100 Going Green Tips

Your Home
1. Get an energy audit
2. Switch to energy-saving bulbs
3. Hang dry your clothes
4. Plant some bamboo
5. Unplug appliances when off
6. Say bye to your leaf blower
7. Switch off your computer
8. Plant a garden
9. Start a compost heap
10. Learn to love weeds
11. Turn heating down 1 degree
12. Wrap water heater in blanket
13. Install low-flow showerheads
14. Wash clothes in warm or cold
15. Lights off when you exit a room
16. Take shorter showers
17. Seal drafts around windows
18. Look for EnergyStar appliances
19. Consider using a solar cooker
20. Fix leaking faucets
21. Wipe spills with reusable towels
22. Install low-flow toilets
23. Make your own cleaning solutions
24. Clean windows with old newspapers
25. Build with salvaged wood
26. Make rags from old t-shirts
27. Capture rain water for gardens
28. Take a break from the TV
29. Don't boil more than a teacup's worth
30. Read about carbon credits
31. Appoint and "office lights" monitor
32. Upgrade your furnace
33. Use low-phosphate detergent
34. Close sustainable flooring
35. Use a bucket not a hose
36. Don't sign up for mailing lists
37. Fertilize with grass clippings
Vehicles
38. Ride the bus
39. Use your legs, not the elevator
40. Buy a bike - use it
41. Drive the speed limit
42. Choose an energy-efficient vehicle
43. Unload your car of excess weight
44. Leave your car at home for a day
45. Don't idle car more than 10 sec.
46. Tune up your car's engine
47. Drive smart-plan your trip Carpool
48. Keep car tires inflated
49. Invigorate your green passion, spend time with nature
Reduce, Reuse & Recycle
50. Donate used computers
51. Use cloth napkins
52. Make your next outfit vintage
53. Rediscover your library
54. Buy rechargeable batteries
55. Save unused napkins for later use
56. Bring your own coffee cup
57. Use both sides of paper
58. Return old cell phones
59. Use a lunch box, not paper bag
60. Give cloth diapers a chance
61. Pick up litter and recycle it
62. Donate used books
63. Share magazines
64. Wrap presents in old calendar pages
65. Return unused sugar packets
66. Make note pad from used paper
67. Start a toy-swap with friends
68. Take bubble wrap back to packaging stores
69. Snip six-pack rings
70. Offer art schools your "trash"
71. Learn how to mend your socks
72. Pay your bills online
73. Start a green team at work
74. Think before you print
75. Reuse jars and containers
76. Take extra hangers to dry cleaners
Shop Smarter
77. Say no to plastic bags
78. Support local farmers
79. Choose Green E-products
80. Don't buy veggies in trays
81. Eat simply, choose whole grains
82. Hold your own "buy nothing" day
83. Send e-birthday cards
84. Don't accept plastic utensils
85. Give a donation instead of a present
86. Buy organic cotton
87. When buying clothes, say no to tissue wrap
88. Stop chasing, "the latest"
89. Ease up on meat products
90. Buy items for durability
91. Buy seasonal produce
92. Avoid chemical flea collars
93. Eliminate impulse buying
94. Teach kids thriftiness
95. Slow down-consume less
96. Taste test a local wine
97. Read about green weddings
98. Buy the largest size practical
99. Buy spices in bulk
100. Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)
Brian Zeitz
Your PDX Realtor .com
