Lighting accounts for more than 11 percent of residential greenhouse gas emissions today. Scientists have found new ways to make light bulbs last 100 times longer then traditional bulbs and consume 10% of their energy. For instance, compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL’s) use a quarter to one third less energy than incandescent bulbs and offer a warm natural glow rather than a glaring sheen.

BE LABEL-CONSCIOUS WHEN YOU SHOP.

Look for labels that indicate that a particular product of food item meets the specified certifications. For example, the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) National Organic Program requires that:

Products labeled as “100% Organic” must contain (excluding water and salt) only organically produced ingredients.

Products labeled “Certified Organic” must consist of at least 95% organically produced ingredients (excluding water and salt) with strict restrictions on the remaining 5%.

Products labeled “Made with organic ingredients” means made with a minimum of 70% organic ingredients with strict restrictions on the remaining 30%.

USE LESS  H₂0.

Each day the average American uses 80 to 100 gallons of water. One billion people in the world don’t have access to portable water. Saving water also helps slash energy consumption and lowers utility bills.

Wash clothes less often.

Don’t let the water run when brushing your teeth or washing your hands or dishes. Turn it off and turn down.

Opt for an energy efficient dishwasher.

While washing dishes by hand for a family of 4 uses 5-6.5 gallons of H₂0 a day, a dishwasher uses 4-4.5 gallons of water per cycle - less water then hand washing - if it’s fully loaded each time.

TRY TO AVOID BUYING ITEMS THAT REQUIRE DRY CLEANING.

An average dry cleaner generates 20 to 50 gallons of waste containing solvent each month. And PERC, the primary chemical used by dry cleaners, pollutes the air, water, and may harm the environment.

CHECK YOUR INSULATION TO ENSURE THAT NOT A DROP OF HEAT IN WINTER OR COOL IN SUMMER IS WASTED.

Replace rubber weather stripping around windows.

Install door sweeps to keep air from escaping.

Install cellular window blinds, The honeycomb shaped “cells” in these fabric blinds trap warm air.

Insulate your attic, basement and walls.

CONVENTIALLY GROWN FOOD CROPS ARE SPRAYED WITH A COCKTAIL OF CHEMICALS WHILE THEY ARE GROWING AND OFTEN AFTER THEY ARE HARVESTED.

You can help reduce your exposure to many of these synthetic pesticides by buying organically grown fruits and vegetables.

CLEAN UP YOUR ACT.

Studies by the Environmental Protection Agency show that the air inside our homes is more polluted than the air outside. Just think about all the fumes that come from the daily household products, cleaners and artificial fragrances, disinfecting sprays and dryer sheets we use. These petrochemical fumes can build up for months, even years, stinking into carpets, furniture and the indoor air we breathe. Among the worst offenders are ammonia based products and chlorine bleach. Opt for natural cleaning products instead.

OPT FOR NATURAL FIBERS SUCH AS ORGANIC COTTON FOR CLOTHING, TOWELS AND BEDDING.

Convention cotton accounts for up to 25% of the insecticides used worldwide. Additionally conventional cotton is often bleached and treated with dyes which can end up as waste in rivers and soils.

SLOW DOWN AND KEEP IT SMOOTH.

Cars and light trucks consume 40% of US oil and cough up 20% of the nations CO₂. Until we are all zooming around in hybrid cars, here are a few ways to conserve transportation fuel.

By observing the speed limit, you can keep your car running optimally.

Maintain a consistent pace. By stomping on the gas and slamming on the brakes you waste fuel.

When buying car make fuel efficiency a priority.

BE MINDFUL

Pay attention to what is really going on and what you are doing and experiencing. What you do not only affects you but the world around you. Many of these suggestions may seem small and insignificant but added up they can help change the world.

SAVE YOUR ENERGY.

Burning fossil fuels for energy pollutes the air and effects global climate change. In fact, coal -fired power plants are responsible for a whopping 1/3 of the CO2 that’s pumped into the atmosphere in the US equal to two gigatons. Ask your electric company if they offer wind power alternatives. Wind energy is a clean source of electricity produced when specially designed turbines capture the wind to generate electricity. This natural, inexhaustible source of energy requires no fuel and produces no pollution.  

PAPER OR PLASTIC

The answer is neither. According to the Worldwatch Institute, each year an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. That comes out to over one million per minute. Billions of these bags end up as litter or in landfills each year. And to make the billions of paper grocery bags used annually, millions of trees are felled each year. Best bet - Toting a 100% certified organic cotton canvas bag when you shop makes the most eco-sense.

Remember, just like sticking to your diet or committing to an exercise program, living organically and greener is not going to be an overnight transformation. Start with what is easily achievable. Make changes when they are most comfortable. When you run out of a particular item - replace it with an organic one. Skip the supermarket and visit an organic farm stand for your produce.

**We will have more tips to share so keep checking back!