Are you really living GREEN?

So, you just purchased your new Prius, and you faithfully recycle your aluminum cans. You are bragging to the neighbors about doing your part for the environment. But are you really living green inside your home?

1) The obvious, easy, and most common green thing to do is recycle plastics and paper. But did you remember to include your toothbrush in your program? Did you know that 50 million pounds of toothbrushes hit the landfills every year? Astonishing!

2) Take your own bags to the grocery store. Carry a green reusable bag, or save your plastic bags for the following trip. Worldwide we consume one million bags per minute. The Wall Street Journal quoted that the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually. Plastic bags don’t biodegrade, they break down into small toxic bits.
3) Buy in bulk and save packaging. Not only will you save fuel by making fewer trips to the grocery store, you will also consume less packaging material. Though you should watch out for multiple small items packaged together that masquerade as ‘bulk’. A recent poll of grocers revealed that bulk foods have increased in sales volume about 10 percent over the past 12 months.

4) Heat only the space you occupy. If you rarely use the guest bedroom and guest bath, close the vents in these rooms until just prior to the arrival of your guests.
5) Dress warm in the winter. Don’t turn up the heat, put on a sweater. If your wife (whose always cold) is wearing shorts in December, then the thermostat is set too high.
6) Install a programmable thermostat. Oh yes, and program it.
7) Is your TV running 24/7? If you are not watching the TV, turn it off. If you need the comfort of the TV to rock you to sleep, then set the timer to automatically turn the TV off.

8 ) Replace your incandescent lamps, with compact fluorescent lamps, they burn far less energy. But beware; you must recycle CFL lights as they may contain mercury. The good news is that all Home Depot stores in the US and Canada offer CFL recycling.
9) Solar hot water systems should be on every home. There is nothing like a hot shower in the morning to get you started. Try installing a solar water heater to take advantage of the natural energy of the sun. Solar hot water systems are highly efficient and low cost.
10) Install ceiling fans in every room. You can reduce the AC temperature, and the room will still feel cooler when the fan is running.
11) Using eco-friendly hand soap and dish soap can help to protect fish and wildlife.
12) When your spouse decides to add painting to your honey-do list, you should only buy low VOC or no VOC paint. VOCs or Volatile Organic Compounds are found in most latex and oil-based paints. These toxins are released into the air when the paint is applied.
13) People love the smell of a new car. But in the case of a new home or newly decorated room, that new odor may be the smell of a toxic VOC called 4-PCH or phenylcyclohexene as it is released from your new carpet. To avoid this hazard, purchase a low VOC or no VOC carpet.
14) Take the time to locate green furniture manufactured from recycled materials or recovered wood. You can purchase tables, chairs, kitchen cupboards, bookshelves, lamps, and even a wooden clock.

15) Use rechargeable batteries to keep dead batteries out of landfills. According to a study by Uniross, rechargeable batteries have 32 times less impact on the environment and use less then 1/23rd the natural resources of their disposable buddies. Using a solar charger is the absolute greenest choice, eliminating the cost of electricity and the pollution associated with generating it.


Summary:Just think how much farther we can take our green living and save the planet for our children and future generations.

Photos courtesy of: Green by Design, P. Winberg, simply communicated, inc., Eco Childs Play, Greenopolis, Unclutter

Some text courtesy of: Green by Design