Living a Green Life

Every person can lend the environment a helping hand by focusing on green initiatives whether at work, traveling or in our own homes. Here are ways that you can make a difference in your daily life.

• Bring your plastic bags to any Kohl’s store to be recycled.
• Carpool to work and other events to save costs on fuel, car maintenance and reduce carbon emissions.
• Purchase renewable energy credits as part of your utility usage and receive a portion of your electricity from wind, solar or other renewable forms.
• Purchase a hybrid car and make home improvements which qualify for energy tax credits.
• For a water heater more than five years old, wrapping it in an insulating jacket will result in a 1000 pounds per year reduction of carbon emissions.
• Use efficient lighting. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents (CFLs). A 75-watt incandescent bulb can be replaced by a 18w compact fluorescent bulb. At a minimum, replace the bulbs in all lamps that are used 30 minutes a day or more. Replace regular incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs -- they are far more efficient, lasting up to ten times longer.
• Bring you own cloth or fabric bags when shopping. To purchase a Kohl's® Green Scene Reusable Shopping Bag click here.
• Consider buying organic fruits and vegetables that are grown using earth-friendly farming and processing methods.
• Water your lawn and plants in the early morning when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation.
• Keep your water heater thermostat no higher than 120 degrees F and you can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 550 pounds per year.
• When you do drive, keep your car tuned up and its tires properly inflated to save on fuel costs as well as reducing carbon dioxide emissions. A tune-up could boost your miles per gallon anywhere from four percent to 40 percent; a new air filter could get you 10 percent more miles per gallon. Take your roof rack off your car when you aren't using it for more savings.
• Recycle! Aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic, cardboard and newspapers can reduce your home's carbon emissions by 850 pounds per year.