Eco Friendly » Blog http://ecofriend.us Be eco-friendly and green while saving money Fri, 20 Aug 2010 06:24:03 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 10 Ways to be an Eco Friend (part 3) http://ecofriend.us/green/10-ways-to-be-an-eco-friend-part-3/ http://ecofriend.us/green/10-ways-to-be-an-eco-friend-part-3/#comments Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:14:27 +0000 admin http://ecofriend.us/?p=170 This series, titled “10 Ways To Be An Eco Friend“, was inspired by this site.  Part 1, Part 2.

Weee21. SECOND-HAND DOESN’T MEAN SECOND-BEST

Consider buying items from a second-hand store. Toys, bicycles, roller blades, and other age and size-specific items are quickly outgrown. Second hand stores often sell these items in excellent condition since they are used for such a short period of time, and will generally buy them back when you no longer need them.

Globey22. BUY LOCAL

Consider the amount of pollution created to get your food from the farm to your table. Whenever possible, buy from local farmers or farmers’ markets, supporting your local economy and reducing the amount of greenhouse gas created when products are flown or trucked in.

This is a thermometer23. ADJUST YOUR THERMOSTAT

Adjust your thermostat one degree higher in the summer and one degree cooler in the winter. Each degree celsius less will save about 10% on your energy use! In addition, invest in a programmable thermostat which allows you to regulate temperature based on the times you are at home or away.

MMmmmmm, coffee24. INVEST IN YOUR OWN COFFEE CUP

If you start every morning with a steamy cup, a quick tabulation can show you that the waste is piling up. Invest in a reusable cup, which not only cuts down on waste, but keeps your beverage hot for a much longer time. Most coffee shops will happily fill your own cup, and many even offer you a discount in exchange!

Thre and back25. BATCH ERRANDS

Feel like you spend your whole week trying to catch up with the errands? Take a few moments once a week to make a list of all the errands that need to get done, and see if you can batch them into one trip. Not only will you be saving gasoline, but you might find yourself with much better time-management skills.

switch26. TURN OFF LIGHTS

Always turn off incandescent bulbs when you leave a room. Fluorescent bulbs are more affected by the number of times it is switched on and off, so turn them off when you leave a room for 15 minutes or more. You’ll save energy on the bulb itself, but also on cooling costs, as lights contribute heat to a room.

Mow27. GREENER LAWN CARE

If you must water your lawn, do it early in the morning before any moisture is lost to evaporation. Have a few weeds? Spot treat them with vinegar. Not sure if you should rake? Normal clippings act as a natural fertilizer, let them be. If you’ve waited too long, rake by hand — it’s excellent exercise.

Basket28. PICNIC WITH A MARKER

Some time in between the artichoke dip and the coleslaw, you lost track of your cup, and now there are a sea of matching cups on the table, one of which might be yours. The next time you picnic, set out permanent marker next to disposable dinnerware so guests can mark their cup and everyone will only use one.

Celly29. RECYCLE OLD CELL PHONES

The average cell phone lasts around 18 months, which means 130 million phones will be retired each year. If they go into landfills, the phones and their batteries introduce toxic substances into our environment. There are plenty of reputable programs where you can recycle your phone, many which benefit noble causes.

Wrenching30. MAINTAIN YOUR VEHICLE

Not only are you extending the life of your vehicle, but you are creating less pollution and saving gas. A properly maintained vehicle, clean air filters, and inflated tires can greatly improve your vehicle’s performance. And it might not hurt to clean out the trunk—all that extra weight could be costing you at the pump.

This series, titled “10 Ways To Be An Eco Friend“, was inspired by this site.  Read Part 1 and Part 2.

Related Products:

Disclaimer: I make money from this site, as if it weren’t obvious already. But isn’t it nice that I’m honest about what I think looks nice? Ok then, carry on.

]]> http://ecofriend.us/green/10-ways-to-be-an-eco-friend-part-3/feed/ 0 10 Ways To Be An Eco Friend (part 2) http://ecofriend.us/green/10-ways-to-be-an-eco-friend-part-2/ http://ecofriend.us/green/10-ways-to-be-an-eco-friend-part-2/#comments Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:40:24 +0000 admin http://ecofriend.us/?p=83 This series, titled “10 Ways To Be An Eco Friend“, was inspired by this site.  Part 1, Part 2.

Weee21. SECOND-HAND DOESN’T MEAN SECOND-BEST

Consider buying items from a second-hand store. Toys, bicycles, roller blades, and other age and size-specific items are quickly outgrown. Second hand stores often sell these items in excellent condition since they are used for such a short period of time, and will generally buy them back when you no longer need them.

Globey22. BUY LOCAL

Consider the amount of pollution created to get your food from the farm to your table. Whenever possible, buy from local farmers or farmers’ markets, supporting your local economy and reducing the amount of greenhouse gas created when products are flown or trucked in.

This is a thermometer23. ADJUST YOUR THERMOSTAT

Adjust your thermostat one degree higher in the summer and one degree cooler in the winter. Each degree celsius less will save about 10% on your energy use! In addition, invest in a programmable thermostat which allows you to regulate temperature based on the times you are at home or away.

MMmmmmm, coffee24. INVEST IN YOUR OWN COFFEE CUP

If you start every morning with a steamy cup, a quick tabulation can show you that the waste is piling up. Invest in a reusable cup, which not only cuts down on waste, but keeps your beverage hot for a much longer time. Most coffee shops will happily fill your own cup, and many even offer you a discount in exchange!

Thre and back25. BATCH ERRANDS

Feel like you spend your whole week trying to catch up with the errands? Take a few moments once a week to make a list of all the errands that need to get done, and see if you can batch them into one trip. Not only will you be saving gasoline, but you might find yourself with much better time-management skills.

switch26. TURN OFF LIGHTS

Always turn off incandescent bulbs when you leave a room. Fluorescent bulbs are more affected by the number of times it is switched on and off, so turn them off when you leave a room for 15 minutes or more. You’ll save energy on the bulb itself, but also on cooling costs, as lights contribute heat to a room.

Mow27. GREENER LAWN CARE

If you must water your lawn, do it early in the morning before any moisture is lost to evaporation. Have a few weeds? Spot treat them with vinegar. Not sure if you should rake? Normal clippings act as a natural fertilizer, let them be. If you’ve waited too long, rake by hand — it’s excellent exercise.

Basket28. PICNIC WITH A MARKER

Some time in between the artichoke dip and the coleslaw, you lost track of your cup, and now there are a sea of matching cups on the table, one of which might be yours. The next time you picnic, set out permanent marker next to disposable dinnerware so guests can mark their cup and everyone will only use one.

Celly29. RECYCLE OLD CELL PHONES

The average cell phone lasts around 18 months, which means 130 million phones will be retired each year. If they go into landfills, the phones and their batteries introduce toxic substances into our environment. There are plenty of reputable programs where you can recycle your phone, many which benefit noble causes.

Wrenching30. MAINTAIN YOUR VEHICLE

Not only are you extending the life of your vehicle, but you are creating less pollution and saving gas. A properly maintained vehicle, clean air filters, and inflated tires can greatly improve your vehicle’s performance. And it might not hurt to clean out the trunk—all that extra weight could be costing you at the pump.

This series, titled “10 Ways To Be An Eco Friend“, was inspired by this site.  Read Part 1 and Part 2.

Related Products:

Disclaimer: I make money from this site, as if it weren’t obvious already. But isn’t it nice that I’m honest about what I think looks nice? Ok then, carry on.

]]> http://ecofriend.us/green/10-ways-to-be-an-eco-friend-part-3/feed/ 0 10 Ways To Be An Eco Friend (part 1) http://ecofriend.us/green/10-ways-to-be-an-eco-friend-part-1/ http://ecofriend.us/green/10-ways-to-be-an-eco-friend-part-1/#comments Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:05:55 +0000 admin http://ecofriend.us/?p=69 This series, titled “10 Ways To Be An Eco Friend“, was inspired by this site.  Part 1, Part 2.

Weee21. SECOND-HAND DOESN’T MEAN SECOND-BEST

Consider buying items from a second-hand store. Toys, bicycles, roller blades, and other age and size-specific items are quickly outgrown. Second hand stores often sell these items in excellent condition since they are used for such a short period of time, and will generally buy them back when you no longer need them.

Globey22. BUY LOCAL

Consider the amount of pollution created to get your food from the farm to your table. Whenever possible, buy from local farmers or farmers’ markets, supporting your local economy and reducing the amount of greenhouse gas created when products are flown or trucked in.

This is a thermometer23. ADJUST YOUR THERMOSTAT

Adjust your thermostat one degree higher in the summer and one degree cooler in the winter. Each degree celsius less will save about 10% on your energy use! In addition, invest in a programmable thermostat which allows you to regulate temperature based on the times you are at home or away.

MMmmmmm, coffee24. INVEST IN YOUR OWN COFFEE CUP

If you start every morning with a steamy cup, a quick tabulation can show you that the waste is piling up. Invest in a reusable cup, which not only cuts down on waste, but keeps your beverage hot for a much longer time. Most coffee shops will happily fill your own cup, and many even offer you a discount in exchange!

Thre and back25. BATCH ERRANDS

Feel like you spend your whole week trying to catch up with the errands? Take a few moments once a week to make a list of all the errands that need to get done, and see if you can batch them into one trip. Not only will you be saving gasoline, but you might find yourself with much better time-management skills.

switch26. TURN OFF LIGHTS

Always turn off incandescent bulbs when you leave a room. Fluorescent bulbs are more affected by the number of times it is switched on and off, so turn them off when you leave a room for 15 minutes or more. You’ll save energy on the bulb itself, but also on cooling costs, as lights contribute heat to a room.

Mow27. GREENER LAWN CARE

If you must water your lawn, do it early in the morning before any moisture is lost to evaporation. Have a few weeds? Spot treat them with vinegar. Not sure if you should rake? Normal clippings act as a natural fertilizer, let them be. If you’ve waited too long, rake by hand — it’s excellent exercise.

Basket28. PICNIC WITH A MARKER

Some time in between the artichoke dip and the coleslaw, you lost track of your cup, and now there are a sea of matching cups on the table, one of which might be yours. The next time you picnic, set out permanent marker next to disposable dinnerware so guests can mark their cup and everyone will only use one.

Celly29. RECYCLE OLD CELL PHONES

The average cell phone lasts around 18 months, which means 130 million phones will be retired each year. If they go into landfills, the phones and their batteries introduce toxic substances into our environment. There are plenty of reputable programs where you can recycle your phone, many which benefit noble causes.

Wrenching30. MAINTAIN YOUR VEHICLE

Not only are you extending the life of your vehicle, but you are creating less pollution and saving gas. A properly maintained vehicle, clean air filters, and inflated tires can greatly improve your vehicle’s performance. And it might not hurt to clean out the trunk—all that extra weight could be costing you at the pump.

This series, titled “10 Ways To Be An Eco Friend“, was inspired by this site.  Read Part 1 and Part 2.

Related Products:

Disclaimer: I make money from this site, as if it weren’t obvious already. But isn’t it nice that I’m honest about what I think looks nice? Ok then, carry on.

]]> http://ecofriend.us/green/10-ways-to-be-an-eco-friend-part-3/feed/ 0