I must have a couple of dozen "How to save the planet" books. It is never enough! But living the eco-friendly dream, for me, is endlessly interesting and ever-changing.
What are 10 easy ways to re-green-think your life.....
1.) Buy non-scented everything: Just think of your poor little lungs that have to process all those icky organic (think petrol-based meaning of the term) chemicals that pollute your atmosphere.
2.) Say yes to mom: Always accept used items from your friends or family. Used is always better for the environment. If people know you will accept these things, they will think of you next time they have something to get rid of! I like to be known as cheap cheap cheap!
3.) Find two uses for your water: Find ways to use your water twice. Keep a bucket in your shower and use the water to flush a toilet or to water plants. Keep a bowl in your sink as well. Consider installing a grey water system. Dry your clothes outside and make clouds!
4.) Never buy trash: Never buy things simply for the purpose of throwing them away. Never, ever buy garbage bags or paper towels or single use cleaner towels or zip-lock bags. There are so many alternatives already in your house. You spend more time and money on these throwaways than you save in the time you thought you were saving.
5.) Open a window: We had a $40 electricity bill last month. Why? We open windows and let the breezes in instead of using the AC. Functions as a fan. Also functions as an air cleaner. Also sometimes functions as a light bulb. And a cat toy...
6.) Think long term: Why buy an incandescent bulb for 50 cents when a $3 florescent can save you 20 dollars? Why buy a cheap refrigerator when a new energy efficient one will save you hundreds in a year? Why buy electric lights for the yard when a solar one costs only what you pay at check-out? Always consider the whole cost of something.
7.) Be Lazy: You don’t have to mow as often as you do now. You don't have to do that errand today, it can wait until the weekend when you can combine errands. You don't have to buy clothes you have to dry-clean. You don't have to make a three course meal when just a plate of pasta will satisfy. Simplicity saves the planet.
8.) Kill Germs: With a microwave, with boiling water, with full strength vinegar, with soap and water. Did you know you can kill fleas with any old shampoo? There is no need to buy the poisons.
9.) Become a collector: Of ideas instead of stuff. Develop your mind instead of filling your closet.
10.) Love one another: Make friends, volunteer, start up a conversation, send a letter, send an email, steal a kiss. Spread the word. Share yourself and your ideas. The more we fill our lives with each other, the less we need to fill up our lives with things.
Hey Little Guy
A tortoise native to the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in South Texas in August 2006.
About Me
- Anita
- I am a Texan from WAYYYY back. I try to live my life so I am worthy of the term "environmentalist". I think I still have a long way to go. I garden - veggies and roses and herbs and trees and flowers. I am young enough that I still suffer from a sometimes almost pathological idealism. Bear with me. I am a political junkie. But I am useless with names and figures and dates. I go for the "big picture". My husband shares nearly all my passions. One day, I hope, we will be a formidable team. I studied economics and the sciences in college. Economics because I loved it, science because it was challenging. I love to sing and dance and listen to funny songs and look at pictures of deep sea fish and lizards and bonobos. I crave spirituality and so I go to the Church of Mesquitey every Sunday! "Where everything natural is sacred and not much else"
1 comment:
I think those are tremendous ideas. We all can contribute more to making the world a better place to live, but we can't avoid that animal agriculture releases more greenhouse gases into the air than all of cars and trunks on the road combined. Going vegan is one of the best ways to becoming a more responsible steward of the planet. Another great idea is turning off power strips when you are not using electronic devices. That way, you cut the residual energy being used by each those devices to keep them on standby. Believe it or not, it does make a difference.
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