Learn what products really help you go green.
So many green products are available that it can be overwhelming to know which ones to use. Learn about ways other people currently make their carbon footprint smaller, and what products are available. Recycled materials are used to make almost everything, and purchasing these items when possible contributes to a greener lifestyle. Decreasing your dependence on fossil fuels requires some larger products that should be researched and investigated.
Home
Many different products claim to help you make your home green. On a large scale, a solar power system reduces or potentially eliminates your dependence on companies that burn fossil fuels to produce electricity. Energy-saving appliances such as water heaters, laundry appliances and refrigerators are green products for the home that save you money. If you're building, consider eco-friendly materials like recycled composing decking, recycled paper cement and bird-safe glass.
Office
Like the home, everything in the office from furniture to paper clips can be environmentally-friendly. Replace the little necessities such as paper, binders, pencils, staplers, pen and markers, power strips and even flash drives with alternative products made from recycled materials. Green office furniture typically describes products made from recycled or sustainable materials like recycled plastics, sustainable wood and recycled aluminum. Replacing old appliances with new, efficient products like low-energy toilets, pumps and heaters helps make an office green.
Yard and Garden
Use your household waste to generate garden fertilizer.
Solar lamps are a popular accessory to a green garden. Biodegradable leaf and garden bags are green products that don't contribute to solid waste and are a comfortable convenience. Organic pesticides and fertilizers are must-have products for a green garden. For the serious gardener, rain barrels conserve water by capturing precipitation and can be made from recycled plastics. Composts convert organic waste into usable fertilizer; adding a compost to your garden reduces landfill waste and contributes to the ecosystem, according to Green and More.
Vehicles
Many cities see the value in switching to electric vehicles.
Since the realization of how much greenhouse gas is generated by motor vehicles, green vehicles have become a hot product. When looking to purchase, do your homework and find out what style of green vehicle would best suit your needs. Electric cars emit no gas, but if your power comes from a coal-fired power plant, you're still reliant upon fossil fuels to power your green vehicle. Hybrid cars use a combination of electricity and gas which is better for long-distance drivers. Another option is a vehicle that runs on alternative fuel such as ethanol, biodiesel or natural gas.
