Thursday, April 23, 2009

We're going green for Earth Day

In honor of Earth Day 2009, here are five easy Earth-friendly and money-saving tips for you to accomplish this week.

1. Stop using air fresheners
Air fresheners are a complete waste of money, and are guaranteed to leave hazard chemicals in the air. Pthalates (hormone disrupting chemicals) are found in 12 out of the 14 common brands of air fresheners currently on the market, according to The Natural Resources Defense Council.

2. Program your thermostat

Save time, energy, and money by installing a thermostat in your home, and programming it correctly. Yahoo suggests setting your thermostat in the summer to 78 degrees when you're home, and raising it when you are out or sleeping.

3. Freecycle it
Use your local recycling group to recycle your trash or gain new treasures. Check it out at Freecycle.org, Freemesa.org,

4. Quit the bottled water
Yahoo reports that water from the tap is proven to be just as safe as bottled water. You are guaranteed to save a lot of money by switching to tap... and it's better for the environment. Bring a thermos or glass with you to work.

5. Forget the dryer sheets
We know you want fresh-scented laundry, but dryer sheets are packed with synthetic materials that can be absorbed through your skin. Patti Wood of Grassroots Environmental Education says, "Opt for a 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar, or a 1/4 cup of baking soda." Much better for you, and the environment.

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