Living Orderly, Living Well is celebrating Earth Day by sharing
some suggestions on small changes that you can make in your life
to put you on a "Green" path. These changes will have a big
impact on the earth as well as give you a real sense of
satisfaction. As an organizer I do my share of helping people get rid
of stuff, but that doesn't mean just throwing the stuff away. Yes, a
lot of the time the stuff is just garbage, and it must be thrown
away and disposed of properly. A lot of the stuff, though falls into
two of the three Rs behind the "Green" campaign...Reuse
and Recycle. We also try to teach the other R ...Reduce, so once
the clutter is gone, you don't keep bringing more in.
Jill
Visit us at www.livingorderly.com for more tips on
going green in your home.
Don't be intimidated with the idea of "Going
Green" especially if you think it is going to turn your life
upside down. Take a look at your life and how you do things,
recognize the habits that can be improved, and plan small steps
to reduce your carbon footprint. Below are some suggestions that I have
taken from earth911.com which is a good resource for all things
"Green".
REDUCE:
Less
consumption means less waste, and it's an important part of a greener
lifestyle.
- Where possible, unplug appliances
that are not in use (check for an Energy Star rating as you make new
purchases).
- Turn off the lights when you leave a
room.
- To conserve water, turn off the
faucet when brushing your teeth and consider installing a water-saving
showerhead.
- Wash clothes on warm or cold, and use
the timing function on the dryer. Installing a clothesline saves lots
of energy.
- Buy only what you really need. You'll
save time and money.
- When a purchase is necessary, select
products made with recycled materials or renewable resources.
- Invest in high quality goods that
will last, even if they're more expensive. It will be worth it in the
long run.
- Request bills, statements,
newsletters etc. to be sent electronically.
REUSE:
Reuse
common household items for other things in your home.
- Use cloth napkins and cotton rags in
the kitchen.
- Take reusable shopping bags to
the grocery store. Keep the bags in your car, so that you always
have them with you.
- Purchase glass and plastic food
storage containers to pack leftovers and lunches, so you can use
re-sealable plastic bags more sparingly.
- Wash out and reuse re-sealable
plastic bags when possible. I laughed at my mother for
doing this when I was younger, but she knew what she was
doing.
- Buy a reusable plastic or aluminum
bottle to carry water in.
- Check out Craigslist, consignment
shops, and thrift stores for well-maintained furniture, sports
equipment and other household goods before buying new.
- Shred paper for packing materials.
Cut up used paper to make your own scratch paper.
- Give yourself a great excuse to throw
a party and organize a swap with friends. Depending on your
interests and needs, you can swap clothes, books, toys, CDs,
and DVDs.
RECYCLE:
Recycling
isn't just sorting glass, plastic and cardboard into bins for pickup. It's
also means finding new uses for items we already have. Be
creative and see how many different uses you can find for some of the
more common household items.
- Place all glass and plastic bottles,
cardboard, paper and aluminum into the recycle bin for weekly
pickup. Check with your local waste services for a complete list of
recyclable materials.
- Take a second look at used
containers. Glass jars can be washed and reused to package small
gifts or as a container for office and craft supplies. Shoe boxes
can be covered to make attractive storage boxes.
- Find new uses for old furniture. For
instance, I have an antique wash stand in my kitchen that holds
kitchen appliances that are not used frequently.
- Donate items that you are no longer
using to charity. Don't let them just take up space when someone
else could be using them.
These small efforts really do add up to something
bigger, like increasing the demand for green products and services, which
translates into more green jobs. Also, just think how you will
become a much better steward of God's creation. Now, that's worth
breaking some old habits and making some new ones.
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Questions,
comments, or to order service email us at Jill@livingorderly.com or call 813-685-9986.
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shipping needs go to Ship
On Site located in
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1026
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813-661-6505
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Orderly has gift certificates available. Visit our website and click on the
Services page for more information.
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