Spring is the perfect time to get into new habits that are good for the environment while cleaning out the home in preparation for the upcoming summer. Aside from small habits such as simply turning the lights out when leaving the room, there are other ways to embrace the green lifestyle, many of which can be easily overlooked by consumers.
Living Green in Everyday Life
Save electricity with modern green innovations. Replace incandescent bulbs in the home with energy efficient CFL bulbs.
Outdoor solar lighting can also be added to the garden or walkway. These solar lights recharge in the sun and can be set to automatically turn on when the sun goes down.
Replace all major appliances with Energy Star appliances. More than 18,000 products in 35 categories are featured in the Entergy Star program.
Plant a garden instead of adding landscape. This will provide nutritious, low-cost food to families while at the same time keeping the yard green. Use organic plant foods instead of harmful chemical fertilizers.
Composting is also a great idea. There are many ways to compost and it's not necessary to buy an expensive plastic unit to do so. Just dig a hole in the ground and add items set aside for composition in the hole. Bury it with a light layer of dirt. Stir with a pitch fork once a week and cover with leaves or a tarp.
Shop Local to Fuel the Economy and Save the Environment
Shopping local is another great idea, and one that does lead down the road to the green lifestyle.
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, most produce in the United States travels an average of 1,500 miles before being sold.
Consumers can reduce all that shipping by rediscovering the fresh bounty of their surrounding area. Finding farmers' markets, co-ops and CSAs (community-supported agriculture projects) and shopping in these areas helps the environment and also helps the economy.
Stop buying bottled water. Bottled water is expensive and uses a lot of fuel to transport in most cases. In addition, a great amount of energy is wasted making and storing all those bottles and keeping them cold. By using what comes out of their tap instead, consumers reduce the energy and expenses required in making bottled water.
When making the transition from bottled water, get a good filter to boost its purity. Ice cube trays filled with filtered tap water will provide consumers with all the cold they need.
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle in the Home and Garden
Finally, recycle old items and compost. While spring cleaning, gather up all old clothes, toys, and furniture that is still usable and donate it to a local charity that helps families in need or sell it in a yard sale.
Also, if consumers already recycle and want to reduce the amount of waste they produce, they can start a compost pile as mentioned above.
Using these green tips, consumers and their families can start on the road to a better, cheaper, and cleaner life, helping to create a better tomorrow. That's what living the green life is all about.
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