The iconic Kermit may have found being green a little hard, but there are a few simple things you can do around the home in taking a “green” approach to living. It turns out being green can be pretty easy – feel good too!
I’m all about making the Earth a little better for my son. By abiding by green principles, not only are you keeping your family from getting sick, you are also looking out for Mother Nature’s limited resources. Check out these simple recommendations for living green in every room of your home.
- Remove old carpeting and heavy curtains that are caked in years of dust.
- Professionally clean duct work and forced-air heaters regularly to remove grime, dirt and soot.
- Install cabinets that are made of coat pressed woods with a low-VOC sealant instead of particleboard or plywood cabinets. These materials can give off formaldehyde, which is bad for your health.
- Choose low-VOC natural latex paints for interior walls.
- Install a solar-powered water heater.
- Increase insulation in your attic, walls and flooring.
- Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) throughout your house to significantly reduce your electricity bill and the amount of energy used.
- Keep your heat low. For every two degrees that you turn your thermostat below 21, you can save 145 kilograms of greenhouse gases (natural gas heat) or 107 kilograms of electric heat.
- Use recycled, chlorine-free toilet paper, facial tissues and petrochemical-free cosmetics.
- Use baking soda, vinegar and tea tree oil to disinfect your bathroom as opposed to traditional cleaning products made with harsh chemicals.
- Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and only turn it back on to rinse.
- Line-dry your clothes instead of drying them in the dryer.
Did you Know:
Growing native plants in your garden is much friendlier on the environment since they have evolved to survive in the climate in which you live. These plants do not need much help to grow and require less than half the amount of water to survive as compared to non-native plants.