In Honor of Earth Day

To honor Earth Day I thought I would post a few tips for becoming more "green" as well as some interesting things I've found about being green in general.  Some of these things are really shocking and it's amazing how a little change can make such a big difference.

1.  Wash clothes in cold water.  Up to 85% of the energy used in machine washing clothes goes towards heating the water.

2.  Line dry clothes to reduce drying costs.  Obviously though that just isn't going to happen for most people.  These dryer balls are said to reduce drying time by 25%. 

3.  If every household in the United States replaced one regular lightbulb with one of those new compact fluorescent bulbs, the pollution reduction would be equivalent to removing one million cars from the road.

4.  Recycled glass reduces related air pollution by 20% and related water pollution by 50%. If glass isn't recycled it can take a million years to decompose.

5.  Register with the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service here and you'll see a significant reduction in mail after three months.  I did this about 6 months ago and you really do see a huge decrease in the amount of junk  mail you get.

6.  Consider joining a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in your area to support local farmers.  You can go here to check out where they are in your area.  This is one of my goals for the summer!

7.  Look into making your own cleaning supplies using things like vinegar, baking soda, or lemon.  You can check out my post on the many uses for lemons here.

8.  Use reusable grocery bags.  Check out this site here to see why it makes such a difference.

9.  Unplug appliances that aren't used all the time.  By doing this you could save 5-10% on your monthly electric bill.

10.  Last but definitely not least, sneak in a shower with your loved one to start the day. Not only have you made a wise choice for the environment, but you may notice some other added...um...benefits.

Have a great day!!