I'd like to start by apologizing for the lack up update last week. I know I've only been doing this for a few weeks now, and disappearing for one of those weeks is particularly irresponsible. In my defense, I was very sick. I spent most of the week lying on the couch. I even laid on the floor in the kitchen while I was cooking lunch, just to fight the nausea. Today, I'm tired and still trying to recover my energy, but feeling otherwise better.
On a related point, I want to confirm that it is, as many of you know and others probably assume, extremely difficult to recover from illness when you have three small children and two large dogs to look after. But they did all do their part to offer me some peace. The kids spent much more time than usual in their room, playing. The dogs spent much more time in my bed, cuddling and napping with me.
While I was sick, a friend of mine brought something to my attention that I hadn't really thought much about in a while: Going Green. It's neat that certain large chains are trying to cut back on energy use by putting all of their refrigerated food in coolers with doors and LED lighting that, in some cases, turns off when no one is in the isle. Also great ideas on the corporate front are large stores with white roofs to reflect (instead of absorb) the heat, and sky lights to significantly cut costs of illuminating our shopping experience.
Individuals have a lot available to us, too. You don't have to be a hippie to want to save the planet anymore. And even if you somehow still don't believe in the global climate crisis, would it hurt to make a few adjustments incase you're wrong?
I can't personally afford a hybrid car. It seems to me that a lot of us can't. I drive an SUV. This is where you can temporarily imagine my shame face. But all of my kids and dogs fit in it and it fit in my budget a couple of years ago, when I bought it as a salvage. I know it's not the most environmentally friendly thing I could be driving, and I'd love an upgrade, but I just don't have the funds to be on the market for a better car right now.
Nobody's perfect, right? At least that's what I tell myself to mitigate the SUV guilt. There are a lot of things I have done to shrink my carbon foot print, like using a reusable container for drinking water on the go, switching to CFLs, washing almost all of my laundry in cold water, opening windows and doors instead of turning on my AC, and making most of my own cleaning products. Living in an apartment building makes some changes difficult or impossible, but I do what I can. In fact, when I started looking up lists of ways to "go green", I was surprised at the number of things I already do.
Here are some great ideas for being green(er) from http://simplemom.net/ *I did not write this list (if the links in this list don't work, you can view the same, original list by clicking on the URL above. The links work, there). The ones I've committed to are highlighted in pink:
1. Plant an herb garden. It’s good to have a reminder around of where our food originates, and this one is super easy.
2. Switch all your lightbulbs to CFLs (or at least switch a few).
4. Switch one appliance to an energy efficient model (look for the “energy star” label).
5. Stop using disposable bags. Order some reusable bags—my favorites are Flip & Tumble. Or, make your own—they’re insanely easy. (I have a reoccurring problem remembering to take mine with me to the store, even if they're in my car. They still don't make it to the building. *grumble*)
6. Buy an inexpensive reusable water bottle, and stop buying plastic disposable bottles. Then watch The Story of Bottled Water, a short movie about the bottled water phenomena.
7. Wash laundry in cold water instead of hot.
8. Turn off lights when you leave the room.
9. Don’t turn on lights at all for as long as you can—open your curtains and enjoy natural light.
10. Drive the speed limit, and combine all your errands for the week in one trip.
11. Better yet, walk or ride a bike to your errands that are two miles or closer.
12. Support your local economy and shop at your farmer’s market.
13. Turn off your computer completely at night.
14. Research whether you can sign up for green power from your utility company.
15. Pay your bills online. Not only is it greener, it’s a sanity saver.
16. Put a stop to unsolicited mail — sign up to opt out of pre-screened credit card offers. While you’re at it, go ahead and make sure you’re on the “do not call” list, just to make your life more peaceful.
17. Reuse scrap paper. Print on two sides, or let your kids color on the back side of used paper.
18. Conduct a quick energy audit of your home.
19. Subscribe to good eco-friendly blogs. My favorites Keeper of the Home, Kitchen Stewardship, Live Renewed, and of course, Simple Homemade.
20. Before buying anything new, first check your local Craigslist or Freecycle.
21. Support local restaurants that use food derived less than 100 miles away, and learn more about the benefits of eating locally.
22. Fix leaky faucets.
23. Make your own household cleaners. I’ve got quite a few recipes in my book.
25. Watch The Story of Stuff with your kids, and talk about the impact your household trash has on our landfills.
26. Learn with your kids about another country or culture, expanding your knowledge to other sides of the world.
28. Lower the temperature on your hot water heater.
29. Unplug unused chargers and appliances.
30. Repurpose something. It’s fun.
31. Collect rainwater, and use it to water your houseplants and garden.
32. Switch to cloth diapers – or at least do a combination with disposables. Even one cloth diaper per day means 365 fewer disposables in the landfill each year.
33. Switch to shade-grown coffee with the “Fair Trade” label.
34. Use a Diva Cup for your monthly cycles. At the risk of TMI, I’ve been using mine for more than five years now.
35. Use cloth instead of paper to clean your kitchen. Be frugal, and make these rags out of old towels and t-shirts.
36. Use cloth napkins daily instead of paper.
37. Read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, and be utterly inspired.
38. Repurpose glass jars as leftover containers and bulk storage, especially in the kitchen.
39. Watch the myriad documentaries on Netflix about the food industry. Some of my favorites are Food Inc., Fresh, and What’s on Your Plate?. My daughter was totally mesmerized with that last one—it’s insanely important that our kids understand where our food originates.
40. Donate to—and shop at—thrift stores. You’ll be recycling perfectly usable items, you’ll be supporting your local economy, and you’ll be saving money.
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