1. Pass on the paper towels (same goes for napkins)
2. Fill up your freezer, since the fuller it is, the less energy it uses to keep food frozen
3. Dress sustainably (try designers like Linda Loudermilk, Stewart+Brown, Edun)
4. Buy in bulk to avoid excess packaging
5. Spend more time outdoors
6. Seek out reclaimed wood furniture
7. Weather permitting, take your exercise outdoors
8. Think big picture
9. When traveling, ask your hotel what it’s doing to be greener
10. Start composting
11. Choose reusable instead of disposable products (diapers, razors, cups, pens)
12. Prewash dishes only if you have to
13. Install dimmers or motion sensors for your lights
14. Use organic beauty products
15. Buy Fair Trade
Archives for Helping Mother Earth category
1. Use greener cleaners. Baking soda will clean just about anything!
2. Wash clothes in cold water
3. Cover pots on the stove to avoid losing excess heat—and wasting energy
4. Line dry your clothes when possible
5. Find a green dry cleaner, and bring your own garment bag
6. Turn off the dishwasher’s drying cycle
7. Shut your computer down when you leave work—especially on Fridays
8. Vote for change
9. Drive a hybrid
10. Join a food co-op
11. Swap paperbacks with paperbackswap.com
12. B.Y.O.B. (of water)
13. Shred old paper for packing instead of using Styrofoam peanuts
14. Collect rainwater and use it for landscaping
15. Use natural—not artificial—fragrances
Related posts
1. Use a push lawn mower
2. Purify indoor air with plants instead of with artificial room fresheners
3. Use clean energy
4. Support recycling by buying products made from recycled materials
5. Decorate responsibly by purchasing eco-sensitive accessories (check out
vivaterra.com)
6. Buy or borrow pre-used moving boxes
7. Plant a garden
8. Use rechargeable batteries
9. Bring lunch to work in reusable containers (a “no-garbage” lunch)
10. Upgrade your toilet to a low-flush model
11. Fix leaky faucets
12. Buy low-VOC paint and donate the leftovers (find local reuse programs at earth911.org)
13. Donate old cell phones and help save the African gorilla (eco-cell.org)
14. Buy organic food (especially milk, meat, fruits, and vegetables)
15. Bring your own mug or thermos to your favorite coffee spot
2. Purify indoor air with plants instead of with artificial room fresheners
3. Use clean energy
4. Support recycling by buying products made from recycled materials
5. Decorate responsibly by purchasing eco-sensitive accessories (check out
vivaterra.com)
6. Buy or borrow pre-used moving boxes
7. Plant a garden
8. Use rechargeable batteries
9. Bring lunch to work in reusable containers (a “no-garbage” lunch)
10. Upgrade your toilet to a low-flush model
11. Fix leaky faucets
12. Buy low-VOC paint and donate the leftovers (find local reuse programs at earth911.org)
13. Donate old cell phones and help save the African gorilla (eco-cell.org)
14. Buy organic food (especially milk, meat, fruits, and vegetables)
15. Bring your own mug or thermos to your favorite coffee spot
Related posts
by Steve Kaye
We all need to use energy wisely. It saves money, reduces pollution, and makes us better citizens. Here are five uncommon things that you can do.
1) Change time zones.
That is, when possible, travel when others are less likely to be on the road. You will save gas and time by avoiding delays. For example, avoid rush hour traffic by leaving an hour early. Then use this extra hour to read, plan your day, or add a little extra to your job. If your company permits flex time hours, then choose a time window outside of rush hour.
Also, consider shopping early or late in the day. Besides encountering less traffic, you will find that there are fewer shoppers and shorter lines in the stores. That produces a time saving bonus by making your shopping more efficient.
2) Ride a bicycle.
But do this in your car. That is, pretend that you have to peddle in order to make your car move. Avoid quick starts, acceleration up hills, and driving into a stop. Instead, start gradually, take it easy going up hills, and coast to a red light – just as if you were the engine.
In general, drive with minimum effort. You will find that this is also more relaxing, while saving on gas.
3) Shut it off.
Some people leave the engine running when they park. For example, I often see an unattended car in a parking lot with the engine running. This is a terrible idea because: a) it wastes gas and b) it leaves the car exposed to theft.
Similarly, turn off the engine any time that you have to wait for more than about half a minute, such as at a railroad crossing.
Note: most cars use about a gallon of gas/hour while in idle.
4) Stop leaks.
Most homes and offices have dozens of small transformers that supply power to computers, network hubs, printers, modems, scanners, and other accessories. Transformers are also used to recharge batteries in cell phones, cameras, and iPods.
These transformers keep using electricity even when the device has been turned off or disconnected from it. It’s like having a faucet leak around the clock. While each transformer uses only a small amount of electricity, six or eight of them are equivalent to a standard light bulb. Over time that adds up to a significant amount of electricity.
Put all of the transformers on a circuit strip. They turn off the strip at the end of the day. Or, unplug the transformer when it’s not being used. Similarly, check your home for electrical leaks. Unplug any device with a decorative light or courtesy clock (that you don’t need), such as coffee makers, toasters, and small ovens.
5) Be stingy.
Critically evaluate every trip for its importance. Seek ways to combine trips on a single outing. And walk if possible. For example, I used to drive to get mail from my P.O. Box at the Post Office every day. Now, I go every second day and I walk at least once each week. I buy enough food from one store to last most of the week (instead of hopping from store to store or going out daily). And I plan each outing to take care of as many stops as possible in a single loop (instead of making many single trips).
This saves gas and time.
Saving energy is the smart thing to do. It saves both time and money. And that’s like being paid for being a good citizen.
Steve Kaye helps leaders get results. He is an IAF Certified Professional Facilitator, author, and speaker. His meeting facilitation and leadership workshops create success for everyone. Call 714-528-1300 for details. Visit http://www.stevekaye.com for a free report.
Related posts
1. Skip the elevator and take the stairs
2. Check the air pressure in your tires since underinflated tires reduce fuel efficiency
3. Buy recycled toilet paper
4. Print on both sides of the paper
5. After you finish baking, turn off the oven and leave the door open to heat your home
6. Eat only sustainably harvested fish to help protect the health of the ocean (visit oceansalive.org)
7. Go carbon-neutral
8. To save gas, drive under 60 mph, or don’t drive as much
9. Don’t use pesticides on your lawn
10. Find new uses for old things
11. Compact your nonrecyclable trash and use fewer bags
12. Give your car a tune-up so it drives more efficiently
13. Buy things that will last
14. Stop idling in your car
15. Carpool
2. Check the air pressure in your tires since underinflated tires reduce fuel efficiency
3. Buy recycled toilet paper
4. Print on both sides of the paper
5. After you finish baking, turn off the oven and leave the door open to heat your home
6. Eat only sustainably harvested fish to help protect the health of the ocean (visit oceansalive.org)
7. Go carbon-neutral
8. To save gas, drive under 60 mph, or don’t drive as much
9. Don’t use pesticides on your lawn
10. Find new uses for old things
11. Compact your nonrecyclable trash and use fewer bags
12. Give your car a tune-up so it drives more efficiently
13. Buy things that will last
14. Stop idling in your car
15. Carpool
