Ideas on keeping your house clean and green

If you want to take steps to help the environment why not start in your own home. Many of these simple steps will reduce your environmental footprint and in the long term save you money too.

Household Energy Use

• Turn off lights and electrical devices at the wall, including the computer when you leave a room.
• Keep filters on air conditioners clean.
• Replace all the light bulbs in your house with Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs. They may cost a little bit more, but they last much longer and will reduce your energy consumption.

Reduce Paper Consumption

• Use cloth towels and napkins rather than paper.
• Use the Internet to get news.

Water Consumption


• Avoid buying bottled water and use a filtered water container or attachment. Filtered water eliminates many harmful chemicals and tastes better.
• Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth -only turn it on to rinse.
• When it’s “yellow let it mellow” or use the half flush option on the toilet.
• Wash only full loads of clothes and use cold water instead of hot or warm. If using a dishwasher, wait until you have a full load. Buy chemical free cleaning products and detergents.

Buy Local and in season whenever possible

• Support locals- visit farmers markets and buy fruit and vegetables in season from supermarkets rather than buying imported products. Better still grow your own.
• If possible buy organic and reduce your consumption of chemicals and the use of them in the environment.

Compost

• Purchase or make a compost bin for your vegetable and food scraps, grass clippings and leaves. Your garden will love you
• Let the worms turn your vegetable and fruit scraps into compost-get a worm farm from your local garden centre.

Reduce and Recycle

• Reduce and recycle all of your paper, plastic and glass. Check what your local council recycles as this does change from time to time.

By Jo Buchan

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