Five Easy First Steps to Going Green
“Going Green” can be a little daunting to start. What do you do first? While I cannot claim to have turned over a new leaf, I did at least hesitate before throwing the aluminum soda can into the garbage. Baby steps.
I believe I may have found a web site that’s at my level of ignorance on the subject, The Daily Green. They offer five easy first steps in “going green.”
Bag It. Today: When you go out shopping, bring your own reusable bags. This preserves resources by cutting down on the huge number of paper and plastic bags that are discarded after a single trip. Tomorrow: Combine your routine shopping trips with other errands, which will save you time and fuel.
Save on Electricity. There are many ways to trim those electric bills. Wash your laundry in cold water instead of hot, line dry your linens, and use a toaster oven for small heating needs instead of a bigger electric stove. Open windows to let the light in, turn off unneeded lights and appliances, and unplug unused electronics to counter the ‘energy vampire’ effect.
Save on Gas. Every gallon of gasoline you burn produces 19 pounds of carbon dioxide, so it pays to conserve (in more ways than one). Your car will work more efficiently if you obey the speed limit and avoid rapid, unnecessary acceleration. Keep your tires properly inflated and get regular tune-ups. Forget warming up under most conditions.
Shop a Farmer. Today: Shop at your local farmers’ market. This will help support farmers in your area, so they won’t be forced to sell off their land for development, and it will decrease your food miles, meaning less fuel will be used to provide your daily meals. Your food will be delicious and better for you. Tomorrow: Eat as much local and seasonal food as you reasonably can. Your meals will be fresher, and will require much less fuel to transport, store and refrigerate.
Water Smarts. Today: Drink water from the tap, instead of buying single-use bottled water, which requires much more energy to produce, store and transport. Barely 20% of those plastic bottles end up getting recycled, and most are made out of petroleum. Use filters if you are concerned about your local water supply.
Tomorrow: Buy a reusable bottle to take with you on the go, so you can always refill it from a tap and avoid buying bottled water. Stainless steel is a good choice, because you don’t have to worry about the potentially toxic chemicals that can leach out of many plastics over time.
Have You Read?
“Going Green” can be a little daunting to start. What do you do first? While I cannot claim to have turned over a new leaf, I did at least hesitate before throwing the aluminum soda can into the garbage. Baby steps.
