1. Stop using disposable bags.

500 BILLION plastic bags are used per year.  Slow the production of disposable plastic bags by carrying your own reusable cloth bags when you shop.

2. Sign up for Green Energy.

Did you know you now have the option of purchasing a green energy power source from your utility company?  This information is made available at the Department of Energy – for each state.

3.  Fix leaky faucets.

One leaky faucet in a home can waste over 2000 gallons of water per year.  Save water and money just by stopping a leak.

4. Go Paperless – Pay “ALL” bills online.

Most checking accounts offer free online bill pay options – enroll and setup bills.  The benefits include savings on late fees and natural resources.  Choosing to go paperless on bill payments not only saves you money on stamps and envelops, it also saves trees and eliminates the fossil fuels required to generate the customized billing envelops sent to you each month.

5. Power OFF your computer every night.

Did you know you can save up to $90 a year on electricity, by simply shutting down your computer at night – after each use?  You not only save on energy but you also lengthen the lifespan of your computer hardware.  The Department of Energy strongly suggests turning off your monitor or the entire system if you are not going to use it for more than 20 minutes.

6. Don’t leave your car running and walk away for more than 10 seconds.

Studies have shown that Americans idle away 2.9 billion gallons of gas a year – which is about $78.2 billion, not to mention all the carbon emissions while the car runs and the long-term harsh affects on your car.  This waste that can be completely avoided if more Americans simply turn off their cars when they need to step away for a few minutes or are waiting to pickup.

7.  Collect rainwater to water your houseplants and garden.

Keep your watering cans and buckets outside to collect rain water for your houseplants.  This not only saves water for the planet it also saves you money on your water bill!

8. Turn the thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer!

You can save from 1-3% on your heating bill each time you lower your thermostat level.  Recent studies show that most households spend an additional 50 to 70% on their energy bill because of heating and cooling systems.

9. Connect all household electronics to a power strip and turn the power strip off when they are not in use.

TVs, Dvd players, cable boxes, video game systems use power even when they’ve been powered down.  Save energy and save money by cutting all power to them when they are not in use.

10. Print on Two Sides

Print on both sides – all software devices provide this option.  Change the default setting on your computer so each time you print it prints on both sides.  The U.S. alone uses close to 4 million tons of printer paper annually, which is about 27 pounds per individual.  Changing your attitude about printing saves you money and the planet.

11. Do Your Laundry in Cold Water

This is a fairly easy way to clean “green” – but 90% of washing machines default to cleaning with hot water, so it’s important to remember to turn the dial to cold water. The higher the temperature the more harm on your clothes, your pocket – and the planet.

12. Don’t speed!

Driving above the speed limit is not only unsafe but wastes gas.  Save yourself, the earth and your wallet.  Slow down!

13. Restrict Junk Mails

www.Greendimes.com reports that over 100 million trees and 28 billion gallons of water are used to send Americans junk mail each year. We can stop about 75% of those unsolicited mails by going to www.the-dma.org to register on the mail preference service for as little a $1.00 fee and within 90 days most junk mail will stop coming to your residence.

14. Buy Organic Milk

Look for Hormone-Free Milk in your grocery stores.  There is a “certified organic” or “no artificial hormones” inscription on the milk gallon or milk carton.  Most dairy farms inject cows with “synthetic recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), also known as bovine somatotriphin (rbST)” to increase milk production.  This process is banned in most countries because of the implications on the cow’s health and the long term affects on the consumers.  However, some dairy farms are still unaware of such practices.  Therefore, it is up to the consumer to get educated on the matter, insist on the natural way of production and choose to buy organic milk.

15. Carpool

Carpooling with friends or co-workers is a good way to have fun going to work.  It also saves the planet.  By choosing to carpool you reduce carbon emission by 10% each month and save on gas.  Most companies have information on carpool programs so reach out to your human resources representatives on how to enroll.