what are some ways i can go green?
im 17 and trying to go green.i already use my own bags at the grocery store,i try to recycle as much as possible and i use energy efficient light bulbs. what else could i do to help the earth and save money?.
thanks alot guys !
15 Responses
Proud Vegetarian
03 Jun 2010
jorma king
03 Jun 2010
You can start by using only one square of toilet paper at a time, so you can help save our precious, fragile planet.
martin
03 Jun 2010
Set your air conditioner properly within 26-28 degree cecius, try not to turn on air conditioner. take more public transportation instead of driving. eat less like 80% of full loading.use nature light.
When you purchase , alwayse think green products.
I hope those measure help green and save your money.
frazy13
03 Jun 2010
well i started to use less water in the shower, turn on the shower to get u wet, then turn it off and put soap and shampoo instead of wasting the water while u do it , and then rinse. and something off topic: rinsing in cold water makes ur hair shinier!!
AndY-chAn l
03 Jun 2010
collect all those cans,bottle, and use it as a recycle then sell it and you will get some money
be more practical!
sexy can i?
03 Jun 2010
i’m totally green too so i have plenty of tips for you 
1- if you and a few other friends all have to go somewhere, carpool. have one person drive and drop one of you at work, one at the movies, one at the store, and then drive home. it prevents pollution.
2-ride a bike or walk. if you live with 5 miles of a friend’s house, hop on a bike instead of driving. it’ll safe you money for gas, too.
3- thermos! i love starbucks but sometimes i just have to make myself some coffee to go.
i do more than these three things but these three things really do help a lot!!!
Momsey
03 Jun 2010
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.
Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible.
Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying. If you must use a dryer, consider adding dryer balls to cut drying time.
Take shorter showers to reduce water use.
Install a low-flow showerhead. They don’t cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.
Plant trees and shrubs.
Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
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 items. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.
Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
Wear clothes that don’t need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.
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
Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality. http://www.worldwatch.org/node/1484
Carpool. Take turns with friends and coworkers driving to school or to work. Ride your bike or walk if possible.
Also, don’t just go green for the planet, do it for your own body as well:
Use cast iron or enamel-on-steel pots and pans instead of nonstick. Teflon is bad for your health.
Avoid processed, canned or fast foods as mush as possible, and never microwave plastic.
Buy organic fruits and vegetables.
Use iodized salt to protect your thyroid and combat chemical interference.
Leave your shoes at the door. This cuts down on dust-bound pollutants in the home, also reduces the need for carpet cleaning.
Avoid perfume, cologne and products with added fragrance. Search for personal care products that are fragrance-free.
Buy products with natural fibers, like cotton and wool, that are naturally fire resistant. Do not buy flame-resistant polyester fabrics.
Eat low-mercury fish like tilapia & pollock, rather than high-mercury choices like tuna & swordfish.
Filter your water for drinking and cooking.
You are doing a good thing!, encourage others to join you!
I wish you well!
curlyhead94
03 Jun 2010
*if your cold ,don’t turn up the heat…just grab a sweater and a few blankets.
*rather then dry your clothes in the dryer, hang them up and let the sun dry them
*when you take your dog a bath,
laladopi
03 Jun 2010
this is what do:
only keep lights on in the room you need it in.
shut your ac off when you leave your home.
although fans use less electricity.
try getting to places by public transportation if able.
reuse paper towels.
eat less canned, bottled and processed foods.
drink from a canteen rather than plastic bottles.
ya kno stuff like that.
SilentDoGood
03 Jun 2010
You may use: My Best Recycling Idea
Besides recycling the plastic containers, you can improve your work or home environments by bringing live potted plants indoors.
Major items needed:
One empty plastic gallon container. Tree Top Apple Juice is preferred, or equal in shape.
One empty plastic ½ gallon container. Langers All Pomergranate Juice is preferred or equal.
Directions: Lay the plastic gallon container on its side so the front label is facing up. Place the empty plastic half gallon container on the label and with a sharpie pen outline the bottom on the Tree Top label and with a sharp knife carefully cut the outline. Insert the half gallon into the hole until it rest on the back label of the gallon container. Then mark and cut approximately one inch above the cut on the ½ gallon to complete your planter container. Remove and drill several ¼ inch holes on the bottom of the ½ gallon cut container for drainage.
Fill the cut ½ gallon planter with one inch of gravel before putting in good potting mix soil and live growing plant. If you make two or more you can pour the water back and forth and not waste the water with the nutrients.
Go to NASA’s Clean Air Plant Study for the top ten plants that cleans the indoor air better than the rest. http://www.zone10.com/tech/NASA/Fyh.htm
denver
03 Jun 2010
You can use some alternative energy stuff like solar lights,solar chargers,solar backpacks .There are a lot of solar energy products that on the net.
B H
03 Jun 2010
How about inspiring other people? You can do that simply by wearing a hat or t-shirt with great green slogans.
Check this article for cool ideas and links
Linda N
03 Jun 2010
I would say that switching off sockets can make a big difference and putting extra layers on instead of turning up the heating saves the planet AND money!
Fix that dripping tap – you’d be surprised how much water disappears down the drain.
Buy (or borrow) a recipe book for ‘one pot meals’. This will save on energy and washing up. Make meals in large amounts and freeze a couple of portions to be defrosted and eaten later. Reheating will cost much less and use less energy than cooking a whole new meal. This means you can recycle some of your plastic containers too!
Plus all of the above
whsgreenmom
03 Jun 2010
Going green is easy, there are so many great resources about the subject. My personal favorite is "The Green Book" which has parts of its book online as well at http://www.readthegreenbook.com.
As I have been striving to "Go Green" I realize it is like stepping back in time without getting rid of my modern conveniences. I’m doing many things I learned as a child, like line drying my clothes, sweeping instead of vacuuming, opening the windows in the morning to catch the cool breeze, only buying what I need instead of everything that looks cool, growing some of my own food, and canning what I can’t eat now.
To me "going Green" is a frame of mind. Do what fits your lifestyle and do the easy things first, it is a process and like dieting if you go to radical to soon, you are more likely to go back to bad habits. I also believe there are good, better, best choices in most things. If you aren’t ready to start a home garden, then try finding a farmers market, until you locate one look for produce grown as close to home as possible and go organic when available.
Many people think "going green" is expensive, I disagree. Some changes may take an initial investment, but they usually have a short payoff time. Things like weatherstiping and insulation cost, but the energy savings will add up quickly. You may need to purchase reusable bags, but most stores give you a 5 or 10 cent credit, so you are paid back within a few months.
My top tips are make your home more energy efficient, that also means using natural light, cooling and heating.
Reduce your packaging, if you eat more fresh food you will generally reduce packaging, it’s the same thing they tell dieters, shop the perimiter, that is where all the meat, dairy and produce are located. Only buy what you will use, many Americans throw away a lot of unused food. Buy in bulk, that doesn’t just mean large packages, but that area with the bins that you buy only what you plan on using.
Replace disposable items with durable items, if you eat outside often and use disposable paper or plastic plates, it is a wise investment to purchase a set of reusable plastic plates. Replace disposable razors, diapers and cleaning products like swiffer. Avoid bottled water, get a home filter like Pur or Brita.
Recycle, http://www.earth911.org will help you locate the nearest recycle center. I try to only purchase plastics that are #1 or #2, they are more easily recycled. I also buy recycled products when available, that includes paper towels, napkings, toilet paper, tissue, school/office supplies and clothing.
Detox your cleaning, vinegar and baking soda clean almost anything, they can even losen a hair clog. Seventh Generation and Method are a couple mainstream brands that are very earth friendly.
Just start small and build from there, don’t get overwhelmed.
greenecoliving
03 Jun 2010
for a virtual look at someone living green look at "living with ed – ed begley and his wife rachelle" on facebook and other links on their page. its easy being green:)
Become a vegetarian/vegan. It really is better for the environment because, believe it or not, "The methane resulting from the burps and farts of 10 billion animals a year is directly responsible for global warming." (Skinny B****) "The amount of land, food, water, and energy used to raise10 billion animals a year for slaughter could be used to grow food for all the starving people in the world" (also from the book Skinny B****). It’s also a healthier way to be. I know this probably isn’t what you expected from asking this question, but I figured I would put it out there anyway. Also, read the book Skinny B**** by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. It’s not really about being skinny or being a b****, it’s about being smart with the way you eat.