There are many ways to create environmentally friendly classrooms, which help infuse green living habits in young children. If you’re a teacher, create one. Parents should also support environmental awareness in their children through green classrooms.

Eco-Friendly Classroom Ideas

• Reusable containers for snacks, drinks and lunches. Even plastic containers help the environment if they are reusable. These containers, because of their usability, will not quickly make their way to landfills, where they may remain for hundreds of years. Unlike natural products, non-recyclable plastics, like most water bottles, will not environmentally break down and become useful aids to the environment. Reusable containers, particularly metal or cardboard, will reduce waste in local landfills.

Those committed to green living search for natural products, but sometimes don’t realize these materials can save money, too. Fortunately, you can commit to living in an environmentally friendly universe and keep your monthly budget under control.

Natural Products and Safety  

Most natural products, along with contributing to sustainable living, are also very safe for all living things. Certainly, the safety of our fragile environment is critical to our continued survival as a species.

However, safety for ourselves, our families, our pets, and all living things is just as important. Imagine if natural products were environmentally friendly, but toxic to humans? Our environmental awareness quotient would drop dramatically.

Even people who recycle daily, ride the bus to work, and use only environmentally friendly products can do more to further their efforts at sustainable living. Are you constantly on the lookout for more eco-friendly practices that can help make the world a better place to live? Here’s a living green tip you might not have thought of before: install a water filtration system in your home.

This may sound more like a money saving move than an eco-friendly contribution, but if you’re a die-hard bottled water drinker, moving from bottled water to a water filtration system can make a pretty significant environmental impact.

• Plastic water bottles take forever to biodegrade. Actually, the current estimated figure for how long a plastic water bottle will sit before it eventually biodegrades is 500 years. That’s not to say that you’re the type of person to toss your used water bottles into the nearest trash bin, but even if you recycle daily, giving your business to the bottled water industry is about as bad as not recycling
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If we were to ask you what room in your home you thought was the biggest energy waster, what would your answer be? If you answered “my kitchen,” you’re right on track. The kitchen is where the majority of a home’s power usage takes place, because this is where the majority of our energy-sapping household appliances are located: our fridges, dishwashers, ovens, and stoves. The good news is that if you’re interested in creating an eco-friendly kitchen, there are a number of things you can do.

Get Your Fridge in Line
Did you know that your refrigerator is your house’s second least eco-friendly appliance next to your heating and cooling system? Now, at long last, you finally understand why it is that your folks were always shouting at you to close the refrigerator door – they were just trying to teach you how to live green! Now that you know what an energy waster your refrigerator is, what can you do about it? First things first, take a look at your fridge’s age and specs. If it’s an oldie, replace it with a new Energy Star compliant model. Also, be sure to keep its internal temperature set at around 37 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. As for your freezer, keep it at a chilly 5 degrees Fahrenheit, but no colder unless you want to waste electricity.

Establishing a daily recycle plan isn’t just a great way to save the environment – it can also be a fun and educational activity if you get the whole family involved. Here are just a few of the most effective tips for creating a more eco-friendly world, one aluminum can at a time.

Get Educated
Your first step in your daily recycle plan should be to get yourself educated on where your local recycling centers are, what kinds of recyclables they accept, and what their particular rules are. The Yellow Pages is a great resource. Of course, there’s always that new-fangled invention called the internet that can get you the same information without having to hoist that hefty phone book onto your kitchen counter.