The Basics in "Going Green!"

Kermit the Frog is a liar! It IS easy being green, but many of us forget the basic things you can do to save the world one person at a time. Merchants and the media have jumped on the band wagon for 'environmentally-friendly' and 'green' products, that hundreds of people don't realize they are not taking the obvious or simplest steps to do it AND save some green in their wallets!

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle!

Reducing, reusing, and recycling are the first and easiest steps. Reduce the amount of items or the time we use them. For example, reduce the time you spend in the shower in order to cut back on the amount of water used each morning. Does your lawn need to be watered every other day? Chances are, probably not. Reduce the time you waste water by resetting the schedule for your sprinkler system.

Reuse items as much as possible. Many grocery and mainstream stores have promoted reusable bags made from cloth in place of plastic bags. You don't have to purchase them from only those stores, you can bring your reusable bags to any store and tell the checkout person you prefer your bag instead of their plastic bags. You can also reuse the plastic bags you already have by using them as mini trash can liners, dog/cat poop bags, lunch bags, and more! On the side of Target bags, there is a list of 10 simple things you can do with that bag before recycling it. Use rechargeable batteries instead of the standard ones that get thrown out after they have been used. They contain toxic chemicals that seep into the ground at landfills and harms out planet.

Recycle soda can, plastic and glass bottles, pizza boxes, plastic bags, old magazines, and just about everything. Many cities have a recycling program, so call to find out if they do, and if not there are many recycling centers that all you have to do is drop the products off. A few places, including Wal*Mart have boxes right inside their doors to recycle plastic shopping bags regardless of the store they are from. Publix has bins for aluminum and plastic as well. Go a step further and help out a worthy cause by taking off the pop tops (soda can tops) and saving them. When you have a large amount, bring them to your local Ronald McDonald House for them to turn those pop tops into cash to purchase items they need for their charity or to pay the bills. This is a great way to help the world around you without having to take any of that green out of your wallet.

Substitute cleaning products with cheaper, greener ones!

Why pay $3+ for an all-purpose cleaning spray when you can spend less than $1 on a gallon of distilled white vinegar? Simply mixing half water and half vinegar will make an amazing and safer cleaning product. Get rid of the mold of funky smell in the dishwasher by running it once empty with only vinegar to clean it. Vinegar is not only a great cleaner, it is also a disinfectant... and its non-toxic!

There are many laundry detergents that can be made by mixing borax and baking soda instead of the harmful chemicals found in leading brands. It costs less purchasing the individual ingredients and mixing it yourself than it does to purchase brand-name detergents... and you can make three to four times as much! Search online for recipes for homemade soaps, detergents, and shampoos that use baking soda as a main ingredient.

Lights, Camera, ELECTRIC!

It seems like a no-brainer, but turn off the lights when you're not in the room. Turning off the television, or at least putting on a sleep-timer can help cut down your electric bill. Spending a couple more bucks to replace your incandescent light bulbs with CFL lights. They cost a little more, but they use a tenth of the energy and last ten times longer! On average, they can save you $50 on your electric bill each year. Just remember that when these types of lights do blow, do not throw them away... find a recycling site that accepts them. Your local Lowe's or Home Depot may be able to help and sometimes run a recycling campaign for CFL lights.

Use less lamps by changing some of your solid colored shades to more translucence once to allow more light throughout the room. Keep bulbs clean, too, because dust also absorbs the light and makes the room seem dimmer which makes you turn on more lights. You can also lower the wattage per bulb on ceiling lights and you won't notice must of a difference in the lighting aspect, but you're annual eclectic usage will decrease.

Turning off electrical items does save energy, but many items such as cell phone charges, video game consoles, and any other type of charger are energy vampires. While they are turned off or not plugged into the object they are meant to charge, they still suck up energy. There are two options for this: unplug devices that aren't in use, or invest in a power strip that all of these things can plug into and simply turn the strip off when not in use. When going to bed or on vacation, it would be a great idea to unplug many things including the TV. Power down laptops and computers and save over $25 a year for the average family with 2 computers.

Heat it up, then cool it down!

Heat and air are usually the largest portion of your electric bill. During the summer, the thermostat can be set at 72 degrees on average. Only ten degrees lower than the actual outside temperature will feel nice and cool. Another cooler idea would be to open the windows to let in some fresh air and turn on the ceiling fans... or just let the wind blow in. Enjoy the great outdoors instead of sulking about the heat inside, just make sure to stay hydrated.

Heat during the winter ends up costing a lot of money. Insulating your water heater by covering it with a blanket so the heater doesn't have to heat itself up and let the cold air around it cause it to heat up again later. Insulting the heater will keep the heat contained and save you the money of that heater going on and off and on again. Keeping the thermostat at 68 degrees on average will save some money instead of constantly adjusting it. Remember, you can always throw on a hoodie or sweater, putting on another layer doesn't cost anything, but heating your entire house five more degrees does.

Run your dishwasher with the heat option off. Let them air dry to save more money. Your washer and dryer may also be hogging some of that bill as well. Washing with cool water does just the same degree of cleaning as hot... an no, you don't have to buy special 'cold water' laundry detergents either. As for the dryer, try using it just for a few minutes to knock the majority of the dampness out of the clothes, then air/hang dry the clothes for the rest of the time. If you live in an apartment or a home that does not have the space to line dry, at least air dry the towels that normally take the most energy to dry. You can easily hang these over the curtain rod in the shower for a couple hours. It might be efficient to install a clothes line outside because a hot summer day can dry clothes in half the time as well as give them a great, fresh scent.

Water, water, everywhere.

We've already discussed showers, but there are many ways the average person wastes water everyday. When brushing your teeth, the water does not have to keep running. Fill a small cup and turn off the faucet. You may have rescheduled your sprinklers, but you may be able to save even more with them. My biggest pet peeve is people that water their lawn in the rain... or water their street! Manually turn off the sprinklers when it rains, or in advanced if you watch the weather. If you normally turn the sprinklers on Wednesday, but its going to rain Thursday... they don't need to be on. Watch your sprinkler system one day and adjust them if you see any sign of watering your street.

Tap water isn't that bad, you may just need to get used to it. If you can't stand tap water and constantly buy water bottles or jugs, try purchasing a water filter to place on your faucet and/or one that you fill and put in the fridge.

Get your friends to join in!

Are you planning on meeting some friends at the movies? Does your neighbor grocery shop at the same place? You're best friend go the the same school and happens to be on the way? Carpooling is a great way to get your friends and family involved by saving gas and air pollutants. If you are the one that will be driving a majority of the time, have them chip in a couple bucks.

Next Time:

Master these simple steps first. It's very easy to become an environmentally-friendly household, but taking on too much at once and implementing too many changes will cause overwhelmed feelings and frustration. Chances are, you would give up before a good effort was taken if you take on more than these simple actions when just starting. There are many more ways to go green such as composting, organic gardening, rain barrels, and much much more.... just take your time adjusting so you can really save the planet.