Go Green in 2009

Even though you are hearing less and less about it now, there is still an effort out for people to make their lives green. Lots of people say that the verdict is out, and that it's too late for the environment. My case is that even though the environment is pretty messed up, we don't have to add to it, and make it worse. Here are a few budget-friendly things you can do to green your life.

Ditch the plastic.

Every time you go to the grocery store, you end up with at least ten plastic bags. Quit using them, and bring your own resusable cloth bags. If they get dirty, you can always wash them. Quit consuming bottled water, and invest in a resuable water bottle. Buy a good one; it may cost you a little bit more, but it will pay for itself in the long run. If your tap water is less-than-drinkable, buy a water filter to make your water safe to drink.

Recycle.

Recycling doesn't cost a penny! You can recycle lots of things-- glass, paper, cans, carboard, etc. Just make a bin for each item, label them clearly, and put them in an easily accessible place, to encourage ongoing recycling habits. Recycling doesn't just have to be about dragging off garbage bags full of recyclable items. Donating unwanted items to a thrift store or shelter is a good way to recycle items for reuse.

Find activities to do at home.

Cut down on fueling up and polluting the earth by not driving. Find activities to do at home. Have a movie night, complete with microwavable popcorn. If you have a karaoke machine, hold an American Idol night. Play board games. Not only does this help keep pollution down, but it saves you money.

Turn off the lights.

It takes little effort to flip a switch. It's simple-- turn the lights off when you leave a room. This doesn't just apply to lights. Turn off and unplug electronics and appliances that aren't in use. Don't leave chargers plugged in if there's nothing attached to them. Cut off power strips. This will also save you money on your electricity bill.

Replace lightbulbs.

Replace your regular lightbulbs with those curly CFL bulbs. They cut down eighty percent of energy use, and work just as well as regular bulbs. They also last longer, so you don't have to keep replacing them. Alson along the lines of lights, if you use decorative lights throughout the year, make them L.E.D. lights. They are also big energy and money savers.

Turn off the water.

It's so easy to turn on the water and leave it on. It's most common when one goes to brush their teeth. It's as simple as turning a knob. Water is a precious resource, and if we didn't have it, we wouldn't live. Wasting it is a terrible shame. If we keep abusing it, it may not be here for us to take advantage of. Also, if you live in the city, and you have to pay for water, you'll be thankful for not using it as much.

Don't crank up that air conditioning or heating to unheard of levels.

It's not uncommon for people to comfort themselves with air conditioning or heat when desperate times call for desparate measures. There are things you can do to avoid touching the thermostat. Cooling is simple. Open a window. Heating can be a bit more tricky. Check your doors and windows for drafts. You can fix those with foam strips. For an immediate fix, wear socks and a hat indoors. Heat escapes from your head and feet most easily. Also, wearing a light jacket will warm you.

These are just a few free or low-cost things you can do to go green in 2009. A flip of a switch or the pulling on of socks, can be all it takes to make your first step for going green.