Remember the old phrase Reduce, Re-use, and Recycle? Well, that really lays out the basis for helping to save our environment from ourselves and allow it to go on for a much longer time then we will need it.

Here at Xincense, we always try to follow those 3 simple steps in what we do. Though not always successful, we always try to reuse our packaging material, not only to cut down on waste, but to cut down on the demand of fossil fuels needed to manufacture more of it. And of course there are recycle bins located very close to us, so what we dont use can very easily be used some other way.

After hearing from many people and different sources, we have comprised a small list of ways for you to go green without too much sacrifice.

If you are headed to the store, think about the following

Buy coffee that is Fair trade or certified - A Fair Trade Certified brand means that it has been grown on smaller farms / third world farms and the growers were given a fair price for their products.

This helps to Support the small farmers and certify a much better product, since most smaller farmers rely on the goodness of their product to sustain them rather than million dollar marketing. Also if the coffee is certified such as Rainforest Alliance Certified, the farmers practice soil and water conservation, and also reducing the use of pesticides.

Buy Locally - If you buy locally, you wont have to rely on farms that ship food nationwide, which helps to decrease our dependence on oil and to cut back on gas emissions. There are many websites and places to locate local farms and sellers, even organic ones.

Take a bag to the grocery store - If you take along your own bag with you to the store, not only do you cut down on waste, but you help to trim down on the amount of plastic and paper bags being produced since you wont be needing them.

Its all about packaging - The average American produces over 4 pounds of trash per day. So when you go to buy something, make sure to look at the amount of cardboard, plastic, and/or other materials used for the box or wrapping. Try to avoid the brand that has a ton of extra waste, instead look for the suitable replacement that is more eco friendly.

If you are just hanging out at home you can try these

Water efficient Nozzles and Showerheads - Buy water efficient showerheads and nozzles. With low flow models, a family of four can cut water usage by over 200 gallons a month, and not feel too much of a difference in water pressure.

Check out your fridge temps - Foods stay good at a wide range of temperatures, and refrigerators use the most electricity in the household. You can get the maximum efficiency by keeping the fridge set to about 37°F, and the freezer to about 0°F.

Change some Lights - Switch your lights over to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). They might run a bit higher in cost, but you will lower your electric bill and pay less in the long run. Also, CFLs can last up to ten times longer than traditional light bulbs. Also when you leave the room, make sure that you are switching off the lights.

Recycle - Try to keep things from ending up in landfills. Check first to see if someone wants it, then see if it can be recycled at all. You will find that lots of times the old saying of one mans trash is another mans treasure comes true.

Food Tips

Go Veggie, Well part-time at least - Growing produce takes less energy than raising animals, so try changing a dish or two a week to vegetables rather than meat.

Cut down on Grill Waste - Why wrap your corn in foil this summer? The husk works perfectly well, just throw it right on the grill, and peel it when its done to eat. You might even try soaking it in some water first to cut down on the husk being burned, but either way makes tasty corn.

General tips

Dont leave your car running for long periods, turn it off and go into the store rather than going to the drive through. Also try to plan your outings for all in one trip. It will save gas and money.

Switch to a laptop computer to save energy, they use up far less than their desktop counterparts.

Use solar powered lights on the outside of your house, such as along your sidewalk or drive.

There are literally thousands of more ways to not only save the planet, but to save money yourself.

These ideas came from many sources, almost everywhere you look has some of these same general ideas, but thats ok, because they are still good ones. If you have some other or even better ideas to add, please email us and we will get them up here!