Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Getting Started - Things you CAN do!

So for those of you just getting started on your road to green-dom here are some ideas to get you started. It can be such a daunting task and we realize that it can leave you stagnant and cause you to turn away from the idea or remain paralyzed and confused... we both lived that way for some time.

Let's get started! Choose a couple of these things to implement in your life and after they become habit you can go back and add more items or take that item to the next level. Every little bit counts and you CAN make a difference!

- Reuse those grocery bags - either at the store the next time or as garbage bags (at least you aren't buying new and throwing away a perfectly good bag)
The next level: Use reusable bags when you go to the store - like these: CHICO bags
- Getting just a few apples (potatoes, etc) skip the produce bag and just toss them loose into your cart
- Buy in bulk
- purchase local produce - look for a farmer's market near you with this handy GUIDE.
- Skip the bottled water. If your tap water isn't palpable get an under counter water softener. I have a Reverse Osmosis filter. Buy yourself a NON LEACHING water bottle to refill to your hearts content. Try either SIGG or Klean Kanteen
- Wear your jeans (or whatever) twice before washing
- Wash your clothes in cold water instead of hot
- Turn lights out as you leave the room
- When your bulbs burn out replace them with the energy efficient variety
- Turn down your thermostat a few degrees
- Turn down the temperature on your hot water heater
- Unplug things when you aren't using them. Ex: phone charger, computer, etc.
- Sign up with Green Dimes to decrease the amount of junk mail you get (that goes right into your recycling or garbage) It's only $36/year!!!

More to come...

1 comment:

Michelle said...

Wow, I'm so impressed, I thought I was a nerd for buying recycled toilet paper yesterday. Watched living with Ed on HGTV lately? Got great ideas for going green. Love your ideas, hope there's more to come! My only drawback to being as completely green as I want to....sometimes it costs more money, which being a teacher I don't really have much of. I buy only organic and try to be as green as possible, but things like the eco friendly light bulbs can be expensive! Wish the whole world would go green so ALL the things we buy were environmentally safe and more affordable! Keep it up ladies, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who thinks this way!