Play Your Part, A Sustainable Future At Home Is Achievable

Julie Starr • January 15, 2021



It seems that before our eyes there is a collective change in awareness of environmental protection, quality of life, the importance of natural nutrition, and a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Not an obvious matter, especially in light of the last century and the way advertisements defined a way of life and a Western and wasteful consumer culture. Since the Industrial Revolution, and the ensuing technological advancement, we have been living in a damaged and polluted environment in micro and macro, in our immediate environment, and in the global environment. Earth Day is a good time to start cleansing your home environment of toxins. Earth day is 22 April 2021. A date to put in your calendars!  Endless piles of hard, industrialized, durable, and polluting waste, which is absorbed into the soil and evaporates into the sky, alongside the animal and plant world which suffers ongoing damage resulting from the desire to occupy more land and eat more animals. All of these are our environment, in which we live and raise our children, which has been drastically damaged in the last hundred years.  

Today, with the growing awareness and tremendous efforts of various associations and organizations, we are truly succeeding in predicting an awakening, one that it is time for.  Instead of us going out to watch music concerts, staying home and enjoying what Radio Jingles has to offer may be a better solution. Or instead of taking your car to the store, look at getting a bike, so you can tone your thighs as well as help the planet. 

In order to live in a home space free of chemicals and toxic substances, you do not need extreme actions that require a lot of investment. All you have to do is stop using toxic substances and synthetic products, combine natural substances in the space, and take care of proper air purification. Ecological ingredients – it is advisable to stop using regular detergents and switch to organic products without toxins, or to any natural vinegar and essential oil that will give a good smell. There are many methods of detoxification, discover them.

Textiles and natural furniture 

Combine natural textiles with pillows, curtains, rugs, and bedding. It is advisable to cover the sofa upholstered in stain-repellent synthetic fabric, in natural cotton fabric to prevent direct contact with toxic materials. The trend of recycled wood in an eclectic industrial style has brought quite a few toxic substances to the home environment, such that the wood absorbed while it was in industrial use. In terms of textiles, choosing a synthetic fabric that prevents stains is very common, especially among young families looking for a practical solution in life with children. The synthetic fabric releases into the air space and in direct contact, toxic substances that are not worth coming into contact with. The same goes for the synthetic carpet produced by the machine, and plastic products, and synthetic materials. There are natural alternatives, such as cotton and linen fabrics, eco-friendly products manufactured under supervision and standard mark.

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.