http://theartofsimple.net/tips-to-go-green-at-home/
1. Plant an herb garden. It’s good to have a reminder around of where our food originates, and this one is super easy.
2. Switch all your lightbulbs to CFLs (or at least switch a few).
4. Switch one appliance to an energy efficient model (look for the “energy star” label).
Photo from Flip & Tumble
5. Stop using disposable bags. Order some reusable bags—my favorites are Flip & Tumble. Or, make your own—they’re insanely easy.
6. Buy an inexpensive reusable water bottle, and stop buying plastic disposable bottles (my favorite is the Kleen Kanteen with the sport cap. Then watch The Story of Bottled Water, a short movie about the bottled water phenomena.
7. Wash laundry in cold water instead of hot.
8. Turn off lights when you leave the room.
9. Don’t turn on lights at all for as long as you can—open your curtains and enjoy natural light.
10. Drive the speed limit, and combine all your errands for the week in one trip.
Photo by Kamyar Adi
11. Better yet, walk or ride a bike to your errands that are two miles or closer.
12. Support your local economy and shop at your farmer’s market.
13. Turn off your computer completely at night.
14. Research whether you can sign up for green power from your utility company.
15. Pay your bills online. Not only is it greener, it’s a sanity saver.
16. Put a stop to unsolicited mail—sign up to opt out of pre-screened credit card offers. While you’re at it, if you’re in the U.S., go ahead and make sure you’re on the “do not call” list, just to make your life more peaceful.
17. Reuse scrap paper. Print on two sides, or let your kids color on the back side of used paper.
18. Conduct a quick energy audit of your home.
19. Subscribe to good eco-friendly blogs—I dig Keeper of the Home, Kitchen Stewardship, and Live Renewed.
20. Before buying anything new, first check your localCraigslist or Freecycle.
21. Support local restaurants that use food derived less than 100 miles away, and learn more about the benefits of eating locally.
22. Fix leaky faucets.
23. Make your own household cleaners. I’ve got quite a few recipes in my first book, Organized Simplicity.
Photo by Kasia
25. Watch The Story of Stuff with your kids, and talk about the impact your household trash has on our landfills (I don’t love some of their politics, but I can overlook it when watching).
26. Learn with your kids about another country or culture, expanding your knowledge to other sides of the world.
28. Lower the temperature on your hot water heater.
29. Unplug unused chargers and appliances.
30. Repurpose something. It’s fun.
31. Collect rainwater, and use it to water your houseplants and garden.
Photo by Lori Ann
32. Switch to cloth diapers – or at least do a combination with disposables. Even one cloth diaper per day means 365 fewer disposables in the landfill each year.
33. Switch to shade-grown coffee with the “Fair Trade” label.
34. Use a Diva Cup for your monthly cycles. At the risk of TMI, I’ve been using mine for more than five years now. (Update: Eight years and counting.)
35. Use cloth instead of paper to clean your kitchen. Be frugal, and make these rags out of old towels and t-shirts.
36. Use cloth napkins daily instead of paper.
37. Read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, and be utterly inspired.
38. Repurpose glass jars as leftover containers and bulk storage, especially in the kitchen.
39. Watch the myriad documentaries on Netflix about the food industry and environment. Some of my favorites areFood Inc., Amazing Planet, Discovery Atlas, and Food Matters. My daughter was totally mesmerized with that last one—it’s insanely important that our kids understand where our food originates.
40. Donate to—and shop at—thrift stores. You’ll be recycling perfectly usable items, you’ll be supporting your local economy, and you’ll be saving money.
1. Set up a home recycling station and teach your kids how to sort by paper, plastic, and aluminum.
2. Look for ways to repurpose everyday items such as bags, boxes, jars, and containers.
3. Compost food scraps, including egg shells, fruit peels, and wilted vegetables.
4. Explore the outdoors and talk about things in nature. Ask kids to keep a journal and write about the things they have found.
5. Ask for paper instead of plastic at the grocery store and take pre-used bags on your next store visit.
6. Plant a tree or garden with your child. Ask him or her to water and take care of it.
7. Take the kids to the park. Let them 'run free'.
8. Have your child walk or carpool to school.
9. For new moms: breastfeed for as long as possible.
10. Teach kids to turn off the water when brushing their teeth.
11. Take shorter showers.
12. Take your children with you to deposit bottles, cans, and aluminum at a recycling center. Consider donating all or a portion of the money received to a local charity of your child’s choice.
13. Change your lightbulbs to energy-efficient models.
14. Pack healthy “no-waste” kid lunches using reusable containers.
15. Shop locally.
16. Take the kids on a trip to the farmers market.
17. Eat organic fruits and vegetables. Teach kids about what “organic” means.
18. Visit a landfill.
19. Teach kids to turn off lights in their bedrooms when not in use.
20. Buy a hybrid or fuel-efficient family car on your next car purchase.
21. Watch less TV. Limit computer time.
22. Use eco-friendly cleaning products, or make your own.
23. Use non-disposable cloth diapers.
24. Wash your laundry in cold water and air-dry rugs and comforters.
25. Buy in bulk and reduce individually-wrapped items, such as juice boxes, potato chip bags, and fruit cups.
Other facts i found in the book INFORMATION IS BEAUTIFUL
having the thermostat on 24 and not 25 saves 0.5kg of Carbon a day
Having a snack of an apple instead of strawberries uses 5.70kg less of carbon a day.
commuting by train instead of a car saves 3.49kg of Carbon a day on average
having a shower with a water saving shower head saves 1.5kg of carbon a day
turning your computer off overnight saves 0.8kg of carbon a day
running outside instead on a treadmill uses 0.5kg less of carbon a day.
Using a fridge with an A++ standard uses 0.3kg less of carbon a day
using an energy saving light bulb saves 0.3kg of carbon a day
unplugging your phone charger uses 0.19kg less of carbon a day.
not smoking saves 0.02kg of carbon a day
Having a carton of local wine instead of a imported bottle of wine saves 1.1kg of carbon a day.
Washing dishes with your hands instead of a dishwasher uses 1kg less of carbon a day.
Take your own cloth bags or plant based material bags to do the shop instead of plastic bags.
- Switching lights off in empty rooms could cut your lighting costs by as much as 15 percent.
1. Each year more than 380 billion plastic shopping bags are produced just for use in the United States.
2. Less than 35% of these bags are recycled. The rest will be thrown away, either to pollute the landscape on put in landfills.
3. Plastic bags are generally made from polyethylene and will take over 1,000 years to biodegrade in landfills. During this time they will emit harmful gases.
4. It’s easy to reduce the use of plastic bag, take a cloth bag or one made from plant-based materials to use each time you go to the store.
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