Adapters that come with rechargeable electronics (cell phones, iPods, cameras, etc.), keep drawing energy as long as they are plugged in. Unplug them when not in use. Try plugging things into a power strip and turning it off when not in use. And possibly a solar charger for handheld devices? www.solio.com.

Don’t Spill a Drop!
One drop per second from a leaky faucet can add up to 100+ gallons of water a month! Fix leaks as soon as you find them. Timing your showers to under 5 minutes can save you up to 1000 gallons per month. And we know to only operate dishwashers and washing machines when full, right?

Bio Clean
Choose biodegradable cleaners that don’t contain harmful chemicals.
Make your own cleaners... Care2 has great information on this topic!

Change a Bulb
If every American family replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an energy-saving compact fluorescent bulb, CO2 emissions would drop by more than 90 billion pounds – the same as taking 7.5 million cars off the road.

Buy Recycled
Save trees. Buy your toilet paper, tissues, paper towels, and other paper products from companies that use recycled paper and non-chlorine whiteners. If buying plastic items such as cups, plates, cutlery, etc., look for items that are made from recycled plastic and are reusable, like the brand Preserve.

Reuse
Buy a metal water bottle bring it with you everywhere. Donate old or outdated merchandise to charity, swap with friends, or have a garage sale rather than throwing things away. Use sponges, rags, and towels for cleaning rather than disposable things like paper towels and wipes. Old t-shirts make great rags! Use containers for food storage in place of disposable bags. (If you’re addicted to zip-locks and the like, at least wash them and reuse several times!) Buy rechargeable batteries and a charger!

Buy Local, Buy Organic
Buy local… less pollution was created in the transport of those foods to your grocery store or farmer’s market. If the local items are organic, an added plus! Organic foods reduce our exposure to pesticides and the amount of chemicals leaching into the soil, thus into our water supply.

BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag)
The answer to the “paper or plastic?” dilemma is neither! Both gobble up natural resources and cause pollution. Get in the habit of bringing your own bags and containers when you shop. Invest in a reusable shopping bag

Recycle
Make recycling at home easy… Put a separate recycling bin wherever you have a trash can- including bathroom, garage, and home office. Plastic containers generally have a number on the bottom and your waste management company can tell you which plastics they accept. COMPOSTING is a form of recycling. Start a compost pile in your backyard. You'll be amazed at how things break down. This is a must if you have a garden in your yard!

The Sacgreenteam website has great information on composting, recycling, disposing of light bulbs, batteries, and more. Journey to Forever is another resource for more in-depth and interesting information on composting.