Go Green

10 Simple Steps to Going Green

Wow..there seems to be so much bad news about the environment.  Every day we hear about global warming, holes in the ozone layer, forests that have been logged, trawled or cultivated to death, animal and plant life becoming extinct with growing numbers on the endangered species list, oceans that are polluted, beaches that are toxic and most frightening of all the greenhouse gas emissions which can destroy everything from the health of our children to the air we breathe.

Luckily, this is not the end of the story.  

The good news it that each of us can do something about it!!!

Below is a list of 10 small environmental tips that will make a huge impact on the movement to make our world a safer and better place to live.  

Say NO to the ATM receipt. 

There are 8 billion ATM transactions every single year. If everyone left the receipts in the machine, it would save a roll of paper more than 2 billion feet long.

1) Paper or Plastic?  Neither.

380 million plastic bags are thrown away in the United States every year.  Ask your local supermarket to provide you with the reusable eco friendly shopping bag. Through out the rest of your day, put all your purchases in one bag, you will be surprised how many paper and plastic bags you won’t need to use at all.

2) Use programmable thermostats

Just turning down the temperature at night by 2 degrees can reduce a home's CO2 emissions by up to 9 percent over the course of a year.  It will also save you a ton of money on those costly heating bills. Available at appliance stores and through your heating/cooling specialists.

3) Use a CFL bulb next time you change the light.

A compact florescent light bulb is 70 to 75 percent more efficient than regular bulbs.  They will cost more up front but will dramatically cut your electricity bill at the end of the month. 25% of all electricity in the United States is consumed by inefficient lighting.

4)  Shop the ENERGY STAR label on new purchases.

Energy star is the government’s backed symbol for energy efficient products that also meet standards of comfort, extra features and style.

5) Get rid of all your junk mail for just $15.

WWW.Greendimes.COM will do all the work to get rid of 90% of unwanted credit card offers, money mailers and catalogs.  Plus they will plant a tree in your name. 100 million trees are cut down each year to create the approximately 4.5 million tons of junk mail in the United States.  You can put a serious dent in that.

6) Unplug appliances.

Plugged-in appliances and electronics use energy even if they're turned off. Buy the Smart Strip.  Then you can plug several appliances into one place and turn them all off with the push of a button.

8) Recycle, reduce and reuse.  

Recycle paper, plastic, glass, aluminum and cardboard.  Then buy recycled products whenever you can.  Reduce your use of paper napkins, excess packaging, pesticides, water use and toxic cleaners.  Reuse boxes, jars, coffee mugs, and ink cartridges. Buy organic. You will live cleaner, feel better and help keep those landfills down.

9)Carpool. Take a day off from driving. Bike. Walk.

You will save 100 pounds of carbon dioxide for every mile you do not drive.

10)Educate others 

Promoting awareness is one of the quickest ways to effect change. Give everyone you know The Green Book: Every Day Guide to Saving the Planet. It is fun to read and it makes a great gift for the holiday season.  Cut out these ten suggestions and share them with your family.  Lead by example.

There are so many simple things we can do to be part of the solution. Daily conservation and care can cut our household greenhouse gas emissions by up to 10,000 pounds annually.  That would be the equivalent of not driving your car for an entire year. Ultimately, each decision we make will impact our immediate surroundings and, as it turns out, the entire planet as well.