Going Green at Home

In the last few years, you can't avoid the topic "Going Green". It is everywhere now, from cars to beauty products, hospitals, and our local stores. All the major corportations are now picking up their share to help the environment. But how can we, as individuals, save our ever changing planet? This blog will give you simple tips on how to be GREEN in our home (not to mention money you will save!).

In the Bathroom:
1.) Turn off the water when brushing your teeth: If you shower after brushing your teeth, you may want to brush your teeth in the shower (save time and water).
2.) Cut showers down to 5 minutes: After flushing toilets, showering is the 2nd most used water activity.
3.) Turn off while shaving: Shave in the shower to save water.
4.) Fix any leaks immediately: This helps to conserve water, and more problems in the end.
5.) Don't use your toilet as a trash can: Our toilet takes up 27 percent of our household's water supply.

If you are concerned with the amount of water you are using, you may want to change showerheads, faucets, and toilets that release less water per minute. National geographics website has an article that can help you choose the best toilet, faucet and showerheads for your bathroom. They may be pricey, but you will save alot more in your water bill.

In the Bedroom:
1.) Turn off all electronics in the room: This will also help you sleep better.
2.) Natural materialed area rugs or carpet: Installed carpets pick up and keep toxins from outside when you walk in.
3.) Change your A/C filters as often as the package says: Helps the A/C to work properly.
4.) Change to organic comforters and pillows: "Conventional cotton accounts for up to 25 percent of the insecticides used worldwide, and the runoff from nitrogen- spiked synthetic fertilizers, as well as heavy metal dyes, kills aquatic life."
5.) Keep blinds/shades closed/down: The sunlight will make the room hot, thus making the A/C work even harder.

There are other options to make your bedroom an "ECO-nomical Bedroom". Instead of buying brand new furnitures, consider purchasing second hand antiques. Instead of the petroleum-based polyester mattresses, invest in a natural-fill, untreated mattress.

In the Kitchen:
1.) Reuse water bottles: If you have a water filter, refill the empty water bottles.
2.) Stop using disposables: Lots of our waste come from disposable products such as plates and cups. Use dishes and hand wash them (using the dishwater for few items is a waste).
3.) Use your own bag: Plastic bags are a waste! Resuse them when shopping, or use tote bags for grocery shopping.
4.) Use Energy Star appliances: Only buy appliances that you NEED. Energy Star is an energy efficient consumer product company. Unplug appliances when not in use.
5.) Change cleaning products: Products such as Johnson & Johnson have created goals to reduce waste and water usage.

Our food choice helps impact the amount of waste that goes on in our kitchen. Click here to read Easy Tips for Going Green in the Kitchen.

For All Around the House:
1.) Change your light bulbs: Replace 70 watt bulbs with 9 watt LEDs.
2.) Unplug all electronics/appliances: Unplugging will help conserve energy (at least 20 lbs/month of CO2 - Carbon Dioxide - will be saved).
3.)Wash clothes in cold water, not hot: 70 lbs/mo. of CO2 will be saved.
4.)Dry clothes in a clothes line/rack: 60 lbs/mo of CO2 will be saved.
5.)Turn down thermostat by 2 degrees: 53 lbs/mo of CO2 will be saved.

Here is the list of CO2 savings.

In the Dorms:
1.) Bedding: Change to organic (Bed, Bath and Beyond)
2.) Bath: Change to PEVA shower curtains (you can find this in Ikea)
3.) Towels: Change to organic (PotteryBarn)
4.) Shower Shoes: Splaff Flops are made from recycled car tires and bike inner tubes (www.veganessentials.com)
5.)Decorations: Create your own decorations from old products (repaint an old vase to make a pen holder, or make a a poster from old magazines).

Read "Green Living 101: Dorm Room Decorating"

The smallest tip can make a difference not only in your wallet, but in the environment as well. Please try to add these simple tips to your everyday life, it doesn't take much time or effort to do the little things that can eventually help us all out in the end.

-Stephany Lopez