We all know that turning the lights off when you leave the room is good for the environment. For some, remembering to do this is a big effort. However, making small eco-friendly choices like this benefits the environment and your wallet! Try these 5 eco-friendly changes and see what an impact it has on your life.
1. Use Compact Flourscent Light bulbs (CFLS). These light bulbs plug into standard sockets and use less energy than a traditional bulb. Check with your electric provider, complimentary bulbs may be available in your area.
2. Adjust your thermostat. It’s no secret that setting the your thermostat below 68°F in the colder months can save between 3-5% off your energy costs. Put on an extra sweater, thicker socks, and a scarf. In the summer, your thermostat is just as important. Keep it set above 78°F to save.
3. Insulate your water heater. Insulating your water heater with a jacket will help to regulate the temperature. Be sure that your water heater is set at a reasonable temperature as well, typically 120°F.
4. Use reusable grocery bags. Bring your own bags to the grocery store! Keep a stash in the trunk of your vehicle so you always have them on hand. You can use any type of bag – think of the free canvas tote you received from your insurance agent or the bag that was free at the grand opening of your favorite store. Any bag will do, it doesn’t need to be marketed as a grocery bag! Just be sure to launder them regularly.
5. Wash your laundry in cold water using a detergent like Clorox Green Works. Cold water is effective in cleaning your laundry; consider air drying as well. Green Works believes that green can be for anyone without sacrificing time, money, or a lot of effort. These plant-based cleaners stand up to the power of conventional cleaners and are at least 95% naturally-derived ingredients. I’d say that is an eco-friendly win!
What steps are you taking to become more eco-friendly?
Check out the series of six-second claymation @Greenworks Vine videos (http://greenwor.kz/V) and see the tough natural products at work. You can unlock a coupon code for Green Works All Purpose Cleaner on Soap.com each week through April 30, 2014.
I love all of these tips. Earlier this winter I did try to lower my thermostat because I heard that the lower the temperature, the lower my energy bill. I lowered it to 66 degrees and that lasted for about an hour before I was frozen solid and turned it back up 🙂
Hey, I live right down the street from that Grist Mill 🙂 The only thing I don’t do on your list is use re-usable grocery bags, BUT- I do return my plastic grocery bags to the store so they can recycle them 🙂
I have been trying to keep my heat turned down, but my Hubs just won’t leave it alone. He wants heat, so instead of fighting about it, I juat lwt it be.
I do everything except insulate my water heater. That sounds like my next project!
I use Greenworks cleaning products in my home because I have 5 children and I want them to be safe!
We are always trying to conserve water. My daughter knows its okay to not flush the first time after using the potty, but then she forgets all the other times too. Ahh, the things our children learn! 😉
You offered up some great suggestions. I would not have thought about insulating the water heater.
I think we are doing most of these. I actually have my washer hooked up ONLY to cold water to make sure no one uses hot “on accident.” Great post! Thanks!
Now that, Erica, is smart! My washing machines default setting (when you hit the power button) is to wash in warm and rinse in cold. I’m sure we’ve overlooked changing it once or twice. Your idea would stop that for sure!
These are great reminders to be more eco friendly. I lived in Europe during college and they are very focused on being green there. It gave me good inspiration to change my habits in the U.S. too to be more environmentally friendly.
Just remember that CFL bulbs contain mercury. If one breaks, you need to follow hazardous material protocols while cleaning it up.
Great point Beth! I’m thankful that I haven’t had one break, just burn out!
We live in Los Angeles where supermarkets can no longer supply disposable plastic bags. I’m finally getting into the habit of grabbing a reusable bag!
I always thought that hot was best when washing undergarments and towels. I will try using cold water instead.
Thanks for the suggestions and reminders!
I think in the days when the washing machines and the detergents weren’t so efficient at cleaning things, hot water was best. I launder our comforters in hot water once a quarter; but everything else is washed in cold water.
Thanks for the tips and reminding me to be more eco-friendly. I do try, I just don’t always remember.
Sometimes I don’t feel green enough. But I’m already doing 4 & 5. I bring my own bags to the grocery store and I wash clothes in cold…unless it’s a white load with a lot of stains.
Plus the reusable bags are so much easier to carry than plastic bags!
Those plastic bags are wrist breakers! I use a grocery delivery service for the bulk of our groceries, those are delivered in plastic bags – but we return them on the next delivery and they’re recycled.
I do all of these except not sure our water heater is insulated. We replaced it in past couple years so I hope so.
Thanks for sharing!
Be sure to check – yours is probably more energy efficient than others; but having it insulated and wrapped is super important!
If it’s indoors, inside my house, it doesn’t matter if it is insulated, right? Just wondering.
You should consider insulating your water heater, doing so helps traps the heat inside the unit itself.
What perfect timing for this post! Just a couple hours ago PG&E came by to make our cottage more energy efficient.
How awesome is that! We had an energy analysis done on our last home, but haven’t had one on our current home yet.
Great tips! I only wash with cold water.
I also hand dry my dishes instead of using the dry setting on our dishwasher.
So smart to air dry your dishes. I don’t understand the heat dry setting – I mean, isn’t the inside of the dishwasher hot enough!
These are some great tips, Emily. We use cold water for almost every load of laundry. Def need to look at insulating our water heater, hadn’t thought of that.
Thanks, Mel! It’s particularly important if you live in a cooler climate and your water heater is in the basement. You can lose a lot of heat just because of the location of the heater.
I love using reusable grocery bags! They cut down on so much waste and clutter.
I love CFLS. When I first switched to them I was amazed that it saved me $30 a month right from the start. I was hooked after that. I also only use cold water for washing and I’ve found that my clothes look better and last longer. Your tips are great. We all need to do our part to reduce our impact on the planet.
That is amazing! What a wonderful savings!
Great tips – I personally love my reusable shopping bags you can get such cute ones 🙂 x
We recycle everything we can. Since we moved, I am guilty on the thermostat being set too high. I am bundled up in a coat and still freezing so it is on 70, we are still moving and shifting things so the door is constantly opening and letting out the heat. It will settle down soon I am sure and we can adjust that temperature.
Going in and out while moving does let out a lot of heat! Good luck with your move, happy unpacking!
These are all great tips for greener living and they are all very informative.
We tend to re-use plastic bags for many things.
Green works rocks. I love that brand. I do many green things, my number one thing is reuse whatever I can, instead of making it into trash
That’s so smart Melanie! I try to reuse a lot, too. And, when I grow tired of a piece of furniture, I repaint it instead of tossing it out and buying new!
I keep reusuable bags in my trunk. If only I could remember to take them into the store. I have been adjusting the heater. I make it a point to turn it down a degree or two. So far,no big savings but w shall see.
That seems to be a big problem for many people! Maybe the grocery stores should have signs in the parking lot to act as reminders!
I must admit, my family does a HORRIBLE job at this. But we do recycle and use reusable bags.
Small steps can make big changes!
I really need to remember to bring bags to the stores… though I do use the bags I get as garbage bags for the little cans throughout our house.
I use the plastic bags for that as well – and we have a kitty, so there’s a litter box too. When my son was in diapers, I’d keep a few in the car just in case! We now get the bulk of our groceries delivered – and they come in plastic bags, but we’re able to return the bags for recycling during our next delivery. That works out great for us!
These are all great tips! I’ve got reuseable bags for shopping but always seem to forget them. I need to make it more of a habit to take them. Some stores offer a discount for using them so that’s nice too.
Our grocer used to offer 5 cents per bag! I think some people were being greedy – only putting one item in a bag so they’d receive additional credit – now they no longer offer the discount.
I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a water heater jacket. That is a good tip to look into for our house!
My youngest laundryI do on hot because his clothes really need it. The rest I do on cold.
Going green is very important to me! I dont know if I’ve tried this product since I like to make my own, butIll check it out-thanks!
These are all great tips. I think we all need to be more aware of our environment.
These are all such great easy tips. I think that people sometimes over-think going green and miss out on opportunities to do it without changing their entire lifestyle.
That is very true, Nikki! I believe that people think they have to be 100% environmentally friendly or not bother at all. The smallest changes to our routines can help.
I have been working really hard at being eco conscious. The grocery bag idea is one that I do a lot of
Thank you for this wonderful tips! Gotta think about insulating our water heater. Must save gas!
Great tips, especially the last one. New info never hurts to try!
These are great simple to implement tips! I definitely need to remember to put my own shopping bags in the car.
We are teaching the kids to turn off the lights when not in use and we upcycle/recycle when we can!
Awesome tips! Definitely ones I can put into place!
Thanks for sharing these! They’re really great tips for some much needed eco friendly changes!
great tips! Thanks for sharing!
These are some GREAT tips! Thanks 🙂
So many great tips! Thanks for sharing!
Danielle at Framed Frosting
We do all of these except the reusable grocery bags. I really should be better at that but at least I reuse the grocery bags as trash bags. Does that semi count? haha!
That sort of counts! I was telling another reader that we have grocery delivery service – and all of our stuff comes in plastic bags! The only saving to that is we’re able to recycle them the following week. I would love to see them deliver everything in a cardboard box!
A grocery delivery service, now thats what I need. 🙂
I always turn down the heating a few degrees in winter and make everybody in the house wear their dressing gowns. I also always re-use bags. I like to be green