Adding More Items to the Eco-Wishlist

I recently finished reading “It’s Easy Being Green.” In it are a number of recommendations on what you can do to help the environment, a day at a time. So I’ve listed the items I want to focus on here so I can add them to my eco-wishlist.

• Take short showers.
• Turn the faucet off while shaving and brushing your teeth.
• Toss trash in the wastebasket, not the toilet.
• Take care of your vinyl shower curtain. – I now have a fabric shower curtain.
• Use water-based paints.
• Properly dispose of latex paint cans.
• Use rags instead of paper towels.
• Choose hydrogen- or oxygen-based bleaches.
• Buy concentrated products.
• Don’t wash clothes after every wear unless they’re really dirty.
• Buy phosphate-free, earth-friendly detergent.
• Keep my refrigerator full to cut down on energy.
• Keep the fridge at 37º F and the freezer at 3º F.
• Maintain my fridge twice a year.
• Use the toaster oven for smaller portion cooking.
• Switch to CFLs.
• Turn off the lights when not in use.
• Use ceiling fans to better circulate the air.
• Manage radiant solar gain.
• Buy gift wrap made of recycled paper.
• Reuse gift wrapping decorations.
• Get creative with gift wrapping.
• Recycle my Christmas tree.
• Choose energy-saving Christmas lights.
• Make my own gift tags.
• Participate in St. Jude’s Ranch for Children greeting cards program.
• Shop at my local farmer’s market.
• Eat less meat.
• Switch to cloth napkins.
• Decline  silverware, napkins and condiments when ordering out.
• Wash fruit and veggies in a bowl of cold water.
• Turn the faucet using half the volume.
• Buy in bulk instead of single-servings.
• Collect grey water for watering plants.
• Buy quality products.
• Use rechargeable batteries.
• Buy a paper shredder.
• Recycle old athletic shoes with the Nike program.
• Recycle plastic peanuts with loosefillpackaging.com.
• Download software instead of buying the CDs, when possible.
• Buy only plastic bottles labeled with 1 or 2.
• Create notepads out of scrap paper.
• Ride my bike when running errands three miles away.
• Once a week, use public transportation instead of driving.
• Buy eco-friendly antifreeze.
• Decline housekeeping when staying at a hotel.
• Don’t take the complementary bottles.
• Use biodegradable pet bags.

So a number of new items on the list. I’ll indicate that these are from It’s Easy Being Green with an “E” to clarify the source. Here’s to an eco-friendly 2008!

UPDATE: Reviewed Jan. 4, 2009.