Easy Ways to Live Greener
An eco-friendly lifestyle doesn't need to be difficult or expensive. Try these tips and tricks (plus over 65 more) from throughout Good Housekeeping's 125 years to create a home that'll make you — and the earth — proud.
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Green Around the Clock
This April 22 marks the 40th anniversary of the first Earth Day, started to boost awareness about the environment — and to ensure that pro-planet types would no longer be ignored by legislators. But you don't have to be lobbying Congress to make a difference. Do your part by practicing these six habits each day
In the Morning
- Brew "certified" coffee. A USDA Certified Organic label means it was grown using sustainable standards.
- Green "to go." Not brewing at home? Take a travel cup to your favorite java joint; they may fill it at a discount.
At Work
- Double up. Configure your office printer or copy machine so it prints on both sides of the page.
- Put it to sleep. If you'll be away from your computer for more than 20 minutes, change it to "sleep" mode.
Running Errands
- BYOB. Bags, that is. It's good for your wallet, too: Some retailers, such as CVS, now pay you for every disposable bag you don't take ($1 on a special CVS card for every four trips on which you BYO).
Before Bed
- Truly turn off electronics. Plug your devices — the TV and DVD player, or the computer and printer — into a UL-certified power strip; switch the whole group off for the evening to prevent phantom electrical draw.
Start 'Em Young
- Game off? Yep, get the kids to turn off video games (both the TV and the console) after they're done playing, and you'll win back about $100 per year.
- Pitch in. Live in one of the 11 states with bottle bills? Have your kids collect aluminum cans and plastic bottles to redeem for cash to spend on a treat.
- Don't tap out. Teach children to turn off the water while brushing their teeth. Leaving the tap running during the recommended two minutes of brushing can waste up to five gallons of water a day.
- Book it. Dr. Seuss's 1971 book, The Lorax, stars a creature who "speaks for the trees" against those who'd cut them down. Talk about the message with your tykes (book and matching plush doll, $5 each, Kohl's).
