Deciding to green your life means finding effective ways to reduce your energy consumption while increasing the number of products you recycle or reuse in your home. The goal of going green is to significantly reduce your family's contribution to waste production, greenhouse gas emissions and consumption of natural resources. Recycling is an important part of going green --- it keeps waste out of landfills by turning materials, such as glass and paper, into resources that can be processed into new materials. Start going green by making small changes around your home.
Step 1:
Reduce the number of products and energy you consume. Reducing consumption and energy use is as important to going green as recycling. By reducing consumption, you help conserve natural resources and keep waste out of landfills. Start simply by buying products with limited packaging or buy in bulk so less packaging is required. Use reusable shopping bags to reduce the number of plastic and paper bags your family uses when grocery shopping. Turn down your thermostat by 2 degrees to reduce your household energy consumption.
Step 2:
Recycle glass, paper, aluminum and metal used in your home. Contact your local waste management program for allowable recyclables and program requirements. Sign up for your community's curbside recycling program if one exists. In your home, set up recycling bins so it is easy for all family members to participate. Buy products that are recyclable and made from recycled products. Plastic bottles and containers labeled with a No. 1 or 2 inside a triangle on the bottom of the packaging are accepted by most recycling programs. Donate clothing your children grow out of or that you no longer wear to thrift stores.
Step 3:
Shop locally. When you shop at your local farmers market, you reduce the amount of energy and resources used to transport food from hundreds of miles away. At the farmers markets, buy produce, meat and eggs from farmers who grow their crops organically or with minimal pesticide applications. Make your trip to the market greener by biking or taking public transportation to get there.
Step 4:
Make the switch to energy-efficient appliances, light bulbs and electronics. Assess your home for energy efficiency --- replace drafty windows, leaking faucets or pipes, and install low-flow toilets and shower heads. Look for electronics labeled with the Energy Star logo. The logo indicates that the product is designed to be energy efficient and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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