- Many water bottles for adults and babies are made from plastic that contains the toxin bisphenol A (BPA). Opt for BPA-free bottles to avoid toxins in the body and in the environment.
- Ditch disposable diapers. Disposable diapers produce at least 70 times more waste than cloth diapers and Americans trash 18 billion diapers each year. Conventional diapers are also more irritating to baby skin. Not into cloth? Some new diapers offer convenient inserts that break down in 150 days or fewer (versus years for standard disposable ones).
- Turn off water while brushing. Turning off the water between rinses can save at least two gallons in one brushing session.
- Don't trash your meds. When we flush meds down drains or send them to landfills, they make their way into rivers and even drinking water. Take unused meds to your next pharmacy visit.
- Zap phantom energy loads. 40% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while they're turned off. Plug devices into power strips and switch off each night.
- Exercise outside. Gyms overload on air conditioning and most cardio & many strength training machines use electricity too.
- Use cloth napkins. Americans use an average of 2200 paper napkins per person per year. It's actually cheaper to throw cloth napkins in the wash than to buy paper ones.
- Drive efficiently. At 45 mph and above, save gas by rolling your windows up and cranking the A/C.
- Light soy candles. Make sure the wax in your candles is veggie-based and petroleum free. The oil byproducts in most candles can't hold a flame to options like soy, since they burn longer and take less of a toll on the planet!