Feb 04 2009
Ten Small Things You Can Do To Go Green
Lego Recycle Truck Photo By: Bucklava Flickr
1. Recycle, this one sounds like a no brainer. But, the reality is that many people don’t realize all the items that can be recycled. The majority of things we purchase can be recycled if we are dilligent. In my own home the weekly recycling far outweighs the trash. I generally have one bag of trash a week and three bins filled to over flowing with recycling. In some cases items are picked up at your curb, in other cases you must drive them to the recycling center. Here in St. Petersburg, FL curb pick up takes paper, cardboard, plastic, and metal. When I want to recycle my glass, or prevent Rob from throwing it in the trash I have to drive it to a local drop off point.
2. Use Cloth Grocery Bags.
This simple step saves bringing home unnecessary plastic bags and allows you to use bags that have the strength to actually hold your groceries. How many times have you shared my experience of a plastic bag breaking mid way into your house? I learned this eco friendly trick when I lived in Germany. There you must purchase your grocery bags, that is exactly the incentive Americans need to use eco friendly cloth bags. Who wants to pay for something they already have at home?
3. Unplug…This is a tip I gleaned from Oprah’s show. One of her audience members during a budget friendly show gave the tip of unplugging things you are not using. This woman took it very seriously, unplugging the T.V and all lights and appliances that are not essental, until you are ready to use them. She said it dropped her electric bill by more than half. That is good for your wallet and our planet. After that show I walked through my 2,300 sq foot house and began to review things that didn’t need to be plugged in. There were many many things and within a month I was seeing a thirty dollar reduction in my own electric bill. Something that took me five minutes now saves me money every single month! I chose to unplugs lamps in my guest room and office, my cell phone charger, my second computer, toaster and electric kettle, shredder and other assorted small items that are only used periodically. Now when I want to shred something I take the extra ten seconds and plug it in. Yes, it takes a few extra seconds but I remind myself I’m not only protecting the planet I’m saving my wallet, which I love!
4. Adjust Your Thermostat or Purchase Programmable Thermostats
I opted to purchase and install programmable thermostats in my home. These are money saving and they are relatively easy to use. I had mine figured out within a day or two and they now allow me to adjust the temperature in my home for a variety of occasions such as travel or sleeping etc..
5. Make Your Own Green Household Cleaners
I was a hold out on this one for a long time. I thought what a pain in the ass this is going to be. But once I actually began doing it and had a system down it became really simple and now I never run out of eco friendly cleaners! I used a variety of websites for my green cleaning recipes. I actually did an article on this topic but the article is currently MIA on my website. I hope my tech person will find it shortly and then it can be up and viewable again with great links!
6. Donate Used Items to Charity or a Friend.
We all have excess stuff in the house, rather than throw it in the trash where it will end up in a landfill consider recycling it to charity, a pet rescue center or to a friend who needs something you have. I have spent a lot of time in the last few years donating things to charity and sharing things with family and friends. Something your tired of might bring new light and joy to a friend’s home. I also do this with magazines. When friends or family come by I always offer magazines that I have finished reading. First it drives me nuts to throw money away and second I am such an avid reader that I love the idea of sharing a magazine so that another can have the pleasure of reading it.
7. Find a New Use For Things
Old flower pots can become a potted herb garden. Old books can be swapped on various websites or at a book shop. Coffee cans can become storage containers. 35 lb cat litter tubs from Sam’s can store a variety of things with a nice air tight seal. Plastic containers make the perfect small job paint container when lugging the entire can is just not what you want to do. Use your imagination and find a new use for an old item.
8. Buy Compact Florescent Light Bulbs
These are a huge money saver, they last for years and thus put less waste out into the environment.
9. Recycle Your Ink Cartridges
This one is a no brainer, not only does it save the planet it saves your wallet because stores like Staples give you a three dollar coupon discount off a purchase for each ink cartridge you recycle. How cool is that, you save money and the planet.
10. Recycle Your Electronics
Many companies these days are allowing consumers to send in their old computers to be recycled correctly. Here is a link from the EPA with an entire list of potential recycling options for your electronics, cell phones and computers.
