You don’t have to sacrifice everyday comforts to be green. There are many easy things you can do today that will have a big impact tomorrow.
• Recycle.
I know, you’ve heard it a million times, but it really is one of the most obvious and simplest ways to help the environment. It takes much less energy and fewer resources to recycle something into a new product than it would to start over from scratch. Many municipalities collect plastic, glass, cans, newspaper, junk mail, phone books, cardboard and more for recycling. Contact your town to see if a program exists.
• Reduce Your Consumption.
Reducing the amount of goods we consume reduces our environmental footprint, and that’s what it’s all about! Look for products that have minimal packaging (ie, a head of lettuce vs. a pre-packaged bag of salad; download music from iTunes vs. buying a CD). Cancel magazine and newspaper subscriptions you don’t have time to read, or subscribe to an online version of your favorite periodical. Go paperless by paying your bills online. Get off junk mail lists. Avoid using disposable dinnerware such as paper plates, plastic cutlery and Styrofoam cups.
• Around the House.
Simple changes around the house can translate to money in your pocket in addition to helping the environment. The next time you need to change a light bulb, be sure the replacement is a compact fluorescent bulb. Fix leaky faucets immediately, install sink aerators and a low-flow showerhead, and take shorter showers to save water (and the energy used to heat it). Wash your clothes in cold water. Turn down the thermostat by two degrees in the winter, and turn it up by two degrees in the summer to save lots of energy and money on heating and cooling. Make sure your fridge and freezer are working efficiently and are set at the correct temperature. Turn off and unplug appliances and electronics when they’re not in use. Don’t leave your computer on day and night; computers are relatively energy inefficient and waste much of the energy delivered to them, so be sure to turn them off when you’ve finished surfing, chatting and blogging!
• Be Smart About Plastic!
Plastics take hundreds of years to break down in a landfill, and even when recycled, they can only be used to make new things a limited number of times. There is also evidence that plastics can be detrimental to your health. The best plan is to avoid plastic as much as you can. Buy a reusable water bottle instead of the plastic ones. Choose glass over plastic whenever possible, such as for use in food storage. Bring your own reusable bags to the store. Many grocery and department stores now offer inexpensive reusable bags, and some stores are beginning to charge customers for plastic bags while others offer discounts for bringing your own. Obviously, there are times when you can’t avoid plastic, so recycle what you can--including plastic grocery bags. Many grocers now have boxes or bins where you can deposit your used plastic bags to be recycled.
• Buy Certified Organic.
From fruits and veggies to health and beauty items, the term “organic” seems to be popping up everywhere. Organic products don’t contain harmful chemicals or pesticides, and are therefore better for your family’s health as well as for the environment. Look for products that are labeled “Certified Organic.”
