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There is a movement to go green. People are all making an effort to become more eco-friendly. Many say they are going green, but how can you and your family actually reduce your impact on the environment? Here are a 5 easy tips to make your home more eco-friendly and save some money.
Tip #1: Clean Green
Take a look at the cleaners you use for tabletops, counters, bath fixtures and floors. If they’re filled with chemicals, it’s time to toss them. Most cleaning needs can be taken care of with natural ingredients like water, baking soda, white vinegar and lemon. Lemon juice and vinegar, being acidic, can help with stubborn scrubbing needs. Baking soda is a gentle cleanser that can be used in numerous ways. It can be used to deodorize refrigerators and garbage pails, scrub and wipe down counters and to remove odors from carpets. It’s also an effective addition to your laundry detergent and bleach, increasing their effectiveness and reducing how much you need to use.
Tip #2: Change Your Light Bulbs
Another simple energy saving tip involves changing your light bulbs. Conventional incandescent bulbs lose more energy to heat than compact fluorescent bulbs. CFLs, which don’t work on a filament, can save up to 75% more energy than regular bulbs, which conserves energy and saves your family money.
Tip #3: Use Old Wood for New Furniture
If you’re just setting up housekeeping or shopping for some new furniture for your rooms, consider buying environmentally friendly furniture. A number of companies now sell “green furniture.” No, not painted green, but furniture made from the reclaimed wood of old barns and other buildings, recycled and put to creative use.
Tip #4: Stock Up On “Reusables”
Make sure you keep a supply of reusable canvas bags for grocery shopping, library trips or other needs. While you’re at it, pack lunches in reusable bags. A number of online and brick and mortar venues now feature reusable lunch sacks, sandwich baggies, food containers and bottles. These reusable bags will save you money and lessen your impact on the environment.
Tip #5: Make Your Lawn Even Greener Than It Is
Certain types of grass require less watering or spraying with chemicals. For tips on eco-friendly lawn care and planning, talk to someone at your local nursery. You can also focus on finding ways to root out weeds without resorting to chemical sprays. Check online for gardening tips that will provide recipes for homemade weed killers, most of them utilizing many of the same natural and inexpensive ingredients listed in Tip #1. You can also recycle as much water as you can by putting a barrel by your gutters. Collecting rainwater will not only reduce your water usage, but rainwater is healthier for your garden than some municipal waters that flow through your garden hose.
Author Bio
This article was written by Dixie Somers on behalf of Texas Electricity Providers. Visit their website at www.texaselectricityproviders.com for more information on finding an electricity provider.
Hey, that was really cool Sam.
Other than changing light bulbs I hadn’t really thought about the rest of the points.
Ciao