Amidst all this election talk, many people may have overlooked the fact that today is earth day. I must admit that I am a recent convert to environmentalism (3 years) and I wish I had more money to make my house completely Green, but I wanted to take some time today to share some basic tips that everybody could do to make a huge impact.
1. When you go shopping, if you have to take plastic bags DO NOT throw them away. They take centuries to biodegrade in landfills. You can recycle them and some stores will take them back.
2. Use cold water to wash your laundry. They still come clean!
3. Make sure you have Energystar appliances. Not only are they newer and probably smell better for than that old fridge, but they use way less energy.
4. Use a powerstrip to connect your electronic appliances and turn them off at the source. Standby power can be wasteful energy.
5. Buy organic fruits and veggies! They're delish.
6. Replace chemicals with natural home cleaning products. Clorox has a brand new line of natural cleaning products. They get the job done and smell wonderful. Healthier for you too.
7. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth, shave, or wash dishes.
8. Carpool or use mass transit to get to work. This will help your wallet and the earth.
9. Bring your own cup when you go to Starbucks, I'm sure they'd be happy selling you a souvenir cup to use over and over again.
I'm not an environmental fanatic, but these are small things that save you money and the earth at the same time. If more people made small behavioral changes, they would go a long way towards saving the planet. Happy Earth Day!
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