Womb to Bloom - Maternity & Beyond

Going green is not just a passing fad; it is a responsibility that we have as parents to leave our children a beautiful earth as their inheritance. As an added bonus, we get to save money while we do it. That is called a “win-win” situation.

There are small changes you can make around your home that may seem insignificant, but will make an impact on the environment.

Here are some tips for conserving energy around the house:

• Change your light bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs. While they burn brighter, they use up less energy and last longer.
• Run the air conditioner at 78 degrees in summer and the heater at 68 degrees in the winter. Each degree above or below these settings can increase your bill by 4%.
• If your house feels too warm, use fans to increase the air flow.
• Keep windows closed during the summer so that the heat from the sun does not come in the house and warm it up, causing the air conditioner to work harder.
• In the winter, open the windows during the day so that you can save money on your light bill by using natural light.
• If you are constantly going to the bathroom in the middle of the night, try flushing only on every other visit.
• Only run the washer and dryer when you have gathered enough clothes for a full load. Running the machines for only a few garments wastes water and money.
• Use cold water for all your laundry loads. Dry them in low heat.
• Unplug major appliances and chargers when not in use.

Another way that you can save money while helping our planet is by recycling at home. You will be amazed at how creative mommies can be. Finding a new use for an old thing can be a fun family activity. For example:

• Empty baby wipes containers can be used as bag dispensers, tissue dispensers, pencil cases, etc.
• Use water bottles as toys. Give your baby an empty bottle to explore. Fill it half way up with raw rice or dry beans to make an interesting shaker.
• Use plastic grocery bags as trash can liners or lunch bags.

When you are out and about, you can still be conscious of the environment:

• Plan the route of your trip before you leave the house so that you can save gas and maximize your time.
• Some gas station drop prices one day per week. Find out if there is one near you.
• Get together with a friend or neighbor to run errands together in order to save on gas.
• Instead of rushing to the store every time you need something, keep a running list of the things that you need and only go out to the store once or twice per week. Being organized will save you from having to return to the store for one or two items every day.
• If you are making a stop, do not leave your car running. An idle car burns up more gas that running the air conditioner and produces harmful gases.

Even if you only implement a few changes in your home, you will benefit financially and environmentally. You will feel at peace knowing that you are making a difference in the world that you are leaving to your children. Best of all, your children will also benefit from learning to care for their planet.