I have no doubt that many people want to be more environmentally conscious, but don’t take the small steps in every day life to do so, whether it’s because we’re too busy, don’t think the little things are important enough or simply don’t know how to. So here are 10 things you can do TODAY that are EASY and will SAVE you money!

1. Use chemical-free, biodegradable household & cleaning products.

You can make your own from ingredients like bicarb soda & lemon juice or if you are not that way inclined you can make different choices at the supermarket, health food store or online. There are a few companies that specialise in ‘natural’ or biodegradable products – NO, they are not more expensive and YES, they do work

2. Use less or no paper towel.

Nearly all of them are bleached with a chemical called Dioxin, which is extremely bad for your family and the environment. Even if you used unbleached or recycled (which is definitely better), you are still throwing unnecessary waste into land-fill. No bleached products should be put into your compost. Use washable cloths instead.

3. Fill your bucket.

Put a bucket at the bottom of your shower to catch the water while you wait for it to turn hot and the excess run-off can then be used to flush the toilet, put it into the washing machine for your next load or put it on the garden in the drier months. You can also put a shallow tub in your kitchen sink to catch the water when you wash your hands or rinse things.

4. Turn your lights off, especially during the day, and open your curtains.

This sounds obvious but I am still constantly amazed when I enter someone’s house in the middle of the day and the lights are on. There are so many benefits to natural sunlight and air flow other than saving some money and energy

5. Take advantage of the sun.

Use the clothes line or clothes horse rather than the Tumble dryer. The sun has a natural antibacterial effect, is free, better for the environment and doesn’t shrink you clothes. If you are worried about them fading then turn them inside out.

6. Compost your kitchen waste.

Most Councils provide a green waste service for you to put your, well, Green Waste into, or you can grab a cheap compost bin and add it onto your garden or veggie patch for a healthier crop.

7. Make sure you Recycle properly.

Put a tub, bin or bucket near your rubbish bin to make recycling easy and teach your kids what goes in which bin by taking care to look for the symbols on packaging. Visy explains what we can recycle and the guidelines for doing it properly http://www.visy.com.au/recycling/?id=28

8. More Water Wise tips.

Half fill a glass of water to use for cleaning your teeth rather than let the tap run & heed the saying “if it’s yellow let it mellow” meaning don’t flush the toilet every time you wee! If you’re a regular bather or your kids love a bath transfer a few buckets of water into the washing machine for the first cycle in the wash

9. Minimise your bag use or make the most of them.

If you happen to forget your green bags on your shopping trips, firstly you can carry a few items without a bag at all, or utilise the plastic bags as bin liners (if they are biodegradable) or take them back to the shops on your next trip to be used again. When using green bags the string or hessian versions are far more environmentally friendly than the coloured options which are often not produced with the environment in mind

10.  Make discerning choices in your kitchen

Instead of buying plastic containers, plates or bowls, look for the glass or stainless steel option. Read the Why Plastic is NOT so Fantastic! Article for more information on why this is important

There are many other ways to be green that aren't mentioned here. Contact Us and let us know about the day to day things you and your family to at home. 

It is easier than you think to be GREEN - enjoy the journey!