These days, you might be hearing a lot about climate change, aka global warming. According to certain scientists and certain "experts", the planet is warming up and is thus causing the ice caps to melt at an alarmingly fast rate, and the whole planet is predicted to get a few degrees hotter within the next couple of decades or less. As a result, many grassroots and environmental organizations are preaching about the ways we can start to be more "green". Buying fuel efficient cars or using public transportation or your bicycle to get around, buying locally grown produce, and changing your light bulbs to energy efficient models are just some of the ways one can start to be more "green".

But being more environmentally friendly doesn't mean you have to buy a hybrid vehicle, which, in my opinion, is an absolute waste of money because of its hefty price tag and the measly five extra miles of fuel efficiency it gives you. It doesn't mean you have to throw out all of your furniture, clothing, and other household items to trade them in for items that are made with post-consumer, recycled ingredients. No, being more environmentally friendly starts at home with how you use water.

Water is a precious commodity and one that is often taken for granted. Because it is readily available at just the turn of the knob, many have come to abuse this privilege. Leaving the water running in the sink while shaving or brushing your teeth happens more often than you might think, and the truth is that you can start saving water to be more eco-friendly or to start saving more money on your water bill by implementing just a few small changes in your daily habits.

Like previously mentioned, don't run the water when you don't need it on. Pay special attention to the way you wash your dishes the next time around. You might just notice that you leave the tap running while you are scrubbing your dishware, which is completely unnecessary. Turning the tap off and using it only when you are rinsing can very well save you quite a bit of money every year.

When taking a shower, don't stay in there for an excessively long time. It might be difficult for some people who enjoy taking long, warm showers in the morning time, but think about how much more time you will have freed up if you just shortened it by just a few minutes. You can make breakfast, do an extra set of sit ups, or run an errand before heading off to work or school by sacrificing a few minutes of shower time.

If you have a lawn or a garden, don't drown it with water. Spread mulch in your garden area because it helps to retain moisture better and keeps the dirt from drying out too quickly. Water your lawn once or twice a week in the morning time. Watering overnight might cause fungus in the grass and promote night critters activity. Watering in the morning time when the winds are the calmest and before the sun gets too hot is optimal.

By changing your daily habits a little bit at a time, you, too, can be more environmentally conscious.

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Tags: home, planet, environment, global warming, weather, climate change, water, fuel, green, efficient