1. Green Cleaning What else would you expect in the number one position? Keep toxins out of your home and the environment by using earth friendly products like those found in the Green-kit. By eliminating toxins from your cleaning products, you’ll enjoy a healthier home while doing your part for the earth we share. Not sure if your cleaners are unhealthy? Check the ingredients list; if you find any of the following, you should think about switching:
Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) - common in detergents and disinfectants, are suspected hormone disruptors.
Ammonia is poisonous, extremely irritating to respiratory passages, and can burn the skin on contact. Ouch!
Triclosan, often found in antibacterial soaps, lotions, and gels, may be contributing to the rise of antibiotic-resistant germs.
Butyl cellosolve (aka butyl glycol, ethylene glycol monobutyl) is poisonous if swallowed.
Chlorine bleach irritates the lungs, eyes, and is extremely damaging to aquatic life.
Phthalates, frequently found in frangrance, contains chemicals linked to asthma in children, and also may cause reproductive abnormalities.
Phosphates are often found in detergents and are used to soften the water, thus making the detergent more effective. Ooops, they also can kill off fish populations.
Sodium hydroxide is found in drain, metal and oven cleaners. Extremely irritating to eyes and lungs, this chemical can burn those tissues on contact.
Sodium lauryl sulfate creates the suds we love to see when cleaning, but can cause dermatitis with prolonged contact with the skin.

2. Change Buying Habits Buy recycled products and those that come from renewable sources - like recycled printer paper, or bamboo flooring instead of hardwood. Buy quality products that last longer. Buy in bulk & utilize refill products, like liquid hand soap. Buy less - you probably won’t miss it.

3. Switch to a Flat Screen Splurge on new technology and ditch your old tube model - and use a third of the electricity. Buying a big screen television? Opt for an LCD or rear projection model and use half the energy of its plasma counterpart.

4. Buy Local Visit a Farmer’s Market and support your local food producers, or buy from the local section of your grocer’s produce section. Not only will your food be fresher and taste better, but you’ll reduce the use of fossil fuels required for transport. Also, be sure to eat fruits and veggies in season.

5. Lower Household Energy Consumption

What you can do today:

Adjust thermostat by 1 or 2 degrees and reduce overall heating and cooling costs by 2% per degree

Wash clothes in cold water and save the energy required to heat that water

Wrap your water heater in insulation and reduce the temperature by a few degrees and decrease your water heating costs by 4% - 9%

Turn on the ceiling fan - circulated air increases your comfort with minimal energy

What you can do tomorrow:

Install a programmable thermostat - Save 10% off your heating and cooling costs each year, as it adjusts itself during the times you are out or in bed.

Have your heating system professionally tuned and your system will run 30% more efficiently

Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. CFLs use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer

Get a tankless or solar-powered water heater - Save up to 50% by replacing your old water heater and qualify for a Federal Energy Bill tax credit too.

6. Keep Your Fridge Full

Items in fridge should be spaced evenly to allow unfettered air circulation. Pack freezer full of frozen items for maximum efficiency (an empty freezer is inefficient). Keep the coil clean, increasing overall efficiency by a third.

7. Landscape Green

Choose plants that are hardy & native to your area, grouping plants with similar watering needs together.

Install a rain barrel to a gutter downspout for ready-to-use gardening water.

Compost herbaceous and woody materials.

Plant a tree - evergreens offer winter wind block & deciduous trees offer summer shade.

8. Recycled Gift Wrap

One of the biggest wastes of resources, commercially produced wrapping paper almost never uses recycled materials. For an eco-conscious gift, try using recycled kraft paper (pick some up at the post office or craft store) and spruce it up with natural raffia.

9. Skip Bottled Water

Attach a filter to your faucet or use a filtered pitcher. You’ll save money, reduce unnecessary container waste, and reduce the need for fuel to ship the water to your local store.

10. Eat Green

Switching just one meal per week from meat to vegetarian will reduce global water needs and save energy. How? On the farm - It takes 25 gallons of water to produce a pound of wheat . . . but 5,214 gallons to produce a pound of beef. In the plant - Industrial meat production expends huge amounts of energy and creates truckloads of waste.

Article courtesy of Eco-Logics, Inc. www.green-kits.com