A Green Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is only a few days away.  On Thursday, when you are dining on a big meal or spending time with your friends and family- the last thing on your mind will probably be staying green and taking care of the environment.  However, here are some simple tips that make it possible to both enjoy Thanksgiving and maintain your green lifestyle.

1) Don't waste food

After your Thanksgiving meal, you might be looking at a lot of excess food.  Don't waste it!  If you can't fit all of the leftovers in your fridge, ask guests to take it home.  So much food is wasted during the holidays because people will throw out the excess afterwards.

Living Green on a Budget

Do you want to live a green life but are worried about your finances?

This is a common concern.  If you think that the only way to live "green" is to spend a lot of money- you are mistaken.  There are plenty of ways to live a green lifestyle and stay on your budget.  Here are just several:

1) Clean the green way!

Many people don't realize that their home can look immaculately clean by using natural products that already sit in a pantry shelf rather than buying cleaners in a store.  Not only are cleaners expensive, but they often are damaging to the air and water.  Here are some great natural products:

• White Wine Vinegar: vinegar is excellent for cleaning stains, especially on fabrics!
• Baking soda: baking soda is great at removing dirt and stains.  Did you know it is also good to mix baking soda with toothpaste to get a sparkling, white smile?
• Lemon and orange peels: instead of throwing fruit peels away, they are excellent to scrub dirt and grime from pots and pans.

Be Careful of Your Batteries

Does your house have unused batteries?

It's the time of year when your battery use will rise.

Maybe you'll use batteries when it is an overcast, November night, and you reach for a flashlight to take the garbage out to the curb.  Maybe you'll use batteries to power a decoration as you are setting up for the holidays, or to power a new gift.

Whenever new batteries are used, the old ones need to be disposed.  Before you think you can just throw the battery in the garbage, know that not all batteries are the same and some should not go in with common trash due to environmental concerns.

You Can Still Conserve Energy in the Winter!

The air is turning colder, the days are getting shorter, and people are putting away their Halloween decorations.  That can only mean one thing- winter is right around the corner! 

If you are interested in living a green life, you might think that it is tough to conserve energy in the winter.  While it can be a challenge, it is possible!  Here are some green tips we have compiled to save you energy during the winter:

1. Check your thermostat

Arguably, a huge amount of the energy used in your home this winter will stem from using heat.  And that makes sense: no one wants to go through winter cold!  However, there are certain ways to reduce the amount of energy used on heat.  For example, setting your thermostat to a temperature you know is comfortable for you, and keeping it on that temperature.  It actually wastes more energy to constantly turn on and turn off your heat instead of keeping it at a constant temperature.  Also, a lot of thermostats now have programmable, energy saving, settings on them; investing in one will ensure that you are living the greenest (and warmest) way possible!