Happy Earth Day!
If you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend, be sure to check out our Earth Day Guide.
Today we wanted to mix it up, by featuring 25 ways you and your family can “go green.”
It’s no secret that kids are expensive — and require a lot of resources. From diapers, to food, to clothing and everything in between, kids can put a serious damper on our efforts to live green.
However, there are lots of family friendly ways you can cut down on your eco footprint — and save a little green, too!
Here are 25:
- Have your kids take the bus to school (resist the urge to drop them off!)
- Check out the new street cars (rides start this fall; the streetcar will be on display at various times before the big day!)
- Initiate “Meatless Monday.” Incorporate some produce from a local farmers market!
- Taking a road trip with the kids? Pack as lightly as possible — extra “junk in the truck” eats up fuel.
- Support local businesses.
- Buy rechargeable batteries for all those kid toys purchased at aforementioned local business.
- Try cloth diapers — they’re not as complicated as you’d think!
- Use cloth napkins for dining/cleaning.
- While tempting — skip the paper plates and use real serving ware.
- Use eco-friendly baby, home and cleaning products. (Better yet — plain old vinegar and baking soda work wonders!)
- Pack your kids’ lunches! We pack picnics all summer long!
- Teach your kids turn off the faucet while brushing their teeth (connect with GCWW on Facebook for water-saving tips and news.)
- Participate in a power saving program (like this one from Duke Energy. It’s awesome seeing that rebate on our monthly bill, and that extra $$ is going to the kids’ college funds).
- Speaking of bills, request paperless. (Bonus: your kids will no longer be able to color, throw away or hide your paper bills. My kids have done all three.)
- Walk, skate or bike to the park when possible (be sure to wear helmets when on wheels!).
- Recycle! Need a bigger bin? Contact Rumpke.
- Show your kids how recycling works at a Rumpke Tour.
- Buy used books! We heart Half Price Books!
- Better yet — go to the library!
- Reuse or donate old furniture/clothing items. Try one of these Consignment Stores!
- Use compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs, which last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, or light-emitting diodes (LED), which last even longer. Duke will send you some for free!
- Rake your leaves, shovel your snow, hand-aerate your lawn. Enlist your kids to help!
- Stock that freezer — a full freezer runs more efficiently than an empty one. Get thee to Costco!
- Buy reusable water bottles for kids — and use them this summer! Most places will let you BYOB, which isn’t only greener — it’s cheaper!
- Speaking of BYOB — Bring Your Own Bags while you’re at it. Buy reusable, insulated bags from Whole Foods — they’ll replace them for free whenever the bag becomes unusable (broken zippers, ripped handles, etc).
What are your favorite ways for your family to go green? Share them with us in the comments below!
And be sure to check out our Earth Day Guide for the best Earth Day events happening this weekend!
Happy Earth Day!
