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Most people think that being environmentally concerned requires time and money, neither of which most people have readily available.

However, there are many “not so secret ways” that you can go green without busting your wallet or your schedule!

1. Avoid using plastics
This one is easy! Just stop asking for plastic and start demanding paper!

2. Recycle
You’ve heard it a million times, but now just do it. Most cities provide you with two separate garbage cans, one for trash, and one for recycling. To make it easier, do the same in your own home. Just pick up another trash can that is only for recyclables. You can save yourself the time and humility of sorting your own trash.

3. Save Energy
Never miss an opportunity to conserve. Remind everyone in your house to turn off all the lights when they are not using them. Only use the air conditioning when you absolutely have, and listen to your Dad when he says not to stand in front of the fridge with door open. Also, start washing your clothes in cold water and save on the water heating bill, while saving energy. Look for special detergent formulated for cold water.

4. Save Water!
Saving water is a huge deal! Don’t let the water run while you’re brushing your teeth and take shorter shower. Start using liquid detergents instead of powder because they require less water.

5. Save Your Money!
The US Government offers several tax breaks including Home Energy Efficiency Improvement Tax Credit for consumers who purchase and install specific products, such as energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in the home can receive a tax credit of up to $500!

6. Green your Carbon Offsets
Carbon dioxide, a significant greenhouse gas, is emitted into the atmosphere as a result of our intensive use of fossil fuels like oil and coal. In simplistic terms this is “bad”. One way to offset this and do “good” is by paying to balance (or offset) the equation, by funding projects that reduce our emissions of carbon (and other greenhouse gases). Check out: CarbonFund.org

7. DIY Carbon Offsets
If you’d rather make behavioral changes yourself instead of paying someone else to make changes on our behalf here are a couple of changes you can make:
• Compost your household waste so less goes to landfill, where it forms methane, a gas that is even more harmful to global warming than carbon dioxide.
• Drive less.
• Start a tree-planting day with a community group.
• Vacation closer to home.
• Install a solar hot water system in your home.
• Eat less meat or at least eat at least one meat-free meal a week.
• Install draft excluder strips on external doors,
• Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents or LEDs.
• Invest your money in shares and stocks of renewable energy power utilities, instead of fossil fuel ones

***Picture Thanks to dark.heart 7***