List ways I can be more green.

The weather in NJ has been pretty erratic this season (actually, all year!). It’s been in the 40’s and in the 60’s a few days later. No matter, I know cold weather will eventually stay so I’ve been going around my condo trying to find the “leaks” where the cold air seems to find it’s way indoors.

I already caulked around my windows and terrace doors. Last weekend, I pulled the AC covers off and put plastic sheeting underneath. For a little more protection, I got a quilted cover that fits right over the entire unit (inside) in the living room. For the bottom of my front door, I got door trim to keep heat inside. To help keep the temperature steady, I got a digital thermometer that shows indoor and outdoor temp. Without the heat on yet, today the outdoor temp was 47 and the indoor was 69.

This should help me keep my energy costs down, which is “going green” and in turn, it will save me money – keeping more GREEN in my bank account!

I’ve been sticking to FlyLady routines recently and realized it’s helping me be more green.

I now dry dishes and the kitchen sink right away, plus I wipe down the bathroom counter and sink every morning and night. She suggests getting extra cloth towels and dish rags. I realized I had plenty – bought and rarely used because I’d become so reliant on paper towels.

That’s the benefit. I’ve cut down on my paper towel consumption without even thinking. I use paper now mostly for spills and cleaning icky stuff.

Saving trees – saving money. Nice.

I believe that we are lazy and this makes for a give time lack of recycling and other forms of function that are not green at all.

One of the things I find in my new home is the idea of keeping a lawn. It is waste full to put so much water on a space that is not utilized enough for the effort and energy we put into it. I think I look at the lawn more than I use it – that is a good indicator that I could use that space for something else that would be better for the planet.

Fake grass? Native plants – low water usage? Flower garden?

A few months ago, I was saving the plastic caps from water bottles for my nephew. His school was having a recycling drive and supposedly plastic caps don’t recycle like the bottles do. Who knew?
It made me realize how many bottles I was consuming. Did I really need to add that much garbage to the earth just for a drink of water?
I’ve always had a filter pitcher in the fridge but now I have a few stainless steel water “bottles” that I keep filled. Whenever I’m running out, I grab one. No more plastic.

We’re doing some remodeling and wanted entry doors with some more style and substance. We found a place in Nashville which sells amazing salvage and bought two doors for $400 less than it would have cost us to special order one of the new doors we were looking at. There will have to be some repairs, but these doors have so much more character than anything we could buy at a box store.

http://www.thepreservationstation.com/

(and if they give you a straw, you might as well use it, because odds are it will get thrown in the trash, whether you use it or not.) But at places where you can get your own straw, you could then bring your own, or opt not to use one. But stuff like shakes and malts can be messy without straws. Companies such as Earth Straws sell biodegradable straws online. These are usually made from a “bioplastic” consisting of corn starch, or potato starch, or bagasse (a sugar cane derivitive.)

Also, when going to eat in restaurants that either don’t give you napkins (outside of a dispenser.) I’ve been trying to remember to bring my own cloth napkins. At places that use cloth napkins, this of course wouldn’t be necessary. And places that put a paper napkin by your plate, again, unfortunately, you might as well use it, because it will be put in the trash, whether you use it or not.

I’ve completely converted to bringing my own bags when food shopping. I have enough that some are always in my car and I use them now without thinking.
Funny that I now I have to search for bags to put things in when I have stuff to give my sister or carry to work or even dump the litter box!

Last night, I joined in the “POWER DOWN MINUTE” sponsored by the Nickelodeon channel. At 9pm eastern time, I turned off my lights for 1 minute to show support for the earth and energy. It was pretty cool – even the Empire State building turned off it’s lights.
Nothing major but enough to make me think about saving energy and being part of something very, very big.

If you can find someone that’s willing, it does conserve water. :-)

Consider a nudist lifestyle (by reducing the amount of time you wear clothes, you are reducing the number of washings your clothes need, thus conserving on water, electricity,etc.)