10 Ways to Go Green and Save Green

  1. Save energy to save money.
  • Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
  • Unplug appliances when you're not using them.
  • Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
  • Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.
  1. Save water to save money.
  • Take shorter showers to reduce water use.
  • Turn tap off while brushing teeth.
  • Fill sink with water to do dishes instead of leaving the water running the whole time.
  • Ensure your taps are fully turned off when your finished with them.
  1. Less gas = more money (and better health!).
  1. Eat smart.
  • If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.
  • Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain. This is especially true for seafood.
  • Bring a lunch with you when you go out or to work, its less expensive, healthier and far more environmentally friendly to cut out the fast food garbage.
  1. Skip the bottled water.
  1. Think before you buy.
  • Recycle! Find new or gently used second hand products. Whether you've just moved or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items cheaply or for free.
  • Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.
  • Be conscious of the items you buy and their packaging. Purchase things with less cardboard, plastic, wax paper wrappers.
  • Re-Use plastic grocery bags for what ever you can, ie) grocery shopping, lunch bags, vegetable bags, freezer bags, garbage bags.
  1. Borrow instead of buying.
  • Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
  • Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbours while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.
  1. Buy smart.
  • Try to Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).
  1. Keep electronics out of the trash.
  1. Make your own cleaning supplies.                                 
  • The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.
  • Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.