B4 • Friday, December 31, 2021
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MAKING AN ECO-FRIENDLY KITCHEN *Ranges from 7% to 22% less plastic vs. top 10 competitors
These 4 simple choices help create a greener world in the new year
Opt for the dishwasher If you wash dishes by hand instead of in the dishwasher thinking you’re saving water, you may be mistaken. This is particularly true if you’re like most people and run the hot water for rinsing continuously as you do dishes. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, newer EnergyStar dishwasher models use 6 gallons or less per wash cycle, plus save on electricity. You can maximize savings further by only running the dishwasher when it’s full.
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nvironmental protection is always capturing headlines, but you might wonder what you can do as an individual to make a difference at home. Do your small efforts even matter in the big picture of a greener world? The truth is every ecominded effort counts, no matter how small it may seem. One of the best places to start is at home in your very own kitchen. Some of the simplest, most cost-effective changes can have the biggest cumulative impact in the new year. Looking for ideas? These simple, everyday habits will help you create a greener kitchen and eco-friendly household: Prevent food waste Food waste is estimated at between 30-40% of the food supply in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Billions of pounds of food is
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wasted every year, often due to spoilage, which is why preserving food properly is essential. Dry goods should be sealed air tight and out of sunlight, ideally in a cool and dry location. Fresh foods can spoil, so it’s important to store produce properly. Look for storage options created specifically for fresh foods to keep the proper air and moisture ratio for optimum freshness. Most produce should be
Mortgage rates tick up but remain low in final days of 2021 ASSOCIATED PRESS SILVER SPRING, Md. — Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates moved slightly higher in the final week of 2021. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average rate on the benchmark, 30-year home loan ticked up to 3.11% this week from 3.05% last week. A year ago, the 30-year rate stood at 2.67%. The average rate on 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages, popular among those refinancing their homes, rose to 2.33% from 2.3% last week. It was 2.17% a year ago. Many economists expect rates to rise next year after the Federal Reserve announced earlier this month that it would begin dialing back its monthly bond purchases — which are intended to lower long-term rates — to combat accelerating inflation. But even with the expected three rate increases next year, the Fed’s benchmark rate would still be below 1%. Despite historically low interest rates, many would-be home buyers have missed out due to a low supply of available homes that are seemingly getting more expensive by the day. Median home prices are nearly 20% higher than they were a year ago, with no signs of relief for frustrated house hunters seeking more space since the pandemic erupted almost two year ago. Compounding the lack of supply and skyrocketing prices, virus-related supply chain breakdowns have builders delaying projects and struggling to keep up with demand.
stored in the fridge, but some items like bananas, pears, avocado, melons and tomatoes last longer when not refrigerated. When it comes to food waste, consider composting at home or through a curbside program, which creates a trickle-down effect that can benefit you as well as the environment. When in doubt, do your research to understand the different options.
Get trash bags made with less plastic While reducing waste is important, you probably will still need to use trash bags in the kitchen. Research options and find a greener bag. Glad’s drawstring kitchen trash bags use less plastic than leading competitors* without sacrificing performance. Glad’s ForceFlexPlus Recovered Materials Bag is the brand’s most sus-
Last but not least, prioritize recycling throughout your day. Know what can be recycled in your area and be sure to place those items as indicated in the recycling bin rather than the trash. Unsoiled paper products can typically be recycled, as tainable bag. well as many glass containThey have the same trusted Glad strength you ers, metal lids and plastic can depend on but are containers that have been made with 50% recovered rinsed well. plastic - 20% recycled plasWhether you live in an urtic, 30% reclaimed plastic ban setting or far out in the and are made with 100% country - or one of the renewable energy (in Glad’s many places in between North American plants) and Mother Nature serves an come in 100% recyclable important role in your life. packaging (in Glad’s North These simple steps that you American plants). can do in your very own Learn more at Glad.com/ kitchen make a big differSustainability. ence.
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