Want to know quick and easy ways to lower your emissions? Want to know how to make huge changes that will greatly lower your emissions? They're all on this page. Enjoy doing them and comment the guestbook about which ones you plan to do or are already doing!
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~Go for the gold coffee filters. They are not really made out of gold but they are that color. These have a much less impact on the environment compared to the others.
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~Start buying products made from bamboo instead of other trees. Bamboo grows very quickly and can be replaced much more easier then other trees.
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~Try out the new organic-cotton undies. Not only do they help the environment but they also help protect you from unsanitary conditions.
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~Teach kids and others about going green. Give them some facts to educate them and then give them some (or all) of these tips to get them making a change. Hopefully they pass it on as well.
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~Look for the green seal on products. That green seal means products are evaluated for environmental impact and this product is significantly less on the environment.
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~Get a solar-powered water heater if possible. This will especially work if you live in a sunny area. It is cheaper and helps save the environment.
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~Dispose of disposables and buy actual dishes and glasses. Paper plates and cups account for a lot of space in landfills. Save them some space and buy reusable.
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~Bring your own bags at the store. There are even some stores who offer bags that can be reused over and over again. They really help the environment.
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~Eat less meat. You don't have to become a vegetarian but try eating less meat this week. Meat factories make a lot of pollution so eating veggies and fruits help lower emissions and your weight.
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~Plan meals ahead of time so you only have to go to the store once. You won't believe the money you will save especially if the store is not really close.
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~Go for the gold coffee filters. They are not really made out of gold but they are that color. These have a much less impact on the environment compared to the others.
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~Start buying products made from bamboo instead of other trees. Bamboo grows very quickly and can be replaced much more easier then other trees.
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~Try out the new organic-cotton undies. Not only do they help the environment but they also help protect you from unsanitary conditions.
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~Teach kids and others about going green. Give them some facts to educate them and then give them some (or all) of these tips to get them making a change. Hopefully they pass it on as well.
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~Look for the green seal on products. That green seal means products are evaluated for environmental impact and this product is significantly less on the environment.
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~Use a refillable pen instead of disposable. You will save some money and the landfill a lot of space.
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~Use a natural bug spray instead of the chemical brands. It will help protect you and the wildlife from the toxic chemicals.
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~Paint your house green. Not literally green, but please use green brand paints. They greatly lower your emissions from regular brand painting.
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~Buy biodegradable bags for when your pet does their business. These bags decompose much faster than the usual plastic bags which take many, many years.
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~Have you ever grasscycled? Chances are, most of you have which is good. After mowing the lawn, leave the grass clippings on the lawn. They quickly decompose and return nutrients back into the ground.
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~Recylcle old toner and ink cartridges and buy remanufactured ones. According to Office Depot, each cartridge saves 2.5 pounds of metal and 1/2 gallon of gas.
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~Don't use a screen saver. That takes as much energy as it does when you are using it. Use the sleep mode or even better, turn it off.
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~Recycle paper instead of throwing it away. Recycled paper saves 60% more energy than new paper and generates 95% less air pollution.
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~Recycle extra motor oil. Don't pour it into the ground or water. Motor oil can be 100% recycled so just do it.
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~Use a green credit card so you always make small donations to make the world a better place. Most green credit cards actually give you rewards along the way.
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~Walk in instead of drive thru. Every time you go to the bank, fast food, prescription, or any other kind of building, park your car and walk in. You was at least 18 cents of gas idling in a drive thru.
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~By keeping your vehicle’s tires inflated to the proper pressure, you will be increasing your fuel economy and extending the life of your rubber, which means more cash in your pocket and more hope for polar bears.
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~Save a bundle of money and cut down on use of energy and chemicals by steam cleaning your clothes at home. A number of modern appliances are now available to make it easier.
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~If you are in the market for a new washing machine, make sure you get a front-loading model, which uses a third less water, heat energy and detergent than standard top-loading designs.
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~Get smart by installing a tankless water heater, also called a demand water heater, which heats up H2O when you need it. Standard water heaters result in wasted energy, since so much of the time water just sits in the tank unused, slowly losing heat.
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~The more smoothly you accelerate and decelerate, the better your gas mileage, with potential gas savings of 33% on the highway and 5% around town or an average of 48 cents a gallon.
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~Ditch the answering machine and use voice mail. It may not be intuitive, but voice mail uses less energy, and results in less hazardous waste than answering machines.
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~Recharge your batteries instead of buying new ones. Rechargeable batteries have 32 times less impact on the environment compared to the disposable batteries.
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~Wear light clothes in the summer and warm clothes in the winter. This will allow you to raise or lower the thermostat so you can save money and the environment.
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~Notice to those living on the Eastern Seaboard or Southern California: Most modern cars have a handy feature called cruise control, which keeps your vehicle at a constant speed -- useful when you aren't restricted by gridlock and aggressive drivers. If you get the chance, use it! It saves you gas and the environment.
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~Prevent energy leaks at home. Plugging up those energy leaks is simple. Insulating your home will keep your house warmer in the winter and help to cool things off in the summer. Sealing all your ducts can help as well.
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~Go "mostly organic" in your lawn or garden. Try out a few organic pesticides or fertilizers and see what works for you! By going mostly organic in your garden, you’ll help to stimulate beneficial soil organisms, reduce harmful wastewater runoff, and create a healthier place for your pets and children to play.
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~Replace single paned windows with double pane. This can be an expensive home renovation, but it will make all the difference in the world in terms of saving you energy during the cold winter months. In addition to double panes, energy efficient features to look for on windows include tinted glass coatings, low-emissivity (low-e) coatings, and multiple layers of glazing.
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~Turn off lights and electronic devices when not in use. So, I recommend connecting several appliances to one of those surge suppressing power outlet strips that has an on/off switch. When you leave in the morning, flip the switch and your devices will be completely turned off. Try that for a few months and see how much energy you save!
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~Fix the water leaks around your home. That water loss adds up over time and can cost you big money. Not to mention all that wasted water!
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~About 41% of our indoor water use goes to flushing the toilet. Try switching to a low-flow toilet. This will greatly save water. You could also follow the original advice, "If it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down."
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~Use ceiling fans to cool off in the summer. If placed strategically, you will not really have to use the air conditioning that much or you can at least raise the thermostat. Hey, there's even Energy-Star fans out there.
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~Rethink transportation before taking your gas guzzler out on the road. Carpool, buses, trains, and even walking for that extra exercise are all great ways to lower your emissions and gas bill.
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~Use some native plants in your garden. They require less maintenance, water, and pesticides. They also attract native wildlife and beneficial insects. You don't have to plant 100% native but just a few will do.
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~Use small and efficient devices to cook food. Sure, that oven makes good food but it also makes a lot of energy. Consider cooking outside as well since it will lower the heat in your house when you have a summer party.
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~Recycle cans and bottles. This greatly helps prevent water pollution and protects many animals. There are even some states where you get some money for returning cans and bottles. What could be easier?
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~Plant a tree (or more). More trees equals less carbon dioxide in the air. Trees play a huge role in regulating greenhouse gases. Just imagine how much our total emissions would lower if everyone planted a tree.
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~Don't burn your leaves. Leaf burning creates air pollution and health problems. How do you deal with them then? You could invest in a compost bin. Add other stuff to it and you will be able to have a nice garden in the spring. You could also rake the leaves back into the woods where insects will break them down.
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~Be a green party member. We just had an election but you can still vote green for other positions. Research into the green candidate and see what his/her views are. We really need this issue to be addressed by the government and only you can do that.
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~Buy food in bulk. Write a list with everything you will need for the week or so. According to the EPA, packaging materials represent 30% of all consumer waste. Not to mention, you will save money on gas because it will be less trips.
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~That fridge could be using a lot of energy if you are not being energy efficient. Don't place the fridge in the sunlight or near a stove or dishwasher. These all cause your fridge to work harder which means more energy. Think about what you want before you open the fridge.
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~Buy water-efficient showerheads. With low-flow models, a family of four can cut water usage by as much as 280 gallons a month. You could try the Kohler's Master Shower Eco or Niagara Conservation's Earth Massage.
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~Adjust the fridge and freezer temperatures. Most of the electricity is put into the fridge. Keep the fridge at 37 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
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~Recycle all of your old rechargeables. In some states, it's illegal to throw these away. There are many stores who will help you recycle them. Go to RBRC for more help.
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~Laptops, not desktops. Laptops use considerably less power than a desktop computer. They are also less space consuming and more portable.
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~On average, Americans eat out 5 times per week. All of those commercially prepared products add up to big bucks. A meal prepared at home can cost less than half of a meal prepared in a restaurant. This month, just try switching one usual "out to eat" night per week into a homemade meal. You will most likely have more than $100 and you will lower your emissions some.
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~Stop idling your car! I know you want to jam to your favorite song while your mom is in the grocery store but sing without the music next time. Idling for more than 10 seconds wastes more gas than is needed for startup. Overall, Americans idle away 2.9 billion gallons of gas a year, worth around $78.2 billion!
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~Turn off your computer when not using it. Save energy and wear and tear on your hardware by shutting down your computer at night. You'll save an average of $90 per year just by that alone. You can save even more by shutting it off when you are not using it during the day.
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~Sign up for that clean green energy. More than half of all electricity consumers in the U.S. have the option of purchasing green power from their utility. You can check if your utility has that option by clicking here
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~Turn down the thermostat this winter. You may want it toasty but that is why blankets were made. Most households shell out 50-70% of their energy budgets on heating and cooling. For every degree you lower the thermostat, you'll save between 1-3% on your heating bill. In the summer, raise the thermostat.
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