Green Living II

Step Two: Take Simple Steps

You don’t have to give your home a top-to-bottom instant makeover. Take small steps to make your home more energy efficient and natural. Each one you take makes the next one easier.
Here are some simple steps to get you started:
- No running on empty. Load the dishwasher after every meal, but only turn it on when it’s totally full. Running several smaller loads instead of a full load wastes both water and energy.
- Foil spills. Line the oven, broiler and burners with aluminum foil for easier (and less harsh) clean up.
- Green clean or hire a service to get the job done! :)
- Think reuse! Recycling is great, but it still consumes a lot of energy. Before you toss, ask yourself: “Is there anything else I can use this for?” (Storing toys, sorting change, craft projects, etc.)
- Buy recycled. For paper product must-haves, purchase recycled, unbleached paper towels or napkins. Kitchen trash bags made from recycled materials are becoming more widely available as well.
- Car smarts. Save water by cutting the number of times you wash the car each month, and make sure to turn off the faucet between rinses. And think twice before hopping in the car for a ride to the store. Try shopping once every one or two weeks instead of making multiple trips for just a few items. Limiting the number of trips helps save gas and money.