6 Eco-Friendly Things to do this Weekend

This coming weekend is the August long weekend in Ontario! We here at National Home Services want you and your family to make the most out of your holiday. That being said, it should also be cost effective and environmentally friendly! That is why we have put together a list of 6 fun and eco friendly activities for you and your family.

1. Go Camping
Pack up your stuff, hop in the car and head out to one of Ontario’s beautiful campgrounds. Some options are the Cedar Park Resort in Hampton, or Ponderosa Camp Ground in Mount Albert. Don’t forget the bug spray, and, more importantly, the marshmallows.

2. Visit a Provincial Park
Take a chance this weekend to visit a provincial park. They are the perfect place to take in the sights and sounds of nature.

3. Family Bike Ride
Whether you are taking on The Ontario Bicycling Route, or just taking a lap of the neighborhood with friends and family, biking is an eco friendly way to enjoy the beauty of summer and get some exercise.

4. Go for a Hike
For some of the best trails Ontario has to offer, make your way to the Algonquin Provincial Park Trails where you can see 45 species of mammals, 138 breeding birds and a variety of plants, trees and fungi.

5. Visit the Farmers Market
Head out to the local farmers' market and purchase some organic products to support local vendors and, of course, the environment.

6. Spend Time in your Backyard
Organize a barbeque with family and friends. Soak up the sun with great food and refreshments while the kids play in the yard. Check HERE for our tips on green gardening. 

Green Gardening

Reducing the amount of water needed in your garden is a great habit because it can save money on your water bill and it helps reduce your carbon footprint. Here are some tips on how to practice garden water conservation and still have a gorgeous yard.

Choose native plants.

Native plants are adjusted to your area’s normal rainfall, soil conditions and climate. Once they have been established, they require little or no watering. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources offers a guide with plenty of suggestions for Southern Ontario residents.  Click here to access the guide.

Mulch it up!Mulching around plants is a great way to reduce water loss. (Plus it looks great!) Mulch also cuts down on water-stealing weeds. Natural mulches include compost, bark chips, and pine needles. Save money by spreading your grass clippings and ground-up leaves on flower and vegetable gardens. These organic mulches gradually break down and add nutrients to the soil.

Choose your grass carefully. A green lawn can drink up to 70,000 litres of water each year! You can keep your grass and manage your water use by planting drought-resistant varieties of grass like bermuda and buffalo grass which require 20% less water than some other common lawn grasses.

Mow less often.
Isn't this a great tip? You can mow the lawn less often! It’s a good idea to keep your grass long to shade the roots and slow evaporation. When you do mow, raise the height of your mower blade to 3 inches.

Follow these tips and you could have it all- a beautiful lawn, a lower water bill and a smaller environmental footprint. 

Air Conditioning Explained

It's the time of year when many people are feeling grateful for central air conditioning. It is great to have a cool retreat when it is hot outside, but how does air conditioner actually work? Today, we'll explore how a typical central air system in a residential home cools the air.

1. The typical central air conditioning system is a split system, with an outdoor component, the compressor bearing unit, and an indoor component, the coil which is usually installed on top of the furnace. 
2. The outdoor compressor pumps refrigerant through the system which gathers heat and humidity from inside the house. 
3. This warm air is blown over the cool indoor coils, cooling the air and transferring the heat to the coils. 
4. The cooled air is pumped back through the home and the heat that has transferred to the coil is pumped outside. 

Did you know...

• In addition to keeping your home cool, this method of air conditioning also removed excess moisture from the air and reduces the humidity in your home? 
• Your air conditioner actually cleans the air in your home? As the air is pulled through the return air ducts, it goes through a filter, which removes dust, lint and microscopic pollutants.