Going Green with Your Family

The phrase " going green" is something that we hear frequently these days. It seems everywhere we turn we are bombarded with products and suggestions that promise to help our families live a more green lifestyle. Unfortunately, it is not always economically feasible for every family to make some of the more obvious large changes. However, there are many small simple changes everyone can make that will have a big impact on the environment over time.

Recycle More
Okay, so we all know we should recycle paper, glass, metal and plastic, but there are many other items we use that can be recycled. Rechargeable batteries can be recycled and should never be thrown out. Often you can turn rechargeable batteries into a local department store and they will take care of the recycling for you. These batteries are common components of items like digital cameras and cellphones. When you decide to get rid of household items take them to Goodwill or another charitable organization instead of adding them to the worlds already overflowing landfills. One of the best things you can do for the planet is to recycle what you can and allow others reuse what you don't need.

Save Resources
Not all of us can go out and replace all of our appliances with new energy efficient appliances. However, we can make the appliances we have as efficient as they can possibly be. Keep your refrigerator temperature set at 37 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Replace all your regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs when they go. When you make your morning coffee use reusable filters rather than disposable filters. Additionally, when you begin or end your day with a shower, save water by replacing your old shower head with a water efficient shower head. Saving water is an important part of being more green.