Go Green on a Budget

If you are new to the idea of going green here are some basic ideas that you can use to get started. 

1  Eat Green – One of the easiest ways to go green is to eat green! when you eat fresh and local foods you help the environment in several ways. You help reduce the demand for foods that must be trucked in. You also immediately reduce the amount of packaging going into the landfills.

2 Reuse anything – producing new goods requires a lot of energy – the production of the article, transport to the consumer, etc. Any time you buy used or reuse your own goods you help reduce this energy consumption.

3 Reduce the amount of driving you do – it’s been said for years, but carpooling is still a great idea to help reduce the carbon dioxide input into the atmosphere. Also, organize your errands. Do as many errands on the route you travel daily as possible – grocery shop on the way home from work, keep track of local sales so that you can stop as you pass particular stores. I love to get home and know I don’t have to go back out.

4 Don’t drink bottled water – buy a water filter instead. You can get a simple one to fit on your tap, or use a Britta water filter pitcher. Get a few inexpensive washable sqeeze bottles from your local Walmart and you are set. This helps reduce the energy required in the making and transporting of bottled water as well as reducing the waste in the landfill. Yes you can  recycle the bottles, but why use the energy in the first place. 

5 Use your clothes line or a foldable clothes rack – Not only do electric dryers use energy, they are also hard on some clothes, particularly clothes with elastic such as underwear and lingerie.  A little water softener in the rinse cycle and your clothes will be soft even after line drying. And nothing smells better than towels or sheets dried on the line in the sunshine.

Overall keep in find the manta Reduce-Reuse-Recycle.  When you get ideas please share them with us here in the comments.