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Find one thing you would like to change in your daily lifestyle, implement it and have fun with it.
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Say no to plastic bags! Plastic bags are typically made of polyethylene and can take up to 1000 years to biodegrade. Reduce plastic-bag pollution by simply using a cloth bag instead of wasting plastic ones. If you still have the urge to use plastic bags, just make sure you do the green thing and RECYCLE them at your local grocer!
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If you bring your lunch to work, use a reusable bag or lunch tote and reusable containers to avoid producing any paper trash!
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Look for spots where pipes and ducts penetrate walls or floors. These can often be places for leaks and are easy to fix. Simply pack the gaps with flexible insulation.
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The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that drafts can waste 5% to 30% of your energy use. Use a door sweep, draft blocker, or rolled up towel to block energy-leaking gaps between doors and the floor.
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When making purchases, consider all of the waste consequences. If a product includes several layers of packaging that cannot be recycled, consider less wasteful alternatives.
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If your house is a few years old or you are rebuilding, consider replacing windows with contemporary high-tech windows that help block heat and cool air transfer.
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Not all items are recyclable, such as carbon paper, stickers, laminated paper, and mixed plastics (#7). Check with your recycling service to see what is acceptable and try to avoid purchasing or using them if possible.
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Be sure to check your tire pressure. For every 10 degree drop in temperature, tire pressure can drop 1 pound per square inch (PSI). Under-inflated tires can cause skidding and loss of control. Maintaining the correct tire pressure also helps with fuel-efficiency!
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Recycle your old greeting cards! They can be used as creative "Thank You" cards or gift tags. You can also use newspaper or tape magazine pages together as a unique gift wrap solution.Also, consider sending paperless e-greetings.
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When buying chocolates, consider going organic. Organic chocolate produces a smaller ecological footprint as it avoids the production and usage of harmful chemicals and pesticides.
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Purchase recycled office paper and help increase the demand for recycling. Look for products with 30% post-consumer content. Also, check for paper that's processed without chlorine and manufactured with fiber from sustainable grown wood.
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Although organically produced cotton clothes may have a larger price tag, their benefits cannot be ignored. Conventionally grown cotton is drenched in pesticides and other chemicals. Organic cotton growing avoids this runoff.
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Allow about an inch of space on either side and behind the coil of your refrigerator and you can reduce its operating costs significantly. This free flow of air can reduce your refrigerator's energy consumption by as much as 10%.
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Metal yard sign frames make great additions to vegetable gardens: use several to form a lattice for snow peas or other climbers, use single ones to support netting, keeping the net from crushing plants and keeping birds and squirrels from eating the plants.
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Shut off your computer. 75% of all electricity used in the house is standby power to keep electronics running. Shut down your computer when not in use, and you can save about $70/year.
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Change your lightbulbs. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs use 1/4 the electricity and last years longer.
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Hang up a clothesline. Dry your clothes the natural way, by hanging them on a line rather than loading them in a dryer.
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Check the label. Look for Energy Star, a rating system by the EPA to find energy-efficient products. Use Energy Star appliances to reduce your utility bill as much as 30%.
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Natural insulations can help tighten your home without the use of synthetics. Cellulose fiber, wood fiberboard, or vermiculite can all provide good insulation. Many are even reusable or biodegradable at the end of a building's life.
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Switch the circulation of your celing fans for the season: counter clockwise in summer and clockwise in winter
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Vote GREEN!
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Recycle your metal hangers by returning them to your local dry cleaner
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Have an energy audit on your home
