SAVE MORE- WASTE LESS!

Want to live a more sustainable life but think it requires too much effort or just don’t know where to start? Here’s a sampling of Consumer Reports simple steps you can take to be more green and save a bit of money.

CUT BACK ON FOOD WASTE

• Adopt a “FIFO” rule - first in, first out:  Whether in your pantry or freezer, pull items from the back. That way there’s a better chance you’ll use older (often forgotten) items before they expire or go bad.
• Put your pantry to work: Spend a week cooking primarily with ingredients from your pantry to thin out older provisions.
• Freeze what you won’t get through: Bread keeps in the freezer for up to three months. Freeze just-past-their-prime bananas, berries, spinach, and more to use in smoothies.

EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR CLOTHES

• Wash garments less often and/or use shorter or more gentle wash cycles. (also: Keep it cold and decrease detergent to save $)
• Use the soak function. It fills the tub and lets the detergent work without much agitation before it runs a shorter wash and spin cycle.
• Use mesh bags to protect delicate fabrics.

MAKE YOUR LAWN AND GARDEN MORE PLANET FRIENDLY

• Plant drought-tolerant native perennials.
• Use a mulching mower.
• Switch to battery-powered lawn tools.

GRILLING TIPS

• Prep ingredients before you fire up the grill, then set a timer to preheat for 10 minutes, which ensures good performance and guards against burning extra propane.
• Think of your gas grill as a stove, use only the grill burners you need to fit whatever you are grilling.
• Consider a small grill - large grills with unused burners take longer to heat, wasting propane.

Source: Consumer Reports JULY 2022