Green Chicago Kids:
In the Home

Conserve Resources

• Turn out the lights when you leave a room.
• Unplug electrical items that are not in use, like the toaster over and hair dryer.
• Replace your old incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs
• Recycle your used paper
• Shut the water when you're brushing your teeth

• Cancel any of your subscriptions that you don't really read - it will save lots of paper!
• Get less junk mail - send a letter to the Direct Marketing Association and have them take your name off of commercial and non-profit mailing lists.
• Use less paper products in the kitchen - paper towels, paper plates, even plastic utensils. Use re-usabel sponges and washable rags and towels.
• Re-use plastic food containers for storage in the kitchen
• Don't buy books - take a trip to the local library instead

• Don't throw away old clothes. Have your kids help you put together items to donate to charity, and go together to give them away.
• Your kids will be helping to recycle, and they'll feel good about doing it!
• After your kids receive a gift-wrapped item, save the larger pieces of gift wrapping to re-use. Same with the ribbons and bows
• Recycle your broken crayons - don't throw them away!
• Read more about recycling on the "In Your Community" page.