8 Super-Simple Ways to Go Green this Summer
Going green doesn’t have to be hard. There are actually lots of simple steps we can take to help reduce our impact on the environment. Some of these might even be things you hadn’t thought of—or didn’t realize they were making a difference.
Here are 8 super-simple ways to go green this summer:
1. Carpool to work one day a week. Or, if you’re close enough, walk or ride your bike to work. Taking off 20 miles a week can save about 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide pollution each year!
2. Install compact fluorescent bulbs. These bulbs (also known as CFLs) consume 75 percent less electricity and save you money. Replacing just one light bulb with a 25-watt CFL can save you up to $83 over the lifetime of that light bulb.
Image credit: ci.pierre.sd.us/
3. Recycle old electronics. Old cell phones, iPods and chargers are full to toxins, and if not disposed of properly, those toxins can seep into the environment. Best Buy and T-Mobile are just a few places that accept old electronics for recycling. You can even make money by recycling your electronics with a company like NextWorth.
4. Purchase a reusable water bottle. An aluminum, refillable water bottle will cut back on the amount of waste you’re producing and save you money.
5. Borrow, don’t buy. When you want a new book, head to the local library instead of the book store. Need a power tool? Borrow one from a neighbor. Any way you can share resources with friends, family or neighbors is a great way to go green.
6. Unplug, unplug, unplug. Phantom energy is a real problem. Electronics such as cell phone chargers, DVD players, TVs and video game consoles suck power even when you aren’t using them. To reduce that wasteful energy consumption, only plug these things in when you’re actively using them. You can also try solar chargers, which pull energy directly from the sun.
7. Wash less. Do the laundry two fewer times and the dishwasher one fewer time a week this summer. You’ll save thousands of gallons of water, cut costs and become more aware of the things you dirty up throughout the week.
8. Eat your veggies. Eating one meatless meal a week is a great way to go green. If every American did it, we could save as much carbon dioxide as taking 500,000 cars off the road!
Big thanks to our green-friendly friends who inspired this post. Best of luck in your green endeavors this summer!
What’s the easiest way you go green?
