Sometimes we make New Year’s resolutions that are hard to keep, but making a commitment to live a greener lifestyle is easy because there are so many ways to start living a little more eco-friendly. Below is a list of ideas for living green in 2013. Even if you just get into the habit of doing of few of the things suggested below, you’ll be making a positive impact for future generations while protecting our environment.

• Switch to using natural cleaners at home like baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice instead of harsh chemicals. They are better for the environment and your health.
• When we asked Nortech Inc about this topic, they said that always turn the thermostat down 5-8 degrees when you are not home and while you’re sleeping during the winter months to save energy and money on your heating bill. In the summertime, do the opposite. Set the thermostat a few degrees higher when you are not home so the air conditioner doesn’t run so much, but make sure to get the best air conditioner installation in the market. Also, open the windows when the outdoor temperature is comfortable instead of using the air conditioner and don’t forget to get the Dynamic Heating and Cooling of Culpeper service once in a while for regular inspections.
• Make the most of natural lighting by arranging furniture such as a desk or reading chair near a window and do homework or read by natural light instead of turning on the lamp whenever possible. Open up the blinds during the daylight hours instead of switching on the lights. If you do not have enough windows in your home that bring in natural light, consider having some window installation options.
• Turn the water off. Whether you are washing your hair or brushing your teeth, turning the shower or faucet off while your scrub and brush will save a precious natural resource – water.
• When doing laundry, only wash a full load of clothes.
• Clean the lint out of the dryer after every load. This makes the dryer more efficient and eliminates a fire hazard, your dryer shouldn’t be a furnace.
• Use reusable shopping bags for every shopping trip whether you are headed to the grocery store, shoe store or the mall. This eliminates waste.
• Don’t waste unwanted holiday gifts. Re-gift them or donate to charity.Grow your own vegetable garden. You’ll save on your grocery bill, reduce trips to the grocery store and be eating something healthy that you know wasn’t sprayed with harmful pesticides.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle. Set up a recycling station in your home or garage and teach the kids what things can be recycled from aluminum cans and newspapers to glass jars and plastic packaging, there are many skip bin types in melbourne, you can find a couple and take them to your home. Additionally have a yard sale to get rid of any items in your home that you don’t need but are still usable, or donate them to charity. Probably the biggest benefit offered by skip bins is that they save your time, effort and money in the process of disposing waste. If you choose to dispose waste by yourself, you’ll need to collect your waste, arrange for transportation and drive to the nearest tip. This is a tiresome, time consuming and costly affair. However, with skip bins, all you have to do is hire cheap skip bins sydney, have it delivered to your location and load it with your waste. The skip bin company will then dispose the waste for you. While hiring a skip will cost you money, it is very affordable and when you compare it to the time and effort involved it doing it yourself, it is money very well spent.
• Walk or bike to work and other activities whenever possible. Or car pool with friends. This saves you money, while reducing wear and tear on your car and reducing emissions.
• Shop online to reduce fuel emissions.
• Purchase appliances with Energy STAR ratings ensuring the energy efficiency in the kitchen and laundry room.
• Turn off lights and appliances when not in use.
• Connect your kids with nature – appreciation now leads to preservation for future generations. Plan a monthly outing such as a hike at a state park or an afternoon of fishing at a nearby lake.

Tags: earth-friendly tips, Green Living, green living tips