Shopping with "Green" in Mind: MXenergy Offers Easy Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint When Shopping

STAMFORD, Conn., May 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether you are heading to the grocery store or looking for a new wardrobe, MXenergy wants consumers to "think green" this spring.

"We are continually talking to people about reducing their carbon footprint," says Marjorie Kass, MXenergy Managing Director.  "Most people immediately think about making their homes more energy efficient or purchasing a more efficient automobile.  We want to help people realize they can reduce their environmental impact not just through large choices but simple, everyday ones as well."

MXenergy is encouraging consumers to think about their shopping patterns and habits this spring and how they can reduce their carbon footprint when making purchases.

MXenergy "Green" Shopping Tips

1. Buy Fresh, Organic and Close to Home: Not only are fresh fruits and vegetables better for you, you eliminate the manufacturing, packaging and shipping, all of which strains the environment.  By seeking out fresh, organic, local produce you are doing both your body and local economy a favor.
2. Shop in Season:  If you are choosing an exotic fruit or vegetable in the dead of winter you know it comes at a high cost.  Think about the environmental price tag to fly that food to your doorstep and choose fruits and vegetables in season instead.
3. Eliminate Bottled Water:  According to the New York Times, Americans consume 30 billion single-serving containers of bottled water each year – plastic containers that will never biodegrade.
4. Shop Online – Instead of expending fuel and energy driving all around town take advantage of online sites that allow you to make multiple purchases and combine shipping costs.
5. Buy in Bulk:  Buying in bulk is smart on multiple levels.  You save money, time, energy and packaging.  What could be smarter than that?
6. Go Vintage:  Rather than rushing out and buying the latest fads consider going vintage.  Vintage boutiques are springing up all across the country.  Not only can you be fashionable but environmentally conscious as well.
7. Ditch those Plastic Bags:  Opt for recyclable shopping bags whenever possible.  Many stores now offer special discounts when you use recyclable bags for your purchases.  According to recent estimates, 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used each year.  Again, plastic will never biodegrade.
8. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:  This mantra should be ingrained in every consumer's head.  If every American would recycle just one out of every ten #2 plastic bottles we could keep 200 million pounds of plastic out of our nation's landfills each year.

"The key is creativity," continues Kass.  "It is all about looking at purchases and patterns in a whole new light.  How can you reuse a particular item?  How can you change your shopping patterns and decisions to use less energy?  All of those small choices and ideas really can have a tremendous impact, particularly if we all join together."

About MXenergy

MXenergy is one of the fastest growing retail natural gas and electricity suppliers in North America, serving approximately 500,000 customers in 41 utility territories in the United States and Canada. For over 11 years, the company has provided millions of customers with a choice in how they purchase energy to run their homes and businesses.  Founded in 1999 to provide natural gas and electricity to consumers in deregulated energy markets, MXenergy helps residential customers and small business owners control their energy bills by providing both fixed and variable rate plans MXenergy is committed to best practices in environmental conservation, supporting local communities through various outreach programs and is a member of the Chicago Climate Exchange.  For more information about MXenergy please visit www.mxenergy.com.

SOURCE MXenergy