Getting Greener
From jjjohn on Flickr.
Earth Day has been celebrated since 1970 but the ideals it trumpets are now more heard than ever. We’re becoming aware of just how much waste we are blindly capable of on a daily basis. Empty bottles, an expired box of cereal and an empty bag of chips get tossed into the trash can - not a recycling bin. All of the lights are on in the house but no one’s home. One person drives a guzzling SUV, all to themselves, every day of the week. When do we step back and realize that we are doing things that are unnecessary and harmful to everyone else? And it’s not just us that we’re harming, but future generations plus the environment itself. I just wanted to talk about a few things here in honor of the day and hopefully we can make some changes in our lives.
- No one can deny that drinking water is really good for you. Instead of buying bottle after bottle (even if you do use recycling bins) get one that you can easily wash and refill. From a New York Times article, “It takes 1.5 million barrels [of oil] a year just to make the plastic water bottles Americans use, according to the Earth Policy Institute in Washington, plus countless barrels to transport it from as far as Fiji and refrigerate it.” Sigg makes really nice water bottles that have an added bonus of showing your personality as well. Plus they’re not just for water. If you want an even more interesting bottle, Platypus definitely has that covered.
- Think about the different foods that you eat each week. It’s probably a better idea to buy only organic foods which come from farms that have the environment and the humane treatment of animals in mind. Some would say that the prices of organic food are keeping them back but the margin between organic and non-organic is getting closer and closer, which is very good news. “The world organic market has been growing by 20% a year since the early 1990s, with future growth estimates ranging from 10-50% annually depending on the country,” from Wikipedia.
- Packaging and storage should also be concerns when buying food. It could be cheaper to buy some of your food (like cereals) in bulk and place them in storage containers. If your town has any type of farmer’s or open-air market it would be a wonderful idea to do a lot of shopping there which also helps your local community.
- Transportation is a definite concern in the big picture of going green. The fact is, a lot of us are a little lazy sometimes, myself included! It can seem daunting to jump on a bike when a car is more convenient. If you are able to frequent certain areas using a bike, or even walking, you’re not only helping reduce waste, labor costs, and more - you’re also helping yourself which is extremely important. Getting off your rump just makes you feel better, too.
- Think of all of the electricity you could save if you started watching television and movies and playing games only on your computer. Just sell the TV (which is probably turned on most of the time) and all other electronics/entertainment you have. The Internet is where it’s at, you know? This tip shouldn’t take any further convincing. 
