Besides reducing our carbon footprint on the earth, going green can save you some green. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
1. Replace your old incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs which use less energy.
2. Use an aluminum sport bottle and forgo the prepackaged bottled water to reduce the amount of landfill waste. Aluminum bottles do not absorb flavors like traditional plastic sport bottles. Lakin offers many styles.
3. Use grocery tote bags for your weekly shopping trip. Plastic and paper both require non-renewable fuel to be delivered to the store leading to harmful emissions being dispersed into the environment.
4. Install low-flow shower heads, and reduce the amount of time you spend in the shower if even by a few minutes each day - 2 minutes equates to 10 gallons of water. Also, turn the temperature setting down a degree or two on your hot water heater to save on gas or electric costs.
5. Bamboo is a good choice for flooring as well as clothing. It is a renewable and self sustainable source. Diapers, shirts and even sheets are made from bamboo and are as soft as cotton.
6. Use biodegradable or organic cleaners. Purchase concentrated forms and dilute in a refillable spray bottle. Concentrates are the most economical option in many cases. Seventh Generation has an extensive line of cleaning products.
7. Consider buying a laptop. They use considerably less energy than a desk-top computer.
8. Use a tire guage to keep the tires on your vehicle properly inflated to optimize gas mileage.
9. Eat less red meat. Cows require more water to grow their feed than other animals. Consider eating one vegan meal a week, and when possible, choose organically grown fruits and vegetables.
10.Consider installing motion sensor LED lights if you have a hard time remembering to shut off the lights.
