As busy parents, it is not realistic for us to go out and save the rainforests, or reverse the damage our coral reefs have sustained. Changing some of our everyday activities can make a difference in the well-being of our planet and ensure that our children inherit a healthier Earth. We can all help out with these tips that will actually save money as well!

• Carpool to Games. This is a great way to bond with your fellow i9 Sports parents, save gas and help cut down on harmful emissions at the same time!
• Use less bottled water. Most bottled water is actually just tap water that is, well, bottled for consumer use. Most people can’t tell a difference between tap water and bottled water! Get a home filtration system and a couple of good non-plastic reusable water bottles and fill the bottles at home. As a bonus, you’ll save money, too!
• Wash your laundry in cold water. Since heating water is the biggest energy requirement in most houses, switching that dial or setting to cold will immediately make a big difference! For a bonus, use a clothesline or indoor drying rack to dry your laundry.
• Bring your own bags when you go grocery shopping. Who needs all of those plastic bags piling up in your home anyway? Plastic bags stay in the landfill forever. And paper bags, while they are a better choice if you are truly stuck, still kill trees. Throw a bunch of reusable bags into the back of your car so they will always be available!
• Install power strips. There are so many electronics that unnecessarily use electricity in standby mode. Some examples of this include flat screen televisions, DVD players, game systems, stereo receivers, cable boxes and more. Basically anything that can go on with a remote or has a light on it! Switch the power off using the power strip when you aren’t actively using these items.
• Cut down on new paper. Replace your paper towels with dishcloths, wash cloths and rags. It takes less energy to wash these items than it does to produce the paper versions. Again, you will save money. For items that you can’t live without when it comes to paper, such as bathroom tissue, look for products that are made from recycled paper. You can save thousands of trees this way!

You may also be interested in these other related blogs:

Should You Stay or Should You Go?

School’s Out For Summer