These days most of us are looking for ways to save both money and resources. It is becoming more clear that we all need to do our part to make wise decisions about what we consume.
While I am not an expert in “green living,” I think simply making common-sense steps towards being frugal and wasting less around my own home is a great way to start! By making small changes, using less, saving more and thinking about clever ways to use what we already have, we can be good stewards of our resources.
SunChips is generously sponsoring a $100 giveaway to one lucky reader of The Inspired Room simply for sharing YOUR green living tips! WOO HOO! I think we could all use an extra $100, so check out my tips below and then offer one of your own in the comments! One lucky commenter will win $100! {GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED}
Here are a few frugal (& green!) tips:
- Visit a local Rebuilding Center to find great things you can “re-use” to remodel your home: light fixtures, sinks, cabinets, tubs and more! Old sinks can be refinished and look good as new!
- Salvage existing kitchen cabinet boxes with a fresh coat of paint and install new cabinet doors rather than starting over with all new cabinets. I did this in my last kitchen by installing both glass and regular cabinets and new drawers into existing cabinet bases.
- Rather than buying new, re-fresh existing furniture or thrift store finds with paint or slipcovers.
- Use natural elements (like fruit, plants, moss, bamboo, twigs, or nests) for decorating your home (see more ideas in this post Creative Ideas for Decorating Naturally).
- Share and find cool stuff on Freecycle, Craigslist, or your local Goodwill or thrift store. While I was moving I donated tons of stuff that someone else can repurpose at their house!
- Downsize to or remodel a “not so big house” in order to save money, energy and make better use of the space you already have (I love this concept as I have just downsized to my own “not so big house”).
- Consider rain chains and barrels instead of downspouts to reduce your water consumption by harvesting your own rain water in style! {I just learned about this tip last week on my Gig Harbor Drive By!} Use the collected rain water for the lawn, washing the dog, laundry or watering plants!
- Use hardy native plants in your landscapes to save water and maintenance — in the northwest that means use lots of moss, ferns, rhododendrons and azaleas!
- Home composting is a small step you can take to make your community greener. It is surprisingly straightforward and it benefits both you and the environment. The sponsor of our $100 giveaway today, SunChips, recognized these benefits and has introduced new packaging that is made of 33% renewable materials. This may seem like a small change, but in 2010, they plan on having every SunChips bag made 100% compostable. Learn how to create your own hot, active compost here and take your small step.
What small “green” steps or changes have you made around your home?
Share a green living tip here this week and you’ll be entered to win something very green… $100!
PS. My friend Sandy at Reluctant Entertainer also has a giveaway today, so after you share your green tip here, head on over and check out her giveaway too!
Top photo: HGTV…check out their 2009 GREEN HOME
THE $100 GIVEAWAY CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. CONTEST ENDED APRIL 18 9PM PST
Hi, I'm Melissa. This is where I share inspiration for creating a simple, authentic and beautiful home.
![]](http://theinspiredroom.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/3-fine-grains.jpg)
{ 4 trackbacks }
{ 292 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
We use cloth napkins all the time (I even send them in school lunches) and I use dish towels rather than paper towels. I also send real silverware in school lunches (no platstic) and I try to avoid plastic bags and send all reusable containers. I also use my “green shopping bags”. We’ve switched out many of our lightbulbs to the new energy saving bulbs – they have taken some getting used to, but were adjusting. I use only many of the more green cleaning products such as Method and Green Works and I prefer them to what I was using previously.
[Reply]
We actually have been doing ‘green’ for al our lives – it has been a natural way for us to save money and to be good stewards of the earth I think. I’ve always done green cleaning products because of my breathing problems and we has always been frugal with our thermostat. I have started going to yard sales more recently to find furniture and items I can reuse in the house. I do take my lunch to work almost every day in order to use up leftovers instead of throwing them out.
[Reply]
Seven years ago I started making by hand all my greeting cards and many of my gifts. I try to make all the cards from scraps I have on hand. I also cancelled magazine subscriptions and started doing more reading on-line. Six years ago I switched to eco-friendly products for household cleaners, laundry, and the dishes. Five years ago I became serious about recycling and was so excited when this year our community gave us new containers – twice the size as the previous ones! Four years ago I started getting smart about simplifying my life and doing errands back t0 back on only one or two days a week instead of being “out and about” Driving every day. Three years ago I got more energy efficient appliances and vowed to cook dinner six nights a week from scratch and have been pretty consistent. Two years ago I switched out all the light bulbs as they burned out with energy-saving ones and. Last year I began taking reusable bags when grocery shopping and finally got my husband to recycle too – that was big! I also had our church’s girl’s camp crafts projects made from recycled products leftover from the year before and I started canning fruit I got from the local farmer’s market for the first time. That was big for me! This year I’m planting a vegetable garden for the first time. Loving all the ideas here for new things to try in the future!
[Reply]
I love all these ideas. We had our washer and dryer outside at a previous home {lack of space} and had a 50 gallon water barrel hooked up to the washer for it to drain into. We would then use this water for our outside landscaping. It saved a ton of money and helped cut down on waste in our septic tank, it would help with sewer systems too! VERY GREEN!
[Reply]
We use old applesauce jars to keep cold water in the fridge, grab one for the road and the lid keeps it safe. Can do this with coffee also.
Turn the thermostat down at night and only turn it back up when the kids are due home from school – I don’t mind the extra cold.
Buy big packages and repackage into smaller sizes for lunch and snacks.
Compost, garden. Eat all leftovers. Reused my parents kitchen cabinets when they remodeled to make built ins for my family room.
Just to name a few.
[Reply]
As resident of the lovely (and often looney) state of CO, we can have the rain chains, but we are not allowed, by LAW no less, to have rain barrels. Rain barrels keep the rainwater from going down into the groundwater. ALL the groundwater belongs to the state. Now, as far as I know, there are no ‘water police’ (yet) so they are not peeking over your back fence but honestly, I wonder where it ends. We are going to have a rain barrel in our backyard so we can use it to water our garden….even though it is illegal (mmmwwwaaahhhaaaa). I figure if I can talk Cabinet Man into putting up a small clothes line for me (I love sundried sheets), then I can have a small rain barrel of my own (water laws here in the western states are very strict…just really glad that I don’t live in CA where I assume they DO have the water police.)
And green? We’ve been doing the green thing for years, to the point where I am not sure where ‘cheap’ ends and ‘green’ begins. ;D
[Reply]
For a great everyday green tip (for those with babies) we use gdiapers (http://www.gdiapers.com/) for our little guy and compost the wet diapers. They decompose in 50-150 days as opposed to the 500 years that regular diapers take. We also use the reusable bags, got an extra recycle bin, buy furniture exclusively from local resale and antique shops and paint or recover to suit our needs, use all green cleaning products, and we limit the amount of conventional toys that we bring into our house (opting instead for repurposed household items that entertain just as well).
[Reply]
I think that whoever admits/commits to using these ought to win : )
http://www.gladrags.com/category/pantyliners
http://www.lunapads.com/department.aspx?DeptId=2&
[Reply]
As we live in an apartment building, travel on public transportation, and don’t own a car, our footprint is pretty small, but there’s always more each of us can do.
Of course, we re-use, recycle, and give away, rather than make more trash. We have eliminated almost all catalogues and subscribe to only one magazine. I do virtually all bills online. And we use green household cleaners and compact florescent bulbs. I try to enforce turning out all unnecessary lights and appliances, too.
I have not used plastic or paper bags at stores for over 2 years now. I keep a stash of re-usable bags to take along to the grocery store and carry a foldable one in my purse. I began by buying one or two each time I did a big shopping until I had enough.
About a year ago, I bought stainless steel thermoses and stainless water bottles and now we almost never have to buy bottled water or coffee. We live in New York City, which has the world’s best-tasting tap water, so we keep a large container cold in the fridge.
I save water from washing/rinsing dishes and use it on the plants. When I am ambitious, I save shower water for the plants.
I just bought the ingredients for homemade laundry detergent; we’ll see how that goes.
[Reply]
I recycle and donate gently used items to second hand stores. I own an energy-saving washer and dryer. I DONT’ use the heated dry on my dishwasher–saves power AND money–I just dry the dishes with a towel.
[Reply]
Aside from the fact that much of the ‘green’, ‘climate-change’, ‘global-warming’ verbage is political in nature, we should be good stewards of what has been given to us…there’s nothing new about that. Living as our grandmothers did and taught their daughters and ultimately us, is good sense. Such as: make do or do without. If something still works, or can be repaired, we don’t need a new one. Caring for our possessions by keeping them clean and in good working order, saving, conserving and appreciating what we have. Past generations did just fine without most of the things we think we need to make life easier, then toss for newer versions. It’s just c0mmon sense.
[Reply]
We are big gardeners, so we save toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, cardboard egg containers, newspaper, etc. to use for seed-starting. The best part is that it breaks down in the garden, so we use pretty much everything that comes in the house. It is also good for composting, so anything left can be thrown in with the kitchen leftovers. We do this with almost any cardboard or paper that comes in the house, even used napkins and such!
Also, living in Italy, you learn to do a ton of market shopping. I have cloth bags that I take each week to do my shopping, so that I don’t bring unnecessary plastic bags in. Any plastic bags we do get from the grocery store are used to throw out dirty diapers, rotten food, or anything that needs to go out immediately, but is too small to fill an entire big garbage bag.
Janie Phillipss inspiring blog post..My husband, the pastry chef!
[Reply]
We live in a small house, recycle and have an indigenous garden that rarely needs to be watered!
[Reply]
What an inspiring morning I have had reading these great posts! We have decided to maintain our cars rather than buy new. Unplug the coffee pot and computer when not in use. I love to sell and buy at consignment sales and donate what doesn’t sell. But my favorite way to save energy is to have “black out ” nights. The tv and the lights are turned off, along with the computer and we enjoy the quiet, the candlelight, and either read a good book or play a board game. Or we may have a campfire in the backyard and toast some marshmellows.
[Reply]
When my daughter carries her lunchbox to school she uses containers for her food.
I buy as many products in bulk to save on packaging that gets thrown in the trash.
I bought a steam mop that only uses water. And you wash the cloth sponge in the washer. The same for my broom. It has a washable head.
Making my own cleaners for counter tops etc. If I use a store bought cleaner make sure it is eco friendly.
We recycle all glass, paper, plastics.
SoBella Creationss inspiring blog post..Photo Session
[Reply]
My form of recycling is to refrain from buying retail whenever I can. I like to buy “previously loved” things and give them new life. This also has the added benefit of saving us tons of money. We also use compact fluorescent light bulbs and combine trips out where we can.
Thanks for the wonderful giveaway!
Sharon
slw_kerr@yahoo.com
[Reply]
Around my house, I have been saving glass jars. For example, I took the pickle jar, cleaned it out and painted the lid. I put little plastic bugs that my son had inside. Now, he has a home for his bugs! They aren’t real bugs and the jar is no longer trash! I’ve also been decoupaging the lids with pretty words to make a wish jar or a pretty container for anything around the house!
[Reply]
We live in the city and take the train whenever we can. It’s an easy choice for us.
Also, I am not a crafter and am not very creative. But whenever I get the shopping bug I go straight to Etsy.com and see what vintage or upcycled goodies I can find instead buying something new.
[Reply]
I have always been very careful with my environment. For years, I have been using my own bags at the grocery store, I recycle all glass, plastic and paper and I shop at yard sales. I try to think of other ways to repurpose items. What I can’t use (clothing, etc.), I give to my local thrift store. My husband has 3 other men in his car pool – the savings on gas and the environment is huge just right there alone! The magazines that I subscribe to go a long way — after I read each one, I pass them on to my mother who in turn passes them onto her friends and right on down the line. Thanks, Joanne ~~ glamourgirljoanne@yahoo.com
[Reply]
What a great post……I can’t wait to go through and read everyone’s green ideas….for our home….we recycle aluminum, plastic and newsprint (avialable in our area), we use a rain barrel to water our outdoor plants in the warm months, we have cut back on using paper towels by using cloth including cloth napkins, for my children’s lunches we use containers instead of baggies, left over coffee grounds are used for the base of plants (my great grandmother did this also!), I haven’t purchased a new piece of furniture in years…..always go for antique or gently used and I am adding one plant to each room in the house…….
Andrea @ Big Creek Cottages inspiring blog post..Keep calm…….
[Reply]
This is probably a bit more extreme than many families will be interested in, but…
We are in the market to buy a washer & dryer, and have decided to spend that money to buy a low-end front-load washer and no dryer. Front-loaders use significantly less energy, and not using a dryer at all is more energy savings. Instead, the high-speed spin cycle on a FL washer will enable us to put laundry on the line. The winters are mild enough here that I’m pretty sure we can get away with this.
Prior to marriage one of my jobs included doing laundry once a week for 10-25 people (that is a lot of fabric to wash and dry in one day, in case you’re wondering) and I had to almost exclusively use the clothesline, summer or winter. So I know what I’m getting into.
I’ve really missed the scent and texture of line-dried clothing.
lizzykristine @ Uplifted Eyess inspiring blog post..Waiting For Forgiveness
[Reply]
My favorite (and simplest) green tip is to recycle the paper your children bring home from school in their backpacks. If there’s nothing on the other side, put it in your printer! I have run pictures, spelling lists, handouts, you name it through our printer with no problems. I am always amazed how much paper this saves. During the summer I actually have to buy paper. It’s also a good excuse to not “keep” everything your child brings home as we sometimes feel obligated to do! “I’m recycling for the Earth, honey. We’ll keep the very best picture you drew!” I think this tip was one of my very first posts at my blog http://www.sparkbark.com .
[Reply]
My favorite (and simplest) green tip is to recycle the paper your children bring home from school in their backpacks. If there’s nothing on the other side, put it in your printer! I have run pictures, spelling lists, handouts, you name it through our printer with no problems. I am always amazed how much paper this saves. During the summer I actually have to buy paper. It’s also a good excuse to not “keep” everything your child brings home as we sometimes feel obligated to do! “I’m recycling for the Earth, honey. We’ll keep the very best picture you drew!” I think this tip was one of my very first posts at my blog http://www.sparkbark.com .
Lizabeths inspiring blog post..Easter Egg Hunt in Gretna
[Reply]
We are doing quite a bit – here are a few:
- use a bucket to collect water while the shower is heating up, then use that water on plants in the yard
- unplug anything that isn’t being used
- recycle & compost so very little goes in the “trash”
- eliminated paper plates
- using rags/towels instead of paper towels
- mopping and cleaning with vinegar
- making our own laundry detergent in a recycled bucket
Love all of the tips – even if I don’t win!
[Reply]
Small steps to green living? Well my daughter just made a dress from material all around the house. I thought that this was very green on her part! You can go to my blog and see her dress! IT was also the first time she made one!
http://homeschoolmessenger.blogspot.com/2009/04/show-tell-time.html
Susans inspiring blog post..SHOW & TELL Time
[Reply]
I love using flea market finds throughout my house and I also am looking forward to going to our local rebuilder. Thanks Melissa.
[Reply]
We use CFL (lights).
I buy refill detergent, hand soap and shampoo so that we aren’t constantly throwing away small bottles.
We recycle.
I try to use plastic containers rather that plastic bags in the kids lunches, when possible.
I give my children’s outgrown clothes away to friends.
Salvage decorating is green AND cool!
New Every Mornings inspiring blog post..Just Ducky
[Reply]
I am in charge of recycling @ my office so it is on my mind everyday. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to carry the passion over into my home life because the county doesn’t have a recycling program. It was tearing me apart, truly, to throw away the volumes of paper, glass, cardboard, plastic & aluminum – stuff I knew could be recycled “if only.” Well, the light bulb finally went off! I haul that stuff to my office now! We separate it out accordingly, then once a week, on our trash day, I gather it together in the back of my car & take it to our recycling center @ work. I am amazed at how little actual trash we are generating. It’s hassle and an inconvenience to take this extra step, but it is so worth it!
[Reply]
I think that “Living Green” is an area that we can all grow in. I grew up with what my family always called the “depression era mindset”, in an amused and teasing sort of way, but I have found that it is worth the work.
We as Americans throw away too much, and are too careless with what we have. If we’d stop and think a little, be even the tiniest bit creative, we could easily cut down on waste and even save ourselves a few pennies. And contrary to what it may seem, a few pennies here and a few there DO still add up. I have tasted and seen that one.
A once used zip lock bag or any sort of plastic storage bag shouldn’t be tossed. Wash it out, hang it with a clothes pin to dry, and use it again! Depending, you can get quite a few uses out of even a sandwich baggie. Plastic doesn’t go anywhere, and we need to find ways to cut down on the plastic that we so mindlessly toss every day.
Get paper or cloth grocery bags. Use your plastic sacks for practical things around the home, and Recycle. It’s worth it!
Another thing that is personally close to my heart is Buy Local Produce whenever possible. Produce trucked across the nation is higher cost, there’s more exhaust involved, it’s not as nutritious and it’s not supportive to the farmers who we live with. Learn to use what you can get right where you are- and you’ll be better for it and so will your community and the environment.
Learn to grow your own garden and compost your table scraps!
There are dozens of other ways- water saving tips, and energy saving tips, but those are a couple to get started with.
Chantel Brankshires inspiring blog post..Life is Good
[Reply]
1. As a sewer, I have been taking my old fabrics and sewing them up into re-usable grocery bags. I have also been teaching some of the neighborhood kids to sew and all of our projects have been using fabrics from our fabric scrap bin.
2. I joined a CSA program locally to support local organic farmers and provide my family with the freshest produce available.
3. I have been making an extra effort to recycle everything that I possibly can – even the containers that are really gross to clean out that I would really like to just throw away!
4. I planted a small raised bed vegetable garden in the backyard as a teaching tool for my kids about consumption and where our food really comes from.
5. I am making an effort to raise my level of consiousness about turning lights off and unplugging items that aren’t in use.
6. Making the switch to CFL bulbs.
7. I am reusing and rehabilitating older furniture around the house.
8. I recently attended and intend to sponsor a “girlfriend swap” potluck dinner. Everyone will bring gently used items they no longer need or want to swap with others at a fun evening. I plan to host a toy swap with all of the Moms I know.
9. Carpool! What a great way to save gas and sanity! The mornings I don’t drive, I can relax and have an extra cup of tea.
10. I switched my kids lunchboxes to re-usable bento boxes so that I am no longer using so many plastic sandwich bags and ziploc bags. I also switched to using a reusable aluminum thermos instead of juice boxes.
My philosophy is that I am trying to go green in little ways that build up into a way of life. It is true that I drive a gas hogging suburban. It is necessary when I have three children in car seats and a dog that I lug around. It is more economical for our family to keep our suburban that is paid for than to purchase a new vehicle. We are careful to conserve fuel by not driving it around on a whim and by keeping it in good maintenance. So, at first glance, I don’t strike anyone as a “tree hugger” or a green type of person. But, I am doing what I can and try to keep increasing the “green” practices that our family does. If everyone tries to tackle green in baby steps, we can see a real difference globally!
Missy
missys inspiring blog post..Pattern Weights Tutorial
[Reply]
I try to live quite a bit like my grandparents whom I grew up near. They were depression era folks who did not waste anything! The biggest lessons learned were to always plant a garden – even some pots (second hand) of vegis on a patio that can be watered with h20 saved from the tub while it gets warm. Fertilize it with your coffee grounds or leftover coffee in the pot when cold. Almost free food!
[Reply]
We are switching to energy efficient lightbulbs, and chemical free cleaners.
[Reply]
I use the water that is wasted when you are waiting for hot water to water my plants.
We donate the plastic bags from the stores to the co-op near us. They are always in need.
We use the clothes that are too messed up for Goodwill in our ferret cage as bedding.
We reuse towels a lot. For cleaning spills, or another shower, or drying the animals after their baths.
We use the same cup for the whole day to drink out of.
We have fluorescent lights in the entire house and on the porch lights.
I use a washrag instead of paper towels to clean.
I do all my errands in one day to save time, money, and energy (Gas).
I’m sure we do more but that is all I can think of right now.
[Reply]
We started recycling our cardboard when we first bought our house 5 years ago. We’ve slowly increased this to include plastics, tin cans and glass.
We use refillable water jugs for drinking. We just refill it and toss it in the fridge to always have fresh, cold water.
We wash our laundry with cold water and air dry most laundry (we’re getting an outdoor clothes line this summer, so ALL will be dried outside once it’s put up!).
We grow our own veggies. And we’re getting chickens this year (for the eggs and for their magic poop for the garden). I want to start composting but my husband still needs to be talked into it.
I know there’s more, but I’d probably be here all day. We’re very slowly moving towards a more self-sufficient lifestyle. Baby steps, but we’re headed in the right direction.
Jodis inspiring blog post..Last cold weather goals update:
[Reply]
I think one of the best “green ideas” would be for me to sit down and read through the over 200 comments! I think I’ll be much “greeener” then! This is awesome. One of the things I have found helpful is reusing any plastic bags I have. I have heard of new ideas lately like using them to pick up pet presents in the yard, cover my umbrella, cut apart and use to wrap gifts, collect my trash throughout the house and keep an extra for trash in the car, use as a makeshift rain hat, and the list can go on!
I will now start at the top of your comments and start getting some more inspiration!
Katie @ Clean & Classic Interiorss inspiring blog post..A Matte Makeover
[Reply]
So many “green” tips are just simply frugality at it’s best. One of my favorite green ideas is to cut down on trips to the store. So many of us run to the stuff mart every week, even if we don’t NEED the things on the list right away. But if you can rework the lists in such a way that you only visit the stuff mart twice a month, you’ll spend less on impulse buys, waste less gas, spend less time there, and possibly buy less in general…meaning less waste.
Another tip: shop at a local farmer’s market. Usually they don’t use a lot of packaging and sell local produce (which didn’t have to be trucked or flown in). All this, and you get better tasting produce too!
jens inspiring blog post..“Don’t Make Me Get Out My Angry Eyes!”
[Reply]
I hope I’m not too late to enter. When we bought our house almost 4 years ago, we put in only CFLs throughout the house. I think I’ve replaced only 1 or 2 bulbs since then. This year, to save money, we put plastic on all our windows. And next week, the local utility is coming to do a free energy audit and airsealing. We recycle. Our house is 80 years old so that is the epitome of reuse. Our neighborhood is starting a community garden so we’ll all have fresh, local produce. We use cloth bags for groceries and try to make only one or two trips to the grocery store per week. Plus, for six months of the year, I commute by Vespa motor scooter — only one fill up (of 1.5 gallons of gas) needed every 10 days!
Bonnies inspiring blog post..Christmas Decorations
[Reply]
it seems that since we’ve been in school for so long, we’ve been forced to reuse/reduce/recycle. the largest part of this is over half of my daughters clothes are from a second hand store and my youngest son is reusing his brothers clothes. It’s nice that it saves money AND the landfills. We also use those funky lightbulbs and they last forever. We are also lucky that our town provides recycling and usually our recycling can is just as full or more full than our normal garbage can. We’ve been forced due to an old house to put plastic on our sliding door that saved a ton of money and energy this winter.
Noelle Tomcos inspiring blog post..And we’re off!
[Reply]
We are installing new kitchen cabinets because the old ones don’t serve us well and are beat up. We listed them on Craig’s list and some one is buying them for garage storage. Also we listed our dishwasher on Craig’s list and it was gone within hours. Craig’s list has been a great tool for recycling our no longer needed stuff.
Another green practice is to reuse clothing and textiles when sewing new garments and home decorating items. I started doing this when my kids were small and we were short of money.
Joys inspiring blog post..Sage Neck Tie Purse
[Reply]
Seems that most of my life I have tried to live an authentic life style which simply by thought is greener than some.
Using cloth napkins, putthing liquid detergents in the same bottle over and over helps to cut down on plastic disposal. I dont know if I were a young mother again I could go as far as cloth diapers; but just by being THOUGHTFUL, each in our own small way will help our planet.
Im new to your site and think it is lovely and very exciting!
Claudia
Claudias inspiring blog post..Something’s Gotta Give
[Reply]
Great ideas! I try to reuse a lot of stuff in order to be a little more green. For example, I use old fabric scraps instead of buying stuffing and I reuse free tote bags for grocery shopping (and a lot of stores are giving you money back as bag credits). Not only is living green good for the environment but reusing materials is great on your budget. I think that this is helping me to see what I have and be a better steward about taking care of my things and using them to the fullest along with conserving resources on our earth!
Ashley
Ashley @ Domestic Fashionistas inspiring blog post..I Couldn’t Resist
[Reply]
Like others here, being green can involve a little effort with some big rewards. Kitchen scraps, shredded paper, and coffee grounds become compost to feed the garden plants. Natural remedies for yard maintenance such as vinegar or hot water to kill weeds, tuna cans become slug basins, recycle plastic soda bottles to hold bird seed, wine bottles are fitted for hummingbird feeders. Old clothing reborn as pillows, quilts, seat covers. Outdated toothbrush holders become vases, soy candles for less toxic fumes, newspapers for wrapping and shipping, decorating old lamp shades, add a touch of paint to a old table or dresser. The list is endless and sparks some creative, comforting beauty for the home and heart.
[Reply]
I use a lot of scrap to make new things at home like using waste cardboard boxes that you get at grocery stores to make backing for my paintings, and even used in paintings. Used waste bottles to plant money plants. For my cushion stuffing,instead of buying polyester stuffinf of new cushion fillers,i used my waste clothes that i was planning to discard. I have turned waste cylindrical containers into vibrant cute vases by sticking jute yarn around it that makes it so appealing and eco-friendly.We are also into rainwater harvesting. Smal little things like making our own paper lamps from used gift paper bag and avoiding using the metal lamps makes a huge difference which we have done,and also adds that personal extra classy cute look to any room. Instead of using bulbs,we reuse christmas string lights inside the lamp.For making paintings,I use handmade paper at home by recycling waste papers. I dry the flowers and twigs and turn them into decorative art and potpourri. We also buy a lot of stuff from dollar store and CL.Small little things but they sure make a big difference.
[Reply]
Thanks to another blogger, I discovered Crunchy Clean which is all natural, Earth friendly Detergent. I love it and it’s good not only for the environment, but your whole house too.
[Reply]
We’re using the reusable shopping totes instead of plastic bags, recycling aluminum cans, turning lights off when we leave the room, unplugging appliances we aren’t using, using flourescent light bulbs and teaching our 4 year old about recycling. =)
Jenneys inspiring blog post..sugar and spice
[Reply]
We too try to use our canvas/cloth tote bags when shopping, and if we do happen to get plastic bags, we take them back to the recyle box at the store. We recycle all we can, and have begun replacing ligthbulbs with more energy efficient ones as well, but because of the economy, we are really trying not to buy unneccesary “stuff.”
Hollys inspiring blog post..Experimenting. . .
[Reply]
I love that I came to this post late, as I have gotten to read everyone elses brilliant ideas. We have been composting for years now, but it was only last year that we took an area of our lawn and turned it into a vegetable garden. Last summer, we had unending tomatoes, green beans and other veggies. We are very excited to do it again this year and are currently scouring the neighborhood for old discarded fencing that we can cut down and reuse around our veggie garden.
♥, Susan
black eyed susans kitchens inspiring blog post..THE PASSOVER VISITOR
[Reply]
Wow what neat ideas everyone seems to have. I’m not the best at being “green”, but I try. I do save cans in my garage and my tab tops for the Ronald McDonald House. Neat giveaway!
katys inspiring blog post..What happens at Gammy and Ba’s….Easter Style
[Reply]
My favorite green tip is to buy flea market finds and use them throughout the house.
[Reply]
I always wondered what rain chains were for! As for my tip, I am obsessed with unplugging things that aren’t in use! My husband gets a bit annoyed that his coffee pot is always unplugged, but it has saved us a lot of money each month!
Julie @ Organizements inspiring blog post..Spring Break…time to recharge
[Reply]
here’s my list:
*buy in bulk! (as much as i can – saves on packaging!)
*clean with no chemicals…stick to the natural stuff (bkng soda, lemons, vinegar, etc.)
*no more bottled water! use the canteens and skip the scary chemicals in the plastic!
*borrow dad’s vespa for hubby to ride! 90 miles to the gallon!!! can’t beat it!
*ALL bills paid online
*pass on my magazines to friends (or they to me!)
*start plants from seed in green house purchased on ebay
*buy used and sell used – craigs list and ebay ROCK!
[Reply]
We recycle just about everything. What we don’t recycle, we donate or give away or try to repurpose. I don’t understand how people can fit all of their recycling into that one little red bin each week because we use a full-sized trash can for ours, as well as the red bin, and occasionally an extra bag or two!
There are some great ideas here. And what a fun giveaway!
[Reply]
I find ways to keep re-using baggies and grocery store bags etc rather than buying additional trash bags etc. If a ziploc isn’t dirty and can be re-used, I keep them and use them again rather than buying more. I try to conserve water and gas heat by using my dishwasher only once a week (I’m single, so I can wait till it fills up
and waiting to do oneload of wash rather than several small ones. Not sure if those qualify as “green…”
[Reply]
Think outside the box. Repurpose things that you already have around the house instead of buying new. This saves money, gets your mind thinking creatively, and is a great way to be green and resourceful. We have a quite large dining table that we bought used from a yard sale. It is great solid pine, but I disliked the heart shaped cut-outs on the sides for some reason
so my husband got creative and instead of going out and looking for a new table, he covered the hearts with pieces of stained wood and we’re going to “burn” some words into it, make it our own. I clean out natural peanut butter jars when they are empty and we use them as drinking glasses! Clean out old paint cans and use them for storage. Start thinking outside the box and your perspective changes, your world around you changes! Your friends will start asking YOU for ideas!
[Reply]
Green tips – compost and recycle! Since we’ve started doing those things, we only have one bag of trash every other week.
Super easy and simple (also purchasing bar soap will save on money too! I buy Sappo Hill soap!).
Pattys inspiring blog post..Hmmm… Decisions, Decisions….
[Reply]
I love these ideas! I am committed to searching for used items before buying anything new. I recently started making linen sandwich and snack baggies that can be thrown in the wash when they get dirty. The amount of plastic baggies that we use has decreased DRAMATICALLY. I’ve finally gotten into the habit of bringing my own bags to the store and save bread bags for dirty diapers.
Amy Jo Tragers inspiring blog post..baby girl, please
[Reply]
i love making something new out of something used! i just went to the thrift store the other day and found old vintage flat sheets that i will sandwich batting between and then add a satin ribbon edge to make a “porch” blanket. you can either do machine quilting on it or knot it. beautiful and so frugal and green!
love this blog!
[Reply]
I don’t think I have anything new to share but some things we do are recycle paper, glass and plastic, try to find a re-use for most household things, make my own cleaners out of vinegar and baking soda, try not to wash in hot water, cook more, open the shades and turn off all the lights, and install energy efficient bulbs throughout the house!
[Reply]
i make my own paints out of natural things like clay for true earth colors…living in the southeast helps as there is pleanty of clay soil…
[Reply]
My last name is “Green”
I’m on the “Green Team” at work
and my method of perserving the environment is by teaching my precious grandchildren to “be green”. It thrills them to make projects with recycled materials – TP rolls, oatmeal cylinders, etc. We also have wonderful engaging conversations about how important recycling is. We can do our best to be green, but without future generations being educated on the necessity, our efforts will be in vain.
Oh yeah, BTW, I sure could put the $100 toward a good cause!
Have a blessed day,
Green37214@gmail.com
[Reply]
Our family has been making strides toward greener living for over a year now and I’m please with our progress. One thing that I’ve done is to recycle un-needed t-shirts into reusable shopping bags.
Just sew the bottom up, then cut out the neck and cut off the sleeves to make handles and you’re set! They fold up so small to take with you to the store, plus they wash so easily when they get dirty
Loras inspiring blog post..Playing Games
[Reply]
We are progressively becoming more “green” – not for the sake of being trendy, but rather for our health and the cost effectiveness. So, let’s see…I make all of my own cleaning products and laundry detergent (which are amazingly more effective than store bought), I take my own sacks to the grocery store, buy as many things as possible 2nd hand, repurpose items that have seen their better days (i.e. old towels…), we no longer use paper plates and cups…We are now gardeners and finding organic ways to solve pest issues and I have also started canning.
I’ll stop there.
Pam Moores inspiring blog post..A Couple Completed Projects
[Reply]
We are renting a house right now, so the big green things – replacing the drafty windows and old a/c – aren’t possible for us right now. But I can do little things – I changed out all the light bulbs and replaced them with energy efficient ones, turned the water heater down and only run the dishwasher when it’s full. The little things can add up!
Michelle Gs inspiring blog post..Our 1st California Adventure
[Reply]
Recycle
Reuse water bottles
compost
Repurpose (this is my favorite – I have found all kinds of neat new ways to use stuff I already have!)
[Reply]
I air dry my clothes, makes them last longer as well as saves electricity. I use cooking water to water plants. I am saving stained or torn clothing to make some market totes- I will just patchwork them together and use up bits and pieces. I am growing a garden and I compost. I have rechargeable batteries.
Hollys inspiring blog post..Absense makes y’all just love me more, right?
[Reply]
I use apple cider vinegar for just about everything…makes a great cleaner, insecticide, even keeps my allergies at bay!
[Reply]
After my hubby’s white t-shirts are no longer white, I cut them up and use them in place of paper towels. Even to clean the toilet. (I do a seperate load of laundry for these rags).
cathys inspiring blog post..I promise I won’t show flower pictures everyday.
[Reply]
By the way I started a blog since I entered…I al listed above and just Jeri with my contribution. So you can find me at my blog
Jeris inspiring blog post..Five little questions
[Reply]
I haven’t considered myself a “green” person because I use the plastic bags at the grocery and haven’t been good at recycling much. But I now realize that I am VERY green because of your post. I recycle furniture and goods ALL the time. I have a chair in my den that I got at Goodwill that I recovered. I have a used table that I got at a flea market. We are building a guest house and we are reusing our old kitchen cabinets instead of getting new ones. I just bought plates and glasses at Goodwill this week. I also participate in yard sales too, lot’s of good stuff to reuse there! So I am feeling better about myself…and I hope to win the $100.00!
Thanks,
Traci
Tracis inspiring blog post..OH, MY GOSH! OH, MY GOSH!
[Reply]
the biggest thing we do is try to do most of our shopping at the local thrift store. it is a triple win for us: we can give them things we are no longer using instead of throwing things away, we find good deals as we reuse others’ things and we can walk there to save on gas, etc.
melanies inspiring blog post..to believe or not to believe? that is the question…
[Reply]
We stopped using paper towels and started using towels to do our cleaning. We also save our plastic bags to reuse them over and over for shopping trips and lunches etc..We Recycle bottles and newspaper as well.
[Reply]
My latest green tip is to use cloth napkins instead of paper. We got lots of them when we got married eleven years ago, but since then, they have largely sat unattended in our buffet. I started using them last year and really enjoy the effects: they save trees and they make the dinner table so elegant.
[Reply]
I framed a piece of lined paper, and write my to do list on it with a dry erase pen to save paper.
[Reply]
Recycle
Rain barrels – so great for watering plants!
Stainless refillable water bottles or BPA free Nalgenes
Reusable shopping bags (and take them in!)
Use microfiber cloths instead of disposable cloths for dusting and in place of paper towels
We actually now have solar collectors to heat our water (and we heat our house with hot water). Very great, but not inexpensive. We saved for a long time to get them.
Thanks for the giveaway!
denise
[Reply]
I like using household items to do other houshold jobs…
I put lemon and orange peels down the garbage disposal for anti-bacterial properties and yummy smell.
I clean with baking soda, vinegar, and salt. Sprinkle the baking soda your sinks and toilets to give it a shine – it cleans grout without taking away the color. Vinegar solution cleans the floor without leaving behind toxins for children and pets. There are plenty of “recipes” on the Internet.
I like to save money…
We have a tankless hot water heater and high effeciency washer and dryer.
I purchase spices and other dry goods in bulk. I can re-use my old container and then recycle the plastic bags I bought it in. (I bought a year’s supply of bay leaf the other day for a whopping $.04 at Winco – it was $4/lb.)
And I have fun…
Finding items I need – at Thrift Stores or on Websites like Freecycle and Craigslist – that have already been used once feels like a successful treasure hunt.
And shower with your better half sometime. It saves water.
[Reply]
We use reusuable shopping bags in our home. I figured I’ve save at least 100 Target bags from coming into our home and then back out into the world.
I also love to use vinegar/water to clean my wood floors and mirrors. It works wonders.
Mrs. Dunbars inspiring blog post..WW- A Picture of my favorite picture
[Reply]
I try to turn off as much lights as possible, use blankets when I’m cold, and recycle as much as I can! thanks for the giveaway!I’ve also been inspired by others on new things I can try! thanks!
[Reply]
We can all do a few simple things to save money and energy. If we all selected one thing, we could make a huge difference in our world…and in our pocket book!
Here are a few of my simple tips:
*Don’t run the water the entire time you’re washing dishes.
*Plant a garden – even a container garden! And, buy from your local farmer’s markets! You will get incredibly fresh and yummy produce and you will help save fuel that would normally be used to ship grocery store produce from far, far away.
*take a walk in your neighborhood and pick up cans. You will tidy up your neighborhood and can make some cash!
*Recycle, Recycle, recycle. Furniture, old dishes, cans, bottles – recycle what you can. Sometimes the ASPCA will take your old newspapers.
*Use your husbands old t-shirts for dusting clothes!
I’ve enjoyed reading everyone’s posts. Although I’m not perfect when it comes to these things – I try.
[Reply]
Reuse, Reduce, Recycle! Even my 6 year old knows the mantra and what it means, and we try hard to live by it.
We recycle or compost almost everything – our trash only goes to the curb once a month
Last Summer we bought an old-fashioned push mower – now we save by not using gas for the traditional kind!
Water consumption is my big focus right now. We recycle water we don’t drink (sometimes a cup of water sits out too long and begins to taste funny) by pouring it into my sons humidifier or using it to water plans. Of course the water is OFF while we brush our teeth or lather our hands…we put as little down the drain as possible.
The most important thing we do at our house is teach out 2 children all the little things, so that they’ll grow up to be responsible adults
Mandys inspiring blog post..Is it Spring yet?
[Reply]
I put a big bucket outside and started composting about 6 months ago. I was surprised to find that my natural fertilizer has become a small container garden, as I now have potato and squash plants sprouting up from my thrown out cuttings.
I’m also big on transforming old furniture. A lot of the furniture in my house has been repainted, reupholstered, and refurbished to become a beautiful addition to the home. You can get a lot of bang for the buck just by painting an old piece of furniture.
Nessa Dees inspiring blog post..IF: Fleeting
[Reply]
We recycle paper, cardboard, glass,aluminum and batteries.
We love to find treasures at Goodwill instead of buying new.
Instead of new books – we frequent the library at least once a week.
We keep our heat/AC on timers so they turn down at night.
We re-use plastic grocery bags.
We no longer buy bottled water .
Thanks for a fun giveaway!
Amy
Amy Bs inspiring blog post..Free On-line Typing
[Reply]
We’re repainting old furniture and repurposing it instead of buying new.
Juliannas inspiring blog post..Refrigerator Bran Muffins
[Reply]
My kids wardrobes are pretty much 100% handed down or bought at garage sales or the local goodwill. Then we send them on to someone else when we are done with them. Being frugal actually lead to being very “green.”
[Reply]
We recycle.
My husband rides to work with his brother so we only have one car cuts down on pollution.
We shop the thirty stores a lot and buy on ebay too.
[Reply]
I try to do little things to be green and I should do more. I’ve been using CFL’s before they were commonplace. I’ve been using canvas bags at the grocery store for a while. Luckily they have become more popular and I don’t get strange looks when they ask me “paper or plastic” and I say I’ve brought my own. I also try to use things that can be washed rather than have to thrown away like dishtowels, and cloth napkins. This spring I am planting more drought tolerant plants and reducing the amount of grass in my yard to save on water and $$$. I’m also hoping to get a compost pile started before too long!
[Reply]
I conserve gas by not taking as many trips into town. If I must go into town I run all my errands in one day instead of doing many. I pay my bills online as well. I am a photographer and sell my unique cards, and ONLY use recycled card paper in doing so.
[Reply]
Though I am much farther away from green living than I would like, it is definitely something we are working on! We recycle ALL of our cardboards, plastics, etc and recycle each week about double of what we throw out in the garbage. I have recently started our compost (though I’m still going to read up on the link you posted!) and am starting to make our own laundry detergent. We took a field trip to a landfill about a week ago and it really woke me up on how much we waste and where it all goes!
I LOVE that SunChips will soon have fully compostable bags- that is HUGE!!
[Reply]
We are getting a tankless water heater!
twinjackienurse at gmail.com
[Reply]
*I love growing my own veggies, and sharing them with others.
*breastfeeding (saves both money, and all the cans that come with formula)
*bread baking rather than buying prepackaged loafs
*using rechargeable batteries whenever possible
*although we have a big family, we still want to conserve our gas useage. We have 2 vehicles. One small car that is used whenever possible (husband’s work, dr. appointments, etc.) and one van that we can fit all of us in for family travel.
Great ideas have been posted here!
Traci Porters inspiring blog post..I know, I know…
[Reply]
Thanks for all the great tips.
Jamess inspiring blog post..How To Recycle Old Credit Cards
[Reply]
I often blog about green living and how to reduce your impact on the Earth. This year one of my experiements involves growing upside-down tomatoes in gallon milk jugs.
Elizabeth Barrettes inspiring blog post..My Tomatoes Are Growing
[Reply]
It’s remarkable what some do not want, we have found some brilliant stuff at garage sales like, wardrobes, tables etc. after giving them a lick of paint or striping them down they look fantastic.
Theo @ DIYHomeSolarPanels.org´s last blog ..Solar Panels FAQ
[Reply]
← Previous Comments