We all know that the world we live in needs a lot of sprucing up. For many of us the task seems overwhelming. The news about our environment is so dire that often we feel powerless. Can one person really have an impact? YES! The “green” way of life is on the rise and we can all easily make a difference. By green we mean environmentally friendly, kind to the earth.
Since the problems facing our environment seem so overwhelming, an easy place to start is our own homes. There are so many simple yet effective and economical things we can do to immediately lessen our impact on the environment and reverse the damage that has already been done. Here are some ideas:
kitchen
1) Get rid of all cleaning products that contain toxic pollutants. Cleaners don’t have to be toxic to be effective. There are many products that are safe and biodegradable. One company in particular that is providing safe and effective cleaning products is Eco-Products. Their cleaners are naturally based, have a pleasant scent and are safe for the environment. They are available online at ecoproducts.com Products from WORX, available online at waterbrookinternational.com are also safe and effective. WORX ‘Clean ‘n Gentle’ is the only hand cleaner in North America to bear the GreenSeal Certification. Other products that are available at your local grocery or healthy foods store include Method and 7th Generation. Don’t buy toxic again!
2) Buy some colorful dishrags and get in the habit of using them to wipe up spills. This eliminates the use of so many paper towels. If your trashcan is filling up more slowly, you are making a difference.
3) When you do buy paper towels, make sure they have recycled content.
4) Invest in a reusable filter for your coffee maker. Since it just needs to be rinsed out each day, you throw away less trash.
5) Instead of using plastic bags every time you make your kids’ lunches, put the food in reusable containers. Reduce the amount of all those plastic bags going into landfills every day!
6) Recycle everything you can! When we throw our trash “away,” it goes away from us, but it is still out there somewhere. The amount of trash going into our landfills is astonishing. A glass bottle takes 300 or more years to biodegrade! A diaper will never biodegrade.
bathroom
1) A plastic razor takes 100 or more years to decompose! Invest in a good razor that can be reused and stop throwing away unnecessary plastic.
2) There are lots of low flush toilets on the market. If that’s not in your budget, wrap a brick in a plastic bag. Put it in your tank to reduce the volume of water used to flush.
3) A five-minute shower can use up to 35 gallons of water and accounts for more than one-fifth of household water use. Invest in a low-flow showerhead which reduces the amount of water used by up to fifty percent.
energy
1) Replace your light bulbs with fluorescents. It saves you money, and has environmental benefits. A 20-watt compact fluorescent lamp used in place of a 75-watt incandescent is kinder to the planet. Fluorescents are not only one of the most efficient options around, offering the longest-life bulb, they now come in a variety of colors, types and sizes.
2) Get in the habit of turning off lights, especially those that use incandescent bulbs. Incandescent bulbs use lots of energy, don’t last very long and are very hot. About 90% of their output is heat, not light.
3) Begin gradually replacing light fixtures in your home with Energy Star qualified lighting. Lighting fixtures that have earned the Energy Star combine high performance, attractive design, and highest levels of energy efficiency, so they save energy, save money on utility bills and help protect the environment.
Initially, the things we do to protect the environment help us feel better, keep our homes cleaner and our children safer. But others see us and may follow. Some may hesitate, but the seed has been planted and it will grow. The companies that market the green products receive our message as well. By investing in a safer, healthier path, we are supporting our environment with our wallets. Do an internet search for “environment” or “green home” and thousands of websites show up. Take some time and find other ways to do your part. We are an element of a bigger process, one that is starting off small but swelling in great proportions.
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