Lifestyle Changes

As we go about our day there are many things we can do to help save the environment. Small changes can make a world of difference when making decisions about the clothes, furniture, and food we purchase.

Reduce Waste

Free Online BillPay
Use free Online BillPay from BVCU and save paper, time, and postage!

Electronic statements
Sign up to receive electronic statements. For every 134 members receiving e-statements, one tree is saved each year. The signup link is available on the bottom left within Internet Banking.

Cancel your junk mail
Want to reduce paper waste from your mailbox? Get off junk mail lists by registering with the Direct Marketing Association’s Mail Preference Service at www.dmaconsumers.org . It only costs a $1!

Print on Both Sides of Your Paper!
Save time and money by setting up your home or office printer to print on both sides of the page.

Shopping

Hit the local farmers markets
Reduce the impact of product transportation and support local farmers as well as artisans by shopping at local farmers markets, such as the Boulder County Farmers’ Market in downtown Boulder.

Recharge your batteries
Purhcase rechargeable batteries to avoid pollution from the chemical substances used inside disposable batteries.

Buy Organic Cotton
Spend a little more for clothing made with organic cotton to decrease the crop’s environmental impact.

Is your wood furniture certifed?
Choose furniture made from wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Doing so ensures the timber that was harvested was done so in a land-friendly and habitat-friendly way.

Clean Green

Clean Non-Toxic
Use nontoxic household ingredients, such as lemon, vinegar and baking soda when cleaning your home. Check out our cleaning page for some eco-friendly tips.

Freshen the air
Avoid using commercial air fresheners and instead choose to ventilate your home by opening windows or doors, or even boiling cinnamon and cloves for a refreshing and more natural aroma.

Remove smoky smells
Ever wonder how to remove lingering smoky odors from clothing? Fill your bathtub with hot water, add one cup white vinegar and hang clothes above the steaming bath water.

Sweat Stain, be gone
Sponge sweat stains with a weak solution of white vinegar or lemon juice to elimnate them

Forget the pesticides
Plant mint around your home to repel flies, or plant basil to repel both flies and mosquitoes.

Pesky Pet Stains
When Rover leaves his mark on the carpet, vinegar will kill the odor and prevent staining if applied immediately. Absorb moisture with paper towels, rinse with warm water, and then apply a vinegar and soap solution. After 15 minutes, rinse with a damp towel and blot dry.