Living a green lifestyle – or going green – can begin in small, easy to manage ways. Implementing conservation techniques to reduce energy and natural resources is another way to live green; purchasing energy efficient products will also help the planet and save you money too! Green living is fast becoming a part of our daily life, and the planet is sure to be better for it. There are a number of easy things you can do to start now and be a better steward of the environment:
1. Choose filtered water over bottled. Save money as you kick the disposable water bottle habit — a practice that collectively results in more than 38 billion disposable plastic bottles deposited in the landfill each year in the United States.
2. Use a reusable water bottle. Be sure to look for BPA-free bottles. (Bisphenol A, more commonly known as BPA, is a chemical that has been used for more than 40 years in the manufacture of many hard plastic food containers such as baby bottles and reusable cups and the lining of metal food and beverage cans*).
3. Check out your bathroom. Use low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets.
4. Buy foods in season, you eliminate the environmental damage caused by shipping food thousands of miles. Instead buy locally, find farmers’ markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food near you at LocalHarvest.
5. Turn off lights and electronics when you leave the room. Unplug your cell phone charger from the wall when not using it. Turn off energy strips and surge protectors when not in use (especially overnight).
6. Bring your own bags to the grocery store. Given a choice between plastic and paper, opt for paper.
7. Consider organic cleaning products like vinegar, borax, and baking soda.
8. Landscape with native plants. Check out the article on the EPA web site.
9. Turn your car off if you’re going to be idle for more than one minute.
10. Do full loads of laundry and set the rinse cycle to “cold.”
11. Recycle. If you’re not at home, take the extra steps, (literally), to find that recycling can. At home, reserve your free Richie Roller from the Richmond Sanitation Department by calling 765-983-7456
12. Don’t run the water when brushing your teeth. Learn about water scarcity.
13. Give away your goods and find new ones at FreeCycle.