VOCs—you’ve probably heard about those nasty volatile organic compounds that can cause headaches, nausea, fatigue, and even damage to the liver, kidney, and central nervous system. VOCs are released into the air from things like synthetic carpeting, harsh cleaning supplies, and even the paints and varnishes you use to beautify your home and office. Levels tend to be 2-5 times higher indoors. New studies—including some by the science guys themselves over at NASA—continue to show that houseplants can rid some of these toxins from your air. Home improvement stores have even begun to label which plants are the best air purifiers, among them English ivy, spider plants, pot mums, and rubber plants.

The problem then, is not acquiring indoor plants, it’s keeping them alive. VOCs may be harsh but those of us without a green thumb know how unintentionally cruel we too can be. With these easy pointers, developing a green thumb may be easier than you think.

Put a pencil in it! The most common mistake of caring for plants is overwatering. You may think the plant is dying because it’s too dry but it may actually be rotting from too much water. Don’t know when it’s time to water? Insert a sharpened pencil about an inch into the soil. If it comes out clean, your plant is dry and needs water. If the soil sticks to the tip, wait and check again in a day or two. Remember to water slowly and reasonably—don’t drown your plants!

Get a little shady: Not all plants like bright light. If your plant seems sick, it might actually be overheating from too much sun. Before moving your plant into brighter light, research its light needs. If it does call for a direct sun location, place the plant in front of a south facing window.  As residents of the Northern Hemisphere, these windows receive the most direct sunlight.

Eat your veggies. The cooled water from cooking vegetables is full of the nutrients plants need and a great way to conserve water. Plants also love rainwater so consider purchasing a rain barrel if you don’t already have one.

Tell them how you feel. Your grandmother wasn’t kidding about talking to your plants—especially if you’re a woman. The Royal Horticulture Society found that tomato plants grew up to two inches taller when spoken to!

For more tips on plant care, read the Instructables article on how to keep indoor plants alive. Youtube also has a wide variety of how-to videos available—from caring for tropical plants to how to tell when it’s time to water! Good luck!

Who is your Sustainability Mentor? Your Energy Efficiency Idol? You may not have to look any further than your 10-year-old tyke. Our children may have a thing or two to teach us about environmental stewardship – after all, it is their future we are trying to preserve.

Manassas Park Elementary School in Virginia has developed full-circle sustainability initiative that combines efficient buildings with efficient behaviors.  The school buildings, designed by VMDO Architects with support from 2rw Consultants, are LEED Gold certified and use 40% less energy than a typical energy code-compliant building. Additionally, the rainwater collection system harvests 1.3 million gallons per year for flushing and irrigation.

Manassas Park’s energy efficiency improvements also serve as educational tools for students. Outdoor building displays are linked to monitoring and metering systems that providing teaching materials about heat, light, air, water, and energy.

Students have access to an easy-to-read energy dashboard gives students a “green light” when conditions are right for opening the windows and enjoying fresh air instead of relying on artificial climate control.

In addition, the top of the rainwater collection cistern functions as an outdoor classroom. Educational maps show children how rainwater falling at their school flows through Bull Run, the Occoquan and Potomac Rivers, and on to the Chesapeake Bay.  Check out this video (courtesy of The Chesapeake Bay Program) to see more ways that energy efficiency and environmental education are integrated into the school’s design.

Weaving education into sustainability initiatives trains our children to become stewards of the environment. By learning the value of saving energy and water, they can establish sustainable habits early and serve as environmentally-responsible role models for their peers – and their parents.

So keep your eyes and ears open. You may just find your most effective environmental educator at the dinner table tonight.