Green your life tips

General Tips

• Read online newspapers

1. Trinidad Express
2. Trinidad Guardian
3. Newsday
4. C News

• Carpool
• Use a resuable cloth instead of disposable paper towels
• Start a compost pile http://www.greentnt.org/composting
• Reuse everything possible, bottles, bags, boxes, nails
• Take your lunch to work

Save Energy

• Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or LED light bulbs when your older incandescent bulbs burn out
• Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or, use a "smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy use.
• Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
• Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying. If you must use a dryer, consider adding dryer balls to cut drying time.
• Lower the temperature on your water heater
• Energy saving tips by Regulated Industries Commission(RIC)

Save water

• Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too. http://www.greentnt.org/content/power-shower-save-money-and-water-too
• Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
• Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.
• Turn off the tap when you are brushing your teeth
• Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.
• Water conservation tips by WASA

Less gas

• Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
• Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.

Eat smart

• If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.
• Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
• Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain. This is especially true for seafood.

Skip the bottled water

• Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
• Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.

Think before you buy

• Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products, or simply ask friends and family.
• Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.
• Watch a video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse.
• Take a cloth bag to the grocery

Borrow instead of buying

• Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
• Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.

Buy smart

• Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
• Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.
• Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).
• Buy fruits and veggies from the market or your local green grocer, or on the side of the road, support the local farmers
• Buy fresh as opposed to processed foods

Keep electronics out of the trash

• Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.
• Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.
• Recycle your cell phone.
• Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event.

Make your own cleaning supplies

• The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.
• Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.