While some may resist
going green because of the cost, others know being eco-minded saves a lot of green, too. Here are some more ideas for saving money and the
environment.
Make your own cooking spray Commercial
cooking sprays are bad for your health - they contain
additives and genetically-modified ingredients - and bad for
the environment. Many sprays contain nitrous oxide, an
ozone-depleting substance.
Buck the trend: create your own cooking spray using a refillable pump-spray bottle
with your fave cooking oil instead.
Buy refurbished ink About 375 million
ink cartridges are tossed into landfills each year. 97% of materials contained in an ink
cartridge can be reused or recycled! Buy refurbished next time.
Use reusable bags The US alone adds 20 million plastic baggies to landfills every day. SnackTaxi
is among several companies trying to combat this waste by offering
reusable sacks. So far, they
helped keep over seven million plastic baggies out of water streams,
which equates to about 430,000 pounds. In addition to keeping our
waterways clean, these bags are dishwasher safe and can be used again
and again.
Green your clean Flushing toxic substances into our waterways
has grave environmental impacts. Swap out manufactured cleaner
for natural household items to get the job done. Pour a cup
of vinegar into the toilet bowl and let sit for one hour. Dip the
toilet brush into the bowl, sprinkle with one-half cup baking soda and
scrub until clean.
Behold the power of lemons Lemons are a
natural cleanser, helping to cut grease on dirty dishes and clean
countertops when mixed with water. You can even use lemon juice to keep
creepy crawlers from invading your house! Check out this complete list of green uses for yellow lemons, and stock up on one of nature's most useful creations.
Repurpose greeting cards In addition to sending evites and
other digital well-wishes, reuse the paper greeting cards you
receive. Simply remove the personal message and retain
the decorative part to be used as a postcard greeting.
Close the blinds Since heating and cooling take up most of the energy use
detailed on our utility bills, finding alternative ways to keep your
home comfortable is paramount. Simply closing your blinds can help
mitigate the warming effects of the sun, since 40% of unwanted
heat comes through windows.
Cloth, not paper Paper towel contribute heavily to the 40% ratio of paper products in
landfills. At an average of $1 per roll, save money and the
environment by switching to cloth napkins, sponges and other reusable
methods of cleanup.
Go native Instead of watching your plants wither in the hot sun, revitalize your garden with native plants. Check with
your local nursery about the best plants for your region and watch your
garden thrive as your water bill plummets.
Recycle your cell Cell phones contain such toxic chemicals as lead,
lithium and cadmium. Don't toss your old device; donate it to a
charity like Cell Phones for Soldiers, which receives proceeds in exchange for recycling it.
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