3 simple tips to live “green”.

Induction technology is on a roll right now because it cooks twice as fast as a gas stove and is really easy to clean. Most importantly, induction cooktops do not emit toxic gases like gas stoves do.

Many people do not realize that almost one in eight childhood asthma cases is linked to a gas stove in the home. Gas stoves produce methane, a toxic greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide, and release chemicals linked to increased risk of heart disease, cancer and respiratory diseases.

If you have a gas stove, don’t panic! Just make sure there is good ventilation and use an exhaust fan or open a window when cooking.

However, if you are looking to upgrade or renovate your home, you should consider purchasing an induction cooker – especially because you may be entitled to more $800 in incentives.

And even if you’re not quite ready to make the switch, for about $80 you can pick up a portable induction cooktop burner from brands like Duxtop, which many TCD teammates (see here for a video) use for cooking everyday meals like macaroni and cheese use in half the time.

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Many of us were taught that the only way to get clothes clean is to wash them in hot water, but that’s a myth! Washing cold with a high-quality detergent is gentler on your clothes and is less likely to cause your fabrics to shrink, fade, or wrinkle. Even the NFL has started cold-washing.

And the best part is, just making this small switch can save you up to $250 per year. According to Energy Star, 90% of the energy used to operate washing machines goes into heating water. So by switching to cold cycles, you could save between $150 and $250 per year in energy costs, depending on how many loads you run each week.

And we’re already seeing futuristic-looking washing machines from Electrolux, GE and Samsung that have literally built this switch into washing machines, with an innovative feature that supposedly improves the machine’s ability to do cold washing.

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120 every year billion Cosmetic packaging is created, only a few of which are recycled. Instead, most end up in landfills because they are made of multiple materials or the packaging is so small or flexible.

But there is a solution: Pact Collective is a nonprofit that works with major beauty brands like Sephora and Ulta to recycle beauty empties. Pact has more than 3,000 bins across the US and Canada where you can recycle your bottles. Just make sure the products are clean and completely drained before recycling. Pact also has a mail-in program.

In the future, there will be more ways to recycle empties, more refillable products, more bar soaps and shampoos, and even compostable cosmetic packaging. Pact also closes the loop by producing new products from the recycled materials.

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Do you know the feeling when there is still liquid at the bottom of your pump lotion or hand soap but you can’t get to it?

Here’s how to get it out: Open it with scissors and then use a rubber spatula to pour the excess lotion/soap etc into a small jar. This simple tip could help you save money on new products by extending the life of your lotion by weeks.

The Cool Down told the story of a disgruntled customer who did this with 13 seemingly empty lotion bottles, saving 36 ounces of lotion that would normally have been thrown away. That’s almost two full bottles of product.

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