It seems all that you hear lately is green this and green that. How can one decipher all the information? What is good advice, what is bad, or cost prohibitive? This is a short list of things you can easily work into your household routine and "Be Green".
Talk to your bank about receiving paperless statements. They will usually charge you for paper statements, statements emailed to you are free. Pay your bills online, (or over the phone) instead of sending a check. You save the cost of the stamp, but there is also no paper to throw away. Most banks offer online bill pay over a secured site. Recycle- Aluminum cans, plastic, paper, anything else your municipality will pick up. Should you live in an area (like us) that does not recycle, look for a place that does recycle. Local churches, non profits are great place to start. Also, if you work in an office or shop setting, recycle your cans and bottles and use the money to offset the cost for a company picnic. If your workplace does not recycle, ask to start. The worst they can say is no, but since it is the "hot" topic right now, I believe they would say yes. Carpool- if you have co-workers who live nearby, consider carpooling. This concept proves a little difficult for people who live out in the country, but with a little planning, it can be done. Carpooling saves wear and tear on your car, and usually the driver can recoup the gas used by charging a nominal fee for the carpool. Shop LOCAL- Roadside stands are everywhere around here selling the bounty of the growing season. Cucumbers, beans, peas, strawberries, blueberries, if it grew in this area, it's at the stands. Resist shopping the big box stores. While their prices may be wallet friendly, most of their goods are made in China, shipped over to the USA, then trucked to each store. By shopping local, you contribute to the economy in your area. Freecycle- Freecycling is a group of like minded people who post things they want to get rid of, but don't want the items to become landfill items. You can also post wanted items. Our family has gotten a manual lawn mower, an elliptical machine, a doll cradle from the 1930's, and excess garden bounty (zucchini, peppers, tomatoes). Our family has given away holiday wreaths, yarn, fabric, mirrored sliding closet doors, a couch and loveseat. Go to Freecycle.com and see if there is a Freecycle chapter in your area. Stop the newspaper delivery- most newspaper publishers have a website that gives you the same information, and most of the time it is FREE! There have been a lot of smaller publishers in the country who have already gone paperless with their news. Conserve water- purchase a low flow shower head. Fill a half gallon milk jug with water and place it in your toilet tank. By offsetting your water by a half gallon, you will flush a half gallon less every time. Fix leaks. A drop here and there can add up, wasting water and making your water bill grow. When opening canned veggies, don't pour the water down the drain. Feed your plants (indoor or out) with the water. This is an old depression area trick that works great. Keep your vehicle in good shape- having your tires inflated to the proper level gives you better gas mileage. When parking, always park so that when you leave you can drive forward. It takes more gas to be in reverse than it takes to be in drive. Keep your car tuned up and change your oil as recommended. A "healthy" car will always give you better mileage than a car that isn't. Keep yourself in healthy- a healthy person costs less than an unhealthy person in terms of medication, co-pays, physical therapy, etc. If you are smoking....QUIT. I can think of a thousand things the it takes to buy a pack could be used for. Exercise. Even if it is just 10 minutes of walking a day, your body will thank you.
These are only a few things you can do to be Green. Good luck and if you have any suggestions, you can contact me at http://greentipsforyou.com/. I love to hear successful green stories!
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