Ladies Who Launch

by Amanda Freeman, Ladies Who Launch member, New York City
photo by Amy Abrams

While turning your house into an entirely eco-friendly place is a major undertaking, there are lots of baby steps you can take toward a greener home. Here are some ways to get started …

Bedroom

• Green bed. When buying bedding, look for organic or environmentally friendly options, like bamboo or organic cotton sheets.
• Unplug! When not in use, remember to unplug chargers for your cell phone, mp3, PDA, and other electronic devices. Leaving them plugged in drains energy.
• Eco-candles. Opt for candles made with beeswax, soy wax, and essential oils.
• Green your closet. Look for apparel and accessories made with organic and environmentally friendly materials: organic cotton, bamboo, hemp. Keep your eye out for the new “Luxury Eco” stamp of approval.
• Garment bag it. Avoid the paper and plastic waste that typically accompanies your dry cleaning. Instead, give your cleaner an old garment bag to reuse. Clearly label it with your name and address to avoid a switcheroo!
• Color-me-eco. Looking for a healthier shade of wall? Try non-toxic paints.
• Thermostat stat. Keep your bedroom at 65-67 degrees throughout the winter to save energy.

Bathroom

• Healthy brushing. The Recycline toothbrush is made of recycled materials, primarily Stonyfield Farm yogurt cups. They give you postage-paid envelopes for post-use recycling.
• Eco-pampering. Buy organic body-care products. Green by Nature (no parabens, sulfates, or synthetic chemicals) with natural botanicals, Origins Organics (free of chemical pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides), and Weleda are among the companies with an environmentally friendly bent.
• Clean off. When toweling off, use organic towels. Under the Canopy is one company that makes them.
• Pass it on. Once you’ve pored through the latest issues of Vogue, Lucky, US Weekly, and Wired, pass them on to friends, a library, a doctor’s office, or a flight attendant.

Kitchen

• Drink from the tap. Trade your at-home water cooler or bottled water for a Brita filter pitcher (use with good ol’ tap water) or an in-sink filtration system. When on the go, bring a reusable bottle to refill.
• Eat local. Shop at farmers markets or consider joining a CSA (community-supported agriculture) group.
• Serve on bamboo. Bamboo is an eco-material because it’s a highly renewable resource.
• Read labels. When buying cleaning products, look for buzzwords like non-toxic, biodegradable, chlorine-free, fragrance-free, natural fragrance, hypoallergenic, and paraben-free. It’s better for you, and the environment!

Laundry

• Green clean. Don’t let dirty laundry hamper your efforts to live green. Opt for concentrated detergents and fabric softeners (save on packaging) like those made by Method, which are biodegradable and not tested on animals or made from animal products. Also, consider using Cleanut, made from soap nuts (they actually grow on trees in India and Nepal); it’s a hypoallergenic, biodegradable, organic detergent.
• Something old. Don’t toss that ratty old T-shirt just yet! Instead, use it (and reuse it!) in place of a paper towel to clean household surfaces, including windows.

Amanda Freeman is a member of the New York City Incubator and founder of VitalJuiceDaily.com.