1. Turn the lights off! I keep my blinds open during the day (except in mid-summer, when those west-facing windows mean blocking out as much heat as possible) and try to keep my light use to a minimum.
2. Reusable bags! I've gotten very, very good at using these. I keep them in the trunk of my car and when I go to the grocery store, or even Target, I use them religiously. I've even been known to take one into the mall. When I do forget them (which isn't often because I've trained myself well), I keep those bags to use as packing material when I sell something on eBay. Bonus--most grocery stores will give you a 5-cent discount for each reusable bag used for your order. Hey, every little bit helps, right?
3. I reuse Zip-loc bags. I wash them in hot soapy water and let them dry in the dish drainer. Is it a little bit of a pain? Yeah, a little. But I only have to buy new ones every 6 months or so. I only throw a bag out if it springs a leak or the zipper breaks. Happens to all of them eventually, but I get a lot of mileage out of them.
4. I have the regular food storage containers, but I also use containers that I bought butter, sour cream, or other things in. Hey, they work, and I'm not stuffing them in a landfill somewhere.
5. I drink tap water. I used to have a Brita pitcher but it got to be a colossal pain to remember to change it out every few weeks, and besides, my water doesn't taste bad. I don't buy bottled water very often--usually only one bottle at a time, and I've been known to reuse those, too.
6. See this? This is not a load of dishes I will run. I only run the dishwasher every 2-3 days, depending on how much cooking I've done. I tend to run out of spoons (for stirring tea and eating cereal) quickly, so I wash those by hand, and my teacups, too. I wait for the dishwasher to be as full as possible before I run it.
7. As far back as I can remember, I've been the girl who always has a napkin. My friends in elementary and middle school used to laugh that I always had a napkin in my lunch bag. I don't know why this was a big deal. But yes, I always have to have a napkin of some kind.
Anyway, about four years ago, I decided to go cloth. I do not buy paper napkins anymore. I keep paper towels on hand (they're great for scooping up cat vomit...ugh) but when it comes to eating, I use cloth napkins. I find I can use one for 4-5 days, unless I spill food on it (known to happen). I throw them in the laundry with my towels and they come out just fine.
8. One man's junk...you see something to put in the garbage. I see packing material. I sold some magazines on eBay recently and the only box I had that was big enough was a wee bit too big. I didn't want the magazines to get bent and ripped jostling around in transit, so I lined the bottom with old toilet paper and paper towels rolls. The buyer actually left a comment about my "awesome recycled shipping material" in her feedback.
9. In the summer, I admit to using my air conditioning a lot. It just gets too hot here. But in moderate weather, my windows are open all day (as long as I'm home, that is).
I have other little things I do, too, like walking to the gym and grocery store, and I'm always looking for ways to be more green. I'd love to hear what you do--please post ideas in the comments!
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