Getting Into a Green Routine

While you might be on the precipice of calling a green home yours, here are some other ways, beyond just the construction and design of your new home, to incorporate green living into your lifestyle:

1). Use eco-friendly household products. It only takes a few minutes to check the label for toxic chemicals. Strive to use products that have natural or non-toxic chemicals, which are much safer for the environment.

2). Save energy. While your green home will have energy saving appliances and lights built in, as well as properly sealed and insulated windows, simply being conscientious of turning off the lights when a room isn’t in use can go a long way to reducing your overall energy consumption.

3). Conserve water. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. Make sure your washer and dryer meet ENERGY STAR standards, which are national guidelines that dictate products must deliver the features and performance demanded by consumers, in addition to increased energy efficiency. If the product costs more than its conventional, less-efficient counterpart, the investment must be recovered over time through utility bill savings.

4). Use less fuel for transport. Can you walk instead of take public transportation? Can you take mass transit instead of using your car? Try to select the most efficient mode of transportation.

5). Recycle cans, glass bottles and paper products whenever you can.

6). Instead of using paper or plastic bags at the grocery store, take a supply of cloth bags with you.

7). Eat seasonal, local and organic food to lessen the substantial carbon emissions released in the shipping of products around the world. Visit Chicago’s Green City Market, which is open year-round to provide Chicagoans with the very best fresh, high quality, local food.

8). Amend your purchasing habits. If you can buy something in bulk, that will conserve on energy and packing materials. And if you can shop online, even better. The amount of fuel used to ship that purchase is nowhere near the amount of fuel you would have used to drive to a store and buy it offline.