101 Ways to Go Green page 2

21. Put your dryer lint in the backyard for the birds – they use it to feather their nests.

22. Collect rainwater, and use it to water your houseplants and garden.

23. Switch to cloth diapers – or at least do a combination with disposables.

24. Small glass food jars. These make perfect see-through storage vessels for nails, screws, nuts, and bolts.

25. Check whether you can sign up for green power from your utility company.

26. Pay as many bills as possible online. It will help save a ton on car gas bills too.

27. Buy fresh produce from Display Bins. Select fresh produce from display bins instead of the pre-packaged variety. The more packaging, the more price, and (more importantly) the more garbage in the landfills.

28. If you don't need a light on, don't use one! If it's a bright sunny day, don't turn on a light that you don't need.

29. Turn your computer off at the end of the day. In addition, take steps to create an eco-friendly workplace.

30. Clean your refrigerator coils – vacuum out the dust and wipe with a damp cloth.

31. Research options for carpooling. Carpooling will save you money and make the ride to work more enjoyable.

32. Rent a hybrid rental car on your next vacation. Here are a few more eco-friendly travel tips.

33. Add your fireplace ashes to your compost pile.

34. Share your magazines – read them then pass them on.

35. Inflate your tires/tyres. Keep your car tires/tyres inflated to the proper pressure to improve fuel economy and extend the life of the tires/tyres.

36. Buy a light coloured car. Choose a light-colored car with tinted glass to lessen the need for air conditioning.

37. Take a hike. And take advantage of eco-friendly fitness gear.

38. Plant trees around the house strategically (on the south and west sides; shading the air-conditioning unit, if possible) to save up to about $250 a year on cooling and heating.

39. Save water. Since a 1992 legislation, all new showerheads must have a flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute or lower. Replace your old showerhead and save up to $45 a month for a family of four.

40. Run a full dishwasher whenever possible — it uses half or less of the water and energy of washing the same dishes by hand. And don't waste water by rinsing before loading (today's machines are designed to power off the mess).

41. Lower the temperature on your hot water heater.

42. Unplug unused chargers and appliances.

43. Subscribe to good eco blogs. My favorites are The Daily Green, No Impact Man, and TreeHugger. You can find many more at Best Green Blogs.

44. Before buying anything new, first check your local Craigslist or Freecycle.

45. Support local restaurants that use food derived less than 100 miles away, and learn more about the benefits of eating locally.

46. Fix leaky faucets. You don't want to waste water.

47. Keep your freezer full – it runs more efficiently than an empty one. For more money-saving tips, read 10 Frugal tips for cooking family-friendly meals.

48. Use chlorine-free feminine hygiene products.

49. Make your own household cleaners. You can find several recipes online.

50. Buy reusable water bottles, and stop buying plastic disposable bottles (loyal Simple Mom reader Sara at Mama Goes Green is having a 10% off sale all products for Earth Day – buy one there!). Then watch the trailer for Tapped, a new documentary about the bottled water phenomena.

51. Support a green business with your time and money or better still start your own in your free time.

52. Stop using disposable bags – order some reusable bags, or make your own. My favorites are Envirosax and Flip & Tumble.

53. Cancel your newspaper subscription and read the news online instead.

54. Buy rechargeable batteries. And here is what can you do with old batteries to properly dispose of the batteries you’ve used.

55. Turn down your thermostat during the winter to 68 degrees F when you’re home and 55 degrees F at night. 70 to 80 degrees F is good for summertime.

56. Put a bottle in your toilet. Fill a plastic litre bottle with water, put on the cap tightly and then put it in the back part of your toilet cistern. Since the average toilet uses 3 to 7 gallons of water per flush, the bottle will displace some water, so your toilet will use ½ - 1 gallon less each time someone uses it!

57. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. And try these tips for adding exercise to a busy day.

58. Throw a couple of tennis balls in the dryer to speed up drying time.

59. Shop for used textbooks, books and magazines. Better still, join an online audio book club or download audio books.

60. Join Freecycle www.freecycle.org to find items you need or get rid of items you don’t. Here are few things you can do with your old clothing and linens.

61. Buy a bigger jug of milk.

62. Plant an herb garden. It’s good to have a reminder around of where our food originates.

63. Create a homemade compost bin for $15.

64. Switch one appliance to an energy efficient model (look for the “energy star” label).

65. Wash laundry in cold water instead of hot.

66. Reuse scrap paper. Print on two sides, or let your kids color on the back side of used paper.

67. Conduct a quick energy audit of your home. Once done, try to save a bit of energy wherever possible.

68. Always look for the 'organic' label on veggies and fruit, which means that they were produced without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.

69. Open windows and doors or operate window or attic fans when the weather permits. Most heating and cooling systems do not bring fresh air into the house.

70. Bring home superhero plants. Certain easy-care greens (English ivy, mums, and peace lilies) naturally help remove indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene.

71. Don't buy products with lots of packaging. The more packaging, the more cost. If you see a small product (for example, a toothbrush) wrapped in five layers of plastic with a flashy cardboard insert all in a box made of a foam-like plastic, chances are most of the price is because of the packaging. Find a similar product with less packaging. Also stay away from individually wrapped products.

72. Shop for eco-friendly beauty products. Also consider eco-friendly fashion lines and eco-friendly home décor.

73. Buy a refillable pen and, when in need of a pencil, use wooden instead of refillable.

74. For your kids, buy crayons made of soybean oil, not paraffin. For your babies, try eco-baby shops.

75. Buy eco-friendly pet toys. Be sure you also raise an environmentally-friendly pet.

76. Wear an extra sweater before you resort to turning on (or up) the heat.

77. Take your own mug to the coffee shop. And find out if your coffee is triple certified.

78. Request e-tickets for your next trip. For more vacation tips, read How to take an eco-friendly vacation.

79. Plant a tree. Either buy a plant or find a tree (like a maple) that produces seeds every spring, collect a few, and plant them. Start them in pots until they're at least a foot tall and then plant them. It's a great way to save the earth's oxygen!

80. Buy a new houseplant. For a greener home, read 10 Eco-friendly ways to green your home and family.

Continues in page 3 & Ways to go green HOME..