Small Changes for the Environment
Lately, society has gone through a “green” revolution: Companies are now hyping every product they have as environmentally-conscious, everybody and their mother are switching their traditional lightbulbs for CFLs, and every blog has had articles such as “10 ways to save the environment…” It’s been driving me batty because most of those articles repeat the same advice over and over. So I’ve decided to list some of my favorite ways to save money and be more environmentally conscious without repeating every other blog post out there.
10 easy ways to save money and save the planet
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Stop using paper sleeves for your coffee
Do you really need that sleeve on your coffee? Some people do, and that’s fine, but I find that people often take one simply because it’s given to them or out of habit. If you find that you don’t actually need them, hand it back to the barista since every piece of waste counts.
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Use less water when rinsing out your plastic and glass for recycling
In some areas, cleaning the items you set out for recycling isn’t necessarily needed, but I tend to do so to prevent a smelly bin. Rather than cleaning the jar under continuously running water, simply add about 1/4 cup of water and a bit of soap to the jar, secure the lid, and shake thoroughly. This will clean the jar enough to recycle, while much less water.
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Use a stainless steel bottle to drink water at home, at work, at the gym, anywhere
How many people grab a cup next to the water cooler rather than using a reusable option like Sigg? They also hold more water, are more spill-proof, and look pretty darn awesome too.
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Stop buying new furniture. Stop it!
Has anyone taken a gander at Craigslist lately? eBay? It’s not for those who need instant gratification, but why buy new when you can buy “gently”-used? It’ll be cheaper and better for the environment if we don’t insist on new manufactured materials every time we want something.
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Buy potted herbs and keep them on a windowsill
Buying package after package of fresh herbs from the market will not only hurt your pocketbook (they usually go bad before you’re able to use the entire package), but you’re constantly throwing away the plastic containers they come in as well.
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Don’t recycle boxes from moving; throw them on Craigslist
When I moved, I foolishly bought a “moving-kit” from Costco. Next time, I vow to take someone’s old boxes off their hands since cardboard stays in pretty good condition.
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Extend your green-consciousness at work
So many people are judicious about recycling and turning off lights while they’re at home (when you’re the recipient of the eventual bills) but forget to apply the same principals at work. Don’t be lazy: Turn off extra monitors, turn off bathroom lights when they’re not in use, and put a recycling bin next to every waste bin.
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Close the shades in your house in the summer during the day to keep cooler
It’s really easy to switch on the air-conditioner, but sometimes all it takes to keep the house cool in the evening is a little preventative work in the morning. Close all blinds, curtains, and shades on the sunny side, and enjoy a cooler house in the evening.
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Volunteer to plant trees in your neighborhood
Trees provide cooling shade, raise house values, and help clean the air. Volunteer at organizations like Friends of Trees and provide your neighborhoods and environment a boost while doing something awesome for the environment. Bonus points if you make new friends as well.
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Choose vacations that celebrate the environment
It’s very easy to becoming disenchanted and hard when working in front of a computer the entire day (like I do). When taking a vacation, give your self some time to step outdoors — - take a picnic, backpack to a camping spot (using no-trace principles), or take a simple walk. Remember why we want to keep the earth clean and beautiful.