Purchasing

Make your greenbacks greener with Betty’s buying tips and tricks!

 Did You Know?

• Manufacturing, distribution, and disposal of goods and materials is responsible for 43% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, according to the U.S. EPA. Green purchasing can help significantly reduce these emissions.
• 100& recycled content paper can reduce greenhouse gas emission by 37%, cut solid waste disposal in half, decrease water use by 50%, and practically eliminate wood use.
• Americans who followed the EPA program’s guidelines for purchasing ENERGY STAR® appliances saved enough energy in 2010 to cut greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 33 million cars and saved a collective $18 million on household utility bills.

What Can You Do?

Here are some tips to help you buy green, listed easiest to most difficult. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself!

1)   Replace a traditional cleaning product with an environmentally-friendly version.

2)   Start buying organic food (at least the “cleaner dozen”).

3)   Buy carbon offsets for your next family vacation or green energy (RECs) for your home.

Want more tips? Visit Betty’s Home Menu for ideas, and take the pledge to green your home!

Betty Blogs

Want to know more about what Betty has to say about what to buy? Check out the purchasing-related blogs below:

• Best Holiday Gift Picks (Buying Local)– Discover all the great places in Charlottesville for buying sustainably produced or local items.
• Local Eco-sense for Buying, Reusing, Recycling Your Appliances– Find out what to do with your old appliances and where you should be buying your new ones.
• Integrating Local Foods into Your Life– Shop local to help your environment and your community.
• Betty Knows: Green Your Bathroom with Green Cleaning Supplies!– Find out what products you should be using in your bathroom.
• Betty Knows: Green your Kitchen!- Reduce your environmental footprint with eco-friendly kitchen supplies.
• Time for a Pantry Raid– Load up your pantry with eco-friendly and fair trade products.
• Betty Knows: Green Your Laundry Room– Feel better about washing your clothes with energy-saving appliances and eco-friendly products.
• Tax-free with a Side of BPA-free and PVC-free, Thank You!- Learn how to make the most of the annual tax-free weekend by purchasing eco-friendly school supplies.
• Greening your Home Office…– Turn your home office a shade greener with Betty’s help.
• Sleep Easier and Greener– Turn your bedroom into an eco-friendly den of relaxation with these guilt-free products.
• Betty’s Tips for Furnishing– Look out for sustainable, durable, and environmentally friendly furniture for your home.
• A greener View from Betty– Decorate the windows in your home with these eco-friendly treatments.
• Betty Floors Everyone!!– Incorporate sustainable flooring into your home projects.
• Creative Low-Impact Ideas for Framing Your Artwork– Frame your artwork in an eco-friendly fashion.
• Best Holiday Gift Pix (A Few Gifts for the Gardener)– Check out these Charlottesville locations for garden supplies.
• Greening up Baby– Learn how to shop green for all your baby’s needs.
• Green Gadgets that are Worth it!– Find cool gizmos that will save you money and energy.
• Charge it! With Betty’s Help…– Learn which batteries to buy and how to use them properly.
• Betty Lights up Your Life!– Light up your home with energy-saving indoor lighting.

Links

Want more information about shopping green in Charlottesville? Here are some helpful links to get you started!

• Green America
• American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
• EnergyStar®
• Energy Tax Incentives
• Environmental Working Group’s Shopper’s Guide
• Piedmont Environmental Council: Buy Fresh, Buy Local
• The Made in Virginia Store
• Shop Local. Shop Charlottesville.
• Charlottesville City Market
• LocaHarvest
• The Green Office