The first place to look would be a health food store or some comparable establishment that is specifically dedicated to living a cleaner, greener lifestyle. These stores are usually independent, so the prices may be a bit higher, but they can’t be beat for healthful eating options and other environmentally friendly products.

Regular grocery stores usually are a good source as well. More and more of them are selling canvas bags to customers to help them shop without wasting plastic or paper with the typical disposable bags. Most of them also have organic food sections for those who are invested in green eating.

It’s also a good idea to check appliance stores to see which places offer appliances that are more energy efficient. Not only will you help the environment by getting one of these, but you will also save yourself quite a bit of money in the long run, so it’s a win-win situation.

You can also show your children how to recycle items from your home. You can donate used furniture, clothing and appliances to your local thrift store.Additional information can be found at http://vintagerecycled.wordpress.com/2013/04/06/thrifting-on-the-web/. Explain to your children how other people benefit from your donations. This is a great form of recycling used items. Consider buying some of your household items at a thrift store. If everyone bought a few items from second-hand shops and thrift stores, then it could make a positive difference in the environment.

You should have several recycle bins located in your home for glass, plastics and other reusable items. Show your children how to prepare the containers by cleaning them first. Many communities will provide recycling containers free of charge to their residents. These are small things you can do to protect your environment.

Benefits of Trees

Trees are more than just a way to spruce up your landscape. They provide home and food for wildlife; reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, improve the outdoor air quality, conserve energy, save water, and prevent water pollution and soil erosion. When planted near your home, trees can act as a windbreak or shade the house, which can lower your total energy costs.

Recycling and Tree Facts

If ever newspaper were recycled, 250,000,000 trees would be saved every year.
Every year, supermarkets can use over 6 million paper bags.
The average adult American uses about seven trees every year for wood, paper and other items.
Every year, people throw away enough wood and paper to heat about 50,000,000 homes.
Each American uses about 680 pounds of paper a year.
Households can throw away as much as 13,000 pieces of paper every year. This includes junk mail and packaging.
Back in 1993, more than 90,000,000 cubic yards of landfill area was saved with paper recovery.
For every ton of recycle paper saves 17 trees, three cubic yards of landfill, 380 gallons of oil, 7,000 gallons of water and 4,000 kilowatts of energy. This is a 64 percent energy and 58 percent water savings.

Ways To Reduce Paper Waste

Paper is a useful tool that most people use on a daily basis in one way or another. By reducing your paper waster, you are taking a stand for the environment. If possible, use a pencil when writing so mistakes can be erased instead of merely tossing the paper in the trash. Furthermore, write on both sides of the paper. Reuse old boxes for storage to help prevent unneeded waste. When you are trying to reduce clutter in your home, don’t throw away unwanted books and instead give them to schools, public libraries or other organizations who could use the books. Replace memo pads with dry erase boards so no paper is used and wasted. In addition, purchase recycled paper to help prevent future deforestation.

If you and your family can implement recycling into your everyday lives, you will help restore the damaged environment while preserving the future of our planet.

1. Old Shoes- Nike has made a practice of taking any old shoes, regardless of brand or condition, and ripping them apart. The pieces are sorted into foam, rubber, and fabric. The material is used for sport and recreational surfaces.

2. Egg Cartons- Most people are unaware that egg cartons are actually recyclable! To find if other product casings are recyclable, simply look for a recycling symbol somewhere on the product.Want more? Click here{{/tag}

Non-toxic, effective cleaning products can be made right in your home at a cost of about 75% less than traditional cleaning products. In many cases, the products are sitting right in your cabinet at the moment. White vinegar and baking soda are excellent cleaners and lemon juice can be used as a disinfectant and stain remover. These cleaning products are non-toxic and cheap and do not contribute to the excessive container waste that traditional, chemical-laden cleaning products do.

80% of the energy output by washing machines is used to heat water. Your clothes don’t care if it is hot or cold in there; promise. Use cold water to wash your clothes and you’ll see a dip in your energy bill.

Along the same lines consider setting a digital thermostat in the home to turn off about 20 minutes after you head to bed and on 20 minutes before you rise in the morning. The off period will conserve energy and you’ll be asleep so you won’t even notice the temperature drop.

These simple, green tips are helping thousands of people save the earth and save their money. Why not give it a try?

The Nature Conservatory and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can estimate environmental impact. Both feature online calculators that estimate environmental impact that you and, if applicable, your family has. Several variables are prominent in these (and other) tests. Residence type is important. For example, heating/cooling requirements of an apartment within a large building would be different than the same square footage in an isolated single-family house. Utilities are prominent since they use environmental sources directly (as in water use) and through consumption of fossil fuel, nuclear, or renewable sources for electricity.

Vehicles are another factor in determining environmental impact. Gas mileage is important, as is the car type/size. A bigger car takes more resources in its construction than a small car with the same MPG. Hybrids are an investment that pays off in reduced gas consumption over time.

Those who wish to reduce their environmental footprint have online help in doing so. The EPA has recommended suggestions for home, office, school, and vehicle modifications that help reduce environmental impact.