20 Simple Green Tips that "U" can follow in your day-to-day life

20 simple tips that you can follow in your day-to-day life. Every bit helps to save the earth.


1. Turn off computers at night - don't just put them to sleep.

2. Use Both Sides of Paper - You will save half of the amount of paper you would have normally used. Then when your done bring it to the recycle bin.

3. Don't get bottled water - Instead of bottled water get a reusable container to carry water. It is also very cost efficient.

4. Turn the water off when you brush - You will save almost 4 gallons of water doing this alone.

5. Shorten your shower - Every minute you cut from your shower is roughly 5 gallons of water.

6. Recycle Glass - If you do not recycle this, it will take a million years to decompose.

7. Don't Pre-Heat the Oven - unless needed, just turn the oven on after you put the dish in it.

8. Turn off your lights - Turn off your lights when you are not using them.

9. Get rid of junk mail - There are many services that can help you get rid of junk mail. That will lead to a lot less trees being cut down to take up room in your mailbox.

10. Use Matches instead of lighters - Lighters are usually considered disposable so they will most likely end up in landfills. You can use the cardboard matches, which are much more eco-friendly because they are made of recycled material.

11. Don't get a paper phone book – Instead use an online directory.

12. Go to a car wash - Going to a car wash is a lot more water efficient then washing your car at home.

13. Stop paper bank statements - Why waste paper getting your bank statement mailed to you when you can just check it out online.

14. Buy Rechargeable Batteries - Even though it will take a good investment to buy these you will find yourself gaining it back in no time.

15. Pay your Bills Online - This would save millions trees every year.

16. Use reusable bags - You can't recycle plastic bags, instead get yourself a reusable bag so that you won't have to worry about carrying your necessities.

17. Do Errands in Bulk - Make a list of the things you have to do, and see if you can fit a couple of those things together in one ride.

18. Turn down your Thermostat - Every degree lower in the winter or higher in the summer you put it is a 10% decrease on your energy bill

19. Plant a Tree - It's good for the air, can keep you cool, and can increase your property value.

20. Walk or Ride Your Bike When you can - If you have to go somewhere close consider riding your bike or walking there instead of your car. It's better on the environment and healthier.

Sustain Your Sustainable Landscape With Mulch

Proper landscaping is as important to energy and water efficiency in a home as anything else. And eco-friendly mulch is the easiest way to keep that landscape healthy. Using mulch in flower beds, around sidewalks, and around trees is great for controlling erosion, keeping in the moisture, and making your plants look fabulous.

These days shredded tires, peanut shells, and pine bark and other recycled materials are all being used for sustainable landscaping projects instead of the traditional composition. Of course, your environmental footprint will most likely be greater in the long run if you have to buy an eco-friendly mulch that’s been shipped halfway around the world, but there are easy ways to create mulch with your own recycled materials.

Old newspapers make great mulch. Just shred them into small strips and spread the strips around your flower bed. Due to their tendency to clump when wet, however, its often recommended to apply them as a bottom layer, and then add different mulch on top. They will biodegrade over time and add nutrients to the soil.

Peanut shells, if you have enough of them, also work. They make a great mulch due to their chemical composition. You can mix them with leaves or compost to make a nice-looking finish. However, according to gardeners, they’re not good food for worms and therefore the natural nutrient cycling is not as effective. What’s more, there is often a risk of mold accumulation with peanut shells that can spread to your plants and harm them. Therefore, nut shells are not necessarily the best bet for your mulch, but they definitely work.

rubWhat about recycled rubber? Old tires are filling up landfills across the US—what better way to give them new purpose than to add them to your home’s landscaping? You can buy preshredded rubber at your nearest garden center or you can make it yourself. It is insect-resistant and aesthetically appealing. Rubber mulch applications are particularly common on playgrounds, but they are just as good for your sophisticated landscape bedding.

Pine bark and pine needles are the best tree materials for mulch. They have a high moisture retaining capacity and keep away insects. The substances’ high acidity contributes well to plants that require increased acid in the soil. Pine bark also retains its color longer than most other tree barks, meaning that it needs to be replaced less often.

While pine makes a great mulch, other tree products that have the same characteristics might be slightly more sustainable. Eucalyptis, for example, grows rapidly like bamboo and is highly abundant, allowing it to be harvested and regenerated in a more predictable manner than pine. But remember, it is usually more sustainable and simple to use whatever product grows nearest you.

Unfortunately, however, mulch can never beat the advantages of the compost pile. You can create a compost bin with food waste and yard clippings, then spread it throughout your flower beds. This is by far the most nutrient-enhancing mulch option for plants.

When in doubt, you can mix together most organic substances to create a fine looking and eco-friendly mulch.