For some reason, the idea
of altering our behavior to lead an environmentally-friendly life has become
associated with making unpleasant sacrifices. As former President Ronald
Reagan put it, "Conservation...doesn't that mean freezing in the dark?" This
is simply not true. Even minor modifications in our lifestyles can have an
immediate and positive impact not only on the Earth, but also on
ourselves.
In this article, you'll find some simple, painless, and effective
ways to not only contribute to a cleaner, healthier planet, but to save money
too.
As you integrate these simple changes into your lifestyle,
you will benefit in an intangible, yet very significant way--being part of
the solution makes you feel good. Knowing that you are living a low-impact
life will affect not only your relationship with the Earth, but also your
relationship with yourself.
It's easy, it makes a meaningful difference, and in most cases,
it saves you money. What are you waiting for? Start making a better world
today!
Turn your hot water heater down
Why?
Most hot water heaters are set too high and are improperly insulated. This
not only wastes energy, it also shortens the tank life.
How?
Most hot water heaters have an easy-to-adjust dial down near the bottom of
the tank. Turn yours down to 125-130 degrees.
Wrap the tank with an insulating blanket, available from almost any hardware
store.
Take care of your tires
Why?
When under-inflated, tires consume up to 5% more fuel than when properly
inflated. They wear out much more quickly--and there are already billions
of tires in landfills, where they don't decompose.
How?
Buy quality, long-lasting tires, keep them properly inflated, and rotate
them every 6-8000 miles.
Stop using disposable batteries
Why?
Mercury and cadmium leach into our groundwater from batteries in landfills,
and pollute the air with toxins when batteries are incinerated. Mercury toxicity
has been linked to many health-related problems, including cancer.
How?
Use only rechargeable batteries. They last many times longer, don't contain
the same chemicals, and will pay for themselves quickly.
Stop flushing clean water uselessly
Why?
In an average household, 40% of water usage comes from flushing the toilet.
You can help save the Earth and drastically reduce your water bill at the
same time!
How?
Whenever installing a new toilet or replacing an existing one, always choose
a "low-flush" model. They typically use only 1.5 gallons of water per flush,
versus 5-7 gallons for a regular model.
If using a regular toilet, simply take two half-gallon plastic containers,
cover the bottoms with small pebbles to weigh them down, fill them with water,
cap them, and put them in the tank--away from any plumbing apparatus. That
simple, quick fix saves 1 gallon every flush. For a family of four, that
translates into over 3,000 gallons of water every year!
Use low-flow shower heads
Why?
Our daily showers account for nearly 35% of home water usage, with conventional
shower heads spewing out up to 7 gallons per minute. Over an average shower
of 8 minutes, that's 56 gallons of water!
How?
Install a good, aerated low-flow showerhead rated 3 gallons per minute (gpm)
or less. For a family of four, each taking an 8 minute shower every day,
this small step will save an average of nearly 47,000 gallons of water per
year!
A low-flow model only costs $8 to $12. The savings in reduced hot water
consumption will pay for the initial investment in only 3-5 months. Every
drop of water you conserve thereafter will not merely reduce your impact
on the planet, it will also save you money.
Stop that annoying junk mail
Why?
Do you have to ask? We all hate it, we never read it, and--at best--it gets
recycled. The amount of junk mail that we receive each year consumes an estimated
1 to 11/2 trees per household. Much of it is never opened, most of
it ends up in landfills, and yet companies keep sending it out--to the tune
of over 2 million tons every year in the U.S. alone!
How?
You could write every company who sends you junk mail, and ask them to please
stop. But by writing just one letter, you could reduce the amount of junk
mail you receive by up to 75%. Send a letter to the company below, asking
them to please remove your name from the list they sell to large direct-mail
companies.
Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
6 East 43rd ST
New York NY 10017
Compost food waste
Why?
It reduces solid waste, takes an unneccessary strain off the water purification
system, and preserves the nutrients in the food. Worms love it and will turn
it into great fertilizer!
How?
Keep a small bucket with a tight-fitting lid next to the sink in the kitchen.
Then it's just as easy to put your food waste--fruit, vegetables, bread,
coffee grounds; anything but meat or dairy--in the bucket, instead of in
the garbage disposal or the trash.
When the bucket is full, dig it in to your garden and flowerbeds at least
8" deep. Or, if you're concerned about animals digging it up, build a worm
bin with a closed lid. You can get instructions on how to build a simple
worm bin from your local gardeners' or Tilth association.
In many detergents, there is too much phosphate. When introduced into our
water supply, it over-fertilizes algae, causing rapid growth. As algae lives,
so must it perish--and when it does, the bacteria that decompose algae use
up a tremendous amount of the oxygen present in the water. If the bacteria
use this oxygen, it's not available for fish, other marine life, and aquatic
plants. No oxygen=No life...and our streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans are
dying.
How?
Use a low- or no-phosphate detergent. Most liquid detergents contain no
phosphates, so try them first. To compare phosphate levels in detergent,
multiply the percentage of "phosphorous" it contains by 3. So 6%
"phosphorous"=18% "phosphates". And, contrary to the claims on many detergent
boxes, your clothes will get just as clean with less detergent. Try starting
with half the amount the manufacturer recommends, and go from there.
Real Goods is selling a
Ceramic Laundry Disk that they claim allows you to use far less--or even
no detergent. It's worth a try!
Stop using so many bags
Why?
Plastic bags are not biodegradable. If they make it to the landfill--and
don't end up in a river, ocean, or field--they don't just disappear. They'll
be here long after you and I are mere memories to our grandchildren. Paper
bags are better, but they still require trees to be cut down to manufacture
them. Yes, Paper=Trees--but plastic lasts forever!
How?
Decide if the bag is really necessary. If you go to the store for a quart
of milk, does it really need to be in a bag? At McDonald's, does your
Quarter-Pounder really need to be in both a cardboard box AND a paper bag?
Tell them to keep the bag if you don't need it.
Bring your own cloth or mesh bag to the store every time you shop. Never
use the plastic produce bags unless absolutely necessary (though the mushrooms
may vex you with their mobility, you'll get a handle on them soon enough).
If your produce must be bagged, try bringing paper lunchbags to the store,
and reuse them each time. Never use metal twist ties. They're not biodegradable
or recyclable.
Avoid overpackaged products
Why?
In the U.S. alone, we throw away over 170 million tons of product packaging
per year. That means that, on average, we throw away our own weight in
packaging every month. The latest estimates tell us that over 10% of
the cost of the products we buy is in the packaging. So an item that costs
you $10 probably has about $1 worth of packaging. The beauty of supply and
demand is this: when industry realizes that nifty packaging doesn't mean
you'll buy the product, they'll stop wrapping it so extravagantly. Result?
It will cost less, and have less of an impact on the environment.
How?
If possible, always try to buy in bulk--or at least the concentrated version.
Many communities have Co-Ops, which are a great source for not only organic
food, but also bulk products.
When choosing between two otherwise equal items, always buy the product with
the least amount of packaging.
Never buy eggs in plastic containers; choose the cardboard ones--better yet,
bring your own cardboard egg cartons and fill them up from the bulk egg section.
Write to companies who overpackage their products. Most companies
are eager to claim and demonstrate their committment to reducing packaging.
If you write to them, tell them that you will not purchase overpackaged products,
and try to suggest some alternatives, you will usually get a written response,
and sometimes free stuff! Make your voice heard!
Every time you start to throw something away, your brain should yell out,
"Recycle!!!" Experts estimate that as much as 50% of our trash that ends
up in landfills is recyclable. We must do better. With landfills at near-capacity
levels, and more being closed every day, there's simply no more room left.
Incinerators aren't the answer--they're the new single largest producer of
pollution in the world, emitting toxic gases, heavy metals, acid rain, and
dioxins--which have been linked to a wide variety of serious health risks,
from cancer and brain damage, to reduced male sperm count. We must reduce
our solid waste.
How?
The first step is to familiarize yourself with your local recycling program.
Contact your city government offices, and ask them to send you a list of
the policies for your area. Recycling programs and practices vary widely
from place to place, so make sure you know what they will and won't accept.
(For more information on reducing solid waste, see "Reduce
Your Impact!")
Butter and yogurt containers, (be sure to check with your local recycling
program on these, many do not accept them)
Aluminum
(To find out if something is made of aluminum, use a magnet. Aluminum is
non-magnetic.)
Rinse and/or clean and recycle the following:
Cans (crush to preserve space)
Foil
Pie plates
Food trays from TV dinners, etc.
Paper
Separate paper according to the directions of your local recycling program
and recycle the following:
Newspapers
Magazines
Junk mail
Letters (remove the cellophane window from envelopes)
Phone books
Pizza boxes (remove liner and food scraps, and discard any grease-soaked
cardboard)
Boxes (flatten to save space)
Tin
Follow this procedure for recycling all tin cans:
Rinse
Remove the label and glue
Cut out both ends and flatten to save space
Put both ends inside flattened can
Buy organic produce
Why?
In America alone, we use nearly 3 billion pounds of pesticides annually.
Yet, crop damage from pests remains at the same level it was before
we started using pesticides widely. There are a number of reasons for this,
but the main one is this: it's estimated that less than 1% of pesticides
used actually reach their desired destination--a pest--and when they do,
the pests are developing stronger tolerances for them. It's the same problem
we face with antibiotics; their overuse has created a vicious circle--the
weapons we use against them kills some, yes, but the others develop greater
immunity.
How?
In the super market, buy only organically-grown fruits and vegetables. They
are a little more expensive right now, but you have nothing without your
health. It will also increase the demand for organic produce, encouraging
more producers to grow organically. In turn, prices will drop, and pesticide
use will drop. As with many of our other "green" activities, the benefits
are synchronistic--producing a positive change that affects many levels.
Zap bugs naturally
Why?
Many home pest control products are toxic, both to pets and to humans. For
the most part, commercial "nuke-em-all" bug killers are overkill and
unneccessary. And again, their overuse results in greater tolerance in the
bugs they're supposed to eliminate.
NEVER use chemically-based toxic flea collars. The toxins are absorbed into
your pet's skin and can do serious harm.
Add brewer's yeast and garlic to your pet's food. Most pet stores stock it,
your pet will probably like the taste, and the brewer's yeast contains many
vitamins that will improve your pet's health.
Use a citrus-oil based spray, available in most pet stores, and massage it
into your pet's coat with your hands.
Roaches
Never use toxic "bug-bombs" on roaches. It will typically only drive them
away temporarily. They'll be back--stronger than ever--and you will have
coated the surfaces of your home with pesticides.
Combine boric acid, sugar, and flour in a dish, and place it near suspected
roach entryways. They'll transport it back to their nests, and poison the
others with it there.
The old-time roach trap is also quite effective. Simply apply a layer of
grease to the inner surface of a beer bottle with a little stale beer in
the bottom. Place it near the suspected entryways, and check it daily, emptying
when necessary.
Ants
Use talcum powder or chalk as a barrier. They don't like it, and will rarely--if
ever--cross the line.
Fruit flies
Obviously, use your fruit before it begins to decay. But fruit flies also
like house plants. Over-watering your house plants not only risks killing
them, it also provides a fertile breeding ground for fruit flies, each capable
of producing hundreds of offspring.
If houseplant infestation occurs
Stop watering infected house plants immediately
Make a mixture of nicotine and water by adding 2 cigarettes (or 4-5 butts)
to a quart of water; allow to steep overnight; strain mixture, and pour into
spray bottle
Spray the plants, trying to get the flies as much as possible. Repeat every
other day until all the flies are gone
To keep them hydrated, mist your plants with a sprayer of plain water daily,
trying not to get the soil wet.
Note: The nicotine spray is toxic to pets, so don't use
it on plants that your pets may come in contact with.
If the above method fails, your infestation may need an added step. The fruit
fly lays its larvae in the plant's soil. Isolate the plants that are affected
and change their potting soil completely, carefully rinsing the roots.
Stickies for a Better World
You can remind yourself every day what you can do to make a better world.
Simply write "To Landfill" on a note, and stick it on your garbage can. Then
every time you start to throw something away, you'll think, "Is this recyclable?"
or, "Could I compost this?"
Did You Know?
Americans throw away over 2.5 billion pounds of batteries every year.
These batteries contain toxic heavy metals, including: mercury, cadmium,
zinc, nickel, lead, and lithium.
Did You Know?
Many fabric softener sheets can be used for more than just one dryer load.
Then again, think: do you need to use them at all? Try doing without them
for a couple loads and see if you even notice the difference.
Did You Know?
The EPA estimates that the average American household would save over
$95 per year by installing a 2 gpm "low flow" showerhead.
Stickies for a Better World
Put a note on your dashboard that says. "Is this trip really necessary?"
Did You Know?
The yard waste we throw away--28 million tons per year--accounts for 20%
of our solid waste output. It's like throwing money away, because it can
be composted and used in the garden instead of commercial fertilizers--and
it's actually better for the soil!
Did You Know?
On natural-gas ranges, turning the dial up too high can actually SLOW
the heating process. The pressurized gas can "blow" the heat out from under
the pan, where it escapes into the air. Keep the flame concentrated on the
bottom of the pan for best results.
Did You Know?
Furniture polish is designated "Household Hazardous Waste." For an
inexpensive, effective alternative, simply mix 3 tablespoons of lemon juice
in 1 pint of mineral or vegetable oil, and wipe your tables and chairs. You'll
be amazed!
Did You Know?
It takes 42 gallons of virgin crude oil to make 2.5 quarts of motor oil
(along with other products of the refining process). It takes only 1 gallon
of recycled oil to make the same 2.5 quarts of re-refined motor oil.
Stickies for a Better World
Put one on your fridge that says, "Remember to take reusable bags to the
store!"
Did You Know?
Landfills actually discourage biodegration. The absence of sunlight, the
density of packing, and other factors prevent the natural breakdown of the
materials. Researchers collecting data from a landfill found a 35 year-old
corn-cob--with its kernels STILL intact!
