Simple ways to green your home!
Support your local farmers market!
For most of us, our homes are the main contributor to our environmental footprint. While greening your home might seem daunting and costly, here are some tips that prove that greening your home can be much simpler and cheaper than you might expect!
- Turn off the lights! – Turning off lights when you leave the room or the house can save big bucks at the end of the year. If you tend to be forgetful, try installing a motion sensor switch, that way it’s guaranteed that your lights will be off when they’re not in use.
- Pile on the blankets - Everyone loves walking into a cozy house in the winter, but the financial and environmental cost of keeping your house at a comfortable 78 degrees can be quite significant. Lowering the heat (or AC) a few degrees can make a huge difference in your utility bill and carbon footprint!
- Switch to e-bills - We live in such an automated world that it just makes sense to switch to automated bills. E-bills make your payments easier to manage, ensure that your bill never gets lost in the mail and keeps countless sheets of paper out of the trash every month!
- Recycle – Many cities offer curbside recycling pick-up. Check to see what types of materials they accept. If your city does not do curbside pick-up, recycling facilities might still exist, you’ll simply need to drop the recyclable goods off at the site. Try to reuse certain items when possible. For example: old newspapers and magazines can be used to pack fragile items, 2 liter bottles can become bird feeders, glass jars can be used to collect items such as loose change or nuts and bolts… the possibilities are endless!
- Shop locally - Not only does shopping at your neighborhood farmers market help to support local merchants, but it helps to reduce your food’s carbon footprint. Much of the produce we purchase at the grocery store comes from other countries and even other continents! In many cases it is possible to find much of the same variety of produce grown in your own state as is sold at the grocery store. When buying meat and dairy, consider grass fed options (the food that the animals eat has a carbon footprint too!).
- Paper or Plastic? – No thanks! Those pesky plastic grocery bags have a habit of being carried away by the wind and littering forests, oceans, parks and cities. Use a multi-use shopping bag from now on. You’ll never have to worry about properly disposing of those plastic bags again!
- Pack your lunch – Not only is it healthier and cheaper than eating out, but think of all the packaging you are saving by bringing your lunch in reusable containers. If you were to eat take-out every single work day for one year that would be 260 of each of the following: bags, cups, straws, lids, sandwich wrappers, chip bags, napkins and condiments. That’s a lot of trash!
- Bring a travel mug - Love to start the day off with a nice hot cup of coffee? Us too! Try bringing your own coffee mug to your favorite cafe next time. Many coffee shops offer discounts for patrons who provide their own mug. Your coffee will stay hotter for longer and you’ll save plenty of cups from ending up in a landfill.
- Compost - If you prefer to brew your coffee at home, try composting the grounds. Used coffee grounds along with many other food scraps can be collected in a composter (there are many approaches to composting from home-made, indoor composters to elaborate manufactured composting equipment). Use your homemade nutrient-rich soil to start your own vegetable garden.
- Water at dawn - If you water at mid-day, much of the water just evaporates. Evening watering should be avoided because it can encourage the growth of mold or plant diseases (EPA). Besides, why not experience sunrise in your lovely garden?
- Leave your car at home – If you are just traveling a short distance, try walking, biking or using public transportation. It’s cheaper, healthier and often times more relaxing. If driving is necessary, try combining your errands into one trip to increase fuel efficiency.
Decide quickly!
- Keep the door closed - It takes a lot of energy to maintain the temperature in your refrigerator. Many of us have a bad habit of standing in front of an open refrigerator while pondering exactly what it is that we’re craving. Try to keep a mental list of the contents of the fridge and think about what you want to eat before opening up the fridge.
- Buy renewable energy - If it is offered in your city, buy renewable energy through your utility company. If you’re like most of us and you’re not in a position to build your own wind turbine, this is a much cheaper and simpler alternative.
- Clean up your act! – Most household cleaners contain chemicals that are harmful to humans and the environment. Why should we clean our houses with them? Make your own cleaning liquid using a combination of vinegar or baking soda and water. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water for a deodorizing and safe cleaning solution. For an abrasive cleaner, use a sprinkle of baking soda on a clean, damp sponge.
- Insulate your windows – Buying new energy efficient windows is a big decision. If you’re not ready to take the leap, try weatherproofing your windows for the winter. Many cheap options including caulk and thermal plastic are available.
- Energy Star - If you’re planning to buy new appliances or electronics, be sure to look for the most energy efficient options. Your local home improvement and electronics store are bound to carry a variety of energy efficient TVs, computers, dishwashers and nearly any other appliance for the home. Products displaying the Energy Star label are guaranteed to meet the governments energy efficiency standards.
- Reduce your flush – At some point in time you’ve probably heard the suggestion to flush the toilet less frequently in order to reduce water consumption. While that is an option, it’s not necessarily everybody’s favorite option. Instead, try placing a brick inside the tank of your toilet. This reduces the amount of water used per flush without reducing the power of the flush.
