Starting to go "Green"- what products should I start with- how do I start being "Green"?

Question

I am really really trying to "go green" and be more environmentally friendly. How should I start doing this? I recycle, I walk everywhere possible, I compost, I use cloth chopping bags and cloth diapers, all natural biodegradeable cleaning supplies... what next? How do I take my "being green" to the next level?

ALSO can you tell me your fave green eco friendly products? I want to try to slowly replace everything in our home with eco friendly alternatives. What products should I start with? AND how can I "be green" ON A TIGHT TIGHT budget? (Single mom with 2 kiddos!!)...

ANY tips and suggestions on how to be green on a tight frugal budget would be really appreciated!

PS- I'm looking into eco friendly furniture to replace some of the crappy stuff we have now!

Answer 1

Try these websites:

http://www.gliving.tv/

http://www.greenlivingonline.com/

http://www.greenlifestyle.biz/

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

i've been switching over to organic everything (especially food)... organic=no artificial chemicals=no artificial chemicals making their way back into the earth... i started with the Earth's Best baby food stuff, and we drink Horizon milk...

Answer 3

NASA's Clean Air Plant Study is the next level of being green to make your work and home environment healthier.

Answer 4

Being green also means re-using.  So, if you are trying to save some dough, find a good used furniture store to replace some of what you have.  For cleaning products, go to back to the basics - I use a solution of vinegar water and eucalyptus oil in a spray bottle to clean most all surfaces.  It's super cheap and can easily be refilled when I run low - I keep everything I need on hand.  Baking soda is also a really good, inexpensive cleaning product with no harsh chemicals.  The eco-friendly cleaning stuff you buy in the stores is great, but just keep in mind that you can make your cleaning products too usually at pennies per bottle.  Try checking out books at the library to look-up some options.  Checking out books is also very environmentally friendly - you aren't buying so you aren't creating a need for more books (hence, more trees being cut down to make paper).  One of the best books I found to having an inexpensive, green household is called:

Home Hints & Tips  by Rosamond Richardson

Answer 5

Some ideas... Install a water purifier instead of buying bottled water; install compact fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent;  make sure your water heater has an insulation blanket; if you car is going to idle MORE than 30 seconds, turn it off;  raise the thermostat 2 degrees in summer, lower 2 degrees in winter and adjust your clothing to suit... all these will make you greener AND save you money.  I believe this to be the only practical way to go green.  There are many, many others.

Answer 6

use public transportation!

When Al Gore went to accept his Nobel Peace Prize, he traveled by public transportation

We love Al Gore

Answer 7

Everything people have said above is great!  You may also want to do the following:

1-Check with your local utility company and see if they offer free energy audits.  This is one way you can save money to offset some of the more expensive "green" things because energy costs are such a large part of our budgets.  Sometimes they will give CFL's (Compact Fluorescent Bulbs) out as part of the audit.

2-Definitely check out your local thrift stores.  Reused furniture now, while your saving for nice green furniture, is a good way to go.

3-Check with your local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program.  Often times they have a "swap shop" or "swap program" where you can get free paint.  This paint is recycled from the paint dropped off as part of the program.  Usually it's pretty thick so you can do one coat...and it tends to be free or very low cost to purchase.

4-Try joining freecycle.  The service is a swap board and you can get/give things that many people may want.  It's a great way to reuse.

Keep up the "green" work!

Hope this helps.

Answer 8

try to use low wattage light bulbs in your home. buy from stores that does not use plastic bags. save electricity! always clean the things around you. and if you want, start now to be a vegetarian (hehehehe)

Answer 9

try planting some of your own vegetables, or even just herbs, and try saving water; for example: try putting a bucket in the shower to catch warm up water, or under the downspout outside when it rains; you can store this in barrels until you need it for watering your plants, unplug your TV at night or during the day when not in use for long periods of time, and most easily you can switch your lightbulbs to CFLs if you haven't already (if you buy them in bulk, they cost less, but make sure they have the energy star label on them).

also check out this web site (Care2.com) for really great ways to be more earth friendly and healthy from homemade cleaning supplies to natural pest control, it is a treasure trove that I frequently seek advice from.

good luck!

Answer 10

The best green product I know is Sherwin Williams.  It spreads easily and covers most colors in a single coat.