Green Goes Simple

One Person's Junk ...

Tue, 7 Aug 2012 00:00:00 EDT

When cleaning house, hold a yard sale or donate old items to a secondhand shop. You'll be surprised how valuable your junk is to someone else.

Liberate Your Mailbox

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EDT

A couple of quick calls to mail-order catalog companies can free your mailbox from piles of junk. Switch to online bill paying to cut down on even more paper waste.

Go Paperless

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EDT

Eighteen million trees are wasted each year on paper bills and statements (plus the checks, envelopes and stamps used to pay them). Sign up for electronic statements and start paying bills online.

Soak ’Em!

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EDT

When your post-meal cleanup is small, soak dishes in a basin of soapy water (or half of a double-sided sink). Then use the faucet to rinse only. You’ll save water and time.

A Smarter Shower

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EDT

Studies have shown that opting for a five-minute shower instead of a bath can save between 1 and 3 gallons of water per day. Use a low-flow showerhead to save even more.

Growth Spurt

Wed, 4 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EDT

Instead of buying little plastic packets of spices, grow your own herbs -- if you don't have a garden, even a pot or window box will do.

Ice Wine

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:00:00 EDT

Rather than throwing away leftover wine, pour it into an ice cube tray and store it in the freezer until the next time you need to cook with wine. That way you won’t waste a drop!

Good as New

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:00:00 EDT

Donate your old furniture to a local furniture recycler. They'll turn your unwanted pieces into things others will want to buy, saving them from the landfill.

Unplugged

Tue, 29 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

The most common household appliances -- phone chargers, televisions, computer monitors and DVD players -- use valuable energy even when turned off. Unplug them to reduce your energy use and your monthly bill.

Get Going!

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

Drive off as soon as you start your car’s engine. Modern engines don't need much time to warm up, so idling creates unnecessary pollution and mechanical wear.