Rachel Brooks

Articles

The Surprising Health Risks of Scented Candles

Scented candles health risks weren’t even on my radar until I’m sitting here in my cramped Jersey apartment, windows cracked because it’s November and I’m too cheap to crank the heat, and suddenly I can’t stop coughing like a chain smoker. Like, I’d been...
Indoor Air
3
min.
Paint can spills rainbow fumes; party-hat VOC ghosts float in hazy kitchen.

VOCs in Your Home: Where They Come from & How to...

VOCs in your home hit me like a truck the day I dragged that clearance couch through the front door in Columbus. I’m talking...
Indoor Air
3
minutes
Golden retriever sneezing amid pollen, leaves, and cartoon allergy ghosts.

Pets and Indoor Air: Tips to Keep Allergies Under Control

Pets and indoor air quality—ugh, it’s been a total crapshow in my little Philly walk-up. Baxter, my scruffy little terrier mutt, he’s the absolute...
Indoor Air
3
minutes
Half-eaten cereal bowl beside glowing 68°F thermostat, mismatched sock dangles, wind turbine reflection.

Smart Home Tech That Cuts Costs AND Emissions

Smart home tech that cuts costs AND emissions? Dude, I gotta tell you, it straight-up saved my ass last winter here in suburban Ohio—like,...
Renewables
4
minutes
Cracked phone shows soaring electric bill beside wilted plant and peeling carbon-neutral takeout.

Net Zero Explained: What It Means for You and Your Wallet

Net zero explained in the simplest terms I can muster while stress-eating cold pizza in my 85-degree apartment—it's when your carbon fart cloud equals...
Renewables
2
minutes
Solar panel at sunset with apple core and floating bottle-cap question marks.

Renewable Energy and Health: The Benefits You Didn’t Expect

Renewable energy and health? Yeah, I’m the last dude you’d expect preaching this, sitting here in my cluttered Ohio basement with a half-spilled coffee...
Renewables
2
minutes
Sneezing face buried in tissue amid glowing pollen and tangled red balloon.

Ragweed Season on the Rise: How to Prepare

Ragweed season on the rise is straight-up ambushing me this year, like it waited until I bragged about “finally beating allergies” to prove me...
Allergies
3
minutes