By ecomom CoFounder Kimberly Danek Pinkson
I'm thrilled that more and more families are beginning to see the connection between protecting our environment, our families, and our pocketbooks. Shifting to that kind of holistic thinking is one of the most helpful habits we, as mothers, can both model ourselves, and inspire in others. Three great examples:
First, skip the name brand cleansers and go back to the basics. Using inexpensive products such as hydrogen peroxide, white vinegar, and baking soda as cleansers saves money on name brand cleaning products, reduces your family's exposure to harmful toxins, and keeps those dangerous chemicals out of our waterways and food supplies. Save up to $200 per year and reduce your family’s exposure to over 62,000 chemicals on the market today that have never been tested for health and safety.
Second, drive less and walk/ride/roll more. With childhood obesity and diabetes increasing at alarming rates, adopting a more active-lifestyle approach to transportation saves money on gas and car repairs, provides an "excuse" for families to exercise together, and reduces our dependence on petroleum. Filling the tank up one time less per month can save upwards of $600 annually.
Third, weatherproof your doors and windows. For just a few bucks and a couple of hours of easy work, you can purchase weather stripping for all of your doors and windows and save up to $400 a year. There are a variety of weather stripping options and I suggest taking photos of the locations you’re looking to reduce drafts, and then taking the pictures in to your local home improvement or hardware store so you can show them what you need. By improving the insulation in your home, you save money on heating and cooling costs and improves air quality by decreasing coal power usage.
For more, visit visit ecomom.com