How to be Green in Everyday Life

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Green Living Guide

Go Green Guide

When is Earth Day 2011? It's Friday April 22nd, 2011! And as it is a Friday, it's the perfect time to really have fun with Earth Day. We here at Become UK recognize the importance of living a sustainable, eco-friendly life and have complied a plethora of useful green tips that will help you take better care of our planet Earth and your wallet. You don't necessarily need to make radical changes in your life, but hopefully you should at least strive to be more conscious of your everyday actions and their respective impacts on the environment.

In our green guide, you will find loads of excellent tips and practical advice on how to best reduce your carbon footprint and in addition, you will also discover new eco-friendly products that will help you save both energy and money.

You’ll find useful tips that are simple, yet effective ways to improve the energy efficiency for both your home and office, how to make a few small but meaningful changes in your daily routine and how using mild organic cleaning and beauty products is not only good for the environment, but also for your skin. Become green today!

 

 

Green Living Guide:

 

At Home

Living green
    With rent and the cost of living on the rise, it can be really hard to save money for other things that you would like to buy. So what is better than saving money and also doing something good for the environment? We are here to give you an overview about the most recent trends in green living at home. Let’s check out the different areas in your home and how you can be environmentally friendly.

     

  • • In the kitchen

    The kitchen is one of the places where most of your home’s energy is used and sometimes wasted. Cooking and washing dishes need a lot of heat. The same goes for heating up water for tea. With an energy saving kettle you will be able to save more than a quarter of energy that is needed to heat a regular kettle. Most of them have a clear and lightweight body that can help immediately show you when your water is boiling. Using such a kettle couldn’t be easier: just fill it up with the amount of water you need and heat it up until it boils. With a clear kettle you can see how much water you are filling in and when it is boiling.

    If you live in an area where the tap water is not the best quality and you want to enjoy clean water for drinking or cooking, you should consider a water filter . You can usually buy a water jug with water filters included that’ll last you a few months. Such filters are known to get rid of impurities such as chlorine, water hardness, sediment or metals. It will be good for your health and you will also taste a difference. If you wash your plates, glasses, or silverware with a dishwasher, you might know that it uses a lot of energy because of the heating and drying that it does. Once your old dishwasher stops working or you think it is time for a new one, you should go with an energy saving dishwasher. Environmentally-friendly dishwashers don’t heat up as much and don’t use as much water as regular ones. Some models even come with a timer delay which lets you set the dishwasher to start at a later time, when you aren’t using much energy in the house.

     

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  • • In the bathroom

    The number one eco friendly thing you can do in the bathroom is practice water saving techniques. It can mean not leaving the water running while you brush your teeth or that you take a quick shower instead of filling the bath tub with water. If you prefer taking showers anyway, you can look for an eco shower head. Some models are said to reduce water by up to 70% but still have enough water pressure so that you can still enjoy taking a shower. You can also find them in all kinds of designs so it doesn’t mean that you have to cut back on anything but the water bill.

    If you want to stay environmentally friendly in the bathroom, you would enjoy fairtrade towels to dry yourself off with when you step out of the shower. They are made of organic cotton and low impact dyes so neither the materials nor the colour will harm your skin in any way. Usually the cotton comes from small certified organic cotton farms that receive better money for their work. So you might end up paying slightly more for the towels than for regular ones but you’ll know for sure that you are support farmers and helping the environment and your body. When it comes down to washing those towels and all your clothes, you can go green with an energy saving washing machine . It uses less energy and water than regular ones and therefore can immensely improve your cost of living. Getting one of those energy saving washing machines doesn’t mean that you have to cut back on spin speed or the way these wash machines clean. There are even sensors inside machines that decide how much water there needs to be, depending on the quantity of dirty laundry. You will see that you won’t recognize any major differences. These washing machines work like regular ones, if not even better! You won’t notice any major differences except lower water bills!

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  • • In the living room

    It might not look like it at first but you can also turn your living room green, and we are not talking about painting the walls! Bamboo for example is a resource that has been used in different cultures for centuries. It is very robust and environmentally-friendly because it is highly sustainable. A bamboo rug can look very nice in your living room and the great thing about it is that they are available in all kinds of different colours. You will see that such a rug will give the room a very special touch!

    But going green doesn’t stop here. One of the biggest electronics manufacturers recently came out with an eco-friendly LCD TV . They come with features like backlight technology that uses half the energy of a regular TV. Another amazing feature is a presence sensor that detects motion so if you leave the room, the picture automatically turns off and when you come back into the room it turns on again. An additional sensor can adjust the picture to the intensity of light in the room for optimal energy efficiency. It all sounds very futuristic but it is a fact that those kinds of eco-friendly TVs are already available!

    When you think about the right kind of lighting in the living room, always consider low energy light bulbs . These innovative light bulbs save up to 80% of electricity but are still able to create enough light comparable to natural daylight. Furthermore, they have a long life time so you won’t need to replace them that often. If you are used to having spot bulbs in the living room, you can get low energy down lights. They have an instant start, and are very bright and efficient. Another great thing about these low energy bulbs is that they reduce a lot of heat compared to regular bulbs.

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  • • In the garden

    A great way to take care of your garden is to keep it as natural as possible. This means not growing any exotic plants but only local ones. Also, make sure that wild flowers and plants grow on your lawn and mow it only a few times a year. It will attract more birds, butterflies and other animals than a garden that looks like a golf course. To keep a natural theme, you could getoutdoor bamboo furniture. It integrates well into garden surroundings and looks great. You can get them in all kinds of different colours and most of them come with super comfortable cushions, so you can sit back and enjoy your little paradise outside. The great thing about bamboo furniture is that it is made from natural materials, so if you don’t like them anymore, it won’t harm the environment if you dispose of the. Your garden is also a great place to use renewable energy. Instead of wiring your garden paths with lights, you could get some outdoor solar lights . They are available in many different shapes, sizes and designs and you can even choose the colour of the light. Solar lights store the sun rays during the day and once dusk sets in, they automatically turn on and brighten up the garden. They work most of the year and some of them even manage to have enough energy to work in the winter time. Our advice is to not go with the cheapest models so that you can really enjoy those great solar lights.

    If you want your plants to grow as natural as possible, you should consider organic plant food. Like the name suggests, it is not artificial in any way and it will nourish the soil with all the important substances your plants and flowers need to grow. You can get them in bags of different sizes. If you want to make your own plant food and save money, it is really easy: Grow a small patch of nettles or lovage in your garden. Once they have grown high enough, chop them down and chop them up. Don’t forget to wear gloves for all that! Put it all in a bucket, add water and let it rest outside for two to three weeks. Then strain the plant material, put it into the compost and keep the water. You should now have a thick, stinking liquid which is the perfect natural plant food!

At Work

recycling at work

    Climate change is even a concern at the work place. If you think about it, industry is producing even more emissions than all the single households put together. We can’t stop all the carbon intensive operations, but we can do our little part at the work place to reduce our carbon footprints. I mean, all the green efforts we apply at home should be also applicable at the office. Let’s see what we can do in the office. Firstly, if the green approach is not supported by management it is going to be very hard. You can try to elect a so called ‘environmental rep’ who can keep an eye on all the environmental policies in your office, starting from little individual efforts to company- wide changes. This person would be the ambassador for ‘green living’. It might be important for the rep to find new and improved products and ideas which contribute to the ‘green’ style in the office. Modern products often have a green agenda and new features have been added that support the environment in positive ways.

  • • Small Individual Green Efforts

    Many offices already apply recycling and re-use paper efforts, but there is much more you can do. The green movement can start with the smallest of products in the office. Evaluate your office supplies. Did you know that it is possible to purchase recycled markers and recycled computer desks? Imagine holding a recycled pen or marker. It immediately makes you feel like a better person. Another way of contributing is using energy conscious monitors. These monitors use a much smaller amount of energy than a conventional monitor. Your co-workers should still be encouraged to switch off their computers before leaving the office. Your office will save maximum energy levels with an automatic power down of PCs after working hours.

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  • • Big Community Efforts

    The environmental rep should not only have an eye on personal adjustments but also on communal ‘green efforts’. He/she can implement water saving measures in the communal office areas such as the kitchen and bathrooms. Spray taps and tap aerators can reduce water usage by 60 - 70% compared with conventional taps. Light sensors are a very easy way to adjust lighting in different areas in the office according to the usage of the area. In addition, you don’t have to use light switches anymore, just walk in and out of an area and it will dim or light up. On the water issue, besides saving water, why not harvest water. We are famous for our rainy weather, let’s turn this into a positive and harvest our rainwater and feed it into our office water system. Rainwater harvesting is actually quite popular in the UK. In fact, as you can see, there are many insignificant changes on the individual and community level that, can achieve huge benefits for the environment.

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At School

teaching to go green

Integrating a healthy, sustainable and green lifestyle with our current way of living can be difficult for some. It is quite normal and understandable to be set in one’s ways once one reaches adulthood and for many. Making a change and going green requires a lot of habit breaking. Reducing our carbon foot print and practicing eco-friendly habits should start early and there are many incentives for doing so. For one, starting off on the right foot means never having to go through the difficulty of breaking bad habits. Green, eco-friendly products and habits tend to save money and resources so going green can definitely be beneficial financially. In addition, going green leads to heaps of positive outcomes for the environment and the world around us.

Teaching children and young adults to be responsible global citizens has never had as much popularity as it does today. Besides the fact that it is financially and environmentally beneficial, being conscientious of one’s actions and consumption and its effects on those around us builds character. For those who are currently going to school or have children who are going to school, consider buying recycled school supplies. Every year, the average UK student consumes pounds of paper. Buying 100% recycled notebooks, paper, binders and pens helps combat carbon emissions and deforestation. Recycled notebooks are made from 100% recycled paper and materials and tend to be high quality. As much as supporting eco-friendly, recycled products is important, slowing total consumption by having healthy, green habits is equally as essential.

Doodling less and using as much of each sheet of paper as possible is a great example of a healthy habit that saves money and is good for the environment. Instead of writing on a fresh sheet of paper every time one side of the paper is filled, flip it over and write on the back. It will double the lifetime of a notebook. Another great money saving and environmentally friendly tip is to buy a small recyclable binder and fill it with recycled paper. Once every single sheet of paper is used, one can simply remove them and replace them with new sheets of recycled paper. Buying recycled paper instead of multiple notebooks is much more affordable in the long run. Also, it’s beneficial to make sure to recycle paper products instead of throwing them into the rubbish bin.

Another incredibly effective eco-friendly habit is drinking from a reusable water bottle. Every year billions of plastic water bottles fill landfills around the world. Since the plastic isn’t biodegradable, they stay there and aren’t going anywhere any time soon. The result is expanding landfills around the world that do substantial harm to the environment around them. Buying a reusable water bottle instead of buying disposable plastic water bottles can save hundreds and can keep hundreds, and possibly thousands, of water bottles out of the landfill each year. In fact, a reusable steel water bottle is an extremely trendy accessory lately. Stainless steel water bottles come in lovely shapes and sizes making it easy to choose one that fits one’s personality and lifestyle. Stainless steel looks beautiful and is extremely easy to clean so that there isn’t much to worry about in terms of maintenance. Stainless steel also lasts a really long time and is very durable. There isn’t much that can damage stainless steel so there isn’t a need to worry if it’s dropped or handled roughly.

And lastly, one more tip that can save money and the environment is bringing a reusable lunch bag to school. This is a tip that can be used at work as well. While lunch bags may seem like a thing of childhood, think about the money that could be saved by investing in a lunch bag rather than buying disposable paper bags every single week. The savings would pay for the lunch bag itself in a short amount of time. Like steel water bottles, lunch bags come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. There are designer lunch bags that look like hand bags, there are lunch bags supporting football teams, there are lunch bags that look discreet and professional like laptop bags and much more. An added benefit is that most reusable lunch bags provide better insulation than just a brown paper bag. An insulated lunch keeps food warmer for a longer time. Alternatively, it keeps drinks cold and everything fresh.

Teaching children eco-friendly habits at a young age will positively affect them as adults. It does more than just save money. It teaches the importance of being a responsible, conscientious member of society. The benefits of going green at school are manifold— it saves money, builds character and helps stop the effects of climate change. Buying recycled school supplies, slowing our paper consumption, recycling and buying reusable water bottles and lunch bags can save money and will do wonders for the environment in a way that you, your children and your children’s children will feel.

 

At the Supermarket

shopping green

Going green is not just limited to what you can do at home and at your workplace. As you probably spend a lot of time shopping, why not find ways to shop greener? By revising your shopping habits you can make an effective contribution to an eco-friendlier way of living.

The most profound way of doing that is by buying organic products. Nowadays, many supermarkets offer food with an organic label. But what qualifies food as organic? First of all, organic food is traceable. At every stage of its way to you, it is inspected and certified. The certification standards are based on official definitive legal standards within the European Union. Everyone who produces or modifies a good and wants to label it as organic must obtain a certificate: processors, traders, producers and importers alike must receive certification.

You've surely noticed all those different kinds of organic products in your local supermarket: from produce to alcoholic beverages to diapers. One of these products is special: organic wine . Legally, there is no such thing as organic wine because current EU law has simply no definition for it. However, if a wine is called organic, it is most likely made from organically grown grapes. In Southern England, there are small vineyards that produce wine from organic grapes. These vineyards are definitely worth visiting to get a taste of their marvelous wines.

Apart from supermarkets, local farmers markets are another good source for organic products. There are over 500 farmers markets in the country. Buying locally grown produce from a farmers market is probably the greenest way of shopping. The variety of products changes according to the seasons. You can discover different kinds of produce and try new vegetables. Buying from local farmers also helps the economy. And the best thing is that you know it is organic.

Going green is not just about what to buy and where to buy it. The way of buying is also an important factor. Consider buying in bulk. You reduce trips to the supermarket and save money. Besides that, bring your own tote bag instead of using plastic bags. They are reusable and look good. If your favourite grocery store is in convenient proximity, you can also walk there or go by bike. You'll decrease your visits to the supermarket and you’ll put in some extra exercise which is good for you and the environment.

Recycling is also possible while shopping. Many supermarkets have recycling banks. Don’t ignore them and make it a routine to bring empty bottles and other recyclable items with you. You can even get rid of useless wrapping paper and boxes there. Doing this can reduce weight and rubbish in an efficient way.

All these actions are just small ways of doing the right thing. If you are also interested in supporting the producers especially in the developing world, you might consider Fairtrade products. The whole concept of Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers. Companies are required to pay sustainable prices so that producers are enabled to improve their quality of living. This is a more long-term approach for going green but definitely an important step in the right direction. Next time, take a closer look at Fairtrade chocolate and Fairtrade coffee and help to reduce injustice around the world. There are many things you can do to make your everyday life greener: from buying organic food at a farmers market to riding your bike to the supermarket to recycling paper products. Some things are simple and can have a strong impact. Don’t hesitate to change your shopping habits because it’s never too late to go green.

 

While Travelling

travelling green

Travelling is the best way to relax and enjoy Mother Nature. It doesn’t matter if it is a short getaway just for the weekend or a long distance vacation--there will always be new things to see and many beautiful impressions to take in. Travelling in a green way does not have to be complicated. A nice alternative to taking the car is riding a bike. There is a big variety of bikes to choose from when it comes to buying a new one. A 2010 hybrid bike is a great choice for recreation, exploration and fitness. Most casual riders buy a hybrid bike because they want versatility and ride it both on the streets and off-road. If you want a brand that stands for quality and is reliable, take a look at a Carrera bike. They have a great reputation for strong frames and good suspension and the prices are reasonable.

No matter what bike you purchase it is most important that you take it out for a test ride and see if it is comfortable and is the right fit for you. Once you've found the perfect bike, plan a nice route with some breaks in between and make time for a picnic. All you need are some sandwiches, fresh fruit and vegetables. The easiest way to carry all this, is putting it in a nice bicycle basket. It is a great feature on a bike, especially when it comes to grocery shopping and taking trips to the local farmers market.

If riding a bike is not an option and a car is a necessity, here are some tips to save petrol, money and the environment. You can improve your petrol consumption by up to 3.3 percent by making sure your tyres have a proper amount of air in them. Check your tyres regularly to make sure they're at their proper pressure. Doing this regularly ensures more safety on the road and the tyres will last longer as well. Replace clogged air filters and get regular engine tune-ups. Consider buying a highly fuel-efficient car, a hybrid vehicle or an alternative fuel vehicle that will save you money on petrol and help the environment.

Last but not least, consider alternatives like public transportation, carpooling and video conferences. Green travelling doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice fun or convenience. Just a few little steps can change your habits and save you money.

 

For Yourself

Organic skin care

There are many influences our skin has to resist every day. Skin can react very sensitively to skin care products with petroleum and other synthetic ingredients. It is very easy to switch to organic skin-care products. Over the years, many companies have dedicated their efforts to healthy skin with organic products. The benefits from natural ingredients, especially for people with sensitive skin, are numerous. Be aware that there could still be natural minerals that you could still be allergic to in organic skin care products. The next step would be to throw away your make-up and buy organic alternatives. Organic makeup has the same advantages as organic skin care. The lack of alcohol in organic skin toners, for example, avoids drying out your skin, so your face feels fresh and doesn't feel dry, uncomfortable or tight. It also saves you money because it allows you to use less moisturizer daily. Organic-based mascara includes products like jojoba oil and Shea butter that nourishes your lashes. If it contains beeswax it can even strengthen your lashes. Many organic beauty products are made with fruits and nut oils so your skin gets an extra healthy treatment.

After a long day, you come home and you want to get comfortable and relax. So take off your make up and give your skin a rest. An organic make up remover treats your skin gently and removes your make up effectively without irritation.

Eye make up remover with organic ingredients has an especially great effect on your eyes. Keeping this area properly moisturized is also important as it can prevent wrinkles around the eye, which is a very common area that shows aging prematurely. The natural oils in organic make-up removers leave your skin soothed and refreshed with no oily residue.

Sometimes the term organic can confuse you as a customer. When it comes to shampoo, you find organic shampoos and biodegradable shampoos in the same aisle and it's understandable to have some confusion about it. Organic means it was made with organic ingredients. Biodegradable means it can be broken down easily by the environment without polluting the earth. Not only is it environmentally friendly, your hair benefits as well. It cleanses it gently without chemical build-up and without stripping it natural oils and it revitalises your scalp.

At the end of the day, it is important to change your habits one by one. Small steps can make a difference. With your skin, you especially want to choose products that are organic and won't affect you in an unhealthy way. Rethink your every day rituals and where you can make a green change.

 

Eco-Friendly Fashion

Eco-friendly Fashion

There are three easy ways to wear eco-friendly fashions. First is caring about the kind of clothes you are wearing, second is finding out which materials are used in your clothing and third is knowing how to treat clothes gently in a way that will make them last longer.

One form of eco-friendly fashion is vintage clothing. Buying clothes out of a second-hand shop or customising and reusing old clothing is an exceptionally effective form of being eco-friendly with what you wear. Have you ever thought about exchanging clothes with a good friend? Why not go through all your clothes during spring and get together with some friends to swap clothes for the summer?

If you need a dress for a special occasion, think about renting an expensive dress instead of buying one. There are beautiful custom-made dresses that can be rented for special occasions. How many times will you wear the same dress anyway? In the end, it is usually bought just for one night and it takes up space in a wardrobe.

The easiest way to be eco-friendly with your fashion is to buy high quality clothes. Expensive clothes are more likely to be of good quality but it is not always the case. Check the tag to see what material the clothing is made of. Good materials are made of cotton, wool, cashmere or linen instead of a large percentage of spandex. If you buy online, there is often a description of the material, for example, a jumper dress from Laura Ashley shows a high percentage of cotton.

There are even clothes made of eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton and hemp clothing. If you want to take the next step, collect information on brands. You can check if clothing is manufactured in a socially responsible factory. Find out whether it uses organic materials and also fairtrade cotton. Companies are starting to use fairtrade cotton for t-shirts and towels. It is worth it to support the green movement and buy these products.

Did you know that you should wash new clothing at least once before wearing it? This is important particularly for black clothes as there are strong chemical colours used to dye it. It is especially important for babies to wash new clothing a couple of times. An additional option is to buy used clothes for your baby which has been already been washed a lot of times.

Be gentle with the environment and your clothes and avoid washing too often. Try to wear a sweater or trousers more than once before washing. Using soap nuts as a natural laundry detergent is a good option. It makes your laundry just as clean and soft as other detergents. It is environmentally friendly and even has a better value than conventional detergents. By using soap nuts from India, you will take care of the environment, your skin and laundry. Moreover you will be doing something good by giving people in India job opportunities and work collecting and opening soap nuts.

It is easy to wear eco-friendly fashion just by trying out something new or slightly changing old habits.

 

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