Here are thirteen tips we can all consider in order to live a greener life without becoming fanatic. Not that fanatic is a bad thing in this case. I wish I could grow my own veggies and walk to work, but I don’t have a green thumb and logistically walking or riding my bike is impossible (1 live at least 26 miles from work). I actually do several things on this list, not only because they save the ecosystem, but they also save me money.
1. Kill Your Junk Mail
The average adult American receives 41 pounds of junk mail - catalogs, credit-card come-ons and other assorted crap - every year. It wastes your time, millions of trees, billions of gallons of water, and tons of greenhouse-gas emissions. Sign up for online non-profit 41pounds.org's junk mail killer service, it costs $41 for five years' coverage, and they'll break the bad news to retailers and financial institutions for you. They'll also donate to the charity of your choice.
2. Keep electronics out of the trash
Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible. Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxins and is a growing environmental problem.
3. Think about what you throw away
Often things that we throw away could be easily recycled which would help reduce otherwise wasted energy, water and natural resources. Start by checking with your trash removal service or your town/county to see if they offer recycling removal.
4. Less gas = more money (and better health!)
Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
5. Shorten your showers
Showers account for two-thirds of all water heating costs. Shave a few minutes off your shower time and you will reduce the amount of energy and keep bills lower.
6. Skip the bottled water
Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
7. Buy reusable shopping bags
Most supermarket chains offer reusable bags at the checkout counter now for a couple of bucks, and companies like Sage Green and Chico Bag offer them in several styles. Don't forget to take them with you to the supermarket!
8. Eat Smart, Eat Green
If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.
9. Save energy to save money
Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
10. Wait to wash
Reduce your use of water and electricity by waiting to run your dishwasher and washing machine until you have a full load.
11. Find Cheap Gas
Comparison shop. Be a proactive consumer. Don't just pay the high prices at the closest station. Shop around to find the most competitive price in town. For a little help, visit http://gasprices.mapquest.com to compare prices in your area. You can find the best deal by zip code and street name, as well as check out prices by grade of gasoline.
12. Buy a Fuel-Efficient Vehicle
13. Slow It Down
Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph, costing an additional 10 cents per gallon. Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by as much as 33% on the highway and 5% on city streets, resulting in 7 cents to 49 cents per gallon. Don't get too emotional driving, its supposed to be a time to relax and reflect. Next time you get in your car stay calm, cool, and collected put your car on cruise control.
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24 comments:
Except for the junk mail thing, I do all the things on your list.
Sorry, I refuse to slow down. I live in the middle of nowhere - New Mexico, when you have miles and miles of flat deserted roads, you have a tendency to drive very fast.
You know what gets me about those reusable bags? The stores charge you for them. You buy then, then they still charge you for the other disposable ones. It's a win-win situation for the store.
I don't use the re-usable ones. Once upon a time we laughed at my grandmother for using her plastic grocery bags for trash bags. That's what I use now, then I buy very few trash bags, just re-use.
SJR
The Pink Flamingo
I kinda do another good thing with my junk mail...I shred it and put it in the soil in my garden. A compost like thing. It's good.
My 13 is posted...drop by and have a laugh or two! Won't you?
Some important points there. I like to think of myself as very green.
When I saw your post title "GO GREEN!" in my sidebar, the first thing I thought of was Michigan State. Since earlier this year, I have been conscious of driving slower and it has made a big difference. I also quit buying bottled water a couple of years ago. As much as I loved the flavored water I used to buy, I love saving money even more.
I would love to stop the junk mail! Thanks for the idea!
Boy, great list! We do all of that and then some. We've done this for ever - so it's second nature to me. I love that everyone's talking about it - that's just the best! :)
Happy TT!
Great ideas. I actually do a couple of them!
These are wonderful, practical ideas. Thanks. Thanks for the junk mail tip, too!
i have recently started using reusable bags at the grocery. i have a large central market tote that was given to me ages ago by a friend then an anais nin canvas tote that is very roomy. i always take them with me now when i go to the market. and i really love how much easier it is to carry two bags as opposed to a million little plastic bags. and it's amazing how much can fit in those bags.
I do many of the things listed on your list...I'm going to share with my daughter since she is the 'green baby' in the house and the enforcer.
I try to do most of these; recycling is impossible in small towns. We don't have those kinds of services; we do have second hand stores though so I donate old clothes, toys, books, dishes etc. to them. I don't always drive 55, but I don't break the speed limit (well never on purpose anyway)
It is great to be enviorment conscious but that is bunk about shortening the showers. If we really want to help and go green we should donate money to build wells for people in Africa to get clean drinking water and in India also. That would help our environment more than shortening showers. Where do they come up with some of this stuff! LOL! Good posting. Thanks! :)
My 34th TT is up: 13 comments you can make to your physician while he's performing a colonoscopy on you. Here's the link.
I can walk to work, I can slow down (but I choose to be late most of the time, so I will most likely not slow down), but I do love the reusable grocery bags (I fill them twice as full without them breaking).
Kim
I am so ashamed...the only one I do is the reusable grocery bags...and that's only when I remember. Happy T13 and thanks for bringing me into more awareness.
pussreboots, Good for you. I am sure your purse is happy. Chi Ching!
sjreidhead, These are simply thirteen suggestions that could save money. If that is not your concern, Speed away. Unfortunately I don't have money to burn :-)
hootin' ani, Thanks for the junk mail tip. Those with gardens can appreciate what you have shared here.
anthonynorth, Being green is cool! Ask Kermit the Frog.
Malcolm, I didn't think of "Go Green" as it relates to Michigan State. I slowed down to, those gas prices were killing me. Maybe that will be a future TT. The whole bottled water thing is a total joke to bilk us out of our funds. I bought a Pur water filter several years ago. Shortly before I left California I was watching HSN and they were hawking a water filtration system that supposedly last for ten years. At 40.00 bucks I couldn't beat it. Now they are even cheaper.
chelle y, That's great!
out on a limb with claudia, I hate to admit it but I have not been so conscientious in the past.
meju, Every little bit helps :-)
sandycarlson, You are very welcome.
jehara, I know that those bags work just fine, very environmentally sound.
yasmin, Thanks for sharing this with your daughter. It's wonderful when you can involve children and make them aware of what's going on in the world.
lilibeth, Too bad there is not a recycling center near you. I don't recycle either, but my neighbor does so I give him all of my cans. He's happy, I'm happy, and the ecosystem is happy :-)
bernieg1, You are right about what you say about building wells in Africa and India, however this is really not a forum for that. I am suggesting small things people can do who do not have money to donate, average working stiffs like me who want to leave the world intact for future generations. People waste a lot of water in the shower, sometimes staying in there for much longer than it takes to get clean.
kim, Those reusable bags are nice.
kristi, Don't be ashamed, just pick a couple of things off the list and incorporate them into your lifestyle.
ben, I like your #14 and it is something that our government could do...those selfish bastards!
I didn't know you could get rid of junk mail like that! I'm going to give it a try. I toss mine in the recycler, but it would be better if it wasn't made in the first place.
I also bought those reusable shopping bags from the grocery store. I admit, I did forget to bring them the first two or three times, but now I put them in my car again as soon as I'm done unpacking!
My junk mail doubles as a plaything for my rats. (shred it and put in in a "rubbish" box for them to dig in)
I don't drink bottled water either.
great reminders . . thanks!
1. Good idea and you won't be tempted by all those credit card offers either!
2. Some companies will even pick them up for the gold on the chips.
3. We have 4 trash cans - one for everything but the trash, lol.
4. I work at home!
5. Okay, hot baths and showers are just one luxury I can't give up yet
6. And now they say the plastic leaches into the water!
7. But then what are people putting in their trash cans under the sink? Plastic bags!
8. When you get to be my age you'll eat less meat anyway because your digestive tract can't process it
9. Yeah, wear a sweater in the winter and shut your blinds and go naked in the summer!
10. I'm single, if I did that I would run out of underwear!
11. And make sure your tires are inflated properly.
12. hopefully, they'll bring over those new little energy cars from Europe that are really cheap
13. oh, crap. I'll have to cut off my lead foot.
Good post with really good tips, Pjazzy!!!
Great list but I can't slow down. I have leadfootitis and there's no cure. LOL!
Happy TT!
Thanks for reading my TT about Pixel - and I cracked up at your comment about "men are dogs"!
I loved this TT list very helpful and important!
Thanks!
11 and 13 are my goals!
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