Eco Habits

It’s amazing how much packaging it takes to ship something. Even something as simple as a book takes a box, shrink-wrap and something to fill the empty space between the box and the book – typically bubbles, foam peanuts or shredded paper. Where does all this packaging go once you’ve received your item? In the garbage, of course. And we haven’t mentioned the packaging of food and items in your grocery. Here are five ways to cut down on packaging and save resources:

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Have you ever heard the phrase, “children learn by our actions, not by our words?” When it comes to many issues, this is very true. Children emulate what they see. If you want your children to grow up to be environmentally conscious and responsible adults, show them what that looks like. Show them what it means to be eco-friendly.

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We’re all looking for ways to save money and consume fewer resources for a greener planet. Some of the ways to save energy, like turning the thermostat up or down, seem fairly obvious and don’t feel as if we’re doing enough. One great way to amplify your efforts is to look room by room at how you can save energy. This article tackles perhaps the most energy-hungry room in your home – the kitchen.

Here are five cooking tips to save energy in the kitchen:

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E-vites and E-cards are electronic cards which have been available for a few years. However, they are only recently starting to really catch on. As people are becoming more environmentally conscious and cutting back on their expenses, electronic invitations and cards are growing in popularity.

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With all the decisions new parents have to make you wouldn’t think diapers would be such a tough decision, yet it is one parents routinely struggle with: cloth or disposable diapers? This article lays out the pros and cons of both to help you make the right decision for you and your family.

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Most of us want to recycle. However, understanding what’s recyclable and what isn’t can be overwhelming. Some communities offer support including bins to sort your items in and clear definitions about what is acceptable. Yet other communities leave their residents alone to figure it out for

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Water has become a valuable commodity and it is becoming more and more valuable every day. To protect our environment and to save money, take a look at these easy water conservation tips.

• Turn off the faucet. The easiest way to cut down on water consumption is to not let the faucet run. Whether you’re washing dishes or you’re brushing your teeth, turning off the faucet conserves gallons of water each day.
• Choose xeriscape materials in your landscaping. Xeriscape plants don’t need much water to thrive. Plants like Thyme, lavender and others can grow quite beautifully on very little moisture.
• Water your lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation. This is actually better for your lawn too.
• Trim your shower time by a minute or two and you can save up to 150 gallons each month.
• Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. Longer grass shades roots and retains soil moisture better than if it is closely clipped. Again, this is better for your grass and motivates the roots to grow deep making it hardy and thick.
• Use a rain barrel to collect water and then use this water to water your garden or lawn.
• Use an automatic sprinkler system that’s easy to turn off and on. That way you can turn it off if it’s raining or install a rain sensor so your system won’t run when it’s raining.
• Check your toilet for leaks and fix them or replace your toilet with a low flush toilet.
• Use a water efficient showerhead and put aerators on all your faucets.
• Only wash your clothes or dishes when the machine is full.
• Visit only car washes that use recycled water.
• Use your extra water from cooking or water from pet bowls to water plants.
• Avoid flushing the toilet unless it’s necessary. Avoid using it as a garbage can where you toss tissues, cotton swabs and other items in.
• Wash dishes by hand.
• If you have a dishwasher, don’t wash your dishes before you put them in the washer and rinse them minimally.
• Fix all leaky faucets. Experts estimate we lose about 2700 gallons of water each year from leaky faucets.
• Insulate your pipes so you don’t have to run the water as long to reach your desired temperature.

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Saving the planet, conserving and using sustainable products, has become more than a passing fad. It has evolved into a way of life. Being environmentally conscious often also means being financially conscious – it saves money. Let’s look at 7 things you can do every day to save the planet.

1. Buy and use reusable shopping bags
   Whenever you go shopping, whether it’s at the grocery store or clothing store, use reusable bags. You can often purchase these durable cloth bags at your local market or home store but you can also order designer reusable shopping bags online. You can even make your own. The cost of a reusable bag bought at the market costs just a few dollars and you’re saving the earth from overfull landfills. Plastic takes 1,000 years to decompose and paper bags use 14 million trees a year.
2. Turn it off
   Whether it’s lights or the water faucet, turn them off when you’re not using them. Every day we leave the water running while we brush our teeth, wash our face, shave and shampoo our hair. Turn it off when you’re not using it and save thousands of gallons of water each year. And if you’re in the habit of leaving the lights on when you leave the room a simple change in habit, turning them off when you leave the room, will
   save energy and money. That goes for your computer too. When you’re not using it, rather than putting it into sleep mode, turn it off.
3. Adjust your thermostat
   This is an easy one. Simply lower your thermostat in the winter by 5 degrees and raise your thermostat 5 degrees in the summer and you’ll save
   both on your electric and gas utility bills, and you’ll save resources.
4. Walk when you can
   Walking is great exercise. It allows you to get valuable fresh air and sunshine and walking conserves fuel. If walking isn’t an option, consider a bicycle. You can cover the same amount of distance in about half the time and biking is exceptional exercise. You don’t have to be Lance Armstrong to get on a bike, and your bike doesn’t need to be fancy. They’re making wonderful cruiser bikes which are comfortable and uncomplicated, no gears or disc brakes to worry about, and they’re good for holding baskets which you can fill with groceries or other items.
5. Reduce, reuse, and recycle
   We’re not just talking about the basics here. Yes, it’s great to reuse that bag your last birthday present came in however what about reusing the same water glass throughout the day to save washing the same dish repeatedly. You can also pour the stale water in your pet’s water dish into your plants. You can use food containers to pack your lunch instead of plastic baggies and plastic wrap. The options to reduce, reuse and recycle are endless. Take a look around your home and see where you can conserve.
6. When your light bulbs burn out, instead of replacing them with another standard light bulb, replace them with compact fluorescent bulbs. They’re energy smart and while they cost a touch more than a standard bulb, they last 10 times longer.
7. As you run out of cleaning products in your home, replace them with natural or environmentally friendly cleaning products. Look for biodegradable products and if you’re unsure whether a product is environmentally safe, look for the health warnings. If it’s warning free, meaning nothing on the label says toxic, dangerous, warning or any other alarming notation, then you’re probably safe.

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