18- Buy fair trade . Many fair trade products are also certified organic , and while fair trade imported goods may cost marginally more , they ’ re the greener choice as the certification supports a living wage for the farming communities around the world where they were grown and manufactured .
19- Composting . Save money on gardening supplies by composting .
20- Energy efficient appliances in kitchen . Installing newer , more efficient appliances will save you energy and money .
GREEN YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE 21- Make up brushes . Opt for makeup brushes made from bamboo or sustainable materials over synthetic materials . Check out Eco Tools . www . ecotools . com
22- Blow off your shampoo . Going a few days without washing your hair not only adds sexy texture that makes for easier styling , but also is good for the environment — saving water and electricity used for blow drying . To keep strands from looking oily , sprinkle dry shampoo or baby powder near the scalp and tousling with your fingers .
23- Turn off water when brushing teeth or washing face at the sink . Every minute the faucet runs , two gallons of water go down the drain .
24- Read labels . Check the ingredients , especially for products used on large areas of your body . Be careful on your daily beauty products that have chemicals such as parabens and phthalates may be toxic when absorbed in high doses . Another additive to watch out for : sodium lauryl sulfate , a common source of skin allergens .
25- Get rewarded for recycling . Bring back empties ( from any brand ) to Origins stores for recycling . Drop off plastic caps , like the hard , ridged ones on soda bottles or toothpaste tubes , at Aveda stores , where they ’ ll be used to create new caps . Many local recycling centers toss them out because they ’ re so tricky to melt down . Check your beauty products to find out if they recycle .
26- Simplify . The fewer products you use on a regular basis , the less chemicals your body has to break down every day .
27- Make your own beauty products . You can make face mask of oatmeal , berries , and avocado
28- Make it last . Don ’ t let the rest of that toothpaste , lip stick , or moisturizer stay stuck in the bottom of the tube or container . Cut it open and squeeze out every last drop .
29- Buy fair trade beauty products . When you buy Fair Trade , you know that your products are made from sustainable resources and that the workers are being paid a fair wage for their services .
30- Eat beauty foods . To get a beautiful skin , eat a diet that contains real whole foods . Fruits , veggies , whole grains , and healthy fats make for a beautiful complexion .
GREEN YOUR HOME 31- Drop a brick in your toilet tank . According to the EPA , flushing makes up 30 percent of a household ’ s water use ( about three to six gallons per flush ). By placing a brick in your toilet tank , you can help to conserve the amount of water used during each flush . By throwing a brick in your toilet tank , you conserve water .
32- Being conservative with the thermostat . Whether you are heating up or cooling down your house , you will save money on your energy bill by 10 %.
33- Unplug your gadgets . Americans waste over $ 1 billion a year powering electronics and appliances that have been switched to “ off ”. Keep them unplugged to really cut down on electricity .
34- Switch to energy saving light bulbs . LED bulbs use 1 / 5 of the energy regular blubs use and last 12 times longer .
35- Clean green . Use DIY cleaning products for around the house . They are cheap and non-toxic . You can make your own or you can buy eco-friendly brands .
36- Pay bills online . Instead of writing checks and paying for stamps , you can pay your bills online for free . Save the trees .
37- Bamboo floors . Instead of hardwood floors , opt for bamboo . Bamboo is considered an environmentally friendly flooring material due to its high yield and the relatively fast rate at which it replenishes itself . It takes just four to six years for bamboo to mature , compared to 50-100 years for typical hardwoods .
38- Healthier paint . Most paints are toxic to indoor air and your lungs . Opt instead for zero- or low-VOC paint , made by most major paint manufacturers today .
39-Recycle at home . Have 2 trash cans inside to separate trash from recyclables . Your local trash company will send you an extra trash can for the outside of your house .
40- Have plants in your home . Plants help purify the air in your home and get rid of pollutants .
GREEN TRANSPORTATION 41- Carpool . You can save on gas , reduce , wear and tear on your car , and ride the HOV lane .
42- Take public transportation . With gas prices being high , hop on a local bus or rail system .
43- Eco-efficient cars . If you do drive your own car , try opting for an environmentally friendly car . Save , gas , money , and polluting the environment with an electric or hybrid car .
44- Inflate your tires . If driving your own car , having the right amount of air in your tires not only keeps you safe but it helps improve your gas mileage about 4 %.
45- Clean car air filters . A clean air filter will improve cars gas mileage about 10 %.
46- Lose the car , get a bike . If you live close to where you work , bike it . You will be in shape and save on gas .
47- Blue skies , green airlines . Believe it or not , there are a few airlines that are being rewarded for their environmental efforts . Go to http :// ecopreneurist . com / 2008 / 11 / 24 / when-it-comes-to-airlines-thegreener-the-better / to learn more .
48- Check the traffic report . If going out , check out the traffic for a smooth route . Idle cars waste more , time , money , and gas than moving cars .
49- Telecommute . Don ’ t drive or fly to work . If your job allows it , complete your work or presentation via video conference . Video conferencing can reduce 99 percent of the energy used for a transcontinental flight .
50- Lose the junk in the trunk . The U . S . Department of Energy estimates that drivers can save between three and six cents a gallon by removing unnecessary weight from the car .
Pick your shade of green to do your part in saving the planet !
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