10 Ways To Go Green This Year

Sources: The Huffington Post and Waste Management

Happy Earth Day! There are small steps you can make to become more eco-friendly and help the environment. Check out these “10 Ways to Go Green This Year” from the Huffington Post.

  • Leave your Car at Home– Try carpooling with a co-worker or working from home two days a week if you can. If not, try to walk to nearby stores instead of driving. According to the EPA, “Leaving your car at home twice a week can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 1,600 lbs. per year.”
  • Try Public Transportation– If you don’t live near other stores, try public transportation to get around!
  • Refuel When it’s Cool– Avoid filling up your gas tank in the heat of the day, you are more likely to spill fuel and to have fuel evaporate into the atmosphere. Also, don’t overfill your tank, doing so can also cause you to spill fuel.
  • Try Energy Efficient Products– Look for the EPA’s Energy Star sticker on home appliances, which is not only more energy efficient but will save you money in the long run.
  • Recycle Your Old Electronics– Don’t just trash them. Take them to your local electronic recycling center. Donating and recycling electronics conserves natural resources and avoids pollution as well as greenhouse emissions. To find out more about e-cycling, click here.
  • Conserve Water– Try to limit your time in the shower, make sure the faucet is completely off when finished using it and don’t leave the water running when you are brushing your teeth.
  • Reuse– Reuse some of your household items such as egg cartons, glass containers and bags. Check out Pinterest from some DIY ideas on how to reuse household items!
  • Bring Your Own Shopping Bags-Try to eliminate plastic shopping bags as much as possible. A lot of stores give discounts for bring your own re-usable bags! Not only are you helping the environment but you are also saving $.
  • Read Labels– Try to stay away from harmful chemicals. Check labels on your food and home products and eliminate products that may be harmful to you as well as the environment.
  • RECYCLE– This may be obvious, but make sure you are recycling at home as well as at your work place. Metals, paper, glass, plastics, batteries and electronics can all be recycled. Want more information about recycling? Click here.