Even if you already consider yourself among Mother Earth's "green" helpers because you're committed to the cardinal rules of eco-friendliness -- reduce, reuse and recycle -- there's tons more we can do to help green our environment. To start, check out these 10 easy ways to save
our planet's most valuable resources -- and save a bundle of money, too!
1.
Filter your tap water
We know you've got talent, but if you aren't planning to craft a
chandelier out of those empty plastic water bottles, we suggest buying a filter and purifying your tap water instead. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste. And these days, eco-obsessives aren't the only ones hooked on re-usable water bottles. All the hipsters and celebrities are also
following suit, and environmentally conscious brands including Sigg and Klean Kanteen offer bottles in a variety of sizes and colors. If not for the sake of protecting our planet, at least do it to look cool. (We won't tell.)
2.
Freecycle!
We're all familiar with recycling, but what do you know about Freecycling? Websites such as Freecycle.org allow users to post free classified ads to get rid of old furniture, appliances and whatever else you might have collecting dust in the garage. Instead of throwing your unused stuff away, list it on Freecycle and connect with someone who will happily pick it up and put it to good use. (Think 'Garage Sale 2.0!') And the next time you're looking for a one-of-a-kind armoire, check your local Web listings before aimlessly scouring neighborhood yard sales. You'll thank us for saving you the gas money, too.
3. Unplug appliances
Unless you run a microwave-foods catering service and need to deliver freshly heated Chef Boyardee meals all day, there's no reason your microwave needs to be plugged in all the time. That goes for your toaster oven, TV, stereo and most everything else you've got plugged in around the house. Unplugging appliances when you're not using them saves a great deal of energy -- and that means savings on your monthly energy bill. If you'd rather not pull plugs in and out, use a "smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off, and prohibits "phantom" or "vampire" energy use. By the way, if you do have a wildly successful microwave-foods catering service, would you mind sharing your business model?
4.
Pack light
We're all guilty of doing
this: packing enough clothes to last a month for a weekend visit to Grandma's house. You may think the worst consequence of
overpacking is maybe busting the zipper on your suitcase, but did you
know that by overstuffing your luggage, you're indirectly harming the
environment? According to studies, every extra 10 pounds an air traveler
packs requires an additional 350 million gallons of jet fuel per year; that's enough to keep a 747 flying non-stop for 10 years! The next time you take a
Hawaiian vacation, do Mother Earth a favor: Leave your snow jacket at home.
5.
Cut out the junk mail
Ask yourself this question: Do
you really need those random credit-card offers, pizza-delivery coupons and teeth-whitening promo ads (from some dentist you'll never visit) that show up in your mailbox every week? You
know what we're talking about: Every year, 100 million trees are
chopped down and turned into junk mail, and U.S. households receive more than 400
million tons of it annually. But according to Earthworks Group, cutting out junk
mail is one of the most effective things we can do to reduce waste and
pollution. To give your mailbox a junk-free makeover, register with the Direct Marketing Association's Mail
Preference Service. We're sure you won't miss too many of those "deals" on hard-to-find collector's stamps and limited-edition porcelain dolls.
6. Eat
green
Before you get down on all fours and start grazing on your front lawn, take a look at these 3 "green eating" solutions instead. (With these, at least the neighbors won't stare.)
-- Patronize restaurants, bars and coffee houses that recycle, practice energy and water conservation, serve organic food, and/or use biodegradable, tree-free products. Find a growing list of Certified Green restaurants here.
-- Buy locally raised, humane and organic meat, eggs and dairy products. That ensures you're getting the freshest, highest-quality food -- and helps keep money in the local economy.
-- Download the Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce. This wallet-size list will help you sort the fruits and veggies that are usually higher in pesticides (like apples and spinach)
from those that are lower (like bananas and peas).
7.
Clean the air -- with houseplants
Going green doesn't have to
happen on a global scale, it can begin right in your home. Studies show that the air in our homes can be just as polluted as outdoor air, thanks in part to the cleaning products we use. Fortunately, common houseplants do more than brighten up a room: They actually help remove formaldehyde, benzene, carbon monoxide and other nasty air pollutants. Think you don't have a green thumb? Not a problem! We suggest picking up a couple of easy-to-tend leafy toxin fighters, such
as Lady Palm, Golden Pothos, English Ivy and Peace Lilies. (If formaldehyde won't kill them, they should be just fine on your window sill.)
8. Pass on the pore-pluggers
We don't mean to
raise a stink, but the next time you buy deodorant, avoid anti-perspirants
that rely on aluminum salts to seal up your pores. Instead, try an equally effective natural alternative, like Toms of Maine, available most anywhere that carries eco-friendly products. Why? As well as being a potential
toxin, aluminum takes a tremendous amount of energy to mine. In fact, the energy you'll save by using just one stick of aluminum-free deodorant could power your laptop for 30 minutes! And if you're going to sweat through the suspense of that '24' episode on your laptop anyway, why not save
the planet while you're at it? (We bet that's how Jack Bauer rolls.)
9. "Green" your
laundry
No, we're not referring to the time you accidentally mixed that oddball lime-colored sock in with your whites. Research shows that as much as 85% of the energy used in clothes washers goes to heating the water,
which means washing your clothes in cold whenever possible significantly reduces energy costs. In addition, switching to eco-friendlier
detergents, fabric softeners and bleaches will also benefit the environment, including local wildlife. And we all know line-drying our clothes can save an
enormous amount of energy, but for those rainy days when you have no choice but
to tumble, consider adding dryer
balls to cut drying time.
10. Download music
The '80s had cassette tapes, the '90s had CDs; now get with the times and start downloading your tunes! Each month, more than 45 tons of CDs become obsolete -- outdated or unwanted -- and end up in landfills. But before you convert all your CDs to digital and throw the hard copies away, look for stores in your area that buy unwanted discs. When you're done with that, click over to ClearMusic and treat yourself to some fresh selections (on MP3, of course). Registered Clearwire/Clear users get a 25% discount on every purchase.
Until next time, happy Earth Day!
-- Joyce Liao and Jennifer Lee, Clear365 Bloggers
For more money-saving tips -- plus the latest news, entertainment and music headlines and videos -- keep your homepage set on Clear365.com
Wednesday 4/22/2009
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