• For every ton of paper that is recycled, the following
is saved: 7,000 gallons of water; 380 gallons of oil; and enough
electricity to power an average house for six months.
• You can run a TV for six hours on the amount of electricity
that is saved by recycling one aluminum can
• By recycling just one glass bottle, you save enough electricity
to power a 100-watt bulb for four hours
(Source:
www.gogreeniniative.org)
1. Re-route your commute.
• Walk or bike to work and save money on gas and parking
while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk
of obesity.
• If you live far from your office, investigate the option
of telecommuting. Or move closer—even if this means paying
more rent, it could save you money in the long term.
• If your streets are not conducive to biking or walking,
lobby your municipal government to increase spending on sidewalks
and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge
dividends in decreased traffic and pollution.
2. Buy used.
• Whether you’ve just moved to a new area or are looking
to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing
to track down furniture, appliances, and other items, rather than
buying them new. Check out garage sales and thrift stores for
clothing and other everyday items.
• Use your creativity in gift giving, including making homemade
gifts, donating to a good cause, or even regifting. (And gift
green, in general.)
• Your purchasing habits have a real impact, for better
or worse. When making new purchases, make sure you know what’s
“Good Stuff” and what isn’t.
Click
here for the entire list.
A family of four can
save $3,000 a
year simply by buying products in the largest size
they can use and by buying long lasting reusable items. Think about
the effect of your purchases on the environment when you shop. Items
with excess packaging and products that need to be discarded after
only a few uses cost more money, use up valuable resources and create
more waste.
• Buy products in the largest size you can use; avoid excess
packaging.
• Buy products in containers that you know you will be able
to recycle.
• Buy reusable and long lasting items.
Click
here for more shopping tips!
