Green Living Ideas
To Save Money & Our World

Green living does not mean ignoring progress or scientific advances. It means staying informed about the ingredients in our foods and the products we use at home and at work. And taking simple steps to ensure that we stay healthy and live in a healthy environment.

With its emphasis on sustainable practices, it also saves you money. Some of these green living concepts are ripe for development into business opportunities while others may provide you with a charitable contribution tax deduction.

Following is a categorized list of several dozen ideas to get you started. Many of these are taken from 365 Ways to Save the Earth by Phillipe Bourseiller, a useful and inspiring book highlighted by stunning photography.

Around the House

Don’t use mothballs—contains carcinogen naphthalene. Instead, use lavender or cedar chips

Make your own home cleaning products using only 4 simple ingredients. They work, are non-toxic and save bundles

Use only low or no phosphate detergents. Phosphate causes algae and lowers oxygen in water supplies

Choose plant-based solvents/thinners such as turpentine (made from terpenes), not dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Buy wood and paper products bearing the Forest Stewardship Council certification—those legally and responsibly harvested. Find retailers here

Buy only recycled content packaged goods

Do not buy products packaged in PVC/Styrofoam. These household wastes have increased by 5 to 50 times in the past 30 years, depending on the product

Stop junk mail. For $20/year, mailstopper will do it for you as you enter the mailer's name into their site, plus they plant 5 trees when you enroll. Or you can do it yourself following this expert’s advice

Buy local food and goods to reduce transportation costs and related pollution

Switch to reusable shopping bags. Plastic bags are petroleum based, pollute land and choke sea life as they do not biodegrade

Refill your inkjet cartridges (much cheaper) and recycle all cartridges. All office supply stores accept them

Regularly ventilate your house, even in winter. This simple green living step reduces mold, mites, air borne pollutants

Heat with wood if you live near the source and you use an EPA or other environmental agency certified stove (which are cleaner and more efficient). In the U.S, 67% of the forests are commercial, and the amount of CO2 released equals the amount absorbed during tree growth, so it’s a net zero greenhouse effect. Learn about the greenhouse effect and what you can do about it here.

Build a Solar Air Heater. You can very inexpensively create a portable system that produces a flow of warm air wherever there is direct sunlight, using many materials you may already have.

These solar heater plans provide all you need to be up and running in one weekend.

Outdoors

In the Kitchen

Your Gear