Being environmentally friendly is becoming increasingly important, as well as increasingly easy. A recent USA Weekend article offers easy tips to living green. There are some simple ways that you can become more environmentally friendly.
Yard
The most earth-friendly option for your yard is to trade grass for ground covers or mulch, as maintaining a lawn takes a lot of water and energy. If you choose to keep your lawn, however, it is best to use native grasses; your local nursery can advise you on which are indigenous to your area. You should try, whenever possible, to do the following:
- Cut grass no lower than 2.5 inches; any lower, and it will require more water.
- Always water the lawn before sunrise or after dark to reduce evaporation and water more efficiently.
- Don't throw away grass clippings. Leaving them on the lawn will provide nutrients.
- Buy organic fertilizers, as they don't degrade as quickly as synthetic fertilizers and are safer for children and animals.
- Buy an electric lawnmower. It will save you, on average, a whopping 73% on lawn care costs and is better for the environment.
Appliances
Your appliances can be a great source of green living. Keep in mind the following when using and buying appliances:
- It is more energy-efficient to do a load of laundry in cold water than in hot. Also, when drying laundry, it is more energy-efficient to dry loads of laundry consecutively, as you are taking advantage of residual heat in the dryer.
- Gas ranges are more efficient than electric ranges.
- An energy-efficient dishwasher is more "green" than hand-washing a sinkful of dirty dishes.
- When buying new appliances, always look for the Energy Star label. It may cost a bit more, but it will save money and the environment.
- Replace refrigerators that are 10 to 20 years old, as they could be 40% less efficient than newer models. A new fridge can reduce your costs by as much as $15 a month!
- Side-by-side refrigerators use 10% to 25% more energy than stacked refrigerator-freezer models.
- When possible, don't place your refrigerator next to a heat source, such as a vent, dishwasher, oven or in direct sunlight, as it will require more energy to cool it.
Lights
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) reduce the energy used for lighting by one-third and are available at most home stores and some warehouse club stores. A CFL can last 10,000 hours, whereas a regular bulb only lasts 1,000 hours. They can be used wherever you would use a regular bulb. On a dimmer switch, however, make sure that you use only a CFL that is labeled for such use. Over the long-term, you can save $20 to $30 per bulb.
Paint and Cleaner
Household cleaners and paints have ingredient lists that read like a complicated chemistry quiz. Here are a few tips to being more environmentally friendly:
- Use a brand of cleaner that is concentrated, where you need to add water. You can use concentrated cleaners for a variety of things, and can cut down on the amount of cleaner and containers that you use.
- Don't use cleaners with chlorine bleach or sodium hypochlorite, as they have harmful environmental effects.
- Instead, look for clears with citric acid or hydrogen peroxide, which will do the job just as well.
- Avoid volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Some new paints will include that they have low or no VOCs on the label. These VOC-less paints cost the same as other premium paints and have no paint smell.
