1. Opt for cloth.
The average American family uses 1-1/2 rolls of paper towels per week, says Earth-advocate group Earth911, so cutting down to just one roll a month could save you roughly $45 a year. Use cloth towels or old T-shirts cut into squares to clean up spills; toss them in the wash instead of the trash. Snip old sheets to use as napkins, or buy cloth napkins in various colors, with a different hue for each family member.
2. Throw a green cleaning party.
Gather your friends together to have some fun while mixing environmentally friendly cleaning products. Pool your money to buy the ingredients; everyone should leave with enough supplies to last a month. Try these three recipes:
- Glass cleaner: Combine 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice with 1 quart water. Pour into a spray bottle and use with newspapers to clean surfaces.
- Furniture polish: Add 1 teaspoon lemon juice to 2 cups vegetable oil.
- Carpet freshener: In a jar, mix 1 cup crushed dried herbs, 1 teaspoon ground cloves, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 2 teaspoons baking soda. Shake well. Sprinkle a bit on your carpet, let it sit for an hour, and then vacuum.
3. Boil water in a flash.
When cooking pasta, use a kettle to boil water, and then transfer the water to the pot. The water will boil faster, so you’ll use less energy.
4. Tidy your computer.
Instead of using pricey keyboard cleaners, which contain chemicals, turn your keyboard upside down and shake out dirt and debris. Then, swipe double-sided tape between the keys to pick up any remaining bits.
5. Resurface nonstick cookware.
Instead of tossing your worn-out nonstick pots and pans, have them recoated. Not only is it better for the environment, but it’s also cheaper than replacing them.
6. Develop a green thumb.
Houseplants are more than just decorative. If you get the right plant, it will do double duty, improving the air quality in your home by absorbing dangerous toxins. Best bets: philodendrons, green spider plants, palms, ferns, English ivy and dracaenas. You can also grow an easy-to-maintain herb garden on your windowsill and save money on buying expensive fresh or dried herbs.
7. Freshen up your oven.
Cleaning your oven probably isn’t tops on your to-do list, but once it’s done, your food will cook more efficiently, which will save energy and money. If you own a self-cleaning oven, start the cleaning cycle right after you’ve cooked or baked to take advantage of the residual heat.
8. Rinse and reuse.
Get more life out of empty pickle, jam and sauce jars by washing them thoroughly and using them to store dry goods, homemade salad dressings and even leftovers.
9. Take your temperature.
Keeping your fridge and freezer colder than necessary can boost your energy consumption — and your bills. Your fridge should be set between 37°F and 40°F, the freezer between 0° and 5°F.
10. Keep water in the refrigerator.
A less-than-full fridge has to work harder to stay cold than one that's completely stocked. If some shelves are bare, stash a few glasses of water on them to help maintain efficiency.
11. Put a water bottle in the toilet.
You've probably heard about putting a brick in the tank — but bricks can deteriorate over time. Instead, fill a plastic bottle with water and put the cap on, then place it in the tank. The bottle will displace water, helping to reduce consumption.
12. Help your fridge keep its cool.
Clean the coils on the back of the fridge to increase energy efficiency.
