5 New Ways to Go Green and Be More Eco-Friendly

You've probably heard it all before: buy energy efficient light bulbs and appliances, keep your tires inflated, drive a gas sipping vehicle, and so on and so forth. Unfortunately, these tips don't work for everyone-especially in today's economy. Here are 5 new ways that you can be more eco-friendly without spending a single dime.

When's the Last Time You Cleaned Behind Your Refrigerator?

The reality is, a dirty refrigerator will run less efficiently than a clean, well-cared for refrigerator. This doesn't mean you need to go all out, though.

Simply pull your 'fridge out from it's space and clean up all of the dust bunnies and dirt on the floor. Also, vacuum out the coils and then wipe them down with a clean damp cloth. According to Gaiam Life, this can cut the energy your 'fridge uses "by up to 6 percent." Every penny counts, right?

"Yellow Pages? What Are Those?"

You'll probably hear those words uttered from your grand child's mouth one day. That's because today, people will google or call 411 or some other type of assistance to find out a number. No one busts out a Yellow Pages phone book anymore.

In all reality, that big yellow book is a pretty big waste of paper-especially if you never use it. Today, you can opt out of getting it. Simply go to www.yellowpagesoptout.com and enter your zip code, click 'get started' and you'll be on the path to a greener, less wasteful future.

Keep on Doing Your Laundry-With Just One Small Change, Or Two.

When you're doing your laundry, wash in cold instead of in hot. Not only will it save you money, but you'll also cut down on the natural resources that are needed to heat that water that you're using to wash your clothes. Of course, we all know not everything can be washed in cold water-but a lot of it can.

And while you're at it, consider air-drying rather than using your dryer. These are small changes that will make a huge difference over time. Oh, and be sure to fill things up. Doing small loads is simply a waste of time and money.

The world-and your wallet-will thank you.

Make Your Own Cleaning Supplies

This one isn't new, but you might not have heard this before: making your own cleaning products cuts down on the amount of packaging and other trash that would end up in landfill.

There are plenty of ways to make and store your own cleaning supplies. This includes basic household items like vinegar and salt; but steer clear of recipes that make use of baking soda-which isn't really all that eco-friendly.

The reality is, you don't need to spend additional money on watered-down cleaning supplies. Of course, you could also opt for refillable products, in which you add your own water (it is cheaper, and it cuts down on packaging-so it does make a difference.)

Think Outside The Box and Repurpose an Item

This one might take a little more thought on your end. However, reusing an item that you already own in a new way is, of course, absolutely free. Not sure what I'm talking about? Here's an example:

I recently cleaned out my closet and found a few shirts that were stained. One of said shirts has a gorgeous black/white design on it. Instead of throwing said items out, I'm going to repurpose the main shirt into a new decorative pillow for use on an accent chair. I'm going to fill the pillow using the other shirts (shredded up, of course) as stuffing. Viola, good bye useless old shirts, hello cute new decorative pillow.

This of course, is just an example. There are plenty of items in your home that you may no longer be using, but you may be able to repurpose and put to good use.