Did you make New Year's resolutions this year? Did one of your resolutions include being a bit more "green" in your life and now it's February and you still haven't thought about it since January 1? Maybe the word "green" makes you think of tree-hugging hippies wearing patchouli oil eating granola while chained to trees and that scares you a bit.
Well, my friends, "green" is simple. You don't have to burn your bras or eat stuff that tastes like cardboard. You can make really easy changes in your life starting right now to green up your act. Start with one thing, and once it becomes second nature, try adding another into your routine. Here are five things to try:
1. Turn off lights when you leave a room. (I told you these were going to be easy!) Simply flick the switch. Easy peasy. Saves energy and puts a couple cents back in your pocket.
2. Cut out the air fresheners. Those things are full of nasty chemicals. Try opening a window to get some fresh air or light a soy based candle instead.
3. Skip the plastic bag. If you're buying a small item at the store, put it in your purse instead (after you've PAID for it first, of course). Better yet, bring your own reusable bag.
4. Load up the dishwasher. Seriously! Hand washing your dishes actually wastes more water than using the dishwasher (as long as you only run it when it's full). Bonus points if you use earth friendly dish detergent like those from Ecover, Seventh Generation, Shaklee and Trader Joe's.
5. Wash your clothes in cold water. Really, you don't need hot water for your clothes, plus, washing in cold water will cut down on color bleeding. Just turning that little knob to cold instead of hot will save you some noticeable cash on your utility bill too.
So, which one are you going to try today?