Today, conservation, recycling, and “going green” are a big concern for many moms.  After all, you want to leave your children the best environment possible, right?  But, some moms are overwhelmed by the whole “green” movement.  However, there are some simple things you can do at home to be more environmentally conscious:

In the bathroom:

• Take shorter showers to conserve water.
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and washing your hands.
• Reuse a towel for repeated showers (less laundry to do).
• Use real cups instead of disposable Dixie cups.

In the kitchen:

• Use hand towels instead of paper towels.
• Wash your clothes in cold water instead of warm or hot.
• Replace bottled water with filtered tap water.
• Use natural products for cleaning.
• Set your refrigerator to 37 degrees and your freezer to 0 degrees.
• Replace your paper coffee filter with a reusable filter.

Around the rest of the house:

• Keep the lights off as much as possible –open your curtains on sunny days.
• Lower your water heater to 120 degrees.
• Set your thermostat to 78 degrees during the summer.
• Replace your traditional light bulbs with compact florescent bulbs.
• Unplug unused appliances and electronic devices (even when not used, they still draw energy)
• Use both sides of printer paper before discarding.

Going green is not only good for the environment, but also good for your wallet.  Just take a little time to notice things around you and you can find many easy ways to conserve around the house.