It is our responsibility to protect the planet that we live on. Years of abuse is taking its toll. People are now starting to recognize the signs of a dying planet and are now taking steps to reverse the damage. The best way you can help protect the planet is to go green at home.
One way to go green at home is to not microwave plastic. This can release toxins into your food. When you buy food at the grocery store, buy organic whenever possible and look for prepackaged items with the least amount of packaging to cut down on waste.
Always recycle. Newspapers, plastic, aluminum are all things that are recyclable. Get creative and think of ways to reuse items that you would normally throw away. It is important that you cut down on fast food consumption also. Not only is fast food bad for you, the containers it comes in contributes to waste.
Always unplug cell phone chargers and other electronics when not in use. This will reduce your electric consumption. Electronics can use up to twenty percent of the power when not in use. It is also a good idea to replace older appliances and heating devices with more efficient energy saving devices.
Walk when you can. If you need to go to the drugstore that is only a block or two away, walk. This will save on gas, and it will provide you with much needed exercise. Ride a bicycle when feasible and only depend on your car for long trips.
If you are buying a new car, look for a hybrid. This will cut down gasoline consumption and harmful fuel emissions. It will also save you a ton of money over the years in the cost of gasoline.
A very important going green tip that everyone should use is growing your own food. Plant a vegetable garden and use the least amount of pesticides possible. Even if you do not have a lot of room you can plant container gardens. Consider setting out a rain barrel to catch rain to water your garden. This will decrease your need for public water.
Reduce your trash by setting up a compost in the back yard. Add coffee grounds, egg shells, spoiled vegetables and other biodegradable trash to the compost. Do not add meat of any kind. The compost pile will not only reduce your trash, it will also make wonderful natural fertilizer for your garden.
Open the curtains on a sunny winter to day to add natural heat to your home. Make sure that all the cracks and drafts are sealed in the home to reduce heating and cooling costs.
Do not throw away items that have some use left in them. Donate these items to the local Goodwill or other charities in your area.
Going green is not as hard as you may think. All it takes is a little creativity and determination to make this world a better place for all of us.