by 7 people |
I'm an average consumer on a quest to live a more green life without filtering used vegetable oil, spending a ton of money, and thinking I'm not making a difference and just giving up.
Most resources I've seen want to tell me about sustainable living, cradle to cradle design, green building, etc. I want to know what I can do right now, every day, to reduce my impact on the environment. The other things are just as important, and we should plan our lives toward those. But I want to start RIGHT NOW.
(Pic from www.reusablebags.com)
The Basics
It's easier said than done.
So, my theory goes like this. Let's use less of what is bad, try to replace bad things with good things and tell your friends about the good things.
For so long, these basics were 'marketed' to people as energy savers and ultimately cost savers for them. That's just not going to cut it anymore, but that's okay. People pay more for organic soap and hybrid cars. We are getting it. But it doesn't hurt to review the basics and start trying to make them habits.
For so long, these basics were 'marketed' to people as energy savers and ultimately cost savers for them. That's just not going to cut it anymore, but that's okay. People pay more for organic soap and hybrid cars. We are getting it. But it doesn't hurt to review the basics and start trying to make them habits.
Buy Stuff Right Now
An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It
Amazon Price: $16.29 (as of 07/13/2009) 
Sal Suds Liquid Cleanser 32 Ounces
Amazon Price: $9.58 (as of 07/13/2009)
The List
Start Today!
- Water - Don't leave it running while you brush or primp before your shower. Don't flush random things down the toilet if the trash can would work just fine. If you have to water the lawn - please don't do it at noon. It's just silly.
- Paper - Paper plates, paper napkins, post it notes, printer paper, PACKAGING - it all comes from trees. Yes, it can be recycled, but it would nice to not cut them down to begin with. Use regular plates. Buy in bulk or buy things with less or recycled packaging. Just don't be wasteful. If all else fails, buy things made of recycled paper.
- Plastic Shopping Bags - Take reusable bags to the grocery store, mall, farmer's market, etc. I'm ordering some Chico Bags and keeping them in my car.
- Plastic Water Bottles - Get a reusable water bottle and refill with tap or get a filter system if tap water weirds you out. Worst case - recycle the plastic bottles you do use.
- Energy - Get a ceiling fan or regular fan to run the A/C less often. Get a blanket. Turn off the lights. Replace regular light bulbs with florescent bulbs to save A laptop uses a lot less energy that a desktop, if you have a choice.
- Food - I already mentioned less packaging, but think about where the food comes from, how it was grown, and how it got to your grocery store. Organic food doesn't use pesticides. That's good. Locally produced food didn't have to be hauled to the store on a polluting truck. Farming fruits and vegetables doesn't have near the negative environmental impact as raising animals for food does.
- Trash - Think about what you throw away. Can it be Recycled? Donated? Reused?
- Driving - This is a hot button topic. I'm buying a more fuel efficient car and I try to drive less. For most of us, car pooling to work and riding a bike to the grocery store isn't all that practical. Just think about how much you drive - try to combine trips and get the most fuel efficient car possble.
I thought I needed an SUV. I don't. I bet you don't either.
Light Bulbs
A bright idea... (ha ha)
If every household in the U.S. replaced one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), it would prevent enough pollution to equal removing one million cars from the road. CFLs provide high-quality light, smart technology, and design, requiring less energy while lasting longer than typical incandescent bulbs. (www.energystar.gov) Practical Green Resources
Check these out for more information.
- Reusable Bags
- Just say no to plastic shopping bags! They have some inexpensive reusable alternatives here. Plus, people will think you are super cool at the grocery store.
- Carbon Calculator
- Calculate how much carbon dioxide you add to the earth. Pretty interesting.
- Green Car Ratings
- See the most and least green vehicles in each class for 2006.
- Ecological Footprint Calculator
- It's eye opening to see if everyone lived like you, we'd need 3.7 planets.
Do you have something to add?
Submit your practical green things here!
sis5511 wrote...
Thanks for sharing. I'm a big fan of green products myself. Have a look at my len.
Posted May 24, 2007
