While snow may be on the ground, you can still look for ways to go green. Small changes around your home can have a big impact on others and the environment. TD Friends of the Environment Foundation shares five creative ways to be kind to the environment this winter.
Give old items a new life: If the weather outside is frightful, stay inside to clean out closets, storage areas and junk drawers. Instead of throwing unwanted items in the trash, look for ways to reuse or recycle. Donate usable clothes, cut up old t-shirts to use as rags and give old furniture new life with a fresh coat of low-VOC paint. Want to get creative? Consider making bookshelves from painted eavestroughs and turning old shutters into wall art.
Get cozy: Put that ugly holiday sweater to good use. Layer up to keep warm and lower the thermostat by a degree or two to save energy (and money).
Go DIY with home cleaning: With the windows shut tight, there is no better time to try homemade cleaning supplies. The best part is that many of the basic ingredients needed can often already be found at home, including baking soda, lemon juice and white vinegar.
Pass on the paper: Go digital when it comes to books, movies, music and magazines and send greeting cards and gift cards electronically to reduce waste.
Bring the outside in: Add a splash of green and improve the air quality inside your home with houseplants. Interested in tackling a larger project? Create a vertical garden that’s filled with a variety of plants.
Don’t forget to create an electronic to-do list and set up weekly or monthly reminders to keep your projects on track.
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