How to Make those Little Luxuries at Home More Sustainable

Julie Starr • June 17, 2024

In today’s world, enjoying the finer things in life at home—like that first sip of gourmet coffee or sinking into a hot tub under the stars—doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your green credentials. If the thought of your carbon footprint is putting a damper on your domestic bliss, fear not! Here are some smart, sustainable swaps to keep the luxury high and the environmental impact low. Who says you can't have your eco-cake and eat it too?


Sip Sustainably

Starting your morning with a barista-style coffee or a soothing tea? Ditch those single-use pods and plastic-packed tea bags. Opt for a good old-fashioned French press or a percolator that uses ground coffee. If tea is more your style, loose leaf varieties with a metal strainer can make all the difference. Not only do these options reduce waste, but they also somehow make that morning ritual a tad more Zen.


Eco-Chic Spa Vibes

Love a spa day at home? Besides sauna financing, an infrared sauna could be your new best friend. Unlike traditional saunas that need to heat the entire air around you, infrared models use radiant heat to warm you directly, which means they consume much less energy. Plus, they're a great way to sweat out the toxins without sweating about your electric bill.


Luxury Showers, Lower Impact

Those indulgent, hot, steamy showers are great until you think about all the water and energy they use. Invest in a low-flow, high-pressure showerhead to get the same luxurious feel without the wasteful overuse of water and energy. You’ll barely notice the difference—except on your utility bills!


Dim the Lights, But Keep the Ambiance

Setting the mood with lighting doesn’t have to mean a higher electric bill. Swap out those old incandescent bulbs for LED options. They come in all kinds of warm tones now, so you can maintain that cozy glow without the energy drain. Plus, they last ridiculously long, so you can spend more time lounging under them and less time changing them.


The Sustainable Gourmet

If culinary experiments are your kind of luxury, make sustainability part of your ingredient list. Shop local and seasonal produce to reduce your food miles, and compost your food scraps to give back to the earth. Not only will your dishes be fresher and more flavorful, but you'll also be supporting your local farmers—a luxury in its own right.


Green Your Clean

Even your cleaning products can be luxurious when you choose the right ones. Skip the harsh chemicals and opt for natural cleaning brands that use eco-friendly ingredients, or make your own cleaners with items like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils. Your home will sparkle without the environmental guilt.


Thrift and Thrive

Embrace the art of second-hand chic. Whether it's furniture, decor, or even designer clothes, there’s a certain luxury in finding unique pieces that don’t come from a big box store. Plus, reusing items is a win-win for your wallet and the planet.


Indulging in home luxuries while being eco-conscious doesn’t have to be a chore. With these simple swaps and sustainable practices, you can relax in style knowing you’re doing your part for the planet. Now, go enjoy that guilt-free pampering—you’ve earned it!

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.