If It Is Thursday It's Going Green - Back to Basics of Going Green

Back to the Basics of Going Green

Here are some easy tips on going green that will not only help the environment, but may also help you to save some green of your own (money). Just by making some simple and easy changes in our every day activities, we can have a significant impact on our local energy resources and on our environment. I have mentioned most of these tips before but they bear repeating.

In Your Home:

· Turn off the running water while brushing your teeth or washing your hands or face. You will save up to a gallon of water this way.

· Run the dishwasher only when it is full. Scrape your plates prior to putting them into the dishwasher. Opt for air-drying instead of using precious energy for heat drying.

· Turn the lights off if you’re not in that room. Take full advantage of natural light whenever possible by opening blinds and curtains during the day.

· Make sure your home is energy efficient. Your local power company will be glad to conduct an energy analysis of your home, usually free of charge.

Recycling and Reusing:

· Recycle all paper, glass, plastic and steel whenever possible on your local recycling trash day.

· Turn your food ‘waste’ into compost that you can use to nurture and feed your garden or flowers.

· Bring new life to ‘old’ items. A fresh coat of paint is a creative way to add color to a piece of furniture. Sew a pair of curtains from a pretty flat sheet.

· Opt for a reusable water bottle or mug instead of buying plastic water bottles.

· Give it away! Organizations like Goodwill, thrift stores, Craigslist, and Freecycle enable you to give away those items you no longer need or want.

Transportation:

· Can you bicycle or walk to work?

· If you must drive, conduct regular maintenance on your vehicle.

· Carpool if possible with people in your area going the same direction for work.

· Work from home if at all possible - many employers are offering perks to their employees if they’re willing to work from the comfort of their own home.

· And last, but not least, volunteer to help in a neighborhood clean up – you will meet some wonderful people and your efforts will help beautify the location.

It is very easy to make these small changes in your home and lifestyle. If you continue to try these green techniques in your home you will be saving a bit of green ($) and helping future generations enjoy a cleaner, more sustainable, and beautiful world.