5 Cheap & Easy Ways Make Your Summer Greener

Make this summer the most environmentally responsible yet–and save money in the bargain!

1.  Buy a water bottle and fill it from your tap.  A stainless steel Kleen Kanteen water bottle starts at $15.00–the same price as 15 units of bottled water you might buy at the ball diamond or gas station, golf course or county fair.  We have the right and the obligation to drink tap water because it’s healthier and less expensive than water for sale in petroleum-based packaging.  Bring Your Own Bottle of water and do right by the planet!

2.  Install a clothesline.  For less than $10 you can buy a clothesline and pins and hang your laundry for free every load.  Clothes dryers are among the least energy-efficient appliances and line drying is a great way to go green.  Learn more here.   Bonus:  you’ll save on your electric bill and on fabric softeners and dryer sheets!

3.  Invest in a solar battery charger.  In the summer whether you’re camping or listening to your radio, you can power up your flashlights or ballgame without feeling guilty about using batteries.  Solar powered electronics have really come down in price and a 4-battery charger for D/C/AA/AAA batteries costs as little as $30.

4.  Skip the lawn chemicals.  Use full-strength white vinegar to kill weeds (.70 a liter vs. $10.00 a liter of Round-Up) and let your lawn grow a little higher to keep the weeds at bay.  Enrich your soil with worm castings or compost instead of poisonous blue granules.  Your pets, soil’s helpful microorganisms, water quality and wallet will all thank you.

5.  Leave your car parked and walk or bike your way around.  Enviro Girl lives in the country, but even she can adhere to this rule.  When she drives to town, she parks in a central location and walks from place to place instead of driving between errands.  It’s good exercise and better on the environment.