Setting up an earth-friendly environment will help you leave the world a healthier place and save you money, too. Where’s the downside? There is none!
1: BRIGHT IDEA: Fluorescent bulbs use 70-75% less energy and last 8-10 times longer than regular incandescent light bulbs.
2: FRIDGE FACTS: Vacuum the coils under your fridge twice a year to keep it running efficiently, using less energy. Set your fridge to the lowest setting necessary to keep food cool and fresh.
3: PULL THE PLUG: Many electronic devices and chargers suck up energy even when they’re off. When you leave the house, turn off all lights, unplug phone and battery chargers and turn down the heat or A/C.
4: FLUSHED AWAY: If you don’t have a low-flow toilet, leave a plastic bottle or container full of water into the toilet tank in the back of your toilet. It will flush just as well and cut your water waste in half.
5: SINK SMARTS: Turn the water off when you’re not using it. Like when you’re brushing your teeth. When you are washing at the sink, a pencil-thin flow of water is all you need.
6: STEM THE TIDE: Low flow showerheads and faucets save a huge amount of water. Some new low flow showerheads use air pressure to keep the stream just as strong.
7: BUY LOCAL: In the grocery store, check the produce’s green footprint by seeing where it came from. Buying local fruits and vegetables supports local growers and saves the energy it takes to transport foreign produce and keep it fresh.
8: GO PAPERLESS: Reduce junk mail by selecting paperless billing whenever it’s offered. Sign up for direct pay or find a bank that offers free check-writing services to save time and the cost of stamps and envelopes.
9: GREENER CLEANERS: Most cleaning products available today contain chemicals that can be harmful to you, your belongings and the environment. Baking soda and vinegar – also known as the makings of a volcano experiment – are also great for cleaning almost anything in your house.
10: BYOB: Bring your own bags to the grocery store to cut down on bag waste. When at the store, stick with the outer aisles, where the fresh food is. Fresher food requires less packaging and processing, and it’s healthier, too!
11: GIVE UP THE BOTTLE: Plastic water and soda bottles and cans waste tons of natural resources each year. Buy a reusable Neoprene bottle for drinks on the go. You’ll save a lot of money buying your drinks in larger portions or drinking filtered tap water.
12: DRYER SMARTS: When using the dryer, empty the lint tray each time to reduce drag on the machine and eliminate a common fire hazard. Better yet, shut the dryer and hang your clothes outside instead.
13: TWO DEGREES: Turn the thermostat up two degrees in summer and down two degrees in winter, setting your thermostat to 68 in winter and 72 in summer. Turn off the A/C whenever you can, open wide the windows and take in the fresh air.
14: CHARGE IT: Standard disposable batteries end up in landfills, and leach harmful metals, lead and acid into the air, water and land. Instead, buy rechargeable batteries, which can be charged and reused up to 1,000 times. Rechargeable batteries may be more expensive but the costs are often outweighed by long-term savings and environmental benefits.
15: PAPER TRAINING: Ditch the paper towels and napkins and go for cloth instead. It looks nicer, and conserves water and forests of trees from destruction. Use toilet paper and tissues marked with the recycling symbol showing that it’s made from recycled paper. Don’t worry, the paper is clean. It’s also eco-friendly.
16: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE: The 3 R’s are the biggest rules in going green. Reduce waste wherever possible. Reuse what you can. Recycle what’s left over.
Thanks goes out to www.beinggirl.com for this wonderful article.
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