|
Everyday Green Living
We are sensitive to the fact that not everyone is ready to fully embrace a 100% green lifestyle. What we do know is that a vast majority of people are very concerned about the health of our planet and are eager to start learning more and taking small, convenient and affordable steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle. As with any personal change that people take on, there is evidence that slow, thoughtful and incremental change will result in longer lasting change. With this in mind, we have created a list for people who would like to know what environmental behavioral changes can be adopted quickly, easily, inexpensively, while having an overall significant positive impact on their individual and/or household environmental impact. It is our hope, that people will find these changes to also improve their personal lives in the process, and become motivated to adopt even more sustainable behaviors in the future.
Here is a list of things you can do now to kick-start green living into your daily habits, now:
-
Collect your unused chemical cleaners, paints and garden products and take them to your local HHW collection facility – never dump on the ground, in the garbage or pour down a sink drain, toilet or gutter.
-
Stop purchasing chemical cleaning and garden products and start mixing your own watershed-friendly household cleaning and gardening solutions.
-
Purchase a reusable shopping bag and USE IT whenever you go shopping.
-
Stop drinking bottled water. Purchase a stainless steel drinking container (BPA-free) to cut down on plastic container waste, and prevent toxins from leeching into your drink water.
-
Use liquid clothes washing detergent, NOT powdered detergent, which requires significantly more water and energy to manufacture.
-
Hang dry your clothes. Toss in the dryer for a quick “air-dry” cycle if needed to soften and remove wrinkles.
-
Clean the lint from your dryer screen and exhaust duct. Hold the screen under your faucet to remove even the smallest lint particles.
-
Pick up after your pet. Many of our nation's waterways are polluted with animal fecal bacteria.
-
Turn down the thermostat on your heating/cooling unit, as well your water heater. Lower the thermostat setting on your water heater when you leave town for a couple days or longer.
-
Replace incandescent light bulbs with CFL bulbs.
-
Divert rainwater from your downspouts away from driveways and sidewalks and onto nearby landscaping (or a rain garden). Will help prevent storm water pollution and recharge groundwater supplies
-
Wash your vehicles on lawns or other porous surfaces (preventing from washing down the storm drain)
-
Recycle food packaging and composting vegetable waste.
-
Plant a vegetable garden and a fruit tree or two.
-
Encourage your friends, family and neighbors to do all of the above.
|
|
