Ten Steps Closer to Complete Green Living
If you have already been recycling - sorting your cans, paper, and plastics and taking them to the curb in neat packages - for years, but wonder if there isn't more you can do to go green within your home. There is.
Making the switch to complete green living overnight is an unrealistic expectation for any family. Just the thought of all that upheaval will scare most away from implementing any earth-friendly changes within the home. The good news is that you don't need to become an extreme environmentalist overnight. With the top ten tips below you can ease into this lifestyle change and still have an impact.
Top 10 Easy Green Living Tips
1. Change your grocery shopping purchases to include more locally grown, organic, and in-season foods. Avoid pre-packaged, pre-processed meals.
2. Green living means turning off or unplugging appliances while not in use and upgrading any older appliances in your home. This is also going to save you money, our new refrigerator paid for itself in the first 14 months.
3. Change to environmentally friendly compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs). Make this change slowly as some family members may have a sensitivity to these bulbs.
4. Ease up on water usage. Switch to a smaller toilet tank, insulate the tank or add closed lid containers full of water to the tank. Be aware of how often you turn the tap on when the water is just running down the drain (ie., brushing teeth, washing vegetables).
5. Almost every grocery store, warehouse and drug store now offer reusable bags for sale. Buy some, keep them in your car and use them every time you shop instead of the plastic or paper bags offered by the store.
6. Make the word 'disposable' a despicable word in your home. Shun any items that are one-time use only from here on in. Green living is garbage reduction.
7. Switch to natural cleaning products – they really have come a long way in the last five years – that are sold in concentrate form or offer less packaging.
8. Compost your vegetable scraps and grow a garden in your backyard or on your balcony. Compost bins are very affordable and efficient now. You can even compost in an apartment or condominium.
9. Walk, ride a bike, car pool, or use public transportation for your trips to work, evenings out, events or shopping. You'll save the environment and money, as well as reduce travelling stress and traffic jams.
10. Whenever you need a new item for your household, consider purchasing used. Many people are down-sizing, relocating, or selling gifts they received still in the box. Go to local auctions, surf eBay or Kijiji regularly, or scan yard sales when you're out on the weekends.
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