Simple Ways for Families to Go Green

Green initiatives have gotten a lot of hype in recent years, but one of the best selling points for making eco-friendly decisions is that they serve more than just the environment. That’s right. Nine times out of 10, going green also saves money. So for a growing family, being eco-wise just makes sense as it serves our homes, our budgets and the planet.

We can go about this effort in many ways, but we reap compound interest when we train our children to join us. As Art of Simple blogger Tsh Oxenreider says, “Being intentionally eco-wise is about celebrating the creativity of creation, being good stewards with what we’re given, and passing on those values to the next generation. We double our efforts when we get our kids involved, helping them understand the why to our what. When they get it, it’ll be second nature when they’re adults—and that much easier to pass it down to their children.”

Here are some simple ways for families to go green.

• Reduce the volume of paper piles in your house by cancelling unnecessary magazine and newspaper subscriptions.
• Save scrap paper. Kids can draw on the backs of used paper; otherwise, print on both sides to reduce the number of sheets used.
• Opt out of receiving unsolicited mail like prescreened credit card offers (and phone books, if they no longer serve you). For peace of mind, be placed on the Do Not Call list to keep mental clutter at bay.
• Request to receive your tax forms electronically instead of via mail. Likewise, file your taxes online.
• Donate old magazines. Services like the Kidney Foundation and Goodwill, along with other agencies, also will gladly take them. Check with a local doctor’s office—many appreciate having a variety of current editions for their waiting rooms.
• Utilize online bill pay. This practice not only reduces paper, it also simplifies things greatly.
• Get e-tickets for movies, shows or boarding passes.
• Use online coupons that can be scanned off of your phone for in-store discounts instead of paper coupons.
• Buy rechargeable batteries and make sure to dispose of old batteries properly.
• Wash laundry in cold water instead of hot (just make sure to use a good cleaning agent).
• Ditch toxic dryer sheets and use an eco-friendly variety or alternative like wool balls. Better yet, air dry clothes instead!
• If you have a baby, use cloth diapers (or even a combination of cloth and eco-friendly disposables).
• Scrap paper napkins and paper towels and use cloth varieties instead. Old t-shirts make great rags for cleaning up.
• Consult with your utility company to see whether green power is available to you.
• Turn off your computer every night, as well as when not in use.
• Unplug unused appliances and chargers.
• Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
• Convert to CFL light bulbs.
• Lower the temperature on your hot water heater.
• Avoid heating an empty house like you would if you were home and awake. Turn it down two to four degrees when you’re getting ready to head out the door (or when preparing to go to sleep).
• Put on a sweater, don a blanket and turn the heat down a few degrees when you are home and awake.
• Open the windows and air your house out when it’s temperate outside. 
• Utilize natural light for as long as possible before turning on the lights in your home.
• Upgrade to energy efficient appliances (just look for the Energy Star label).
• Conduct an energy audit of your home.
• Say goodbye to disposable plastic water bottles (which have a tremendously negative impact on the environment, not to mention are far from cost effective) and stick with using a high quality, non-BPA reusable water bottle. Need further convincing? Check out the short film The Story of Bottled Water.
• Quit using plastic bags and switch to reusable bags instead. Tons of inexpensive options are available for purchase. Better yet, make your own—it’s a cinch!
• Plant a garden. Start small with herb gardening on the window ledge, container gardening on the deck or square foot gardening in the backyard.
• Compost. You can make your own compost bin for next to nothing (or buy a fancy rotating one if that’s your sort of thing).
• Collect rainwater and use it to water houseplants, landscaping or a garden.
• Bring the outdoors in with houseplants. Varieties like the spider plant, peace lilies or English ivy can pack a punch by moisturizing the air, cleaning up cigarette smoke and even absorbing radiation caused by computers and printers.
• Follow blogs that promote natural living, like DIY Natural or Kitchen Stewardship.
• Check sites like FreeCycle, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace before buying items new.
• Eat local. Support restaurants that use ingredients that are sustainably sourced from within a 100-mile radius.
• Hit the farmers market and build relationships with local growers. In the process, you’ll learn where (and from whom) your food comes. It’s also good for the local economy and your health. Discover all the local Farmers Markets in the KC Area with our guide.
• Hit up a local u-pick farm to support the local economy and make memories in the process. Berry picking is extremely gratifying for little ones as bushes tend to be right at their height.
•  Repurpose something. Cardboard boxes from Aldi and Costco make fabulous robots and racecars.
• Make your own household cleaners. It’s not only economical, it’s fun. Use your favorite essential oils to create a customized scent.
• Reuse glass jars. They make fabulous containers for leftovers, smoothies and salads, among many other things.
• Avoid buying individually pre-packaged snack foods that use a lot of packaging and make your own from bulk items.
• Make your own (or purchase) reusable sandwich bags instead of relying on plastic zip bags.
• Donate to a local thrift store. After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
•  Recycle. It’s easy, and many cities offer free pickup services.
• Consolidate all errands to be run once a week and drive the speed limit.

Lauren Greenlee is a freelance writer and mom of three hailing from Olathe.