Sanibel-Captiva Daily

1.    Conserve water by keeping a water pitcher underneath the kitchen or bathroom faucet to collect unused, running water.  Use the collected water for watering house plants.

2.    Use pine tree needle mulch for outdoor landscaping instead of cypress mulch to save cypress trees.

3.    Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFB).  CFBs are available in all voltages, dimmable and 3 way.

4.    Place fresh, whole bay leaves in drawers, cupboards, flour containers—wherever you see ants.  A natural approach to ward off pesty ants!

5.    Purchase in bulk whenever possible to conserve excess packaging materials.

6.    Dry clothes the old fashioned way—hang dry.  They’ll last longer and you’ll save energy!

7.    Turn off the television for an hour a night!

8.    Pour boiling water on stains as soon as possible and the stains will come right out.  No detergent or chemicals needed!

9.    Prone to mosquito bites?  Try using lemon eucalyptus oil instead of harsher chemical repellents.

10.    Ready, set, raw!  Eat more raw    vegetables.  You’ll eat less, conserve energy and feel better!

11.    Reduce indoor air pollutants formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene with houseplants!  English Ivy, Gerbera Daisy and Pot Mum are just a few of the plantings that purify indoor air and absorb harmful gases.

12.    Get involved in green space proliferation in your community.  From urban rooftops to arid alleyways, native plants and rain gardens are good for the environment.

13.    Y Raw?  (Why Raw) Your body saves energy! Consuming raw vegetables and fruits eases the amount of work the body has to do to extract nutrients and assimilate them.

14.    Use stapleless staplers that eliminate metal waste.

15.    Turn off your car engine if you idle it for more than a minute.

16.    Save paper and money by electronically paying your bills through your bank’s online payment program.

17.    Is your dryer’s lint filter always clean and lint-free? It’s important!

18.    Bring your own cloth bag(s) when you buy groceries.  On average, a family of four will save 1000 plastic bags a year!

19.    Save your skin and the environment by purchasing a biodegradable titanium dioxide or zinc oxide sunscreen.

20.    Eat less beef.  Bringing a 2.2 pound hunk of beef to your tabletop consumes as much energy as a 100-watt bulb lit for 20 days.

21.    Commute to work.  On a bicycle!
Each average U.S. auto commute releases 21.3 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

22.    Set your thermostat at 83 degrees when you leave your home for more than two hours.

23.    Use ceiling fans to cool the air temperature but remember to turn them off when the room is unoccupied.  A continuously running fan costs approx. $7 per month of electricity.

24.    Use soy or beeswax candles.  Spark romance and save electricity!

25.    Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is an inexpensive and natural substance that is effective as a mild abrasive cleaner for counter tops, dishes and appliances.

26.    Beat the heat and cool your clothes with a cold wash.  It will lower your energy bill.

27.    Purchase environmentally friendly unbleached coffee filters.

28.    Take-out water in a paper cup?  Recycle your paper cup and save a buck.

29.    Read detergent and soap labels for these green buzzwords:  chlorine free, phosphate free and nonpetroleum based.

30.    A mattress cover made of organic wool, cotton or natural latex will reduce the amount of indoor chemicals you are exposed to.

31.    Create a healthier indoor environment and let the outdoor air in once every three hours.

32.    Sweet smells.  Essential oils are fragrant and toxic-free.

33.    Compost your (organic) coffee grounds or sprinkle them on your plants as food.

34.    Use rechargeable batteries.  One battery will replace hundreds of single-use alkaline batteries over its lifetime.

35.    Stop smoking.  Cigarette butts last 1 to 5 years before decomposing.

36.    Keep your car clean but only by washing at a commercial car wash.  By law, your car’s soapy waste water will either be recycled or pumped to a treatment plant.  Better than flowing the wastewater down your neighborhood storm drain!

37.    Keep your car green and clean with an inexpensive alternative to the neighborhood car wash. Purchase a waterless car wash product and enjoy the workout!

38.    Every 5 miles per hour over 60 can cost you an additional 20 cents per gallon.

39.    Properly inflated tires boost gas mileage by 3% and increase your safety and tire life.

40.    Cruising? A natural and effective cure for seasickness is ginger.  Even a glass of ginger ale can provide a quick fix.

41.    Safely recycle your compact fluorescent bulbs.  Each bulb has enough mercury to pollute 6,000 gallons of water.

42.    Anything with a CAUTION label shouldn’t go in a landfill.

43.    Freshen your face with brown sugar.  Grab a few grains and mix with your favorite facial cleanser for a natural glow, sweet scent and smooth feel.

44.    Recycle, reuse and redo before buying new.

45.    Always wash your farm fresh fruits and vegetables with a natural solution of 1/4 vinegar or lemon juice with 3/4 water.  Spray to remove soil, wax and chemicals. Then dry with a clean towel.

46.    Bag your fall leaves in biodegradable plastic bags or mulch them.  Gas- powered leaf blowers emit noxious gases.

47.    Give green gifts that last for generations. A park bench, tree, garden or donation to charity “gifted” by you and in the name of your loved one provides good memories, promotes great causes and possible tax savings!

48.    The fairway is a great way to get an aerobic workout and purify the environment.  Be your own caddy.  Walk the course.  Carry the clubs.  And  leave the energy burning cart behind.

49.    Green bag it!  Use a multi-use, reusable and environmentally safe shopping bag for all your shop stops and purchases.

50.    Green change your habits.  One at a time, eliminate a non-natural preservative or additive from your environment.  For example, go “soft drink free” for a day and replace with distilled water and fruit and vegetable juices.

51.    Conserve water by saving the water that is warming up from your bath or shower.  Use a pail to collect the cold water for future watering of gardens and house plants.

52.    Organize a Green project in your neighborhood.

53.    Be Greenful and Greatful for what you have.  You’ll spend less on things you want and you’ll have more for the things you need.

54.    Eating out for two meals?  Bring your own recyclable “doggie bags” from home.

55.    Start your day at the local coffee shop for both news and brew.  “Read out” using the in-house newspaper instead of taking out a personal subscription.

56.    Move faster and use less electrical energy by using stairways and stairwells instead of elevators.

57.    Eat only when hungry!

58.    Online shop your way through the holidays.  Using the internet is a popular and convenient way to save time and reduce travel costs.

59.    Recycle old, worn-out sneakers for athletic and playground surfaces.

60.    Styrofoam is forever and bad for the environment.  Use paper products instead.

61.    Sit at the front of the bus with windows open on diesel-operated school buses.  You’ll breathe easier by inhaling less bus fumes and diesel exhaust.

62.    Use white vinegar for removing salt from your leather shoes.  Then apply an oil/waterproofing polish.

63.    Clean and deodorize sink drains with 3 Tbs. of baking soda followed by ½ cup of white vinegar.  Wait 30 minutes before pouring ½ gallon of hot water down the drain.

64.    Disinfect your countertops with vinegar or ammonia.

65.    Telecommute part-time.  Save time, auto expense, and lots of gasoline!

66.    Save paper and decline your ATM receipt.

67.    Make new friends by carpooling to work, church and concerts and free the environment of poisonous exhaust emissions.

68.    Install low-flow shower heads to use less water.

69.    Run the dishwasher only when full and don’t use heat to dry dishes.

70.    Check for air leaks in windows and doors to increase energy efficiency.

71.    Replace older appliances with newer, energy-efficient models.

72.    Use public transportation whenever possible.

73.    Pitch the phone book.  Call your local phone book company to stop delivery.  Telephone books make up almost 10% of waste at dump sites.

74.    Pop away your popcorn the old fashioned way—on your stovetop.  It’s healthier than popcorn with additives and saves on packaging.

75.    Recycle and buy minimally packaged products as much as possible!

76.    Going on vacation?  Save electricity by unplugging the water heater, since it won’t be used.

77.    Trying to sell an empty home?  Install a timer on your air conditioner to cycle the air for two hours per day.  Humidity buildup can cause expensive repairs for mold or mildew damage.

78.    Planning on being away from home for a month or longer?  Install a humidistat on your air conditioner so that the indoor humidity does not exceed 65%.

79.    Promote airflow and decrease toxic mildew by spacing out clothing, shoes and other storage items.  Leave interior doors open.

80.    Did you know that a full refrigerator and freezer will use less energy than an empty one?  Fill jugs with tap water and store in refrigerator and freezer to minimize electricity while away from your home for an extended period of time.

81.    Stop electrical power into your refrigerator when on vacation by unplugging it and propping the door open.  Make sure the refrigerator is clean!

82.    Extra virgin oil is a perfect source of healthy, dietary fat and a great moisturizer for knees, elbows, hands and feet.

83.    Take a bath.  Use salt baths to naturally heal abrasions and bruises.

84.    Make your elliptical machine workout go farther in less time by taking your arms off the handrails.  Up to 40% more calories can be expended by doing so.

85.    Make your cell phone battery last longer by keeping your phone out of your pocket.  Keeping cell phones in pockets can cause the chemical processes in the battery to speed up and expire sooner.

86.    Go outdoors and support your local green space initiatives by bike riding, walking or running on a greenway trail daily.

87.    Get your vitamin D naturally with daily, moderate sun exposure.

88.    Landscape your home and garden with low-water and no-fertilizer- necessary native plants.

89.    Dine out “in” restaurants that have eliminated unhealthy high fructose corn syrup, trans fatty acids, artificial flavors and dyes from their food preparation.  Encourage Green Dining!

90.    Support the purchase of fresh, locally grown food from farmers markets and grocery stores.

91.    Feed yourself and feed others by growing your own food.  It’s good-for-you, fun and inexpensive!  The best gardens grow in healthy soil, so add organic matter such as compost or rotted manure to the garden.

92.    Recycle rubber-soled athletic shoes into playground and athletic flooring.  Donate to http://www.nikereuseashoe.com/

93.    Dress eco-friendly by not purchasing clothes labeled “dry clean only”.

94.    Make your computer last.  A life span in excess of 5 years avoids massive computer trash.

95.    Dim your computer screen and use less energy.

96.    Protect the environment and your sewer.  Never pour grease down sink drains, garbage disposals or into toilets.  Instead, scrape grease and food scraps into a can or the trash for disposal or recycling.

97.    Print green.  Select the “printer-friendly version” option when printing web pages.  This saves ink and paper by not printing extra images.

98.    Subscribe to digital magazines and newspapers to reduce paper.

99.    Prevent dry skin naturally with legumes, avocados, soybeans, nuts and egg yolks.

100.    Toilet paper?  Use narrower and use less.

101.    Recycle and Re-gift.  No need to waste a perfectly good gift. Share it!

102.    Spend less for gifts that last longer.  Memories from the gift of travel, personalized photo albums or other keepsakes will outlive many store bought gifts.

103.    Purchase gifts from local businesses that give back to your community.  Give a gift that gives twice!

104.    Consider giving battery-free gifts.  Discarded batteries are a hazard to the environment.

105.    Responsible, charitable giving begins at home for young adults.  Give your charitable dollars to your young adult to donate to charities of their choice.  Have them keep an account of their giving to share with other family members around the Christmas dinner table.

106.    Give of yourself.  Start a “green” tradition of volunteering at an environmentally friendly organization.  Parks, nature centers and animal shelters will help you plan your new family tradition.

107.    No extra trips to the trash bins when your gifts are homemade, purchased in thrift stores or consignment stores.  New, store bought items often come with costly, high energy guzzling packaging materials.

108.    A gift of a “green” service provides an extra treat to the recipient.  Chef for the day?  Green your garden?  Green clean your house, car and clothes?

109.    Decorate a tree for Christmas that is living and in a potted container.  Discarded artificial, plastic trees end up in landfills and will last almost forever!

110.    Use LED (light emitting diode) lights for house and Christmas tree lighting.  They use up to 95% less energy than larger, traditional bulbs and  save you money.  Also, if one of the lights burns out, the rest of the strand stays lit.

111.    Turn off or dim all holiday lights when you turn in for the night.  Save energy and save money.

112.    If you have a live, cut tree, reuse the wood for mulch.  Chip and recycle!

113.    Reuse and recycle used Christmas cards, magazines and wall calendars for gift cards and Christmas cards.  Don’t purchase.  Personalize!