Advice Archives - Bluedot Living https://bluedotliving.com/category/advice/ At Home on Earth Thu, 01 Feb 2024 15:04:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://bluedotliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-Bluedot_site-icon-32x32.png Advice Archives - Bluedot Living https://bluedotliving.com/category/advice/ 32 32 Dear Dot: Should I Burn Paper or Send it to Landfill? https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-should-i-burn-paper-or-send-it-to-landfill/ https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-should-i-burn-paper-or-send-it-to-landfill/#respond Thu, 01 Feb 2024 15:04:20 +0000 https://bluedotliving.com/?p=17830 Dear Dot, I am charged with supplying toilet paper in public toilets. This consists of replacing eighty to 100 rolls per week, leaving me with 80 – 100 tubes and wrappers. Which is worse for the environment, to burn them (CO2) or landfill (methane)? These are the only feasible choices due to location. —Cary Gilbert […]

The post Dear Dot: Should I Burn Paper or Send it to Landfill? appeared first on Bluedot Living.

]]> https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-should-i-burn-paper-or-send-it-to-landfill/feed/ 0 Dear Dot: Is it Safe to Eat from a Bulging Can?  https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-is-it-safe-to-eat-from-a-bulging-can/ https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-is-it-safe-to-eat-from-a-bulging-can/#respond Fri, 19 Jan 2024 19:38:37 +0000 https://bluedotliving.com/?p=17405 Dear Dot When I was growing up, I was told that, as long as a food can isn’t bulging, it’s safe to eat. Is that true? —Chris The Short Answer: A bulging can isn’t necessarily indicative of botulism, but it is a warning that the canning process was faulty. Better safe than six feet under. […]

The post Dear Dot: Is it Safe to Eat from a Bulging Can?  appeared first on Bluedot Living.

]]> https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-is-it-safe-to-eat-from-a-bulging-can/feed/ 0 Dear Dot: Is Pollution the Reason for a Beautiful Sunset? https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-is-pollution-the-reason-for-a-beautiful-sunset/ https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-is-pollution-the-reason-for-a-beautiful-sunset/#respond Fri, 12 Jan 2024 23:01:30 +0000 https://bluedotliving.com/?p=17189 Dear Dot, I saw the most amazing sunset last night. Someone told me the beautiful red color is because of pollution? Is there any truth to that? —Whitney The Short Answer: Those vibrant colors we see at sunrise and, even more vividly, at sunset, are the result of a phenomenon called Raleigh scattering. During sunrise […]

The post Dear Dot: Is Pollution the Reason for a Beautiful Sunset? appeared first on Bluedot Living.

]]> https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-is-pollution-the-reason-for-a-beautiful-sunset/feed/ 0 Dear Dot: Are (Winter) Tires Bad for the Environment?  https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-are-winter-tires-bad-for-the-environment/ https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-are-winter-tires-bad-for-the-environment/#respond Tue, 02 Jan 2024 17:39:59 +0000 https://bluedotliving.com/?p=16697 Dear Dot, I recently swapped out my regular tires for winter ones. But what impact do winter tires have on fuel economy? What about pollution? Are certain tires better for the environment than others? –Bob The Short Answer: While we wait for regulations to catch up and tackle the ubiquity of toxic materials in tires, […]

The post Dear Dot: Are (Winter) Tires Bad for the Environment?  appeared first on Bluedot Living.

]]> https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-are-winter-tires-bad-for-the-environment/feed/ 0 Dear Dot: What are Some Gift Alternatives to Store-Bought Stuff? https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-what-are-some-gift-alternatives-to-store-bought-stuff/ https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-what-are-some-gift-alternatives-to-store-bought-stuff/#respond Wed, 06 Dec 2023 15:36:22 +0000 https://bluedotliving.com/?p=16085 Dear Dot, While there are things I love about the holidays, the rampant consumerism depresses me. But friends and family still expect me to give them something. Any suggestions? —Steph The Short Answer: There are many ways to give that don't involve buying something new from a store. Think second-hand; think DIY; think gifts of […]

The post Dear Dot: What are Some Gift Alternatives to Store-Bought Stuff? appeared first on Bluedot Living.

]]> https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-what-are-some-gift-alternatives-to-store-bought-stuff/feed/ 0 Ten Tips for Greener Holidays https://bluedotliving.com/ten-tips-for-greener-holidays/ https://bluedotliving.com/ten-tips-for-greener-holidays/#respond Wed, 29 Nov 2023 02:23:44 +0000 https://bluedotliving.com/?p=15837 This article includes affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of our links, we may earn a commission, essentially a small digital finder’s fee. These commissions help us fund the valuable journalism that you see on Bluedot. Thank you for supporting us! December brings us the gifts of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and many […]

The post Ten Tips for Greener Holidays appeared first on Bluedot Living.

]]> https://bluedotliving.com/ten-tips-for-greener-holidays/feed/ 0 Dear Dot: Where Should I Buy a House? https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-where-should-i-buy-a-house/ https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-where-should-i-buy-a-house/#respond Wed, 08 Nov 2023 20:20:24 +0000 https://bluedotliving.com/?p=14945 I’m a realtor curious about how climate change is going to impact where people will want to live. What are some climate change concerns people should be considering before committing to a next home/next location? –Karen Dear Karen, When Mr. Dot and I were betrothed, we purchased a cottage on one of the Great Lakes. […]

The post Dear Dot: Where Should I Buy a House? appeared first on Bluedot Living.

]]> https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-where-should-i-buy-a-house/feed/ 0 Dear Dot: How Can I Invest in Earth-Friendly Funds? https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-how-can-i-invest-in-earth-friendly-funds/ https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-how-can-i-invest-in-earth-friendly-funds/#respond Mon, 06 Nov 2023 15:10:48 +0000 https://bluedotliving.com/?p=14773 Dear Dot, Does Dot know anything about responsible investing for 401(k) plans? I was looking at mine last night and realized I have an aggressive portfolio and know nothing about the companies. —Ali Dear Ali, While Dot tends to glaze over at any talk of investments, I do value your questions because it’s one that […]

The post Dear Dot: How Can I Invest in Earth-Friendly Funds? appeared first on Bluedot Living.

]]> https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-how-can-i-invest-in-earth-friendly-funds/feed/ 0 Green Your Halloween: A Bluedot Guide https://bluedotliving.com/green-your-halloween-a-bluedot-guide/ https://bluedotliving.com/green-your-halloween-a-bluedot-guide/#comments Fri, 20 Oct 2023 16:12:00 +0000 https://bluedotliving.com/?p=14274 Nothing is scarier than Halloween décor that harms our planet. But spooky can be eco-friendly with a few simple swaps.

The post Green Your Halloween: A Bluedot Guide appeared first on Bluedot Living.

]]> https://bluedotliving.com/green-your-halloween-a-bluedot-guide/feed/ 3 Dear Dot: How Can I Unclog a Drain without Drano? https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-how-can-i-unclog-a-drain-without-drano/ https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-how-can-i-unclog-a-drain-without-drano/#respond Wed, 27 Sep 2023 14:41:54 +0000 https://bluedotliving.com/?p=13505 Dear Dot, I have a bathroom drain that clogs a lot. I don’t want to dump a bunch of corrosive chemicals down my drain (and into our waterways). Is there a better way to unclog it?  –Evelyn The Short Answer: There are some simple methods to unclog a drain without using caustic chemicals. If it’s […]

The post Dear Dot: How Can I Unclog a Drain without Drano? appeared first on Bluedot Living.

]]> https://bluedotliving.com/dear-dot-how-can-i-unclog-a-drain-without-drano/feed/ 0