Learn how to go green at home in this crazy world. The world the way that it is at the moment, and all the things we hear about on the news with the natural disasters. The doom and gloom in the media about the environment can sometimes put on a strain on our mental health and have us feeling overwhelmed. But with all the sad things going on there are also positive things that can really make a difference for the earth and our environment.
There are small things that you can do each and every day that will a huge impact on the earth. So don’t feel overwhelmed, going green is actually pretty easy and really is not all that hard.
There are things you can do each and every day to lesson your impact on the environment, starting right now. Here is a list of things you can start with that won’t break a sweat.
For one you can use Reusable Bags. A typical family can shop a lot in a month and I know for a fact that I go to the store each and every week. Many stores do give you the option of using plastic or paper, however if you do not recycle those plastic bags and throw them away. Those bags end up in the landfills and the ocean. In fact according to reuseit.com more than 300,000,000 pounds of these plastic bags end up in landfills each and every year.
And although many of these plastic bags are reusable for doing things around the house, like hold trash and maybe bag a lunch. It does not take from the fact that these bags are not bio-degradable and can take hundreds of years to break down into the environment. Than once they do it leaks harmful chemicals into the soil and water streams.
Reusable Bags
If you kept reusable bags in your car for those grocery store and other stops, you would make a huge difference in the number of plastic bags that end up in landfills, all of which will still be around when your great-grandchildren are alive. If you look around your home, you may have several cloth bags already that would be suitable. Trader Joe’s also sells an attractive reusable grocery bag for .99.
But if you are like me and looking for an cute, fashionable reusable grocery bags than you might want to take a look at some of the more modern grocery bags. Waste Less Bags carry a variety which comes in packs of six and features, cute colors, designs and more. The Reusable Grocery Tote Bag Super Saver bags come in a pack of six and are super sturdy. You are able to get more bang for your buck! Then there are Green Concepts Reusable grocery tote bags which are recyclable and comes with one insulated bag.
Time your showers. If you took a 5 minute shower every morning instead of a 15 minute one, this would save tons of water in a year as well as save you money on your water bill. Turning off the water while you soap your body and lather the shampoo in your hair as well as shave will help you save lots more.
Save on Paper by Going Digital.
If you are able to read an eBook instead of the hard or paper version than by all means do. You will not only save space in your house but reduce the amount of paper that is being made and being reused properly. This one is a hard one, since I do love reading the hard books, but doing just a little sometimes can go a long way. Kindle is one device that gives you the option of being able to read in eBooks format and on the run. All without having to wait for it to come in the mail. You can also do online banking instead of getting a statement in the mail? Pay bills online instead of using an envelope?
It’s been said that using cloth diapers is the single most important way a parent can help the environment. I don’t know if it’s true, but it does keep around 2 TONS of plastic out of the landfills. If you don’t have the heart to do cloth diapers, then at least choose biodegradable diapers like gDiapers. By the same token, microfiber cloths for cleaning save money and are more effective than paper towels for household cleaning.
I have to confess I was once a big spender, and not really a great Conserver. But now that I have four small little ones to look after, you start to put things into a different perspective. I learned to let go of a lot of selfish tendencies and think about the world around me and what is really important.
I say let’s make frugal cool again! At one time in this country, people prided themselves on “do without, use it up, wear it out”. They tried to stretch things as far as they would go, repair them when they broke, minimize what they purchased in the first place, and in general have a frugal outlook. Not only will your pocketbook thank you, but you’ll keep a lot of stuff out of the landfills. When you are done with something, Freecyle it (Freecyle.org) or give it to charity instead of just tossing it.
It’s all about setting goals for yourself and your family by doing a little at a time. Commit to making changes slowly. This way, good habits of stewardship of our planet are more likely to stick and become permanent lifestyle choices.