Help Your Family Go Green

It's cool to be green. It's also being socially responsible to the environment we live in and to fellow human beings we live with. Want to reduce your carbon footprint? Look no further than your own home. These are some of the ways my family's trying to reduce our carbon footprint.

1. Recycle
Paper, plastic, aluminium cans, tetra paks (milk cartons, packet drinks), cardboard, tin cans and bottles. Get the whole family into recycling mode, especially your kids.  Read my post Teaching Kids To Recycle. I even recycle price tags which most people overlook. They're made of paper aren't they? Throw them in the paper recycling bin.

2. Reduce waste
Do you know that if you cut your toothpaste tube in half, after you've tried squeezing every bit out of it, there's still enough inside there to last you a few more days? Learnt this tip from a recycling talk I attended many years back and have been practising it since.

3. Use products that are packaged in recyclable material.

Instead of buying refillable packs (which aren't recyclable), get the product in it's original tin can or glass bottle. Yes, it costs a little bit more but if you can afford it why not? At the end of the day you can still sell your recyclables to get back that little bit more you spent.

4. Save energy

Switch to energy-saving bulbs, switch off the lights, fan or TV when not in use, bathe cold water if you can.

5. Save Water

Pee in the shower. Hey, the Brazilians are doing it why not us? Malaysia Boleh!

6. Think Before You Throw
This is another way to keep your mind alert and ward off Alzheimer's. Seriously, get into this habit of thinking before you throw and you'd find that there are more things you can recycle than throw away.

7. Go plant a tree!
Haven't done that. Would love to one day.

* I hope to start a series of posts called "Green Tips". Stay tuned.