Green is the new black! 

Although fashion trends may come and go, adding more green to your living habits will always be in style. Unfortunately, we don’t all have the time to plant trees or make our own duds; however, we do all have the time to make small changes in our day-to-day activities which will make a huge impact on the world. Below you’ll find tips to help save the planet (and time) in your everyday life.

Ways to go Green 

In your home (away from home)

  • Keep fan blades and a/c filters clean
  • Use e-billing to cut down on unnecessary paper waste
  • Use rechargeable batteries
  • Use eco-friendly cleaning products
  • Make sure drippy faucets get fixed
  • Open your curtains/blinds instead of turning on the lights
  • Turn off power strips when not in use
  • Turn off computer at night
  • Unplug all unused appliances (cell phone chargers included)
  • Get news online instead of subscribing to newspapers in print
  • Use fans instead of air conditioning
  • Use energy saving light bulbs
  • Buy organic foods!
  • Shop for organic cotton bedding
  • Use water filters on kitchen faucet instead of buying bottled water
  • Reuse plastic shopping bags instead of throwing them away, they make great trash can liners
  • At parties have everyone write his/her name on the cups or have BYOC (bring your own cup) parties

At school

  • Use both sides of paper for printing and taking notes
  • Take notes on the backs of handouts or printed work
  • When printing material for class, shrink the size to fit more on each page
  • When using search engines for homework, use Blackle.com or Earthle.com, they work just like Google.com but use less energy due to black background

Personal care

  • Towel dry hair instead of blow drying (it keeps hair healthy as well)
  • Line/drip dry clothes that can be line/drip dried
  • Use cold water to wash clothes
  • Don't turn the heater all the way up, layer your clothing
  • Fill the sink with hot water instead of running the tap while you shave
  • Bathe instead of showering, it conserves water (and you can stay in for as long as you like)
  • Shop for eco-friendly beauty products-green glam!
  • Buy recycled toilet paper
  • If you have a cold, use a rag or handkerchief instead of using tissue every time you have to blow your nose
  • Shave in the shower
  • Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth
  • Quit smoking (a pack-a-day smoker is responsible for cutting down one tree every two weeks)

On the go

  • Carry a small handtowel with you for use in public restrooms-better than paper towel, faster than air dryer
  • Refill bottles with tap water instead of buying more bottles of water or buy a sturdy water bottle you can carry around with you
  • Walk instead of driving or taking public transportation (if possible)
  • If you're carrying a snack in a ziplock bag, reuse it or use Tupperware
  • Bring your own bags when grocery shopping, or use a collapsible shopping cart-which means no more tired arms

The following brands are eco-friendly

Personal Care

  • Burt's Bees products
  • Parissa
  • Tom's of Maine
  • Organic Essentials
  • Avalon Organics
  • Jason Natural Cosmetics
  • De-luxe
  • Organics for me

Cleaning products

  • Bi-o-Kleen
  • Seventh Generation
  • Charlie’s Soap
  • Method
  • Earth Friendly Products
  • TWIST
  • SafeNow
  • Eco-Me Home
  • Lily’s Garden
  • J.R. Watkins

Places to find these and other eco-friendly products and tips

 
 
  Unless otherwise noted, all content copyright New York University. All rights reserved.