Living Green
Recycle! It sounds so simple, and yet so many people don't do it. There are so many things that can be reused. For example - paper, motor oil, aluminum cans, and glass. If your community does not have a recycling program find out how to start one.

Try using cloth diapers for babies. Disposable plastic diapers will sit in landfills for years and years. Cloth ones can be washed and re-used over and over.

Bring your own bag to the grocery store - or any store for that matter. This way you have one less plastic bag that you have to deal with throwing away. More and more stores are offering incentives for people who use these kinds of bags. Many stores are also selling re-usable bags for you to use.

Buy locally-grown produce at farmers markets. Many smaller farmers that sell at markets grow their food organically. You also won't have to travel as far to get the produce, nor does the produce have to travel as far to get to you.

Make your home green by using energy efficient light bulbs and appliances. You can also turn down your heat and air conditioner, and you can also turn down the temperature of your hot water heater.

Use less water altogether. Try shortening your showers by a few minutes. The amount of water not used over the course of a year is astounding. Also, while drinking water is a good thing, use a reusable water bottle instead of constantly buying bottled water.

When building a new building or remodeling your home, use eco-friendly building materials. Re-using wood from older buildings being taken down is a good place to start.

Recycling electronics is a good way to get rid of electronics you no longer want or need. For example, donating slightly used computers and monitors to after school programs is a great way to help, as is giving them to thrift stores. Giving old cell phones to teachers of preschoolers and kindergarteners (after deleting all the numbers in it, of course) is a great way for young kids to learn phone manners.

Look for natural cleaning solutions for cleaning your home. A quick search on the Internet will result in hundreds of ideas. For example, a great way to clean and purify the air is to have house plants in your home.

Start a compost pile/bin. It's a great way to deal with your food scraps without sending them to the landfill. After a short while, you will have natural fertilizer to use in your flower beds, house plant pots, or garden.

Recycle your toothbrush when you are finished with it. You can use your old toothbrush for little odd jobs around the house such as:

-scrubbing the grout in between tiles
-scrubbing upoholstry and carpet to remove stains
-scrubbing jewelry along with baking soda
-cleaning your car's battery terminals
-scrubbing mud off of shoes

Air dry your dishes and clothes.

If possible opt for electronic billing for your bills. Doing this means that paper will not have to be used to send you a bill. When less paper is used more trees can stay living and providing us with oxygen.

When you need to get something out of the freezer or refrigerator don’t stand in front of it with the door open while you decide. Doing this lets the cool air out and your freezer or refrigerator will have to work hard to make the air the right coolness again.

Carpooling, biking or using mass transit such as a bus are great ways to be “green” using on of these options means that your vehicle is not using gas and producing exhaust.

Avoid buying paper plates and napkins. Buy cloth napkins instead.

Use lower wattage light bulbs or switch to Fluorescents.

When you cut your grass leave the clipping on the lawn. They will break down and help feed the soil.

Trade in your SUV or use it only when you have a lot to carry. Make sure you have at least one car that sips gas.

In the Winter keep the heat in you home at around 68 and in the summer keep the A/C around 78.

Change the filter in your furnace every 3 months.

In the Summer close the blinds to keep the Sun from heating up a room. in the Winter open them up to help warm the room.

Use your bike to run local errands.

Carpool when going out with friends. Its actually a lot more fun!

Read a book or play a board game instead of turning on the Big Screen TV.

Seal up drafts around doors and windows. There are plenty of options at any Home Store.

Plant a small garden and grow vegetables. It will be less grass to cut, fewer trips to the store and could lead to a new hobby you really enjoy.

Stay away from product that use excess plastic packaging.

When planting use native trees and scrubs. They generally need less care (resources) to thrive.

Don't over fertilize! The excess will just burn up your lawn and the run off will pollute local rivers and streams.

Re-use those small plastic grocery bags. They can become liners for small trash cans or be used to help bundle and store Christmas lights, power chords, etc.

When you plant new grass opt the for drought and disease resistant variety.

Before you drive off to the dump see if any of your old stuff can be donated or recycled.

If you are eating inside a fast food restaurant and you don't need a lid and straw for your drink - don't use one.

Don't buy from companies that pollute excessively or have poor track records when it come to the environment.

Try to buy products that can be recycled or that come in containers that you can re-use.

Stop buying water bottles!

Buy a programmable thermostat. They are easy to install and will save you lots of money on heating and cooling by conserving energy.

Keep your car tuned up. A well tuned engine runs more efficiently. Even just changing your cars air filter will help!

Dispose of used Batteries, Chemicals and Paint at a recycling center. Don't put them in your trash.