Easy Ways to Go Green Every Day

Climate Change has become a global environmental concern. As more and more greenhouse gases released onto the atmosphere, through our agricultural and industrial practices, and other human activities, our planet is now becoming more fragile and vulnerable to dangerous impacts. People across the globe have seen and experienced severe droughts, heavy rainfall, major floods, food and water shortages and frequent natural calamities and disasters. Climate change and Global Warming is clearly becoming a major threat to people’s lives and properties all over the world.

While Climate Change is a big problem, the good news is that there are many simple and doable things which can be done to make a big difference to our environment. In fact, if it is done properly, you will not only help save the planet, but also save a little money by going green. So here are some easy ways to go green everyday to help make our planet a healthier and safer place to live:

First, Read. It is very important to learn about the environment and climate change. There are plenty of books, fliers and other information materials on this. The websites are also good sources of information on climate change and global warming.

• Save energy and electricity. Whenever you use electricity, you send greenhouse gases into the air.
• Turn off lights and home appliances when not in use. Also, make sure to unplug every appliance from its socket to avoid “phantom” energy users.
• Switch to compact fluorescent lamps (CFL). CFL bulbs use less energy than traditional light bulbs and they last longer too.
• Your home should not be too hot or too cold. Close unused vents, clean them and change filters in the vents. Use ceiling fans instead of air conditioners to reduce cooling costs and saves electricity.
• Tame the refrigerator energy appetite. Don’t send the thermostat too high. Even one degree makes a big difference.
• Wash your clothes in cold water. Today’s cleaning powders don’t need hot water, anyway.
• Clean your home appliances regularly. Dirt and dust may affect the efficiency of appliances.
• As much as possible, avoid using appliances which are big users of energy such as water heaters, dishwasher, and washing machines with dryers.
• Conserve water or use less as much as possible. Check your faucets for leaks and fix it if you find any leak. Water lawn sparingly or use recycled water to conserve energy.
• Buy goods in refill packs or containers to cut-down on packaging. Look for products with little or no wrappings at all and check to see if the product or its packaging is recyclable.
• Eat fresh foods; choose to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, instead of buying pre-packed in cans, boxes and containers.
• Organize a yard or garage sale to sell items that you no longer need. You can also sell old stuffs at some websites, such as Ebay or better donate them to charities.
• Plant trees. A great way to reduce greenhouse gases is by planting trees, because trees absorb carbon dioxide found in the air.
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. There are countless ways to reduce our household waste by employing the 3 R’s, that is, reduce, reuse or recycle. Many household goods such as paper products, metals, textiles, glass jars and bottles, plastic containers, packaging materials and many more can be recycled.

• When going to work, avoid using personal vehicles. Choose to walk, ride a bike or opt for public transportation, carpool, take the bus or travel by train to work. However, if you don’t have these options, maintain your car properly to avoid poor combustion performance and smoke belching. Also practice driving smoothly to get better mileage for your car and conserve more energy.
• Use laptops instead of standalone computers and monitors, as laptops consume far less energy while in use. Also, turn off your computer rather than setting it on a sleep mode when you are not using it.
• Ensure to turn off the lights and other office appliances before leaving your work space.
• Cut your paper usage or recycle paper products by printing on its both sides.
• Bring your own food. Take a packed lunch or snack to work. Use washable and reusable containers when packing or storing your food.
• Use reusable coffee travel mugs when drinking your favorite cup of coffee instead of using disposable paper or plastic cups. This not only helps reduce waste but also allows you to enjoy your drink for many hours, as these travel mugs help keep your favorite cup of coffee or tea hot for long periods.

• Consider purchasing green school supplies made from recyclable materials.
• Buy green toys made from organic and recycled materials that are completely safe for children and to the environment and help encourage kids to conserve energy.
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or soaping your hands to conserve water.
• Be creative. Reuse and recycle your paper and other school supplies.
• Donate those old books, school supplies, toys, computers and slightly used clothing to local schools or charities.
• Make use of your library. Borrow books or buy pre-owned books, instead of buying new ones.
• Limit yourself in playing video games and watching TV, to save energy and remember to turnoff those lights, television set and computer after using them.
• Start a gardening hobby at home or school. Learn how to grow your own food together with your family and friends.

• Limit or buy only what is necessary and avoid buying items that you intend using only once or twice. Rent them instead.
• Avoid buying disposable items and invest in high quality goods when you shop. Choose durable and long lasting clothes, shoes, furniture and appliances. Reusing items longer help reduce waste to our landfills.
• Bring your own shopping bags when you shop. Canvas totes or bags made from organic materials are the best choice.
• Be creative when wrapping your gifts. Use recycled materials such as old newspapers, magazines, etc.
• Get paperless, shop or pay your bills online. Cancel unwanted newspapers and magazines and see if you can opt for a Wireless Reading Device such as the Amazon Kindle which delivers news, books and magazine subscription to you electronically to help save trees use in making papers.
• Look for recyclable products. It often takes less energy to make recycled products than to make new ones. Some common products made from recycled materials, include paper products, school and office supplies, clothing, shoes, bags gardening tools and many more.
• Consider buying energy-efficient products that don’t use much energy. Some products have models that are made especially to save energy like cars, air-conditioners, refrigerators and other home appliances.