Going green is easier than you think

Many people are under the impression that going green has to mean making a huge effort, like replacing all the fabric in your closet with burlap or never turning on a light in your home. But helping out the environment starts by making small changes. Here are a few seemingly effortless things you can do to go green:

Recycle old cards
Whether you have holiday cards still on display in your living room or you have drawer stuffed with old birthday cards and thank you cards, sort through them. Keep any cards that you feel are particularly sentimental, and then recycle the rest.

Wait to do laundry
I’ve been tempted before just to toss a few towels and some socks in the washing machine to get the chore out of the way. However, doing only a small load of laundry can waste water, money and energy. Wait until your hamper fills up with dirty clothes before throwing everything in the laundry machine.

Switch light bulbs
When you put compact fluorescent bulbs in your home instead of the regular fluorescent variety, you’re using 75 percent less energy. These eco-friendly bulbs also last longer, so you won’t have to worry about replacing them as frequently.

Give your computer a break
If you’re heading out of the office to eat lunch, grab some coffee or go to a meeting, put your computer into sleep mode. This doesn’t take as much time as shutting down does, but doing this simple thing saves energy when you’re not there.

Unplug
Even if your TV is off and your phone isn’t plugged into the charger, these devices are still using energy. Simply remove the plug from the wall to save yourself money on your electric bill and help out the environment at the same time.

Buy locally
I love farmers markets because of all of the fresh, delicious food they offer on a weekly basis. When you shop at local farmers markets, you’ll be reducing carbon emissions and getting fresh produce at the same time. The food stocked in grocery store shelves likely traveled thousands of miles, burning fossil fuels to get there.

Mow the lawn … less
That’s right, I’m telling you to mow the lawn less, which may be one thing you can cross off of your to-do list every once in awhile. According to Better Homes and Gardens, grass is best kept at 2.5-inches tall, which helps it absorb the most sunlight to give you a lush, green lawn. Mowing the lawn less frequently means you won’t have to fill up your lawn mower with gas as much.