Green Ideas

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. We hear this often and if we take small steps in making changes, we can make a difference to our environment.

Think about your house. What can you change to help move towards green living?

Using the dishwasher for a full load of dishes rather than handwashing dishes helps reduce the use of water. Instead of pouring out those last few drops or warm glass of water, use that water for feeding your plants. And, while you're waiting for the shower to warm up, catch that clean water and feed the pets!

If you can't afford to change all of the light bulbs throughout the house, start by switching out only those bulbs used most frequently with CFL or LED bulbs. Go around the house and unplug all unused appliances and electronic products. Just because something is turned 'off', doesn't mean it is not using electricity.

Have old appliances? It may make good sense to get rid of those old units and buy new energy-efficient appliances. They'll not only improve the value and cosmetics of the house but also save money on utilities and run more efficiently.

Get the newspaper? Tossing it in the recycle bin is a good step but rather than just tossing it, see if you can put it to good use. Painting soon? Put newspapers down to catch drips. Have a cat? Put paper under the litter box for easy clean up. Donate newspapers to the local animal shelter.

Taking steps to being Green just takes some thought. Try it, it's easy to adapt!!