Saving money and save the Earth. It’s easier than you think and these 10 tips can get you started.
1. House plants actually clean the air you breathe, so have several. Spider Plants actually absorb toxic gases such as formaldehyde (found in new carpets and furniture) and Gerbera Daisies absorb benzene (found in petrochemicals such as plastics and pesticides). The only warning is that is you have small children or pets, don’t get poisonous plants such as chrysanthemums and aloe vera.
2. Save heat when the fireplace is on. An open fireplace wastes up to 85% of the gas it uses because, like a wood-burning fireplace, the fire sucks heat from inside and sends it out through the chimney. Direct-vent gas fireplaces burn more efficiently and can save you money.
3. Have it fixed instead of throwing it out. With the price of many consumer goods getting less and less every year, it’s tempting to simply replace old electronics and appliances when they break. But often they can be repaired for a fraction of the cost. Not only do you save money, but you’re keeping that item out of the landfill.
4. Giving gifts is fun. Filling landfills with gift wrapping isn’t good for your wallet or the environment. So when you give a gift, wrap it with creativity. Use the colorful comics in the newspaper or consider left-over wallpaper or even kitchen cupboard paper. If you get a gift bag, re-use it. You can even recycle greeting cards into gift tags. Save money and go green. When you show people your creatively wrapped gift, and explain how you’re helping to save the Earth, you’ll find they appreciate the gift more and maybe they’ll become a little “greener” too.
5. Reuse products whenever possible. Have you ever looked at just how much waste your family generates in a one week period? Manufacturers use so much packaging that it is easy for a family of four to have several bags of waste come garbage day. Next time you’re thinking of throwing something out, try and think of ways you can reuse it instead. For example old containers can be used for storage, stained clothing can be used as rags for cleaning and broken hockey sticks make great garden stakes. If you get creative you may be surprised how many new uses you can find for items you thought were trash!
6. Donating your still useful items is a great way to get a tax deduction and to help your community. Many charities such as Goodwill, the Salvation Army, the Cancer Society (the list is endless) operate thrift shops and the thrift shops provide a great deal of their funding. You can also find great bargains there too. So give it ways and check out the merchandise, you may find a treasure.
7. How many trees are cut down for junk mail? Who knows – but who needs it? Not me and probably not you. Tell the post office you don’t want junk mail and if it still gets through, tell the marketeers themselves to take you off their list. This archaic way of doing business is hrmful to the environement and if enough people tell them to stop it, they will.
8. Rechargeable batteries cost a little more, but they will save you money and help keep toxic metals out of the landfills. You can even find solar powered rechargers on the internet. How cool is that?
9. Find out what you can recycle. Different cities accept different items for recycling. It is important that you know exactly what is being recycled in your area. A lot of people put out items week after week thinking they are being recycled when in fact they are being thrown in the garbage at the recycling facility. By knowing the policies in your city you can avoid buying products that are not sold in recyclable containers and you can ensure you are putting out all of your garbage that can be recycled.
10. All households have some hazardous material that will eventually be thrown away. It is important that old tires, paint thinner, broken electronic items and even mercury filled thermometers be disposed of properly or they will pollute the landfill and can even pollute the water table that supplies drinking water. Fortunately, most communities have hazardous waste disposal days or drop off points and all citizens should use them. It’s smart and it will really help save the world for your kids and grandkids.
These are just a few of the many ways to help the environment and save money too. Use the internet to find many other tips and ideas for going green.
Rylan Waverly has been “going green” for over 15 years. He creates interesting blogs and participates in online discussions and “real world” conventions about creating a green future. One of his favorite websites is gogreen.com-webnews. He believes it has the most current news, information, interesting blogs and videos that can help anyone who is seeking real knowledge about living a green life.
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