Easy and inexpensive , these MINUTE MEASURES offer ways that allow you to have a real impact on lowering your ecological footprint.  In addition, you’ll also help your neighborhood and beyond…

• Close the recycling sphere – After you set out the recycle bins, buy goods made from recycled products.  Look for “post consumer” or “recycled” on the over 4,500 recycled-content products available.
• Reduce – take mass transit when possible, don’t buy things via catalogs, turn the thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer, shut of the lights.
• Put in ENERGY STAR label products or other efficient light bulbs or other energy efficient bulbs– on top of the energy savings, there are rebates and tax credits available for certain ENERGY STAR products.
• Power down and unplug home electronics – or connect them to power strips so everything can be shut off for the night or a when you’re out of town .

On average, 25% of the electricity used to power home electronics  is consumed while the products are turned off.

• Wash clothes less – the average US household would reduce its carbon dioxide output by 1,281 pounds of a year.
• Update your clothes for less – swapping and donating clothes lowers the amount of harmful emissions from manufacturing new clothing. 
• Swap CDs, DVDs and books – save hard earned entertainment captial by purchasing or swapping used products – online or in town.
• Driving slower not only saves lives but it can increase fuel efficiency by up to 23%.
• Eat locally and organically – fruits and vegetables typically travel a long distances which adds to carbon waste .  Support your local farmer while saving gas.
• Remove landscaping waste – during the hot days of summer, lawns and landscaping suck up 40% of household water usage.  Put in native grass; invest in a push mower; pull weeds after a rain.
• Change to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs – they use up to 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
• Fix Drips – A leaky toilet can squander up to 200 gallons of water daily.  Install faucet aerators.

Not running the facet while brushing your teeth can save  200 gallons of water per month.

More easy environmentalliving tips to benefit the local landfill:

• Holiday gift wrap and greeting cards – Try old maps, packing paper or reusable gift bags and recycled paper.  Re-fashion and resend favorite cards.

Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 mature trees, 7,000 gallons of water, three cubic yards of landfill room , two barrels of oil, and 4,100 kilowatt-hours of electricity – enough energy to power the average US home for five months.

• Buy rebuilt electronics – the products undergo a strict defect-testing process and often retain their warranties… you can get them for a steal too.
• Tap water wins!  Fill a reusable BPA-free bottle with filtered tap water –literally billions of plastic bottles won’t eat up landfill space.  
• Recycle kitchen ware – simply reuse yogurt containers, plastic fast-food spoons and attractive glass jars!

Using recycled glass means 30% less energy is expended than producing goods from all new materials.

• Dispose hazardous waste properly – many cities and companies offer free collection programs.  They may even pay you to recycle.

Do your homework on the web and you’ll find lots of ways to go green in and around your home.  The best part is it’s fun too!

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