Insulation improves the energy efficiency of a home, which helps to reduce the need for heating and air conditioning. While any insulation can make a home more "green," some products are more eco-friendly than others in terms of effectiveness and...
Approximately 75 percent of your body consists of proteins. Thousands of different proteins perform a broad array of functions in your body, ranging from flagging invading bacteria for destruction by your immune system to providing the structural...
The thermal conductivity of a material determines how good an insulator it is. The official definition of thermal conductivity is the quantity of heat transmitted through a unit thickness in a direction normal to a surface of unit area, due to a...
Used primarily to soothe and moisturize dry and sunburned skin, aloe vera has health benefits that extend to other parts of the body. It is a powerful herbal treatment for internal maladies when consumed as a brewed tea. According to the...
The U.S. government has encouraged usage of natural gas in homes for over a decade because it is a clean-burning fuel and most gas used in the U.S. is produced in the U.S. Because many new homes were constructed to use natural gas and oil prices...
3M's Thinsulate is an insulation material that traps air in a fiber layer to provide warmth. Many companies use the insulation in their apparel, including The North Face, Orvis, Polaris and L.L. Bean.
Performance sleeping bags are constructed using either natural bird down or synthetic materials for the insulation. Each of these types of fills offer different benefits. While some synthetic fills are better than others, there is no clear winner...
The American Chemistry Council, a group representing companies involved in resin manufacturing and companies working with the chlorine chemistry, records that more than 6 billion pounds of plastic resins were used each month in 2009 to manufacture...
If you're not worried about weight, and you're camping in warm weather on soft ground, you don't need to be as concerned with the type of sleeping pad you get. However, if you're backpacking you will want a lightweight pad, and if you're camping...
Sleeping bags provide not only a sleeping surface, but also a sleep covering. They can be lightweight bags meant to be used in fair weather conditions, or high-tech, hyper-insulated bags designed for even the most severe weather.
Roughly 34 percent of home utility costs go to heating, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA. By taking steps to reduce winter heating needs, you'll lower your utility bills and help protect the environment from the effects of...
Several cookware manufacturers have introduced lines of insulated baking pans, such as the AirBake line from T-Fal. These are manufactured from two layers of aluminum, with an insulating airspace in between. The idea is familiar to any home baker...
Finger foods such as chicken fingers delight many children, but once they cool off they become hard and less appetizing. Chicken fingers that are no longer at a high enough cooking temperature also can harbor bacteria that can lead to illness if...
When you build a new home, you incorporate all the features and design elements to fit your family's needs and tastes. Building new also gives you the opportunity to make your home more energy efficient. The United States Department of Energy...
When temperatures drop below freezing, safety becomes the most important consideration for choosing gear, particularly clothing, for outdoor activity. In extremely cold weather, a serious risk of frostbite and hypothermia exists. Mountaineering,...
Going "green" can mean different things to different people. However, going green typically means that you're adopting environmentally sustainable lifestyle practices, which can range from using alternative modes of transportation to your patterns...
The women's Mountain Hardware compressor PL jacket is a synthetic insulated jacket used for cold-weather protection and backcountry hiking and camping.
Carrying a hammock when backpacking will provide you with a sleeping surface that is both comfortable and easy to install. By keeping your body up off the ground, the hammock helps to protect you from insects and moisture on the ground. The device...
Brown-bagging saves money and allows you to pack a healthy lunch instead of relying on fast food and processed cafeteria fare. If you're tired of the same old sandwich routine, but don't have access to a microwave oven or stove, you have to get...
Layering during active outdoor pursuits like snowboarding allows you to customize your own "personal climate" to your exercise level and the conditions around you. You won't need as much insulation when you're working hard, but you'll need to be...
Going green is becoming more mainstream as Americans embrace the idea of reducing their impact on the environment. Making green improvements in your home can involve recycling, choosing plastic lumber for your deck or installing an alternative...
Many consumers expect hot water from the tap with little thought about the water heater that supplies it. An efficient water heater reduces energy usage in your home. The reduced energy consumption benefits the environment by saving limited fossil...
Conserving energy in your home has several benefits for you, your family and the environment. By making a few adjustments to your approach to energy use, you can save a significant amount of money on your utility bills while living in more...
Most snow pants you wear for downhill skiing have a layer of internal insulation. However, certain models of snow pants, known as unlined shell pants, have no internal insulation. While both the lined and unlined snow pants have a windproof and...
A good backpacking sleeping bag strikes a balance between weight and roominess. Unlike a typical car camping sleeping bag that is usually square in outline, backpacking bags feature a tapered cut and integrated hood to save weight and conserve...
In this free video clip, learn the different types of mountain bike shoes.
Learn how to install pedals on a mountain bike in this free video clip.
Snowmobile clothing is important if you want to be safe and warm for an adventurous day of snowmobiling. Learn some tips for dressing appropriately from our snowmobiling expert in this free video.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease where the myelin sheaths, the coverings for the nerves around the central nervous system, become infected. In this video, learn more about MS, its effects on people, and how it may be treated.
Learn how to dress for skiing in this free beginner video ski lesson on clothing.