Reduce Waste, Think Green Tips
Going green means more than just going solar. There are many simple steps someone can take to make their home produce less waste. With some green tips, you can begin to help the environment and your wallet. That’s right, going green is not only healthy for the planet but also saves money.
Simple things such as switching to light-emitting diodes (LED’s) light bulbs and turning off unused room lights are good habits to have when going green. Keeping lights off and allowing natural sunlight in reduces electrical usage. Using energy star rated appliances will also help reduce Kilowatt hours (KWh) which means a homeowner pays less on their electric bill.
Electricity is not the only way to go green. Using products that are biodegradable and none toxic to clean with will also reduce waste and pollution. One product that is extremely universal at cleaning is vinegar. One could almost clean an entire house using just vinegar and water. Green carpet cleaning is simple, by adding vinegar to the carpet cleaners solution tank. While using green products to clean, think about using reusable wash cloths instead of paper towels. Reducing garbage is always a benefit.
Another way to become less wasteful is to reduce the amount of water your home uses. Fixing leaking faucets, taking shorter showers and shutting off sprinklers in the rain are all examples of decreasing water usage. Brushing your teeth with the water on uses about 5 gallons according to Sunnyslope County Water District. Remember to shut the water off while brushing. There are many other ways you can go green and save water.
Something that is overlooked is where your food comes from. That food at your local grocery store has most likely traveled 1,500 miles to get there according to sustainablebabysteps.com All the resources used to transport foods that far such as gas and electricity could be mitigated by buying local organic foods. A farmers market is a good place to start. By purchasing locally you are not only helping cut down on the transportation of food, you are also contributing to your local economy.
Most homes contribute to landfills directly. Being green means cutting waste and that includes what goes to the landfill. The amount of garbage a trash truck picks up at your house depends on you. Donate old clothes, sell unused items and recycling can have an impact on landfills if everyone did their part. Landfills produce a deadly methane gas that gets into our air and ground water.
Some more uncommon but effective ways to go green are reusable lunch bags, using rechargeable batteries and keeping the car in good running condition. Even if these seem like such small things to do, it all adds up to less waste and pollution.
Perhaps the biggest way to go green at home is to seek education and learn. Don’t keep what you learn to yourself. Teach other and inspire them to think green. Teaching children at a young age will teach them good habits to live by. Starting early one keeps from having to break bad habits such as not turning off light switches. There are many options for reading material about green education that can help you.
Being green is easier than you think. Often times being green will actually save money. You save money by reducing the cost of electricity, water, and one time consumables. More importantly than saving money, saving the environment and planet which we all live on is a good enough reason to be green. Being sensible consumers can go a long way in preserving our home here on planet Earth.
Author: Damien Justus
