50 Simple and Affordable Ways to Go Green

November 17th, 2007 · No Comments

In the last year we’ve seen countless cover stories in the media about global warming, and Al Gore’s book and movie Inconvenient Truth has drawn an amazing amount of attention to the subject. Many of us may not be able to afford a hybrid car or solar panels for our home, but there are many, many simple and cost saving ways we can do our part to save the environment everyday.

Below are 50 that I’ve come across in articles and online sources that can be done without making major changes to your life - but they will make major positive changes to our environment.

I challenge you to integrate five new ideas into your life today. You can also purchase a wide array of books on the subject and energy saving products here. Enjoy!

Bring your own commuter mug to Starbucks or to work
Think before you print. And if you have printed documents that you don’t need, recycle or use them as scratch paper
Turn of the lights in your office when you leave at the end of the day
Bring your lunch (using plastic containers and silverware) versus getting lunch “to go”
Use the dishwasher versus washing by hand (uses much less water and the water heater is one of the biggest sources of our energy bill)
Go to the car wash versus washing yourself
Buy locally grown produce (hit the farmers market)
Buy organic produce (and it’s good for your too)
Consider going vegetarian
Do larger loads of laundry
Wash whites in warm, not hot
Set your frig for 37 degress and your freezer for 3 degrees
Use matchbooks versus lighters
Get off junk mail lists through the Direct Marketing Association
Bring your own towel to the gym
Stop using plastic grocery bags
Bring your own canvas grocery bags
Switch to a laptop, they use 50 percent less energy
Swap out your light bulbs for fluorescent. A 25-watt fluorescent (which are affordable these days) produces about as much light as a 100-watt conventional and used only a quarter of the electricity
Take a shorter shower and switch to a water efficient shower head (try Oxygenics)
Lower the thermostat by two degrees in the winter and raise it a couple degrees in the summer
Carpool to parties, work and events whenever possible
Do all your errands at once to reduce drive time
Keep your tires properly inflated and your car tuned
Use an electric razor or hand razor with replaceable blades instead of disposable razor
If possible, take public transportation at least once a week
Walk more, drive less
If you can’t afford a hybrid, at least try and find a car that gets good mileage
Recycle your water bottles, shampoo bottles, wine bottles, cans, jars, newspapers, magazines and more
Pay your bills online
Turn off lights when you leave the room
If it is just you, consider flying versus driving on trips over 500 miles
Buy bulk
Buy lighter packaged products (takes less energy to produce and transport)
Download music versus buying CDs
Unplug computers, printers and other electric gadgets when not in use
Buy Energy Star appliances (there are many products available today)
Avoid bottled water. Buy in volume or use a filtration system
Choose tap water at a restaurant
Pick up five pieces of trash
Use rags instead of paper towels, and cloth napkins instead of paper ones
Buy rechargeable batteries
Water lawn and gardens early in the morning
Avoid disposables when putting on a party. Instead use plastic or regular plates that can be used year after year
Recycle usable bows, ribbons and decorative wrapping for gifts
Recycle clothing by giving it away or using old tees as rags. Patagonia collects used clothing made from Polartec and Capilene to make into new fabric and clothes
Telecommute
Consider buying vintage clothing
Wrap your water heater in an insulated blanket (only costs about $10)
Donate used products (i.e. clothing, furniture, appliances) to a charity