Here’s a list of Green Tips that I run across and I’ll just continue to add as I go along.
1. When buying candles buy beeswax instead of petroleum based. Paraffin candles are made from vegetable, animal and petroleum wastes and when burned can release chemicals into the air.
2. Remember to always clean the lint trap on your clothes dryer before every load!
3. If you make coffee, collect those grounds and spread them around your garden or flower beds. Among other things the grounds are high in nitrogen.
4. If you have an automatic irrigation system, make sure that you have a rain detection device installed periodically test it to ensure that it functions properly.
5. Composting is Easy. Composting can also be fun, especially if you enjoy gardening, and is even more rewarding when you think about the thousands of acres of open space being saved through the very simple practice of recycling and composting. All good gardeners know that there is nothing better for your plants and turf than good old fashioned hand made compost. There are many different types of composters on the market today that make the task of composting very easy and will protect against attracting stray or wild animals. You can even quicken the process of making compost by using safe and organic composting accelerators giving you compost within a few weeks.
6. Collect your condensate draining from your air conditioning system. Yes, that stuff that usually leaks onto your ceiling. A typical home may produce up to 7 or 8 gallons of water per day in peak cooling season. Use it to water plants.
7. Reuse or recycle your printer cartridges.
8. Consider packaging when buying products. Choose products with less packaging or better still with no packaging, such as unpacked fruit and vegetables.
9. Use reusable containers for packed lunches instead of plastic bags.
10. Try to use recycled paper stationery and remember to recycle any paper that you use. If possible print on both sides of the the paper. Use any scrap paper for notes before you recycle it. Reuse envelopes.
11. Take unwanted books to a local second-hand book store or charity shop, or if appropriate, donate to the local school.
12. Teach the Children. My children love the outdoors, because I expose them to it. They also love computers, and I am sure if we exposed them to fast foods they would love that as well. It’s all about making good choices and being a good example. I’m not talking about wearing hemp clothing or eating granola all day long although there are those who do. You do not have to be that committed to be a part of the “Green Initiative”. For those who merely have a healthy respect for the world we live in and want to take action to help improve the environment, there are many simple changes that we can make, and teach our children to do the same.
13. Conserving Water. Where droughts are prevalent each year conserving water is a must. Watering your yard can account for up to 40% of water consumption. Catching rainwater with rain barrels to water your yard or garden is just as easy as dragging out your hose and will save you a substantial amount of money on your water bill. One 80 gallon rain barrel can capture 3,275 gallons of water per year and you’ll be putting the water back into the underground aquifer. Not routing rainwater from your roof to your garden will only serve to tax drainage systems rather than benefit vegetation or replenish natural, underground aquifers.
Most rain barrels are made from either 100% recycled plastic or reused food industry barrels, so either way you will also be putting renewable resources to good use and your plants and flowers will thank you for it.
14. Plant a Tree. Every tree planted helps remove CO2 from our atmosphere, depletion of the ozone layer. There are many other benefits to growing trees in your own yard or community for that matter. They provide homes and a safe haven for the many wild animals that still reside among us. Mature trees help shade our home from the sun, cutting down on energy consumption when using air conditioning. One of the more proactive and well established non-profit organizations is the Arbor Day Foundation which encourages the planting and care of trees worldwide.
15. Pervious Patios and Walkways. For every 1,000 square feet of pervious patio, driveways or walkways, you can prevent an average of 12,100 gallons of storm water runoff from going into your communities drain system. This same water will help to recharge our lakes, wetlands and groundwater.
16. Lower the temperature to 120F. For every 10 degree drop, you recoup 3-5 percent of the power bill.
17. Cover windows to prevent air loss. Curtains engineered for insulation multiply the R-value of standard insulated glass.
18. to check for a leaky toilet, drop food coloring into the tank. If it ends up in the bowl, there’s a leak. Replacing the flapper can save thousands of gallons of water a year.
19. Got clogged sinks? Pouring strong caustic chemicals do help to partially dissolve clogs, but those chemicals contaminate the water supply and can damage drain pipes and septic systems. Try using a sink plunger (different from a toilet plunger). Before snaking a drain or removing a sink’s trap, try using needle nose pliers or a creatively bent coat hanger.
