I am looking for simple and affordable ways to help going green?
I have no recycling available in my area, and to drive that far would waste fuel.
These are two things I am doing that are easy.
Using clean and refillable water bottles, and buys by the gallon or more. No water bottles to trash.
Using shopping bags, I purchased two reusable bags for 99c each. Every time you use them you save 3c and no more plastic bags.
Give more ideas, please.
I live on a fixed income in rural Nevada, where recycling is neither required nor mandatory. I have a Safeway 15 miles away. Then the Wal-Mart is 75 miles away. Reno is 140 and Las Vegas is 300mi. So traveling doesn’t work for me. That is the price I pay to live a quiet live in the high dessert. So I need simple lifestyles changes to make differences for our planet.
grow your own food!!!!!!
you can no matter where you live:
paradise, or NY apartment
Thats a simple and easy start but also setting your thermostat reasonably to not waste energy, buying energy star appliances when your current appliances reach the end of their life, driving a 4 cylinder car instead of a 6 cylinder when the time is for a new one. there are tons of ways to save money while going green. some stores and companies also recycle if there is a wal mart in your area they do recycle plastic bags, cans and bottles, also many supermarkets allow recycling so if your doing your weekly food shopping you could take your recyclables to the nearest supermarket. turning off unused lights in the house and switching to compact flourescant bulbs from incandescant are also ways to go green and save money. good luck!
Purchase some energy saving lights. They cost a little more up front, but in the long run you will save 2-3 times what thay cost in the form of lower electric bills. They only use 25% as much power as traditionaly tungsten light bulbs.
look into saving more money by buying solar panals for heating,,plant your yard full of native grasses in a garden like setting add more trees , look into windmill electric these will save you money at one time cost ,,chance who you do things turn off the lights wind dry the cloths,,there are lots of ideas just goolge recycle ,or save energy,or global warming and there is a lot to learn most of it is easy
I have a similar problem! The cheapest thing I have done is to replace a light bulb with CFL one. It was like $3 for one, but it will save a lot of energy, and last way longer then a traditional incandecent.
Another thing that wont cost any money at all is to unplug appliances that have a stand by feature, they use energy even when they are not turned on! So unplug your tv/vcr/computer when not in use, or get one of those outlet stripes with an off button to plug all of that stuff into and then you can just flip the little switch when you need too!
Buy the light bulbs that last longer. Replace all your old ones, after they die.
http://www.off-grid.net/index.php?p=109
Carpool if you can. And even better, buy a hybrid car.
http://www.businessweek.com/autos/hybrids/
http://www.hybridcars.com/
Inform people about going green, its benifits and everything.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13768213/site/newsweek/
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/4990/
http://www.nbc4.com/goinggreen/index.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/03/AR2006080301454.html
Stay informed. Try to do you part every chance you get.
First Day
One Water-Efficient Showerhead
The average four-person household uses 146,000 gallons of water per year. If you replace a standard 4.5-gallon-per-minute (GPM) showerhead with a 2.5-GPM head, you’ll save 20,000 gallons of water per year! 2.5ers range in price from about $5 to the deluxe, super-efficient Oxygenics Showerhead, which starts at $29.95. Available at http://www.old-fashioned-values.com and http://www.smarthome.com.
Second Day
Two Certified Organic or Humanely Raised Chickens
Unlike conventional birds, the following were not confined in cages or fed growth hormones and antibiotics. Diamond Organics: $5.95/lb. (www.diamondorganics.com), Murray’s Chicken: $2.59/lb. (at grocery stores), Whole Foods: $4.50/lb. (www.wholefoods.com).
Third Day
Three Organic Fair-Trade Coffees and Teas
In 2003, Americans spent nearly $3 billion on coffee, our largest food import, of which we consume more than the citizens of any other nation. By buying "Fair Trade Certified" coffee and other products, we help farmers receive fair prices and protect worker welfare.
Coffees:
Dean’s Beans: $8.99/12-oz. bag at Whole Foods or $6/8-oz. bag at Mamas Earth (www.mamasearth.com)
Equal Exchange: $18/2-lb. bag (www.equalexchange.com)
Choice Black or Green Tea:
1 box (16 bags) $3.10-$4.10 (www.choiceorganicteas.com) or 1 box (24 bags) $4.00 from Equal Exchange Choice Herbal Tea: 1 box (16 bags), $3.10-$4.10
Fourth Day
Four Sustainably Harvested Wood Kitchen Tools
Worldwide, 680 billion board feet of wood are harvested annually. Sustainable practices help preserve forests and communities.
These hand-carved kitchen implements are made from sustainably harvested madrone by the Tarahumara Women’s Cooperative in Cusarare, Chihuahua, Mexico: serving spoon ($12), bowl ($30) and bean masher ($12) (www.nativeseeds.org).
Give or get a handmade Smartwood-certified maple cutting board 10 X 10 in. $30 (www.citilogs.com, 877-CITY LOG).
Fifth Day
Five Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs)
CFLs use one fourth of the energy and last up to 10 times longer than conventional bulbs. Replace five incandescent bulbs with CFLs and you can save about 50 percent on your annual lighting bill. If every U.S. household did so, it would prevent the release of as much greenhouse gas as removing 8 million cars from the road for a year. Many states have price-incentive and/or rebate programs; check with your local utility company. The nonprofit Energy Federation sells EnergyStar-rated CFLs for less than most retailers, at $3-$10 each (www.energyfederation.org).
Sixth Day
Six Recycled Glass Drinking Glasses
Each year, Americans throw away approximately 12 million tons of glass, 38 percent of which is recycled. A growing number of glass artisans are now turning recycled bottles into mugs, wineglasses and candle holders.
Recycled Glass Mugs in green or cobalt ($3.25 each, http://www.greenfeet.com)
Recycled Glass Tumblers ($25.95/set of six, http://www.abundantearth.com)
Williams-Sonoma Vert Glassware, hand-blown in Spain, with a green cast ($42/4 wine goblets; http://www.williams-sonoma.com, 877 812 6235)
Seventh Day
Seven Personal-Care Products
Consider a few cosmetics made with truly natural and, yes, even pronounceable ingredients. The following five do not contain petroleum derivatives or other synthetic preservatives, stabilizers or surfactants. We’ve added two eco-friendly grooming aids.
1) TerrEssentials Organic Lip Protector, $3.75 (www.terressentials.com)
2) Kiss My Face Active Enzyme Deodorant, $4.29/1.7 oz. (www.mothernature.com)
3) Kingfisher Toothpaste, $3.99/6.6 oz. (www.mothernature.com)
4) Vermont Soap Aloe Castile Bath & Shower Gel, $5.99/8 oz. (www.newenglandnatural.com)
5) Tom’s of Maine Natural Shaving Cream, $5.49/3.6 oz. (www.mothernature.com)
6) Nature’s Gate Dental Floss, $2.82/50 yd. (www.shopnatural.com)
7) Recycline Preserve toothbrushes, handles made of 100 percent recycled plastic, $13 including postage-paid mailer for recycling them (www.recycline.com). Check out their new, recycled-plastic razors too.
Eighth Day
Substitute a solution of white vinegar and water for conventional glass cleaner.
Eight Household Cleaning Supplies
Of course you want household cleaners that clean, but wouldn’t it be great if they weren’t toxic to boot? The following products contain no phosphates, no animal ingredients, no chlorine, no petroleum and are never tested on animals.
1) Life Tree Ultra Dishwashing Liquid, $3.79/15 oz. (www.mothernature.com)
2) Seventh Generation Free & Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent, $6.80/50 oz. (www.shopnatural.com)
3) Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds Liquid Cleaner, $5.99/16 oz. (www.mothernature.com)
4) Oxy-Drain (enzyme drain unclogger) $8.95 1 lb. (www.home-environment.com)
5) Ecover Auto Dish Powder, $5.58/48 oz. (www.shopnatural.com)
6) Earth Friendly Products Toilet Bowl Cleaner, $3.59/24 oz. (www.veganessentials.com)
7) Heather’s Natural Oxygen Bleach Cleanser, $3.29/14 oz. (www.mothernature.com)
Ninth Day
Nine Safer, Greener Plastic and Paper Household Items
Not all plastic is the same. Reynolds Wrap is made from PVC, which can leave traces of phthalates on your food. The products we recommend have not been shown to leach any carcinogens or hormone disruptors. As a rule, stick with products marked #2, #4 or #5 and avoid #3, #6 and #7. Available at most supermarkets and natural-foods stores.
1) Plastic Wrap: BestYet, Glad Cling, Saran Cling Plus
2) Plastic Bags: Ziploc bags, Glad Freezer bags, Ziploc Double Guard freezer bags
3) Sandwich Bags: Glad sandwich bags, Hefty OneZip bags
4) Trash and Kitchen Bags: Recycled Seventh Generation plastic trash bags,$4 ; kitchen bags, $3-$4
Choose these recycled, chlorine-free paper products:
Facial Tissue: about $2 a box, Seventh Generation
Landfills are approximately 40 percent paper. The newspapers alone that are thrown away each year are equivalent to 30 million trees. Help save them and reduce chlorine bleaching, which releases toxic dioxins into the environment. Available at natural-foods stores.
5) Napkins: approx. $2.50 for 250, Seventh Generation (www.seventhgeneration.com)
6) Paper Towels: $1-$2 per roll, Seventh Generation or Whole Foods 365 brand (www.wholefoods.com)
7) Bathroom Tissue: $3-$4 for a 4-pack, Seventh Generation or Whole Foods 365 brand
9) Coffee Filters: $2.50-$3.50 for 100, If You Care
Tenth Day
Ten Local or Organic Products in Season
Buying locally supports small farms. As organic produce gains ground nationally, chains like Whole Foods, where we found these products and prices, are beginning to offer local produce in season at prices that give conventional foods a run for their money. Even more reasonable: The farmstands at your local green market. Here are some late-autumn foods to buy fresh and locally now:
Organic Potatoes, $1.49 lb.
Organic Carrots, 2-lb., bag/$1.79
Organic Bartlett Pears, $1.98/lb.
Local Apples, $0.98/lb.
Organic Parsley, $0.98/bunch
Organic Onions, $0.98/lb.
Organic Celery, $2.49/bunch
Organic Kale, $1.79/lb.
Organic Yams, $1.69/lb.
Organic Turnips, $1.49/lb.
Eleventh Day
1 qt. Organic Mayonnaise, $4.99, Spectrum
Eleven Organic Staples
Since the packaging makes up much of the cost of food, you can buy organic for less money when you buy bulk and reduce packaging waste as well.
1) 1 lb. Organic Rice (bulk), $1.25-$2
2) 1 lb. Organic Flour (bulk), $.60
3) 1 lb. Organic Oatmeal (bulk), $ .75
4) 1 lb. Organic Peanut Butter (bulk), $3-$5
5) 32 oz. Unrefined Organic Sugar, $2.89, Florida Crystal
6) 1/4 lb. Sea Salt, $7.50, Fleur de Sel de Guerande (www.splendidpalate.com)
7) 16 oz. expeller-press organic canola oil, $2.69, 365 Organic
9) 1 can Organic Tomatoes, $1.99, Muir Glen
10) 16. oz. Organic Pasta, $2.19, Bionature
11) 1 loaf Organic Whole Wheat Bread, $2.89
Twelfth Day
Twelve Organic Cotton Napkins
These napkins, a bit of a splurge, will add elegance to your holiday table, just as their day-to-day use will save money as fewer paper napkins are consumed.
3 sets of 4 Organic Cotton Sateen Napkins, $42 (www.chemsenlvng.com)
3 sets of 4 napkins, $42, Natural American Home
Try to walk as much as possible. This is healthy dolution also.
Eat as much as vegetables. This will save precious energy used in cooking meat and more in digesting it.
Drink as much as cool products and avoid caffeine. Your mind will be less excited about doing too many things and so you will avoid on wasteful work.
Do not clean your car by pipe. One bucketful can easily clean your car if you want.
Get up early and sleep early to save on power.
Use public transport as much as possible.
use Train instead of planes when travelling.
Love thy neighbourhood and share as much as possible.
Use the old type of light bulbs.
Buy an older car.
Keep your lights on it uses more power to always turn them off.
Do not use public transportation as a large bus will consume more energy than your car.
recycle, use a reel mower, install aerator faucets and showerheads, use an Energy Star approved appiances and lightbulbs, and buy Ray-o-vac hybrid batteries.
Well, I would double check on the recycling because I believe many area have to have a center. Also, how far is to far because in the long run if you have a lot of reclyables it will help. Another step is to replace all the bulbs in your home with florecent energy saving bulbs. They are available even at walmart. They are a little expensive upfront but last far longer then any regular bulb. Austrailla (sorry if I spelled it wrong) is on the way to banning regular old fashioned bulbs.
get small water bottles /washable ones..
make old clothes into a quilt or bags to give out to homeless ot store stuff in..
start a volunteer sewing club and show poor and homeless how to mend darn make new from old.
got to be some old ladies remember how its done ..
i do, but alas, i am the homeless so besides the handy dandy computer and an old car ..no resources..
also show homeless shelters and homeless how to recycle re-use.
is there a place fro homeless to wash dishes cook in parks etc.or is instant ?and trash? the way.
so much waste and Styrofoam/tin cookers in hte feed the poor and shelter programs
any greenie would be sick. there are millions inprograms fed and foundation funded get them to teach greeen!!!!!
1) Set your thermostat at 68 in the winter and 78 in the summer.
Use public transportation
2) Install CFLs in light fixtures that are on for long periods of time.
3) Take shorter showers
4) Install a small clothesline in your backyard and use it to dry some of your clothes.
5) Close shades or blinds in the summer to keep direct sunlight.
6) Turn your hot water heater down to 120F
7) Wash your clothes in cold water
9) When it is time to replace appliances make sure the new ones are Energy Star rated
10) Plant some trees to shade your house
try not to accept non-eco packaging in the first place. where I live they put 3 things in each plastic bag so you end up with 15 bags from one shopping trip. I ask for paper and make them cram it all in to one or 2 bags. If you can avoid getting "stuck" with it in the first place, that helps cut down on your clutter and doesn’t create the demand for the offending product in the first place.
grow ur own garden,,a small one and simple
use left overs and rotted fruits and vegetables 4 feterlizer,egg shells,tea bags and coffee grounds work well also.
All junk mail u receive,,,if there is a pre-paid envolope,,send it back!!this will cost them sending and receiving,,,dont fill anything out
grow trees near ur home,,,fast growing trees are cheap and can cut ur cooling bills by half–in the winter they help gard ur home from cold winds.
Grow fruit trees,,,small ones that require little maintance.
Buy in bulk,,of non-perishable items,,,also saves money trips,(gas)-and paper waste from the company–
Recycle cans,,,,this will pay 4 itself..
Use recycle products,and some store have bag drops 4 over crowded plastic shopping bags..
Buy containers for paper and card board,,to take 1 x a month or so to recycle.
Use bio friendly products,,that way if its in a land fill,,,it wont hurt…
Cut the plastic rings on 6-pack holders,,keeps animals from killing themselves.
Ask ur local church to set up a recycling program,,,they speak of love god and mother earth,,,,let them show this love,,,not to mention they can also have a can drive to collect money for the church.If just half the members get involved,,,that wold be a tremendous help in conserving the enviorment,,
All these ideas are cheap and easy,,,u can also see if ur job has a recycling program…..
and donate old things to goodwill,salvation army,,,this also saves the enviroment by reusing things for several more years.
Become less of a consumer… not need everything you see on TV. Buy used clothing, used books, used household goods, & local goods. Dine at restaurants serving local food. Avoid shipped consumables… shop at farmer’s markets. Share with neighbors… Borrow from neighbors. i.e Why does everyone think they have to have their own BBQ pit, George Foreman grill, vacuum cleaner? Get your media on-line instead of CDs, DVDs, etc. Eat less meat, plan your drive time better, drive more efficiently, Teach children to take better care of things and themselves and quit wasting their minds, time, energy, and buying throw away toys, containers, clothes. Value what you have and quit throwing so much away.
What if I could guarantee you for $55.00 you could not only save $3,400.00 off the bat!
BUT ALSO:
SAVE Landfills 108 lbs of pkging and the hassle of containers around your house, yard, or trips to the recycle
ELIMINATE 248 lbs of greenhouse gas.
ACCOMPLISH the equivalent of planting 10 trees?
100% chemical free/"true" organic zone in your home.
GIVE you more than 1001 uses ALL around your house and yard for EACH of your family members?
SAVE untold amounts of trips to the store thus save you $ on gas/pollution/ etc.
SAVE you in the long run on trips to the doctor for you and your family?
AND MOST IMPORTANT being able to share this EASY concept /lifestyle with your friends and family’s without having to leave your front door!!
IMAGINE "your personal" gain and results in one years time!
And those are just starters which would give you more TIME AND MONEY to start going green right from your kitchen sink.
Does that sound like an affordable way to get a HUGE LEAP in going green?
I promise you this is no exaggeration! and you can contact me via email no hassles, no strings, for more info and or links to research on your journey to Get Clean and Go Green!
If you have 3 ft of available space you can compost and save trash space by making your own garden soil. Replace lights with energy efficient ones. Encourage your city services to invite recyclers to preform round ups in your community 1x a month as a community service and a way to reduce trash costs. Create a community book trade party at a school,library or community center to encourage people to reuse books instead of buying new. There are allot of ways you can live greener just look at what you have in excess and see if there is an opportunity to share or trade in your community. You could also contact a large recycling company and see if they would set up a station in your town it will not only provide a great community service but perhaps a job or two. Good Luck!
Another simple, easy thing is in your everyday chores:
1- don’t use paper or plastic wear (plates, cups, forks, etc..)
2- when you use re-usuable eat wear simply don’t let the water run while washing. (don’t use the dishwasher – and save about $20.00 plus a month on your water bill – not to mention your electric)
3- use a clothesline for towels, sheets, jeans, etc.. ( all those long drying items).
4- hanger dry shirts, dresses, jackets and other hangable items – this gives your home a fresh scent (liquid fabric softner) and humidifies your home which helps with your families health.
5- don’t use a full cycle when drying lighter items. Use half your cycle – this is usually enough time.
** by doing # 2 , 3 , 4 & 5 our family saved around $100.00 a month on electric alone – it’s like being paid to go green!
Sometimes big shopping centers have recycling centers out in the parking lot, they often look like big dumpsters, but they are green. Save up your recyables for when you go to a shopping center and take a trunk full there.
If you work somewhere set up a recycling center for paper and other materials and have willing people rotate to take it to a recycling center.
use florescent lightbulbs throughout your house
compost
recycle….just save up your recyclables and bring them into town when you go for groceries, etc.
buy organic food whenever possible
use environmentally friendly products such as detergent, dish washing liquid..etc. (seventh generation is a good brand)
Do not purchase paper towels…use cloth towels instead
If you have a local egg farmer ask him where he gets his cartons from. Then call up that company and ask where they get their materials from, if they use recycled paper. They may be close to your area and use recycled paper, and be willing to take your paper products. Just an idea.
For the shopping bags, I find bins work way better. You can have collapsible bins that fold down flat but pop up when you need them. They fit well in the cart and when you go to the checkout you just unfold them to their proper shape, they stack nicely, and fit very nicely in the car. This is what we do and I find it handier than carrying bags. We shop for 4 and only use 3 bins, and they’re just easier to carry I guess. But to each his own.
Anyways other ideas. First, change your lightbulbs to CFLs, very important. Also have a box in your home for hazardous waste like CFLs when they’re done, batteries, and electronics, when the box is filled, take it to the hazardous waste disposal, it’s just a good idea of generally being green.
Next, try using cloth instead of paper for towels or napkins. I’m struggling with this one myself to tell you the truth, I’m just used to paper towels. Some paper towels are compostable though.
Oh, buy environmentally friendly cleaning products. I get products by a great company called method, their products are greener and amazing, and look good too.
http://www.methodhome.com/
Composting is important, and gives you soil for the garden. Just about anything other than animal fats can go in composting, and you can find a lot of info about it online too.
Wash laundry in cold water and hang to dry if possible. This one will save you cash. Use a liquid laundry soap for best results, I’ve found some of the powders don’t always like cold water. If you find your clothes stiff after line drying stick them in the dryer afterwards for just like 10-15 minutes on the minimum heat cycle just to get them softer. I find this gives me the best results.
If you buy new appliances, buy energy star appliances. If you need a new toilet, get a dual tank, it’s got a 3L tank and a 6L tank both on the same toilet, one for when you pee, another for when you poop, they’re the new big thing because again, saves you cash and uses less water(30% of home water use is for the toilet it seems).
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/publications/en/rh-pr/tech/02-124-e.html
Hmmm drive less if possible, plant some trees. If you have kids, get them involved, teach them about composting and other things like recycling for when it does become available in your area.
Buy local food. This one is important. If you buy everything from the supermarket you’ll see a bunch of stuff comes from China or Mexico or Brazil or so forth. That food uses fuel to get there, which is fine for some food, but if you can avoid it, then avoid it and buy local. You can usually find good local food at farmer’s markets if you have them in your area. Personally I’m refusing to buy Chinese garlic recently as I believe we can grow garlic ourselves and I want local garlic. But things like Bananas you can only buy from other places.
Oh and local food has one other advantage, freshness. Food that is harvested, then put on a truck for even a day, then gets processed and sent out to stores and put on the shelves is a couple days old, some of it is picked before it’s fully ripe and allowed to ripen on the way. If you buy local it’s usually picked ripe, so it’s been sitting for less time. This is said to make a difference especially with foods like tomatoes.
Even better is to start your own garden, all you need is soil, some fertilizer like manure, and seeds, then add sun and water and there you go. Plus it’s a fun hobby, and it has no carbon footprint. You can even let some of it go to seed and have seed for the next year.
If you have a garden you can get rain barrels, you put them on the spouts from the eaves troths in your house, they fill up with rain water that you can use to water your garden and even your lawn if you’re talented(because it means hooking up a hose I suppose). But this means free water, so guilt free plant watering.
http://rainbarrelguide.com/
I don’t know what else. Uhm you could buy your power from a green power dealer. In my area we have http://www.bullfrogpower.com/
Remember to do it slowly, not all at once. No sense going into debt to go green. I’m sure you have a hundred suggestions now, and it’s a lot of info, so take it one piece at a time. I found this was the best way to change, bit by bit, rather than all at once.
That’s about all I can think of.
Oh you said you live in a rural area, I’ve heard that people in rural areas that need a truck for work are now also having a car for personal use because of gas savings. I’m pretty sure it’s greener, though it seems to be done just for saving money on gas.