerpieces: Leaves can be used to decorate seasonal paper lanterns (perfect for Halloween or harvest festivities!).  In addition, if leaves are place outside a bowl and glued together, the leaves can form a bowl shape that would create a memorable centerpiece.  

Five Reminders for a Daily, Green, Checklist

Remember GreenLiving Tips by Preparing Ahead of Time

One of the easiest ways to live a green life is to stick to a regular routine.  Incorporating several GreenLiving tips into daily tasks and goals will make eco-friendly practices easy to remember.  Below are several ways to create a five point checklist to remember GreenLiving advice:

1) Set a morning routine: Making breakfast?  Showering?  Getting dressed?  All of these aspects of the morning routine is a chance to incorporate a GreenLiving method.  Remember to time showers and turn off the tap after using the sink in order to avoid wasting excess water.  Another GreenLiving tip to add to the checklist is to unplug appliances like the coffeemaker before leaving the house to save energy.

2) Think of options: Travel options that is!  Commuting to work?  Use a green checklist to track what days it is possible to use some other form of transportation to commute and/ or travel.  Try ride sharing or catching the bus or train/ Metro.  

3) Prep "green": Preparing meals and/ or food throughout the day is a great way to practice GreenLiving tips.  Remember to utilize leftovers and bring containers to meals for better food storage techniques.  Don't contribute to food waste!

#FallDIY: Five Creative Ways to Recycle a Pumpkin

Autumnal Themed GreenLiving Tips

Pumpkins are a staple of the fall season, especially in the days leading up to and including Halloween.  But what are ways to utilize leftover pumpkins after this season?  In this blog post, Grady's GreenLiving Tips explores five ways to use a leftover pumpkin:

1) Utilize pumpkins for food and baked goods: Leftover pumpkins can be cut up and made into pies, cakes, and/ or jams.  Pumpkin seeds can also be scooped out and baked as well.

Learn more pumpkin recipes in the All Recipes article "19 Healthy Pumpkin Recipes".

2) Compost old and/ or leftover pumpkins: Pumpkins are primarily made of water and, because of this, are easily broken down into compost.