reduce my environmental footprint

has enabled me to get MUCH better gas mileage. My Civic has EPA estimates of 25/35, but when I follow this rule I get 45mpg on long trips.

I have adopted a goal of taking cold showers for all of august.

The following-the-speed-limit gas saving plan has been working pretty well, to my surprise. I wish more people would do this.

Contemplating whether I can do this (more often).

I bought a couple big tupperware-style containers and have started bringing one with me to lunch when I need to buy food; they’re the perfect size for most food court places to fill, with some space left over usually, and I take them at home at night to wash.

I bought a couple linen napkins at estate sales, washed them and brought them to work; wrapped my spork in one, and have stopped using plastic cutlery and paper napkins. Linen napkins are really a little bit of luxury.

I feel kind of silly (especially the first time you ask someone if they can please put your meal in this container) but whatever, I don’t care. I don’t do this to be cool, I do it to feel like I’m doing what I can, to help do my part. The sandwich place is getting used to me.

I signed up for online-only for my credit card and bank statements to reduce unneccessary paper use; I don’t read them when they arrive anyway.

Here’s a message I was rewarded with!

“Thanks for going paperless. Citi will plant a tree on your behalf.”

Cool!

-We recently purchased 365 (Wholefoods brand) recycled/unbleached papertowels and I LOVE them. They have hearts stamped into them instead of the usual circles. See how cute? How can you resist!
-I’m planning to buy some recycled kleenex soon; I use handkerchiefs but my boyfriend refuses to
-I take public transportation to work/walk most other places.
-I carry a reusable Riesenthel bag (it folds up to keychain sized, similar to this one) in my purse for bagging my groceries and I am VERY happy with it. Any other grocery bags we get at home, we use for our household garbage.
-I recycle at home and use my own coffee mug/nalgene bottle at work. I also bought a titanium spork which I use for any food I eat at work requiring utensils so I don’t have to throw any away.
-I’ve been using the “crystal” deodorant for about a year (avoiding aluminum) and I never wear fragrances (or buy products with fragrances) because I’m sensitive to smells.
-I’m planning to switch (back) to more natural rather than commercial dish soap and shampoo products after reading how bad the chemicals in Head & Shoulders are.

Trying to figure out what else I can do, because there are no composting bins available in our building!