Jan 06 2009
Useful Green Tips on the Web
Wahoo! I’ve found some cool and interesting tips on how to go green on the web. To spruce up the greenness of your routines in and around the house, here’s what Celia Perry has to say on Mother Jones:
1. When you bake, use heat-retaining glass or ceramic dishes instead of the metal ones so you can set your oven 25 degrees lower.
2. Instead of taking your silk, rayon, wool, and cashmere clothing to the dry cleaner, you can hand wash them.
3. You’ll save oodles of money on gas, maintenance, and insurance when you ride a bike. Or, if you can’t give up your car, you can bike locally to do short distance errands.
4. Always fully load your washing machine and wash with cold water (this is what I do all the time), and instead of using the dryer, hang them out to dry. (You’ll need a little yard space for this one. You can also be inventive and make use of your shower stall or bathtub.)
5. Wherever practical, drink tap water.
6. For cleaning products, use distilled vinegar, club soda, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda. (a 1:1 solution of distilled vinegar and water is easy to prepare and is very pet-friendly.)
7. To make your own low-flow toilet, submerge two full plastic bottles in the tank.
8. To make your refrigerator more energy efficient, let your leftovers cool before you put them away. (If you live in a cold region, cover them tightly and put them out on your porch.)
Elswhere on the net:
9. To save money and lower your carbon footprint, buy used electronic gadgets. You can also get refurbished electronics at a reduced price, and they work just as good.
10. Reduce vampire power usage by unplugging electronics and appliances that are not in used or are fully charged. You can also try getting a smart power strip that will cut the power supply to devices that no longer need it.
11. To save water, take showers instead of baths. In some parts of the world or in situations when water is scarce, one bucket can go a long way to get that body clean. 
12. Buy produce from local farmers to lower your carbon footprint and enjoy fresher vegetables and fruits.
13. If you have yard space, grow your own vegetables. You can be sure that they’re fresh and organic.
14. The number one way to cut down on greenhouse emissions, prevent the destruction of forests, lower your medical expenses: go vegetarian or vegan, even if it’s a few days a week.
Have fun greening up your house and lowering your carbon footprint!
i totally agree that being veggie is the most effective way to be green!!!! saves a lot of energy, water, food, etc.
So simple yet so effective. If millions followed these tips we’d have a much cleaner, greener, planet.
These are great tips. It just shows how little steps are really huge leaps in the right direction. There are no excuses, not every one can afford solar panels but every one can conserve energy. Great post.