How to live green?

Question

How to live green?

Answer 1

HOW YOU ROLL is very important on these streets & hwys, but how you save the big $$ can take away a lot of the pain in deciding whether or not it’s worth it to take the kids to the beach this weekend.  These are a few of those basics you may have heard way back when & maybe some new easy ways you can save fuel and be environmentally friendly to boot:

Fill up with a lower-octane gasoline. Buy the lowest grade or octane of gasoline that is appropriate for your car. Unless your car requires premium gasoline, filling up your car with high-octane fuel is a waste of money. That pricey premium fuel won't boost your car's fuel economy or performance in the least, so skip it. If you're not sure what grade of fuel works best for your car, open up your owner's manual and take a look if that higher priced kick is really required.

Don't top off. Don't bother topping off when filling your car's gas tank. Any additional gas is just going to slop around or seep out. Why waste your money paying for gas your car won't use? Stop pumping at the first indication that your tank is full when the automatic nozzle clicks off.

Tighten up that gas cap. Gas will evaporate from your car's gas tank if it has an escape. Loose, missing or damaged gas caps cause 147 million gallons of gas to evaporate each year, according to the Car Care Council. So be sure to tighten up that gas cap each time you fuel up!

Go for the shade. The hot summer sun that makes the inside of your car feel like a sauna also zaps fuel from your gas tank. If you let your car bake in the sun there's will be a greater amount of evaporative emissions that take place than if you park in the shade says the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and  GreenerCars.com. So park your car in the shade of a building or tree whenever possible and buy a good windshield shade, or better yet, clean out that junk and park in the garage!

Pump up your tires. Check your tire pressure monthly, pressure goes up when hot and goes down when cool.  Buy a digital gauge and compare pressure with the recommended listing in your owner’s manual or placard in your car door, this can save you up to $130 per year.  Good time to check is in the early morn.  Don't get caught driving on underinflated tires. Underinflated tires wear down more quickly and they also lower your car's gas mileage.

Keep your engine in tune. Fixing a car that is out of tune or has failed an emissions test can boost gas mileage by about 4 percent. So be sure to give your car regular tune-ups. You'll also want to watch out for worn spark plugs. A misfiring spark plug can reduce a car's fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent.

Replace air filters. Keep a close eye on your engine's air filter. When the engine air filter clogs with dirt, dust and bugs, it causes your engine to work harder and your car becomes less fuel-efficient. Chk every 3 mos. or 3000 miles. Replacing a clogged air filter could improve your gas mileage by as much as 10 percent and save you 15 cents a gallon!

Use the right oil. You can improve your car's gas mileage by 1 percent to 2 percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. Opt for motor oil with the words "energy conserving" on the API performance label. This oil contains friction-reducing additives.

Remove your roof rack.  Eliminates weight & drag therefore reducing fuel consumption.

Park your car & go inside to eat. That drive thru may seem convenient but you’ll save overall by parking & maybe help your digestion instead of rushing about in that hectic traffic.

Answer 2

I have a HUUUUGE list available at www agua-luna com it's like 33 pages long and would just spam this whole answer. But here's a few cut from the list below. if you'd like the entire list feel free to visit www agua-luna com or email me through the site directly and I’ll send you a copy.

Also Agua-Luna com now offers Carbon Offsetting Credits, since our Team of Volunteers is already accomplishing several carbon eliminating projects, we’re now converting the carbon offsets to you. Visit www agua-luna com for a FREE carbon calculator to calculate your carbon footprint for free and more info on carbon credits.

You could also Volunteer with us, planting a tree or working on a Sustainable Renewable Energy Building Project in Mexico with us. Again see www agua-luna com for more info.

I also do some free consulting, there's more info on the site about that too. Here’s some more ways to help the environment…

Recycle paper, cardboard, newsprint and magazines.

Recycle aluminum cans.

Recycle all batteries.

Recycle and reuse. Roughly 50% of the average person's trash can be recycled. Don't forget that hazardous waste like batteries, your printer's ink cartridges, and cell phones can be recycled too! Find out how and where to recycle in your area. Always buy recycled paper. Just 1 ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees.

Just because your community doesn't pick up all recyclables on the curb, it doesn't mean there are not viable alternatives nearby. Check with dry cleaners, supermarkets, manufacturers, your local public works department and civic organizations to find out where recycled goods can be dropped off, at a location near you.

Did you know that just in 1995 alone, recycled toner cartridges kept over 21,000 tons of trash out of landfills? Believe it or not, now you can recycle your printer's toner cartridges! Every year, Americans throw out enough printer cartridges to stretch from Los Angeles to New York City and back again. Toner cartridges can be recycled, having just as good a performance as an unrecycled cartridge. To recycle your toner cartridges, find a local business that does printer cartridge recycling, or contact the manufacturer of your current toner cartridge and ask about a cartridge recycling program.

Not only should you recycle, but buy products that are recycled. By purchasing these products, you are helping to conserve natural resources, and to protect the environment.

Wash clothes in cold water.

Hot water is unnecessary for most clothes. When needed, use warm water.

Fill your toilet tank.

Put a plastic bottle or two, filled with water and rocks, in your tank to reduce the amount of water used in each flush.

Clean your filters.

Clean the filters of your air-conditioners once a month to improve energy efficiency. While you’re at it, change your car’s filters as recommended in your manual.

Get a low-flow shower head.

Stop at the hardware store on your way home, and get a low-flow shower head. Takes a few minutes to install, and it’ll save gallons of water a day.

Lower your thermostats.

If you use heating, get by with less heat and wear warmer clothes. If you use air-conditioning, get by with less cooling and wear cooler clothes.

If it’s a nice sunny day, hanging clothes only takes a few minutes, and you’re using solar power instead of electricity to do the job. It also makes your clothes last longer.

Turn down your water heater.

Most people have their water heater’s thermostat turned up too high, wasting energy. Turn it down to 130 degrees, saving energy but still hot enough to kill bacteria.

Use CFC light bulbs.

If your light bulb burns out, replace it with a Compact Flourescent bulb (those spiral-looking ones). They’re more expensive, but if you just replace them one at a time, it doesn’t cost much, and the energy savings is great. And as they last longer, over the long run, you’ll save money.

Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and dishes.

Follow your community's water use restrictions or guidelines.

Install a low-flow shower head.

If you are not looking to change your car just yet there are a number of ways you can be more environmentally friendly and help you save money by conserving fuel.

Lighten your car to reduce weight by not carrying unnecessary items.

Cut your speed and stick to the speed limits

Drive smoothly avoiding heavy accelerating and braking.

When stationary for a long time, switch off the engine.

Closing windows will make the car more efficient by being more aerodynamic.  Remove roof bars when not is use also helps.

Make sure your tyres are properly inflated as under inflated tyres cause more resistance.

Where possible, walk, cycle or even use public transport.  

If possible lift share to reduce the number of cars on the road.

Try mass transit.

Millions of people use it, and it saves tons of fuel. If you don’t already, give it a try.

Unload your car.

Remove excess weight from your car (such as stuff that might be in the trunk) to reduce the amount of fuel you use.

Walk instead of drive.

You don’t have to do this all the time, but walking the short trip to a store, or to lunch from work, or some other short trip like that, can reduce the amount of fuel you use over the long term, and you shed some fat at the same time. Or at least burn off that morning donut.

Buy a smaller car.

You won’t be able to do this today, probably, but the next time you’re in the market for an automobile, get a smaller and energy-efficient car rather than a big, lumbering one. It’s one of the best things you can do to reduce your fuel consumption.

Inflate your tires.

Many people don’t realize that their tires are under-inflated. Check the recommended pressure for your tires, and fill them up to that pressure. It only takes a few minutes, but it will save you on fuel consumption (a little) and more importantly, make your tires last longer and reduce the rubber that’s worn off your tires.

Get creative with gift-giving. The gift of time, services, or environmentally positive gifts may be more appreciated than disposable goods that are not to the taste or needs of the recipient.

Look into those lifestyle changes you’ve been putting off

Work from home more. Many organisations, when prodded a little, will accept flexible work arrangements where there is no impact to the work that needs to get done.

Use your oven less.

The oven not only uses a lot of energy, it heats up your kitchen, requiring more cooling. Instead, use toaster ovens, crockpots, microwaves, and electric grills when you can. And when you do use your oven, open it less - you lose 25% of the heat every time you open the oven door.

Mend your stuff.

Try not to throw stuff away and buy new stuff if the old stuff can be fixed. Torn clothing? Takes a few minutes to sew up.

Install a water filter.

If you buy a lot of bottled water, use your tap instead. Some places need a filter to make tap water taste drinkable, but they don’t cost much and they can save money, water, and plastic bottles over time.

Unplug appliances.

If you don’t use an appliance several times a day, it’s better to unplug it, as they often use energy even when turned off

Use rechargeable batteries.

Instead of throwing your batteries away all the time, reuse rechargeable batteries. Costs a little more, but cheaper in the long run.

When you’re looking to buy appliances, be sure to research the most energy-efficient ones. They may cost a little more, but they’ll more than make up for that in the long run with lower energy bills.

Buy a smaller home.

The next time you’re home-shopping, instead of buying the McMansion, look for a smaller home that’s big enough to meet your needs comfortably. Reducing the amount of stuff you own is a good way to need less house. It’s cheaper, and requires less energy to heat and cool. And easier to clean at the same time.

Look for energy efficiency.

Use acryllic paint.

Compost.

It’s not hard to set one up (look it up online), and you can save a lot of waste from the landfill and help your garden at the same time

Water grass early in the morning.

Reduces the amount of water you need to keep your grass looking fabulous.

Plant shade trees near your house.

It’ll take awhile before they can make a difference, but shade trees greatly reduce the need to cool a home.

Coat your roof.

This’ll take up an afternoon, but you only have to do it once every few years. And it’ll save you a lot of money and energy in heating and cooling over the long-term, more than making up for the cost of paint.

Avoid fast food.

Instead, eat at home or at a sit-down restaurant. Fast food restaurants are one of the worst polluters of the environment, both in the massive amounts of beef they must raise, in the wasted packaging, and in the energy they use in so many ways. And they’re tremendously unhealthy.

Buy a manual reel mower or electric mower.

If you’re looking for a new lawn mower, and you have a small yard, consider getting a manual one. They’re much advanced from the reel mowers of our grandparents’ generation, much quieter, cheaper, and they save on fuel and pollution. Electric mowers are also quieter and use much less energy.

Clean up.

Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if you’d like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, I’m willing to walk you step by step threw the process. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at  www agua-luna com on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others help the environment.

Dan Martin

Alterative Energy / Sustainable Consultant, Living 100% on Alternative & Author of How One Simple Yet Incredibly Powerful Resource Is Transforming The Lives of Regular People From All Over The World... In

Answer 3

Here are some ideas from A book I have called The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming.

=Use fluorescent light bulbs they use less energy than actual lightbulbs

=Unplug devices when they are not in use including chargers

=For all your appliances that you keep in one spot, like computer and printer, or the TV, DVD player, and satellite or cable box, get a surge protector. Turn off surge protector at the end of the day.

=Turn off light when your not using them

=Buy appliances with a blue- or black-and-white ENERGY STAR sticker

=Don't use screen savers on your computer it saves less energy to let your computer go to sleep.

=Tote a canvas bag to the mall. For every store where you buy something, you save a plastic bag.

= Either bring your own shopping bags shopping or use paper bags then recycle them in a recycling bin.

=Buy paper goods that say they are made from 30 percent or more post-consumer waste. means stuff that has already been used

reuse and recycle paper

=Carpool  with other moms or familiess to your childs activities or to your activities.

=Buy cars that require less gas.

=and simply recycle that is the most important and it really does help to!

GOOD LUCK

Answer 4

here are some sites and books you can get awesome suggestions from or even assign your group to look at:

go to these sites and get these books

treehugger.com

green.alltop.com

ecomall.com

ecochoices.com

naturalcollection.com

theorganicpages.com

newdream.org

coopamerica.com

ens-newswire.com

foe.org

environmentaldefense.org

epa.gov

awionline.org

catgen.com/ifat/en

fairtrade.net

charmoneshoes.com

branchhome.com

econsciousmarket.com

furnature.com

methodhome.com

modgreenpod.com

mrsmeyers.com

milkpaint.com

gcollection.com

paporganics.com

vivattera.com

theorganicmattressstore.com

farmaesthetics.com

jason-naturals.com

juicebeauty.com

pageaorganics.com

abundantearth.com

greenearthcleaning.com

chelsea-girl.com

prana.com

bepresent.com

coolnotcruel.com

mociun.com

johnpatrickorganic.com

indigenousdesigns.com

albabotanica.com

gaiam.com

satarainc.com

hankettes.com

greenhome.com

earth911.com

intentblog.com

recycline.com

lavera.com

aveda.com

natracare.com

organicessentials.com

drhauschka.com

johnmasters.com

aubrey-organics.com

hugonatural.com

annasova.com

coyuchiorganic.com

kocandels.com

just keep cutting and pasting my friend you will find what you need especially on treehugger.com and ecomall.com its a amazing resource but dont discount green.alltop.com either because it is a site that has major green sites all in one place that is a link to them and is updated daily i love it

books

365 ways to change the world : how to make a difference--one day at a time / Michael Norton

500 ways to change the world / Global Ideas Bank ; edited and compiled by Nick Temple

Farewell, my Subaru : an epic adventure in local living / Doug Fine

Go green, live rich : 50 simple ways to save the Earth and get rich trying / David Bach, with Hillary Rosner.

The green book : the everyday guide to saving the planet one simple step at a time / Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen with a foreword by Cameron Diaz and William McDonough

Green living : the E magazine handbook for living lightly on the earth / by the editors of E/the environmental magazine

It's easy being green : a handbook for earth-friendly living / Crissy Trask ; illustrations by Mike Clelland.

The lazy environmentalist : your guide to easy, stylish, green living / Josh Dorfman

Making kind choices : everyday ways to enhance your life through earth- and animal-friendly living / Ingrid Newkirk ; foreword by Paul McCartney.

MySpace OurPlanet : change is possible / by the MySpace community ; with Jeca Taudte ; foreword by Tom Anderson

Worldchanging : a user's guide for the 21st century / edited by Alex Steffen ; foreword by Al Gore ; design by Sagmeister

Ethical markets : growing the green economy / Hazel Henderson with Simran Sethi ; foreword by Hunter Lovins

Sustainable planet : solutions for the twenty-first century / edited by Juliet B. Schor and Betsy Taylor

trust me there all excellent books i love them and they have alot of info

Answer 5

Don't leave lights on when you go from one room to another turn off light from the room yr exiting.

Change all of your bulbs to CFL bulbs or LED lights, cost a bit more but last for 100+ times longer with fractional wattage use. They pay for themselves over time.

Don't hand wash dishes if you have a dishwasher with energy-save mode.  Always use water-saver mode on washer/dishwasher.

Turn off water faucet between usage while brushing teeth & shaving, etc.

Don't throw away copy paper which is only used on one-side, or partially.

Always buy recycled products and energy star products.  

Separate your garbage and RECYCLE your plastic, glass & aluminum or give to a neighbor or homeless person who will.

Don't throw clothes or anything reusable in the garbage, give to your local Salvation Army or Good Will Industries, etc.you can write this off on your taxes!

Convert your garden to low watering plants, shrubs & trees.  Install drip system and never use pesitsides & poisons which will ultimately drain/run off into our oceans.  There are many cheaper natural alternatives, go organic!

Get on the grid and have your Power Provider pay YOU for energy, look into Solar Energy. Great tax incentives too!

Always utilize public transportation especially if it's electric or natural gas.  Healthy walk if it's close enough.  

These are just a few suggestions which can save you money while doing the right thing for our world...Thanks for asking!

Answer 6

First and most importantly as long as you make a start, recycling  items, maybe trying some home made cleaners, buying recycled materials, and supporting companies that support green ideas.

If you change one habit a month you will make a huge difference over time.

Don't worry about changing your whole life over night one step in the right direction can make a huge impact.

I recycle and stay as green as I can because I have the knowledge and ability to do so. I do not do it from fear but just because I can.

Answer 7

how to live green is to recycle and hand wash ur clothes. another tip is to hand dry ur clothes. every time u go to bed, turn off ur t.v. so it wont waist electricity.

Best Of Luck!!!!

Answer 8

I answered a similar question a few minutes ago, so I'll just repeat the same answer.

Going green is easy, there are so many great resources about the subject. My personal favorite is "The Green Book" which has parts of its book online as well at www.readthegreenbook.com.

As I have been striving to "Go Green" I realize it is like stepping back in time without getting rid of my modern conveniences. I'm doing many things I learned as a child, like line drying my clothes, sweeping instead of vacuuming, opening the windows in the morning to catch the cool breeze, only buying what I need instead of everything that looks cool, growing some of my own food, and canning what I can't eat now.

To me "going Green" is a frame of mind. Do what fits your lifestyle and do the easy things first, it is a process and like dieting if you go to radical to soon, you are more likely to go back to bad habits. I also believe there are good, better, best choices in most things. If you aren't ready to start a home garden, then try finding a farmers market, until you locate one look for produce grown as close to home as possible and go organic when available.

Many people think "going green" is expensive, I disagree. Some changes may take an initial investment, but they usually have a short payoff time. Things like weatherstiping and insulation cost, but the energy savings will add up quickly. You may need to purchase reusable bags, but most stores give you a 5 or 10 cent credit, so you are paid back within a few months.

My top tips are make your home more energy efficient, that also means using natural light, cooling and heating.

Reduce your packaging, if you eat more fresh food you will generally reduce packaging, it's the same thing they tell dieters, shop the perimiter, that is where all the meat, dairy and produce are located. Only buy what you will use, many Americans throw away a lot of unused food. Buy in bulk, that doesn't just mean large packages, but that area with the bins that you buy only what you plan on using.

Replace disposable items with durable items, if you eat outside often and use disposable paper or plastic plates, it is a wise investment to purchase a set of reusable plastic plates. Replace disposable razors, diapers and cleaning products like swiffer. Avoid bottled water, get a home filter like Pur or Brita.

Recycle, www.earth911.org will help you locate the nearest recycle center. I try to only purchase plastics that are #1 or #2, they are more easily recycled. I also buy recycled products when available, that includes paper towels, napkings, toilet paper, tissue, school/office supplies and clothing.

Detox your cleaning, vinegar and baking soda clean almost anything, they can even losen a hair clog. Seventh Generation and Method are a couple mainstream brands that are very earth friendly.

Just start small and build from there, don't get overwhelmed.

Answer 9

http://betterthisplanet.weebly.com/

Answer 10

Every answer before mine was good, but i have one more: buy a car that runs on natural gas (methane). I have 2 of them, made by Ford in 1999 and 2000, so the technology is already here and has been for years. I spend $10 to fill up, and natural gas burns way cleaner than gasoline, plus it comes from the USA, so you aren't lining the pockets of terrorists; it stays in our own economy. Not every state has filling stations, though, so look it up before you buy! I am giving you some websites to learn more. Good luck!