1. Drink Locally.
Water filtration systems are a great alternative to constantly buying water in plastic bottles. There are SO many systems available, at all kinds of price ranges.
2. Salvage Still-Good Food.
Cut away bruises or soft spots in otherwise good produce, and use what's left. By the same token, a little speck of mold needn't ruin a whole block of cheese - remove moldy bits and eat what's left. Recycle semistale bread into breadcrumbs or bread pudding ingrediednts. Be creative and generate less waste.
3. Savor the Scraps.
Don't toss vegetable scraps. Bits of carrot, onion, mushroom, celery, and any other vieggie trimmings make great ingredients for stock.
A great idea is to throw your scraps into the freezer and when you get time, make a flavorful stock.
It's a great way to eliminate unnecessary waste and cut down on food costs.
4. Clean Green.
Eschew cleaners with harsh chemicals, bleach
and phosphates in favor of biodegradable products, like Simple Green and those that use natural cleaning ingredients like hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and citrus oils. These cleaning solutions may cost a bit more, but frankly, when we look at the issue of environmental impact and the safety of our workers and customers, we tend to not mind spending a bit more money for these products.
5. Bag The Plastic.
Plastic wrap may be a convenient storage tool, but it's also an environmental nuisance.
It's better to spend more money and buy plastic containers for strage to reduce the amount of unnecessary plastic wrap we use.
Another option is to use recycled bakers' parchment paper to wrap food in. It's both recycled AND biodegradable.
6. Look for the Energy Star.
Next time you buy a new appliance or other household products (even windows qualify), be sure it bears the blue and white Energy Star label. This label tells you the product has met the quality and energy-efficency guidelines of both the EPA and the US Dept of Energy.
That means the use less energy, save you money, and protect the environment.
