Go Greener Tips

div class=image style=float:right;padding-left:8px;img alt=mother and daughters / iStockPhoto height=230 src=http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/the_conscious_consumer/the_conscious_consumer-430376171-1241555518.jpg?ym.YjNBDorw5Ltug width=300//divpMother’s Day is the perfect time to reflect on all the valuable lessons we learned from mom (and grandma). /ppIn fact, many of the smart things mom has always done to save money and time are especially relevant today.  /ppHere is some of her most practical advice: /pp /ppstrongEat your veggies./strong Sure, she may have overcooked them, but mom was right about the fact that they’re good for you. Eating more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains (and less meat) is also good for the planet. Why? Raising livestock requires vast amounts of resources and is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. a href=http://green.yahoo.com/blog/greenpicks/240/go-meatless-just-one-day-a-week.htmlCutting back on meat/a is also a great way to save money since it can be one of the priciest items in your shopping cart.strong/strong/ppstrongUse a a href=http://green.yahoo.com/blog/daily_green_cheapskate/2/my-crock-pot-mean-green-30-recession-fighting-machine.htmlCrock-Pot/a./strong It may seem old-fashioned, but slow cookers are making a comeback because they allow time-pressed consumers to easily prepare healthy and economical meals. Some other benefits: Crock-pots use very little energy and can turn simple (and inexpensive) ingredients into delicious food. stronga href=http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/54/raid-your-pantry-for-nontoxic-cleaners.html/a/strong/ppstronga href=http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/54/raid-your-pantry-for-nontoxic-cleaners.htmlRaid your pantry/a for non-toxic cleaning products. /strongCleaning with baking soda, vinegar, and other pantry staples is cost effective, works well, and is healthier than using conventional cleaning products. Use baking soda to absorb odors (keep an open box in your fridge) or as a scouring powder (sprinkle some on a wet sponge and scrub sinks, bathtubs, and more). Mix distilled white vinegar with water to clean windows and floors.  strong/strong/ppstrongVisit the library regularly./strong Why pay money for books and movies that you’ll only read or watch once? You’ll also reduce clutter in your home and put less strain on the planet. Nowadays, the Internet makes book, DVD, and CD swapping easy. Some sites worth checking out: a href=http://www.swaptree.com/Swap Tree/a, a href=http://www.titletrader.com/Title Trader/a, and a href=http://www.swapsimple.com/Swap Simple/a.strong/strong/ppstrongTurn out the lights when you leave a room./strong There has been much debate as to whether switching lights on and off uses more energy than leaving them on while you’re gone.  Mom was right, though. If you want to save energy and money, a href=http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/61/when-to-switch-off-your-lights.htmlswitch them off/a.  /ppAnd one bonus tip from mom: Only buy (take) what you need. Ultimately, consuming less is the best way to save money and protect the planet.  /pp /pbr /pemEnvironmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green’s users. Send Lori a a href=http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/green/forms/consciousconsumerblog.htmlquestion or suggestion/a for potential use in a future column. Her book,/em Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life emis available on a href=http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Green%2C%20Greener%2C%20Greenest%3A%20A%20Practical%20Guide%20to%20Making%20Eco-Smart%20Choices%20a%20Part%20of%20Your%20Life:3005209514;_ylt=AsLkIJyzfMD4G3Gl2OYYt_gbFt0A?clink=dmps/lori_bongiorno/ctx=mid:1,pid:3005209514,pdid:1,pos:1,spc:14489115,date:20081009,srch:kw,x:Yahoo! Shopping/a and a href=http://www.amazon.com/Green-Greener-Greenest-Practical-Eco-Smart/dp/0399534032/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8s=booksqid=1228865081sr=8-1Amazon.com/a./em/p