“Green” Family Tips – Going Beyond Recycling

Many families are taking an active interest in living a more eco-conscious lifestyle. Nevertheless, getting there can sometimes feel a bit daunting.

Here are ways to help “green your family”:

Thoughtful Recycling of Unwanted Items

Just because something can’t go into the recycling bin doesn’t mean it can’t have a second life. Before tossing it into the garbage, decide whether the item can be reused, repurposed or recycled. Larger items such as furniture could be donated. Unwanted clothing that’s a little too worn for the donation pile could become rags, or perhaps repurposed into scrap material for art projects. Other items could be returned to the appropriate manufacturer, if they encourage returns. They may be able to strip the item of any still-usable, valuable parts and then recycle the rest.

Practicing Energy-Consciousness Year-Round

Teach your children to be energy-conscious by maintaining good habits at home. Start by turning off lights and other appliances when they’re not in use. Pull down blinds and window shades on hot summer days. You can save even more electricity by running large appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines at night, during off-peak hours, and by insulating your house to keep it cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

Eating Green

You can eat green and embrace all of the colors of the rainbow in your meals by choosing local, unpackaged and unprocessed foods. You even can save money eating green by going for bulk whole-food items such as whole grains and dried beans and lentils. More tips about greening your diet can be found online.

Yes, You Can Even Travel Green

Most modes of personal transportation generate some CO2 emissions, but just because you can’t eliminate your CO2 emissions completely doesn’t mean you can’t reduce them significantly.

Reducing them can be as simple as walking to pick up the kids from school, rather than driving, (if their school is nearby or within a mile or so from home … or as significant a commitment as trading in your SUV for a more efficient vehicle.

Re-juggling your errands list to coordinate it with other outings-by-car can allow you to group your automobile stops into several areas, thereby consuming less gasoline.

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