For most people, being green seems overwhelming and time consuming. But even the tiniest change counts and the process doesn’t have to be a hassle. Starting out with a manageable action plan is the key to success. Here are some tips to get you on the right track:
Look around your house for green opportunities. Do you see an easy place to store your recyclables? Are your light bulbs energy efficient? Start to notice if any family members are using too much water, or leaving unneeded lights on. Get your kids on board and see if they can help spot ways to change as a family.
Get your garden growing and save. Planting a garden might seem like a huge undertaking, but the rewards far outweigh the work, plus you will save money. One packet of seeds costs around 50 cents and yields enough fresh produce for you and your family to eat all summer. And if you are gardening, that means less trips to the grocery store, which means less driving and less gas usage. Plus, you can make your produce as organic as you wish.
Be aware of product packaging. Next time you are in the store, keep an eye out for renewable packaging. The renewable raw material used to make the new packaging is produced with as little as half the energy compared to traditional petroleum-based packaging, and it is good for the environment too.
Forget plastic water bottles. More than 26 billion bottles are thrown away each year (less than 15 percent are recycled). The plastic from these bottles does not biodegrade so it is now a permanent part of our landfills. Invest in reusable water bottles for the whole family and keep extras in the car so you are never tempted to go back.
Be open to small changes. Becoming green is really about seeing life differently and being open to make changes, however small they may seem. Things like driving slower (uses less gas), unplugging unused electrical devices, and using a microfiber cloth (instead of paper towels) can really add up over time. And the sooner you get started, the better our planet and your home will be.
Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about our environment and health of you and your family. For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com and maidbrigade.com. Watch our video on achieving work/life balance at greencleancedrtified.com/greentv. To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in your home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.
