10 Green Practices that Benefit You and the Environment

Being more “green” doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, many green practices are good for you and your wallet. Here are ten relatively painless ways to be more environmentally-friendly.

1. Composting

We all have organic scraps that can be put to good use in a backyard compost. Not only can composting reduce the amount of household garbage by as much as one-third, the nutrient rich soil you are left with is great for gardening. If you don’t have room for a backyard compost, try using a Countertop Compost Keeper.

2. Bike or walk

Whenever possible, try biking or walking to close-by destinations. According to the David Suzuki Foundation, pollution from vehicles is the largest contributor to harmful greenhouse gases.  A half-hour brisk walk can burn approximately 150 calories for a 125 lb. person. Get fit while cutting down on air pollutants!

3. Eat local

By eating locally grown foods that are in season, you are cutting down on the need to transport food from long distances while helping local businesses. Local food from farmer’s markets is also fresher and often tastier. Many communities have local farming initiatives that deliver farm fresh produce straight to your door.

4. Use an energy-efficient showerhead

For a fairly nominal cost, you can get an energy-efficient showerhead that can cut your hot water usage by 35% or more. This painless way to save energy and water also reduces your natural gas bill and pays for itself after only a few months of use – a great return on investment.

5. Use energy-efficient light bulbs

Use compact fluorescents (CFLs) rather than incandescent bulbs. CFLs not only have a longer life but also use 75-80% less energy. The David Suzuki Foundation says, “If 110 million households replaced just one 60-watt incandescent bulb with a CFL, the energy saved would power a city of 1.5 million people.”

6. Green Laundry

There are several ways to employ green practices while doing laundry: switch to an ENERGY STAR® front-loading washer to use less water and energy, use cold water, and reduce or eliminate the time using the dryer. An ENERGY STAR® washing machine can cut the amount of water and energy used in half. During the summer months try good old-fashioned outdoor line drying—nothing beats the scent of a “real” summer breeze.

7. Green printers for your office

If you require the occasional printed page, consider getting an eco-friendly printer. Eco-friendly printers are more energy-efficient. Green Living Ideas lists the following printers as eco-friendly:

• Dell 1235cn Color Laser Multifunction Printer
• HP Officejet Pro 8500
• Samsung SCX-5530FN

8. Switch to a laptop

Ditch your clunky desktop for a more energy-efficient laptop. Laptops can cut your energy usage by as much as 75%, (not to mention take up less space in your work area). Don’t forget to turn off your computer at the end of each day.

9. Use natural household cleaners

There are a number of brands out there that boast natural biodegradable ingredients such as method. Traditional household cleaners contain many toxic components that are not only harsh against your skin, but also harmful to the environment.

10. Slow cooked meals

Try using a slow cooker or toaster even instead of an electric oven. Not only will you cut down on the electricity used, you will get a scrumptious meal. It costs approximately 21 cents to use your slow cooker for 10 hours compared to $2.51 to operate an electric oven.

***

This post is featured on All Things Eco.