Great Ways to Go Green this Fall
Disclosure: I am not the author of this article nor was I compensated for publishing it.
Author: Victoria Candland
As more people become aware of the damages that our happening to our environment—from the ozone creating global warming to plows destroying rainforests to factories contaminating water—more people want to become involved in “going green”. Going green, or rather being more aware of one’s impact on the environment and consciously taking steps to prevent further damage, is a step that everyday people can undertake.
But, many people are at a loss on how to be “more green”. We understand that we shouldn’t keep the lights on in rooms we’re not using and to recycle plastics and cardboard, but what else? And what can we do this fall to implement that way of life into our daily routine?
We have the answers for you.
Here are eight great ways you can go green this autumn season:
1. Fewer Errand Trips
Do you find yourself coming home from the grocery store only to remember you forgot to buy beans for the chili you’re making and then you have to go right back? Try to consolidate your errands as much as possible to save on gas. You could also run errands with a friend if your schedules match. If the location is close enough, try walking or riding your bike to get in some exercise and enjoy the beautiful autumn colors. When you go to the grocery store, or even a clothing store, bring cloth bags with you so you don’t have to collect plastic bags.
2. Cloth Rags
You may be a neat freak, but you can be one without adding waste to the local landfills. Instead of using paper towels to wipe up melted Halloween chocolate or Thanksgiving gravy smeared on the kitchen counter top, use cloth rags. This will save you a lot of money and a lot of paper.
3. Lower Thermostat Temperature
Even though fall comes with declining temperatures, you can bundle up in ways that prevent the thermostat heat from going up too high. Put a sweater and some socks on or light your fireplace. Remember to turn the heat down when you leave the house—there are even thermostats that can be turned down from your phone when you’re away. Keeping the temperature at a moderate level will make your wallet and the environment happy.
4. Autumn Closet Cleaning
Go through your closet and pinpoint the summer clothes you didn’t wear all season. If you didn’t wear that paisley summer dress at all this summer, then it’s probably ready to be let go. Instead of throwing your clothes away, re-purpose them for something else like cleaning rags or craft projects. You could also donate them. Clean out your kids’ closets as well.
5. Compost
You might be wondering what on earth to do with all of the fallen leaves in your backyard. You can rake them up and use them to create compost. Or if you live in a place where it snows, you could winterize your flower garden using fallen leaves as mulch to create a layer of protection for your bulbs. Ash from your fireplace can also be added to the compost pile.
6. Halloween Costumes
You don’t need to buy brand-new Halloween costumes for them to be fabulous. Instead, have your kids recycle Halloween costumes that were used in previous years or use recyclable material for them like newspaper or cardboard boxes. You could make an amazing robot costume out of cardboard boxes and metallic paint. If you’re missing some parts to your costume, go to the local consignment store to complete the outfit instead of buying new materials. For Halloween decorations, use locally grown pumpkins and carve them for your displays. Let your kids join in on the pumpkin carving fun.
7. Leaks
Make sure you check for leaks in your pipes and faucets before the cold settles in to prevent bursting and flooding in the middle of winter. Also, wrap your water heater in an insulating blanket.
8. Skiing and Snowboarding Gear
In many places across the United States, snow has already fallen by the first of November. You know what that means—that ski season has officially started. Carpool with family or friends to the slopes and wear hand-me-down snow pants, goggles, or other ski gear. Prepare your equipment with green materials like waxing your snowboard with wax made from soybeans or other natural materials like this
one from Lib Tech.
Going green is much simpler than you think and it requires small and uncomplicated changes to your lifestyle. Try incorporating at least three of these techniques into your routine this fall and the environment will thank you.
