How to Green your Garage this Winter

Guest Blogger #297, Entry #836, December 15, 2011

The movement to live a greener, more earth-friendly lifestyle is growing. There are lots of little things we can do to reduce our carbon footprint. We can make more of an impact by thinking big and concentrating on our own environment. If we make an effort to green even just one or two rooms of our home, it can make a big difference. The garage is a place where we use a lot of hazardous chemicals and store our equipment and junk. It’s a good room to improve. Here are some suggestions on how you can green your garage.

Green your garage with these helpful ideas

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Recycle Junk

It’s a good idea to clean out your garage and get rid of all the equipment and other “junk” you’re not using anymore. Don’t just throw it out, though, or you will be contributing to the buildup in landfills. Consider listing your junk on sites like Freecycle.org, and you may find someone who needs or will use it. You can also take your junk to a scrap yard, where it will be repurposed, and you could even get some extra cash for bringing it in.

Recycle, purge and dispose of unneeded items

Image via: Martha Stewart

Eco-Friendly Cleaning

When cleaning your garage, use old rags rather than paper towels. It’s even better if the rags are made from organic cotton, microfiber or hemp. Consider using natural cleaners like baking soda and vinegar rather than harsh store bought cleaners.

Lawn Care

The pesticides and fertilizers you use for your lawn and garden can be very hazardous to the environment, not to mention you’re storing poison in an area of your home. Switch to eco-friendly, natural or organic options. They work just as well and will limit the damage you do to the nature around your home.

Garage Door

Your garage door uses a lot of energy, and it can also allow lots of cold are in during the winter. Insulate your garage door to prevent cold air from coming into your home, thus raising your heating bill. It is even possible to make your garage door solar-powered. At the very least, try to limit the amount of times per day you raise and lower the door.

Insulate your garage door

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Properly Dispose of Materials

You likely have a lot of old oil, gas and paint cans sitting around your garage. It’s a good idea to get rid of these hazardous materials, especially if you have young children or pets. The toxic waste is no good to keep sitting around, but when you dispose of it, make sure you do it properly. Never just pour them out or throw them away or you will be introducing toxins to the environment. Contact your local recycling or hazardous waste center to get instructions on how to safely dispose of these materials or where to drop them off.

Your Car

Your garage houses one of the biggest ways you contribute to environmental pollution everyday – your car. To help make your car more fuel efficient, make sure it has fresh oil, clean air filters, and properly inflated tires. Also, leave the car in the garage more often by carpooling or walking more. You can even consider buying a hybrid.

Equipment

Equipment such as lawn mowers and leaf blowers can use a lot of gas and energy. Do regular maintenance on your equipment so it is kept in top shape. Ill-maintained equipment will be more inefficient and require a lot more fuel.

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