Just in time for Earth Day, MomEd: Green Living shares 10 ways to go green—all of which are simple changes to your current lifestyle.
1. Adopt a no-shoe policy in your home.
Walking outside, we can pick up pesticide residue, auto residue, and more. Taking off shoes at the door can reduce lead dust inside the house by 98 percent.
2. Cook in tried-and-true materials.
Avoid plastics and non-stick cookware, some of which contain a cancer-causing substance called PFOA. Get back to basic materials like cast iron, enamel coated cast iron, stainless steel, and glass.
3. Carpool and stop idling.
Turn off the engine when picking kids up from school or other errands. Idling just 5 minutes less per day can save you $240 per year in gas.
4. Turn your thermostat down to 68 degrees during the winter months.
Just a couple of degrees can save up to 3 percent on your electric bills. During the summer, turn the temperature on your air conditioner up to save energy and money.
5. Conserve water while brushing your teeth or washing the dishes.
Turn off your faucet when you don’t need it – you could save up to 4 gallons of water per minute.
6. Buy local.
Imported produce may be harvested weeks before it’s eaten. Local produce is fresher and healthier. You can also extend buying locally beyond food as well, which supports the local community and cuts down on national shipping costs.
7. Wash your laundry using cold water.
Today's soaps are designed to wash effectively in cold water, and 80 percent of the electricity in a hot water wash is due to heating the water. Also, most people use seven times more laundry soap then they actually need!
8. Make your own cleaning products.
One lemon can disinfect countertops and clean shower soap scum. Vinegar, lemon, olive oil, and baking soda are all household staples you can use to clean your house.
9. Use power strips.
That way, when you leave the house or aren’t using anything plugged into the power strip, you can just turn it off. 10 percent of all household electricity use is in the form of vampire energy.
10. Donate used items.
Millions of tons of clothing are sent to landfills each year. Donating helps people and decreases waste.
Courtesy of Cafe Mom Studios: MomEd: Green Living—new eco-friendly tips shared each Thursday.