We’re committed to sustainable practices and green dentistry at Beaverton TenderCare Dental! Big or small, every action to protect our environment is important. We hope you incorporate some eco-friendly habits into your everyday life too!
Here are 50 green tips:
- Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs.
- Drink out of a reusable water bottle. We give every new patient a Hydro Flask!
- Check the power settings on your devices to ensure they actually shut down when you’re done using them.
- Buy green cleaning products or make your own.
- Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth.
- Pay bills online and go paperless by choosing digital notifications.
- Recycle electronics like old cell phones, laptops, or televisions instead of putting them in the garbage.
- Bike or walk instead of driving when you can.
- Make sure your home is well insulated as you’ll use less electricity heating or cooling your home.
- Line-dry your laundry when possible instead of using the dryer.
- Unplug lights and electronics when you aren’t using them. They still use power when plugged into the wall.
- Keep some indoor plants in your home. They filter toxins out of the air naturally!
- Buy food from a local farmer’s market. The Beaverton market is the largest, all-agricultural market in the state of Oregon!
- Recycle cans and bottles.
- When brushing your teeth, use cold water. This saves water that would have been wasted waiting for it to heat up.
- Use towels to dry your hands or dishes instead of paper towels.
- Plant trees! Whether you volunteer and join a program or plant a tree in your backyard, it’s a great way to go green.
- Always run a full load of dishes and a full load of laundry.
- Start a garden in your backyard and grow your own vegetables. Having a windowsill or kitchen herb garden is green too!
- Reuse boiling water that you cooked food like pasta with. Let it cool then use that water for your plants.
- Limit your time in the shower and use less water.
- Choose a Christmas tree that can be replanted after the holiday.
- Unplug your washer and dryer when they’re not in use.
- Buy BPA-free toys for your children and pets.
- Write your to-do list and calendar in a digital format, not on paper.
- Compost food scraps.
- Don’t use paper or plastic bags. Purchase reusable bags for shopping instead.
- Cut cotton pads and q-tips in half to reduce waste and make them last longer.
- Purchase a greener car over one that uses gas.
- Walk your dog with a canvas leash instead of a plastic one.
- Replace your showerhead and change to a low-flow one to save water.
- When grocery shopping, shop smart and avoid throwing food out and wasting it.
- Carpool when possible.
- Use a water filter to drink tap water instead of buying plastic bottles.
- When possible, cook with a pressure cooker over an oven as it uses less energy.
- Stop using disposable utensils or plates.
- Don’t use chemical sprays to make your home smell nice. Instead, try essential oils or natural herbs or plants like mint and lavender.
- Consider installing solar panels for your home.
- Donated used items or clothing instead of throwing them away.
- Read digitally or borrow books from the library.
- Dispose of household chemicals properly. Don’t just throw them away as they can do damage to the environment.
- Use cold water preferably when running your clothes washing machine. Your laundry will still get clean!
- Don’t waste food! Eat leftovers.
- Avoid dry cleaning when you can.
- Open your curtains and blinds! Take advantage of the natural light in your home over turning on lights.
- Choose ENERGY STAR appliances for your home.
- Create your own natural hair and beauty products.
- Fix things when they break instead of throwing them out and buying new.
- Buy organic and fair trade coffee.
- Set up a barrel to catch rainfall and use that supply to water your garden instead of the hose.