greenupmagnolia.org

Energy Conservation

• Turn out the lights any time you leave the room.  Also change your light bulbs from incandescents to CFLs or LEDs.  Be sure to take these to recycling centers instead of throwing them away.  
• Open the shades and use natural light from outside during the day.  If this is too hot consider having your windows tinted.  Window tinting keeps out the heat while keeping in the cold air.  
• Use your washer and dryer when they are full, and use the Energy Saver setting if possible
• Raise your thermostat to at least 75 degrees during the day

• Take showers instead of baths
• Only use the dishwasher when it is full
• Turn the water off while you brush your teeth
• Use rain water collected in barrels to water your plants and garden.  Some great rain barrels can be purchased here****
• Don't waste fresh drinking water on your lawn.  This is Texas, so your grass will die in the summer but come back when the rain returns.
• Plant flowers and plants that are native to Texas so you do not have to water them often

• Avoid throwing chemicals down the drain such as bleach, chemical cleaners, oil, and medication.  These can get into our drinking water.  Even though the water goes through a filtration system, traces of these chemicals have still been found.  Scientists have also found evidence of wildlife being affected by these types of pollutants.
• Don't throw the same things from above on the ground.  They will seep into the ground and also end up in our water system.
• If you have a pool, switch to salt instead of chlorine which is better for the environment as well as better for you.
• Avoid using commercial chemical cleaners.  Use environmentally safe cleaners such as those made by Seventh Generation or Clorox Green Works.  You can also make some great, safe homemade cleaners from lemon juice, baking soda, and vinegar.  Forget the Riddex - yeast works just a well.    

• Drive a fuel efficient car.  This will cut down on greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere and save you money at the same time. 
• Try to avoid products that come in aerosol cans.  For example use spray pump hairspray and roll on deodorant.
• When possible, drive instead of flying in an airplane.  If you have to fly you have the option of buying a Terra Pas to offset the carbon emissions released by the plane.  More information can be found here***
• If you are only going a short distance walk or ride a bike. You will save gas, money, and get a good workout at the same time.
• Get rid of that burn pile and let the wood decompose naturally back into the ground.  You will end up with more nutrient-rich soil while keeping our air clean.

Root for the Trees

• Use reusable shopping bags
• Get rid of that junk mail - you can stop receiving junk mail buy going here***
• Instead of wasting money and trees on paper towels buy a bunch of wash rags.  They are more efficient than paper towels and you can wash and reuse them for months if not years.
• Think about your paper usage and see if you can reduce it - before you print something think about if you really need it printed. 
• Plant a tree - trees produce oxygen and take carbon dioxide, a big air pollutant, out of the atmosphere.  They are pretty to look at, too. 

Green Buying

• Buy products that do not use excessive packaging.  For example, buy a large bag of raisins instead of a number of small boxes of raisins.
• Instead of buying plastic bags for your lunch, buy reusable plastic containers.
• Buy products with recyclable packaging, such as buying eggs that come in plastic or cardboard containers instead of Styrofoam.  
• Buy local products instead of products that are shipped from far away.  A great way to do this is to shop at local farmer's markets (soon to come in Magnolia).  Or buy Texas-made products instead of those that come from different states or countries.  This cuts down on the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere to transfer the goods.