1. Say good-bye to plastic AND paper bags. Keep a couple of canvas totes in your trunk, in your backseat, at your desk, and hanging from the back door. Not only are they eco-friendly, but they make lugging in those groceries SO much easier!
.jpg)
2. E-billing- need I say more? No more old bills to pile up on your kitchen counter, catch all basket, desk drawer, etc. If you want to keep a record- download to your PC for future reference.
3. Reuse! Before you toss that old basket, cooking pot, jacket etc ask yourself- can I use this in some other way or if there maybe someone that could use it more? Many organizations desperately need household items. Google it. You may be surprised.
4. Recycle and compost. If you are like me and live in the city of St. Louis, you know how frustrating it is that there is no RECYCLE pick up. Really-in this day and age?
With a little bit of pre-planning and a bit of organization you can thumb your nose at the city. Set up three (or more) tall kitchen size trash cans either outside your back door or in a utility room. Separate them according to the drop off sites available in your area. Also, have a "compost" can. You can purchase them surprisingly cheap at http://www.dwellsmart.com/. Toss in a box of BioBags and you are set. Whenever your bins get full- bag 'em up and drop 'em off. Easy!
Home Sweet Home
5. Start composting -- it's simple and you get free fertilizer. You have already started with your kitchen compost bin, right? Stay tuned. Even though it is only February, I will have some great "mid-winter" composting tips for the novice.
6. Start using "grey water". What is "grey water"' you ask? Let me tell you more!
Any wash water that has been used in the home, except water from toilets, is called grey water. Dish, shower, sink, and laundry water comprise 50-80% of residential "waste" water. This may be reused for other purposes, especially landscape irrigation.
Why use grey water?
It's a waste to irrigate with great quantities of drinking water when plants thrive on used water containing small bits of compost. Unlike a lot of ecological stopgap measures, grey water reuse is a part of the fundamental solution to many ecological problems and will probably remain essentially unchanged in the distant future.
The benefits of grey water recycling include:
Lower fresh water use
Less strain on failing septic tank or treatment plant
Better treatment (topsoil is many times more effective than subsoil or treatment plant)
Less energy and chemical use
Groundwater recharge
Plant growth
Reclamation of otherwise wasted nutrients
Increased awareness of and sensitivity to natural cycles
Is grey water reuse safe?
Yes. There are eight million greywater systems in the US with 22 million users. In 60 years, there has been one billion system user-years of exposure, yet there has not been one documented case of greywater transmitted illness.
7. Paint only with no-VOC formulas. Buying low- or no-VOC paint may cost more than conventional paint but it will release fewer or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your home or office air. VOCs create ground-level ozone pollution and carry potential health risks
8. Switch to an electric kettle for boiling water. Electric kettles use less energy than their stove-top counterparts, and there are stainless steel options available if you're wary about boiling water in plastic.
9. Build a rain barrel to get free water for your garden and plants. (Tip: In the winter, collect snow, scoop it into a pail, and bring it inside so it can melt and be used for watering indoor plants. Plus you save a little scratch on that pesky water bill)
Getting Around Town
10. Walk. Really? It makes sense, doesn't it? Walking at an average pace, most people can go 1.5 miles in 30 mins. To and from that's 3 miles. Not a bad little work out, ehe? Not only does it save fuel and cuts down on emissions, BUT it will help you feel a little less guilty about that 3 am Krispy Kreme!
11. Public transit. No, I am not talking about a cab. What about the bus? The city of St. Louis has a great rail system. Use it! Going to a Blues game? Nothing is easier than taking the Metro Link. As an added bonus, you never know what sort of interesting charaters you will meet.
12. Buy a bike. Remember all the fun you had cruising around town as a kid on your Huffy? Relive those moments (and squeeze a little exercise in as well). Customize your new bike. Add a basket to haul groceries from the local farmers market or bring a quart of soup and a bouquet of flowers to a sick friend.
Fill Your Belly
13. Say good-bye to meat (at least once a week). I'm not talking tofu here, just meatless. Pasta with fresh tomatoes & basil, add a little bruschetta on the side- delish!
14. Eat local & organic -- it may not be nutritionally superior, but it's a lot better for the planet and your pocketbook.
15. Refuse to buy foods that are unnecessarily packaged, such as fruits and vegetables. Do your tomatoes really need to be cradles in a cardboard nest surrounded by plastic wrap? Really?
16. Annoyed by excessive food packaging? Tell your grocer or the manufacturer. Fire off an e-mail or write a formal letter expressing your concern. (As a rule, every letter a company receives represents about 50 people of a like mind.). And do not hesitate to bring it back to the store with you upon your next visit.
17. Grow your own fruits, veggies, and herbs. No brainer. You know exactly what went into and on them.
Stayin' Gorgeous!
18.. Be Green inside and out -- think organic cotton, bamboo, hemp and other sustainable, natural fibers, as well as recycled fabrics. They are surprisingly durable and feel great on your body.
19. Switch to all-natural cosmetics. A good rule: If the ingredients list looks like Sanskrit, steer clear.
20...Reuse- again- Shop at secondhand and charity shops before hitting the mall or your favorite boutiques. You can usually find some great gems.
These are just a few of the ways you can commit to going green in the New Year. Just remember: It can be a challenge as you adjust to a new way of thinking, but it's worth sticking with it.
0 comments:
Post a Comment