TEAM GREEN FOR THE WIN!
- Lights, Camera, ACTION! Trading just one incandescent for a compact fluorescent prevents the emission of over 400 POUNDS of greenhouse gases. Also, the savings in energy are enormous!
- Clean machine.We all know the feeling of not wanting to wash out that mayonnaise jar so it can be recycled, but without cleaning, most items can’t be recycled. Just a little hot water and a few shakes with the lids on will make the earth thank you.
3. Grab a bottle of water and NO! Grabbing and going has been a staple for most households, but the environmental impacts are HUGE. Install a filter under the sink at home and buy stainless steel or BPA free plastic reusable water bottles. Find yourself at an event with plastic cups? Opt to use your own. At an airport, carry the empty one past security and use a fountain. (We personally are in LOVE with these Swell bottles)
4. Batteries not included. Don’t be that person who throws a battery away because you don’t know what to do with it! When these batteries break down, corrosive acids and heavy metals pollute the air, soil and water. Visit Earth911.com to find the nearest recycling site. (Ikea and Whole Foods take batteries!)
5. Death of the paper towel. Buy bulk bar towels from a restaurant supply store to cut down on paper waste. If you love them too much to give up, buy the ones with the “select-a-size” sheet options
6. Baby it’s cold inside. Air-conditioning uses a lot of energy. Switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs will help! Ceiling fans, open windows, automatic timers for units all help.
7. Pass the coffee, please. Just like a water bottle, coffee is usually a convenient staple in an office or at an event. If this is your Achilles heel, have a travel mug on hand. Fill it up at the office, bring it with you in the car, you’ll be ready!
8. The hot-box detox. Just like Air conditioning, heat can be overused. Throw on a sweater, turn the thermostat off for an hour at a time and give your hoe the once over to see if you could be leaking heat. Using a timer is also a great idea to keep the house comfy when you need it and save energy when you don’t.
9. Mean green, toxic machine. Re-think your household cleaners. If you have pets or small children in the house this one is a BIG one. They are most sensitive to the harsh chemicals from traditional cleaning supplies, but everyone will benefit if you can trade out some of the old ones for all-natural or eco-friendlier versions.
10. Extra baggage. Keep leaving your reusable grocery bags in the car? Yeah, we do too, but that’s why they invented the ones that fold up and go in your purse or jacket pocket! This one is all about habit. Get yourself into the habit of going into your trunk to get your bags, or put your grocery list in your glove compartment with the bags so they are all in one place.
11. Go with the low flow. Showering… oh what a wonderful thing to be able to have clean, hot, running water. Let’s keep it that way! Low-flow showerheads save between 15-25 gallons of water per day, or just putting a timer on for your shower to stay mindful. Save on energy and water bills as well!
12. Let there be (less) light. When you leave a room, when you leave the house, when there is sunshine, when your eyes are closed, there are so many times you do not need a light on! Remind your family and friends as well, it DOES make a difference. You can also get timers or house intelligence systems to monitor your energy consumption.
Little changes can make a BIG impact on your health and the health of the Earth, which we are ALL responsible for!
