It’s time! We (Ok so I’ve decided this and Tim will have to go along with it) have decided to be more environmentally friendly. I know this is not a new thought and we already do a little, but I would like to kick it up a notch.
- Recycle paper, plastics and glass (some of you are lucky to have your city help pay for the picking up of your recycling, but if you live in NSL or B-town you are not so lucky. FYI—there is a huge recycling garbage at 950 S. 200 W. in
- Buy organic vegetables and fruits. It really doesn’t cost that much more and it’s better for you.
- Buy environmentally friendly household products. Some of the stuff is actually kind of cool. You can also find green products at your local grocery store. Most places are trying to carry more, but there is not a huge demand for it currently. Also, purchase those reusable shopping bags and keep them in your car so you don’t have to use those plastic grocery bags. http://www.greenhome.com/
- For those moms out there, use environmentally friendly diapers. They are a bit more money, but they are chlorine-free! You will have to buy these puppies online or at Wild Oats. http://www.seventhgeneration.com/ Seventh Generation is just one of the many companies that sell these diapers, but they also have great cleaning products and I’ve seen my local grocery store carry those items.
- Ride your bike or walk instead of drive. I’m guilty of this one because my work is sooooo far away and once I get there I have to drive to kingdom come and back during a typical work day.
- Buy energy-saving appliances. Tim and I just bought a new washer and dryer that uses significantly less water and energy to run. Not to mention using less laundry detergent. In addition, wear your jeans a couple of times before washing them, unless you really have to.
- Use less paper-products. I know it’s a pain to always have to do your dishes, but think of how much paper you waste by eating on a paper plate once before you toss it.
- Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. I know everyone has seen these. The bulbs initially cost more, but they last longer and save you money in the long end.
- Carrying a refillable water bottle. Think of how many water bottles are in the landfill and all we have to do is use our own reusable bottles. AND… furthermore, if you are always carrying water you drink more and this is a good thing. :)
- Make household improvements. This one is a bit more expensive and could take longer.
- Install solar panels on your roof to help offset the cost of electricity
- Check your home for leaky faucets and get them fixed
- Install low-flow shower heads
- Clean out your air-conditioning filters and replace them regularly. A dirty filter will hinder your airflow. Therefore, costing your more to run the system.
- Install an automated thermostat so you can turn down the heat/air conditioning when no-one is home.
- Use power strips with your computer
- Install more fans in your home
4 comments:
Yay!! We are on a green kick ourselves and have found the transition really pretty easy! Our favorites are the light bulbs too. They may be a little more $$ up front but they save energy and last a lot longer! What a good idea for a post! Good luck on your green adventure! Al Gore would be proud!
Hey Kirsten, thanks for the tips. I will have to check out the Seventh Generation website...I've been wanting to look into finding some more natural household cleaners than what we've been using, which I'm sure is extremely toxic. (Spending more money on diapers though...I don't know). We've slowly switched to some (but not all) organic foods too. Then I have been wondering lately if we should be buying local as well...and if we should stop ordering all our groceries online (it's roughly as cheap as going to the grocery store here), since it's not environmentally friendly in terms of packaging? It all can begin to seem a little overwhelming, but it's great to just take some steps and be thinking about these issues.
By the way, I share the concern over compact fluorescent bulbs (only I'm not an expert at all).
Annie
Dude, I've got a garage full of recycling stuff to take to the Bountiful center- it's amazing how fast it adds up! Total pain but every time I take it in I feel a little better about me.
Most CFLs today on the market contain less than 5mgs of mercury and there are CFL options out there that contain as little as 1.5mgs of mercury- which can hardly be called a “significant amounts of mercury” considering that many item in your home contain 100s of times more of mercury including your computer. Mercury levels in CFLs can never be “nonexistent” since mercury is a necessary component of a CFL and there is no other known element that is capable of replacing it. But CFLs actually prevent more mercury from entering the environment. According to the Union of Concerned Scientist, “a coal-fired power plant will emit about four times more mercury to keep an incandescent bulb glowing, compared with a CFL of the same light output”.
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