A Simple GREEN World

2011-05-14T06:19:00.001-07:00

Family Night : Chicken Soup For The Soul http://ping.fm/aJqdU

2011-05-10T20:07:00.001-07:00

How To Overcome A Bad Habit http://ping.fm/w3DcK

2011-05-05T20:14:00.001-07:00

Happiness Quiz http://ping.fm/zMqON

2011-05-02T01:31:00.001-07:00

Highlights From Tuesdays With Morrie Book Review http://ping.fm/66rQv

2011-04-28T03:53:00.001-07:00

Think Positive Thoughts http://ping.fm/fk7Js

2011-04-19T21:16:00.001-07:00

Wellness Lifestyle Quiz http://ping.fm/6iB2K

2011-04-07T08:00:00.001-07:00

The best journals or diaries http://ping.fm/996yG

2011-04-04T23:43:00.001-07:00

Meaningful Activities http://ping.fm/WcPrl

2011-04-03T21:20:00.001-07:00

Overcoming Mild Depression http://ping.fm/013FP

2011-03-31T21:32:00.001-07:00

Kindness on the Subway http://ping.fm/PXZwZ

2011-03-30T18:45:00.001-07:00

The Simple Formula For Happiness and Peace http://ping.fm/5lqL9

2011-03-23T18:00:00.001-07:00

Attend Your Child's Special Events, Or Else http://ping.fm/Jsr0X

2011-03-22T18:42:00.001-07:00

Organic products: How To Not Get Ripped off by Greenwashing http://ping.fm/t626Q

2011-03-14T03:02:00.001-07:00

Japan's Earthquake: A Gift From The Sea? http://ping.fm/LJKtV

2011-03-10T02:22:00.001-08:00

What To Do If Your Husband or Boyfriend Isn't Green (Eco-Friendly) http://ping.fm/ihEJ6

2011-03-06T23:50:00.001-08:00

A Walk To Beautiful DVD: Watch It Now Free http://ping.fm/LONkH

2011-02-21T19:02:00.001-08:00

Healthy At 100 (How To Live A Long, Healthy Life) http://ping.fm/sZSe2

2011-02-14T17:55:00.001-08:00

175 Random Acts of Kindness http://ping.fm/Pk6WK

2011-01-19T19:20:00.001-08:00

How To Help The North Koreans: What You Can Do http://ping.fm/P8zbq

2011-01-17T17:08:00.001-08:00

20 Ways We Cause Ourselves Unnecessary Suffering http://ping.fm/bZhQb

2011-01-13T18:22:00.001-08:00

How To Clean Your Home Quickly Like The Professionals http://ping.fm/qUWza

2011-01-11T18:50:00.001-08:00

Create your own Volunteer Group: It's Fun! http://ping.fm/L49UK

Give Charity Ecards This Christmas / Holiday Season

2010-12-12T22:14:00.001-08:00

Sending a Christmas / Holiday Charity Ecard: I am so excited about this idea.

Charity ecards combine the spreading of holiday cheer to family and friends with saving the environment from excessive paper card waste, while money gets donated to great charities. It also saves you valuable time and money which is so important this time of year. Not to mention that any donation is 100% tax deductible. Everyone wins.

So it all started when I got an email from WFP (World Food Program) entitled "Your life-changing gift" so I checked out the email, it read:

I gave my sister a scarf last year. She said she loved it, but I’ve never seen her wear it… and I spent so much time figuring out what to get her. I’m sure you have a similar story.

So this year, I’m giving something different – something that will definitely make her happy and will bring happiness to a woman, child, or family struggling to survive.
Each time you send one of our holiday ecards, you’re giving two fantastic gifts in one! Click here to: Send an eCard that counts!

I loved the free rice game ecard, and I had decided to send it (I'm still deciding which friend would appreciate it most).

Then I started wondering what else was out there in terms of charity ecards.

It was surprisingly difficult to find others, but I was able to find two others that are definitely worth checking out.

The first one I found was on the website for Variety International: A Children's Charity. On their home page you can see a link to send a charity ecard- just click on Kermit. The great thing about this site is you can send multiple cards at the same time without having to fill out a new form for every person. This way you can send out all your Christmas cards at once. Awesome.

I saved the best for last. Where do I begin? It's called the Giving Buddy. There are a few reasons I liked this one best.

1. You can choose the ecards that are available or you can upload a photo instead ( I chose a family photo - it turned out awesome).
2. You can preselect a charity from a list of 100s of charities.
3. You can post the ecard to your recipients Facebook, Twitter or send it to them through email (or all of the above).
4. The recipient of the ecard will be able to choose from 3 charities listed, including the one you preselected to give your gift donation to.
5. You can donate any amount- even as low as $2 . So you can send this out to a lot of people. I chose to send $5 per card.

When I signed up for the Giving Buddy I got this email from them:

Welcome to the GivingBuddy Holiday Charity Campaign.

Our appreciation for joining as a ‘member’ of this exciting social networking initiative for charitable giving.

You can now send friends and relatives your own donation gifts …

Your participation as a charity volunteer is very important to us, showing others how a meaningful way of gift-giving and helping others in need is a worthwhile cause to devote your time and effort towards.

Thanks for leading the way with your membership and we look forward to working together for a successful campaign!

CharityChoice Gift Cards, where you are the donor and the gift-recipient picks the charity.

The perfect gift …when meaningful matters.

A project of Special Kids Fund, 501c3 umbrella organization for special needs children.

Thank you for being special for our special kids!

"We create a special world that celebrates life and all of its challenges"

I hope I have gotten you excited about giving charity ecards and gifts this holiday season. Merry Christmas!

How To Stop Buying Things And Start Enjoying Life

2010-11-23T22:00:00.000-08:00

The thing I worry about most is that instead of people simplifying their lives in order to become more environmentally friendly and socially responsible- instead of consuming less and using less resources- they are buying more stuff- stuff that is supposed to be environmentally friendly.

Not buying something is always better than buying something that is environmentally friendly.

If you buy only what you need you won't clutter your home with junk and you preserve more resources for others.

A tried and true method to stop buying things is to write down all of the things you want to buy before you buy them.

I personally like putting this list in my Amazon.com cart (saved for later) or wish list, but you can also type them up or write them down by hand in a notebook.

Keep the list and then look back over it in a month or two and you will find that many things you wanted to buy you don't want to buy anymore. Therefore you can cross it off/delete it. After a while you will see what you really want/need.

Instead of focusing on shopping, buying and using energy- check out these ideas for the new modern free fun:

1. do someone's hair- brush it, trim it, braid it, put it up, put clips in it, etc.

2. draw or paint a picture - hang it up

3. read a book alone or with someone and discuss it

4. run outside

5. bike to a friend's house

6. play a sport with friends or family

7. play a board game

8. play a party game

9. play an outdoor game

10. pray or meditate

11. brainstorm a problem

12. talk

13. sing

14. make something from materials you have on hand

15. give and receive a massage

16. line dry clothes

17. walk to the library

18. chinese or regular jump-rope

19. put on a play

20. practice an instrument

21. paint toenails

22. organize your closet

23. learn sign language with your spouse so you can communicate in secret

24. play tag

25. hide and go seek

26. race someone

27. make a blanket fort

28. organize your outfits

29. stretch

30. make a card

31. write a short story by hand

32. clean with your family and share a treat after

33. look at photo albums

34. take a walk with someone

35. garden

36. exercise or try gymnastics

37. read outloud

38. walk to a local park and swing or roll/sled down a hill

39. knit

40. learn something or teach something

Any other ideas?

Have fun!

Another Reason Why Green Cleaning Is Best: Pinesol Tastes Gross

2010-11-22T22:14:00.000-08:00

It started out with a series of unfortunate events...

1. Our housekeeper balked at my suggestion for her to use natural (green)cleaning solutions; such as, baking powder, lemon juice and white distilled vinegar.

2. I tried to put my foot down, but my husband thought I was being ridiculous and went out and bought a bunch of toxic cleaning chemicals and paper towels (at her request) for her to use.

3. A few days ago my son spilled orange juice all over the kitchen table and floor. He wanted to use paper towels, but I insisted that he clean the spill with reusable rags.

4. I walked into the laundry room and grabbed for a clean washrag on a high shelf. The rags were sitting on top of some of the housekeeper's chemical cleaners, one of which was Pinesol.

5. As I grabbed the rag, the Pinesol tipped over. The lid had not been put on tight and it spilled all over, some of it getting in my open mouth.

6. This is a taste you never want to experience. I ran to the sink and tried to spit it out, but it was still all over in my mouth.

7. I ran to look at the bottle and it said: TOXIC! Don't ingest. It said to drink lots of water or milk.

8. I started to drink water, but it seemed like I was just washing more of the toxic Pinesol down my throat.

9. I went to the computer and looked up Pinesol. The search came up: Death by Pinesol in various different versions!

10. I realized that there was nothing that anyone could do. I had the worst taste in my mouth mixed with lots of worry about what this crap was doing to my body.

11. Later, when I brushed my teeth my mouth was sore and swollen everywhere. Everything hurt. Who knows what the long-term effects might be.

12. The housekeeper has been fired (for other reasons as well- not just this). I clean my own house now.

13. Now I am left with a boat-load of toxic cleaning chemicals that I can't just pour down the drain. Any suggestions?

14. Moral of the story: Green Cleaning Is BEST! Toxic stuff is never worth it.

Personal, Daily Contribution To The Environment and Society

2010-11-18T19:13:00.000-08:00

Doing one's part to be socially responsible is a daily decision. It's not something you can decide to do for a week or a season- it's an ongoing, daily commitment.

Some things I am trying to do include:

Turn off lights. I am always turning off lights, TVs, etc. that are left on in my house. I try to never leave the house unless everything is off. Unplugging appliances that are not being used is also something I try to remember.

I work from home, so no commute. This is not possible for everyone, but if it is, look into it.

I recently took a bag of collected batteries to a recycle center. What I need to do is buy all rechargeables. This is expensive so I am doing it little by little. I also collect ink cartridges for recycling.

I am also slowly replacing our light bulbs with CFLs as the other light bulbs burn out.

I try to hurry with my shower, so I don't waste water. Although I do give in to a hot bath once in a while, especially when its cold out- a guilty pleasure.

I try to cut down on using our spring water dispenser and store tap water in the fridge to drink. My husband loves the spring water dispenser, so it's here to stay. His argument is that in case of an emergency it is a good water supply. He has a point with this.

I need to walk more and drive less. I used to be better at this. I do walk my daughter to school every morning. Its nice to get outside everyday.

I try to remember to purchase organic products- soaps, shampoos, lotions, food, detergents and clean with vinegar and lemon juice. Also I try to remember to buy in bulk.

I am going to set up an account so 10% of my income automatically goes to a charity of my choice. This way I won't "accidentally" spend it.

(For women) I used to have a Diva cup and it was great, but then I thought it would be a good idea to boil it for sanitary reasons, but it ruined it. I'm having a hard time spending the money on a new one- since it's expensive, but I need to do that. It really saves a lot of money in the end and eliminates a lot of trash. If you buy one, don't ever boil it! Use a disinfectant spray like this one- between periods and let it dry thoroughly. Wash with soap in-between daily uses.

Recently I started getting tired of rinsing out all of our cans and bottles for recycling when the idea hit me that I could just put them in the dishwasher with the rest of the dishes and put them in the recycling bin afterwards. Easy! Just remember to remove any paper off first!

I try to check the thrift store before a regular store for things I need. I also try to donate to the thrift store often.

What are you doing?

Realistic Personal Goals

2010-01-15T15:42:00.000-08:00

These Are Things I Want To Say I Do Consistently Right Now

-I usually walk to work, the library and the grocery store (with a large stroller to carry cloth grocery bags)
-I eat vegetarian whenever I go out to dinner. I limit meat at home to 2X per week.
-I buy organic dairy and produce as available, and other organic, earth-friendly products
-I buy organic lotions, shampoos, detergents, deodorants and cleaners
-I cook and bake from scratch with organic ingredients as much as possible
-I try to consume less of everything- food, soaps, detergents
-I wash and reuse plastic bags- I try to limit use
-I buy clothes and other items from a thrift store. I try to steer clear of the mall or department stores unless I need to
-I donate, sell or recycle excess clutter in my house
-I give virtual or consumable gifts (i.e. restaurant certificate, coupon for an activity, tickets to an event, I-tunes gift certificate, etc.)- instead of gifts that will clutter people’s homes
-I grow vegetables and flowers in pots on our deck
-When I do shop, I try to support socially responsible companies.
-I recycle, by separating our food waste from our recyclables.
-I take short showers.
-I switch to CFL light bulbs when my others burnout. I recycle batteries and ink cartridges. I reuse paper and limit printing too much.
-I use rechargeable batteries.
-I turn off the water when I brush my teeth
-I wash my clothes in warm water - I use cold sometimes, but I don't think it gets my clothes very clean. I always rinse in cold. A few of my loads I hang to dry.
-I only blow-dry my hair 1X per week
-We have organic bedding. I felt it was worth the expense.
-I try to stockpile food so I don't need to take more trips to the store
-We stopped buying small boxed cereals. We buy the largest size cereal boxes or bags to reduce waste. I also eat everyday from the large plain oatmeal container.
-We don't buy packaged snacks or meals as much as possible
-I use ceiling fans so I can turn up the thermostat in the summer and try to wear sweaters, so I can turn it down in the winter
-I try to never idle my car
-I never run the dishwasher unless it is full (although my kids don't always)
-I try to make sure we eat all leftovers to reduce food garbage (although my family doesn't always comply-i.e. my four year old)
-I try to keep lights off and use natural sun, I also turn off lights when not in use
-I buy recycled paper products (paper towels, napkins, toilet paper) but try to always use cloth towels and cloth napkins over paper towels
-I try to wear my clothes more than once before washing to reduce laundry
-I just ordered from gladrags.com- we'll see how that goes
-We unplugged our extra freezer -We stopped using bleach and dryer sheets in the laundry
-We save glass jars and store clean water for emergencies
-We have a closet devoted to food storage and emergency supplies
-We use the library, paperbackswap.com and swaptree.com instead of buying new books

-We focus on the joys of solitude, nature, prayer, social and family visits and activities, reading, downloadable music, exercising, healthy cooking, natural cleaning, gardening, donating (time, money), working, and learning instead of consuming stuff

I Am Going To Carry This List Around With Me To Save The World How About You?

2010-01-15T04:17:00.001-08:00

Over- Consumption is Destroying Everything List

1. Is this purchase something I need?

2. Do I already own something that will serve the same purpose?

3. Can I borrow one instead of buying new?

4. Can I make something that will serve the same purpose?

5. Can I buy a used one?

5. Would someone be willing to split the cost and share this with me?

6. Can I buy or commission one made locally?

7. Can I buy one that was made with environmentally responsible materials?

8. Can I buy one that serves more than one purpose?

9. Can I get something human powered instead of gas or electric?

10. Can I compost or recycle it when I’m done with it?

11. What is the impact on the environment of the full life cycle of it?

12. Does the manufacture or disposal of it damage the environment?

Small Green Steps of Progress

2009-12-17T05:33:00.001-08:00

So I wanted to keep you all updated on my sustainable progress.

I have some changes going on in my bathroom.

I purchased this new shower head and this shower timer.

I can now have truly green showers.

If only I wasn't so addicted to baths. I only take about 3 baths per month, but I need to wean myself off of it. The winter is the hardest time for that.

A 5 minute shower with my low-flow is my new goal.

Next, I purchased a portable hanging rack that I keep in my laundry room. This way I can hang up my clothes right out of the washer and avoid the dryer. I don't hang every load, but I am cutting down on the amount of time I use the dryer. I am also making more of an effort to use cold water instead of warm or hot.

By adding little things one at a time it helps me to live true to my values.

Mindfulness is Sustainable Living

2009-12-04T04:11:00.000-08:00

Mindfulness is really the answer to a lot of problems in people's lives.

Most of us act according to automatic thoughts and behaviors, without even really paying attention to ourselves.

By living in the present and noticing thoughts and actions as they happen you can be more in control. You can think about whether or not your actions are sustainable or if your responses are sound. You can think about whether or not your thoughts are what you want them to be. You can even keep your feelings in check.

Meditation is a good way to practice coming into the present and quieting the mind. Focusing on a single picture or word in your mind while listening to yourself breathe for a few minutes every day.

With practice you can go throughout your day in control of yourself, not simply reacting automatically to whatever comes your way.

It is important that we are mindful if we want to be sustainable thinkers because old habits die hard. We need to be aware of what we are doing and what decisions we are making.

Constantly asking yourself, "Is this the best sustainable action I can take?" is a good way to keep on top of things.

Many times you might have to choose between good, better and best in regards to a sustainable decision. It is good to think through tough decisions (i.e. is it better to eat locally or organically if you can't do both?). These are the types of questions that can be considered when living your life in a mindful way.

As you realize that you do have control over your thoughts, feelings and behaviors you find a new freedom and can make great strides toward sustainable living.

Peak Oil Simplified: 10 Solutions

2009-12-02T20:09:00.000-08:00

There is a storm brewing and pretty much everyone is on board our faltering ship.

The debate is over.

We are near the end of cheap oil. Maybe not as grim and bleak as this picture shows, but something is going to happen unless drastic changes and new innovations rise up to meet this challenge.

Oil demand is rising quickly, in places such as China, India and the Middle East -combined with the already high demand in all other developed countries around the world...

Meanwhile the supply is diminishing-(Oil is a non-renewable resource- no one is making more dinosaurs).

In the past, the International Energy Agency and the USs Energy Information Administration have forecast that oil supplies will increase with rising demand. They are not optimistic anymore. Recently the IEA conducted a large study of the 400 most important oil fields to determine the ability of the oil industry to keep up with the demand. The result is a "sharp downward revision of its oil supply forecast." Click here to read it.

So what we are looking at is...

no more cheap gas, cheap food, or cheap products (that use oil in their manufacturing). It means bankrupt businesses, and a depression..

and forget vacations and other air travel- this problem will ground planes (three major US airlines have dramatically raised round-trip fares in the U.S. as they struggle with record oil prices. The airline industry can not withstand the rising oil prices combined with the fall of the dollar)

This pending emergency will affect how we produce food, how we conduct commerce and trade, how we travel, how we acquire and spend money. It will affect every area of our lives from health care to feeding our families to our kids education.

The time to act is now-

The solutions:

1. Buy or grow food closer to home. Local farming. Start paying attention to agriculture. Learn fast.

2. Support the build up of creative, small urban economies/communities. Local shops, local suppliers. Local everything. Suburban sprawl needs to be retrofitted into sustainable communities. Do business over the Internet. Support industries that use and/or create renewable energy resources.

3. Move. Live close to where you work, shop and spend your time. Walking/ biking distance to everything. Small homes. High-rises. The mansions need to house more families.

4. Use less energy . Learn to live and be happy without dependency on energy and shopping. Read books, garden, eat raw, use solar products, cook from scratch, make homemade products. Lower consumption. Use thrift stores. Reduce. Recycle. Reuse. Read about the survivalists . Consider adopting some or all of their ideas.

5. Fix the passenger rail system. Improve all public transport.

6. We need to switch over to electric-powered or hybrid transport of all kinds, such as small cars, electric scooters and small buses.

7. Trucks and trains need to be converted from diesel to natural gas.

8. Farmers should run their equipment using biodiesel.

9. Everyone needs to focus on inventing/engineering new solutions. Invest in solutions.

10. When disaster strikes, don’t expect the government to save you. Learn how to self-sustain. (Check out this house) Be prepared.

The MAJOR concerns:

Pressure on government leaders over rising oil prices may cause the following (dangerous) actions , instead of the above

1. End the longstanding ban on drilling in environmentally sensitive areas including Alaska, the continental shelves, and federally-owned lands, instead of increasing conservation, efficiency, and the use of renewable fuels.

2. Resort to dirty coal. Therefore abandoning lower carbon emissions goals, causing carbon dioxide levels to sky rocket to dangerous levels, setting the course for catastrophic, irreversible climatic disasters later on.

3. People will be unprepared, will play the blame game, and will get very angry. Public disturbances, riots, fights, etc. will cause communities to break down.

It will be a hard transition. Better start now.

Great Resources to check out: A Crude Awakening - The Oil Crash
The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream

What do you think? Do you have any other resources to suggest?

Top Green Cars and Why I Love Air Pollution, Don't You (Cough, Cough)?

2009-12-02T17:51:00.000-08:00

I live in a big city and oh how I love to breathe in that dirty polluted air....

I mean, who wouldn't (cough, cough)?

It is so worth it to have all of those dirty factories making unnecessary stuff to clutter up people's homes (like my 30th pair of shoes!).

And the traffic. The traffic is GREAT. It totally makes sense.

I mean, I definitely would trade a few years off my life due to the air pollution and accept all of the accumulative affects of climate change for traffic and clutter.

I mean, what a pain to use the subway, bus, ride a bike or walk when I could take my SUV!!

I get to sit in comfy comfort all by myself in my huge castle-like car. It is like being a queen I swear!

It's all for a great cause. My comfort.

I get to relax in a temperature-controlled environment (my cozy car) while I drive across town to buy some awesome shoes on sale, even if it means that the world's future generations have to endure skyrocketing temperatures and mass flooding.

OUCH! What was that for? You are totally rude.

What did you say? Somebody needed to get my attention?

OK... make your point.

My shoes are ugly and I am a selfish what?

OK normally I would be offended by this, like most people, but for purposes of this blog post I will see the light....

I know. You are right. I should care about other people. Climate change will cause a lot of suffering. And the truth is that air pollution really sucks and I hate traffic. I suppose I can take the subway back to return the shoes. But what if I need to take a car sometimes?

So, what you are saying, is that I can still keep a car to use when necessary, but I should make a better choice?

What choice is that?

What? Buy a used Honda CRX, shove a built B18 or fresh K series engine into it, and achieve performance better than a Tesla, with a much MUCH smaller carbon footprint, and all for a fraction of the price?

That is WAY too confusing for me. What about new cars?

New cars are not the best choice because they use up natural resources and a lot of energy to manufacture? However, they often have better safety ratings, so if I want to go new here is the list to choose from?

The List

Rank	Vehicle	ACEEE Green Score
1.	Honda Civic GX	57
2.	Toyota Prius	53
3.	Honda Civic Hybrid	51
4.	Smart fortwo	49
5.	Toyota Yaris	46
6.	Nissan Altima Hybrid	46
7.	MINI Cooper/Clubman	45
8.	Chevrolet Cobalt XFT/Pontiac G5 XFE	45
9.	Honda Fit	45
10.	Chevrolet Aveo/Aveo 5	44
11.	Toyota Camry Hybrid	44
12.	Kia Rio	44

^{Source: ACEEE's "Green Book: The Environmental Guide to Cars and Trucks"}

Cool. OK well maybe I will trade in my SUV for one of these....

but do you promise I will still feel like a QUEEN?

No, but I might feel like a responsible person with a brain?

Wow. Thanks.

Sustainable Living is a Lifestyle Change, A New Way of Seeing Yourself and Your Place In The World

2009-12-01T18:08:00.000-08:00

Sustainable living is a lifestyle change. It is a new self-image.

It defines who you are.

It is a different way of viewing yourself and your worldview.

If you try to keep your old self- and just make a few changes here and there it won't last. Especially if you see those changes as difficult or inconvenient.

Sustainability requires a new mind-set. It requires seeing yourself as part of a greater, interconnected whole. It puts you in the shoes of all the world's people. It helps you to think globally, while acting locally. It is a reflection of what type of person you are. It shows that you are a caring person- who cares for the people around the world who rely on the earth's systems for survival and wellness.

It means you are the type of person who values the natural things of the earth. It means you are an advocate of health and education, of prosperity and wellness. It means you want to slow down your lifestyle and appreciate the beauty around you. It means that you are responsible and not wasteful. It means that you think about how your actions affect others.

If you are your old self and you think, "I am saving water by turning off the tap" but then turn around and see your neighbor running their tap 24 hrs a day you might give up. If you are not a sustainable thinker you can easily find excuses to go back to your old ways because you haven't really changed.

You are not saving the world by your sporadic attempts to recycle or turn off the water... you are changing the world by changing who you are- the way you think and the way you speak to others and by the total example of your life and behaviors.

You are changing the world because you are changing yourself.

What has unsustainable actions brought us... overconsumption, deforestation, climate change, obesity, huge landfills, air pollution, traffic, water scarcity, poverty, water pollution, greed, species extinction, excessive debt, exclusivity, destruction of the earth's systems, rampant disease (in rich and poor countries), soil erosion, widening of the rich and the poor, a physical infrastructure built on declining cheap oil (not to mention our whole economy), lack of food security, collapsing fisheries, and advancing deserts.

Do you really want to be part of that?

A sustainable thinker doesn't want that stuff on their conscience.

I believe that if you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem.

Its a new you.

What To Do When Your Spouse (Best Friend, Boyfriend, Parents, Neighbor, etc.) Isn't Sustainable and How To Influence Others

2009-12-01T04:37:00.000-08:00

Sustainability: Spread the word, man...

But how do you spread the word when your own loved ones are resistant to change?

Here are 10 ideas to influence those around you...

1. Frame your message right -using messages framed to a specific audience (i.e. think about the values that are important to them).

2. Use nudges - help our short-term brains make better long-term decisions (i.e. convenient ways to be more environmentally-friendly like a sensor that turns off all your power when you leave the house)

3. Create group effects (people respond better when they feel it is a group decision, or when they get information as a group rather than an individual)

4. Talk up exciting new technologies or products that are sustainable (i.e. the 2011 Chevy Volt).

5. Support and promote policies that promote change (such as tax discounts for those that own hybrids). Actively support incentives, fines and taxes that support sustainability.

6. Find some like-minded friends that you and your non-green friend or family member can socialize with so you are not alone. Sometimes if more than one person shares the same ideas they are given more weight.

7. Look for opportunities to share pieces of the issue based on disturbances that come up in their life (i.e. high gas prices, a polluted air, land or lake you visit). Any concern they have that might be related to these issues might be a good opportunity.

8. Share your personal commitment to sustainability. You can lead by example. You can show how easy it is and how it benefits your life. Focus on common ground (i.e. health, money savings, community and family benefits).

4. Once others are open to listening you can start building more and more awareness of the issue. You can share appropriate videos, blogs, books or flyers. You can make them aware of how their actions affect sustainability directly.

5. You can continue to provide information as well as answer questions. Don't stop pointing out the benefits.

6. Provide emotional inspiration. This can be done by linking the sustainability movement to a moral or spiritual perspective. Share inspirational stories. Share your concerns about the global consequences of not living in a sustainable way.

7. Participate in a rigorous communication program in your community (information on TV, flyers in the mail, billboards, promotions, blogs, news reports, door-to-door) that encourage recycling and discourage unsustainable consumption and explain why it is discouraged.

8. Get your local church involved. Join an ecological association. Volunteer to provide sustainability programs/presentations in your kid's school. The more people in your community who are on-board the faster it will spread.

9. Make it a cool thing to be seen doing - spin it in a positive, fun light instead of a boring, difficult light. Be creative with fashions from the thrift store, or share how you refurbished your old furniture or repaired your kid's jeans or toys.

10. Make it a family effort to recycle, compost, garden, bike ride, and enjoy nature.

In terms of communication- it is much more influential to communicate awareness to your non-green friend or family member concerning the positive environmental feelings and behaviors of friends, family members, neighbors, and communities (i.e. all your neighbors recycle) rather than communicating only about environmental awareness (how it will affect the earth) or how it will affect future generations. This is because general environmental attitudes are more persuasive than specific knowledge.

People don't want to feel like they are the odd one out. If everyone is doing it than they want to do it to.

We want to be the ones in the middle of the party, not the lone strangers that don't quite fit in.

This is an urgent message- let's get the word out.

10 Motivational Ideas To Stay Green

2009-12-01T03:39:00.002-08:00

You've been doing great and then...

burnout

You need some motivation to stay on track with your new sustainable mind-set.

Here are some things you can do:

1. Consider options in terms of how you could change your behaviors- experiment with different ideas- like walking to the supermarket or biking to the library. Also, make things easy -like having cloth washcloths handy or install lights that turn off on a timer, etc.

2. Find supportive relationships with like-minded friends (in person and online)

3. Identify how you rationalize

4. Focus on the benefits

5. See it as a fun challenge

6. Make your commitment public

7. Slow down your schedule to incorporate sustainable plans and mindful thinking

8. Create a new vision of your life and behaviors

9. Learn from your mistakes

10. Keep a record of your progress- reward yourself in a healthy way

Remember to support others as they support you!

HAPPINESS = THE NATURAL WORLD

2009-12-01T01:20:00.000-08:00

HUMANS THRIVE IN NATURE

NATURE = HAPPINESS

LOWER STRESS
IMPROVED LIFE QUALITY
CALMING
RENEWING
LIFE GIVING

Harvard Biologist E.O. Wilson hypothosized that we thrive in the presence of nature and suffer in its absence. Proof of this theory is that nature is reflected in the modern world in art, where people want to live, the plants and animals we keep indoors with us, and desired vacations to natural environments.

Some people believe that the natural world and spirituality are linked. Studies show that a view of nature outside a window is good for health, being out in nature can lower stress, pets are also good for health and improve quality of life.

It is also obvious that we need clean air and water for happiness and survival.

In my own life, I long to live near a lake with trees and mountains or by the ocean. Nature is calming and restoring. Currently, I spend time taking walks and looking out my windows to take in what I can. Even the sound of rain outside my window is appealing.

In order for future generations to have access to the nature we enjoy today the world must change its current path of destruction toward a sustainable future.

Ecological sustainability will require a change in our economic focus away from consumerism and towards a new green economy.

The Depletion of Natural Resources will have Devastating Consequences....

2009-11-30T23:51:00.000-08:00

You may feel that this depletion has nothing to do with you, or you may not really believe there will be any consequences for the depletion of natural resources, or you may truly believe that we will always have a never ending supply of natural resources at our disposal.

BEEP!! Sorry. Wrong answer. Please try again.

Right answer:

Every time you buy something made from nonrenewable resources (i.e. paper, a car, a house, a TV) you have contributed to the problem. And it's a HUGE problem! Many believe we are close to a tipping point.

The time to change is now.

We need sustainable action!

This means not just taking, buying whatever you want.

This behavior change will mean that there will be resources to spare. It means using what you have on hand, borrowing and buying used items. It means using less water and for Americans and other rich countries, it means eating less, using less and buying less. It means being mindful of your actions and thoughts and whether or not they lead to a better future or a ruined one.

It means purchasing only what you need and from sustainable sources (recycled, renewable, reusable sources). This can be a FUN challenge!

A declining, failing, stressed civilization is NEVER fun.

What will happen if we don't change our mind-set to sustainability?

WORSE THAN YOU THINK....

our forests are shrinking, our deserts are growing, our water tables are falling, our fisheries are collapsing, cheap oil is declining and species are disappearing.

Unless we change our ways we are heading into environmentally induced economic decline and collapse.

Right now the world economy and population are growing. Demand is high and we want what we want NOW.

But the earth beats to a different drummer. It is full of systems that recycle themselves in their own time. They do not speed up or increase because people demand it. If we take too much, too fast- it will be gone.

Global demands on natural systems exceed their sustainable yield capacity.

If we deplete and destroy our forests, wetlands, coral reefs and grasslands through overconsumption we lose their services; such as water purification, pollination, carbon sequestration, flood control, and soil conservation. This leads to a decline in food production and an increase in air pollution (climate change emissions).

Fish is the sole provider of protein for many people- yet many fisheries are headed for collapse. Fish need time to reproduce. They will not speed up due to excessive demand. Depletion of resources will lead to a flow of environmental refugees. We need to support programs that educate girls in developing countries about birth control and supporting government regulations on fishing, logging and water usage.

Rich countries are setting a bad example for countries such as China and India that are developing fast. If they consume like we have been doing, and it is heading that way- there goes our forests!

Many civilizations have collapsed because they failed to pay attention to environmental warnings until they realized too late that they could no longer feed themselves. We depend on our resources. We can use them sustainably if we choose to.

It is up to us!!

Mansions, Boats, Big Cars, Excessive Shopping = Failure

2009-11-30T22:16:00.000-08:00

Americans are so rich compared to much of the world. We have so much purchasing power. This power can have long-term hazardous effects.

We need to become educated consumers, switching from linear thinking to systems thinking.

Linear Thinking: I need money to buy a larger TV (or replace this with any purchase).

Systems Thinking: Do I really need a new TV or is my current, smaller one sufficient? Can I recycle my old TV? What energy source will I use? Is that source renewable? Many materials (natural resources) were required to produce it. Are those resources sustainable? Recycled? Recyclable? Is it an energy-efficient model? Does it have energy-efficient settings? Can I recycle it at some point? Where are the materials for this TV being taken from? Who is involved in the making, transporting and distributing of this TV? How are they treated? How far has the parts for this TV traveled?

These are the types of questions a systems thinker asks to make sure the purchase is well-thought out.

To learn more about our current linear system of thought and why it fails - watch this fun video.

My belief:

Success is not a big house, an enormous lawn, a wide-screen TV, the latest technology, a boat, expensive possessions, big cars, huge meals, fancy vacations, and an elaborate wardrobe.

Success is a happy family, clean air and water, nourishing food, time for play and exercise, small, sustainable homes, helping those in need, safe, sustainable and walkable communities, ongoing-learning, connections with people, love, caring, stories, songs, hugs and a beautiful earth for all to enjoy.

Are you a success?

Why We Could Run Out Of Fresh Water

2009-11-29T21:52:00.000-08:00

We often don't see water as the precious resource it is....

but this miracle may not last forever if we are not careful.

A lot of people are confused as to why we should conserve water. I mean - the oceans are huge! How could we be running out of water?

The problem is that less than 0.3% of the water on earth is available for human consumption and most of this is ground water.

This water supply is decreasing fast and most people in the U.S., or anywhere else in the industrialized world are not taking the crisis as seriously as they should nor do they realize how it directly threatens them.

Water tables are falling, lakes are shrinking and demand is increasing. In fact, demand has tripled over the last half-century. Cities (including U.S. cities) are starting to take irrigation water from farmers to meet their needs. As water becomes scarcer it will become more expensive. The price of water will (and has in some places) far exceed the value of the food that can be produced with it. This will produce a food shortage.

Water scarcity is due to overpumping of fresh water. Water supplies are decreasing or have been exhausted with no hope of replenishment. Water is sustainable only as long as we use as much as is available (conserve) respecting the hydrosphere cycle process.

Another reason water is declining is the widespread use of fresh water for various human uses (water mixing with pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, chemicals, cleaning agents, etc.). This has led to polluted groundwater systems which ultimately leads to a decreased water supply.

Governments need to limit aquifer pumping to sustainable levels, but they have failed to do so. There has been a huge mismanagement of this resource... a "free ride" attitude that will have extreme consequences. Future international conflict over water is a real danger.

So, until governments intervene- it is up to us to conserve.

Steps we can take include: turn off the water, take shorter showers, eat less meat (it takes more water to produce meat than a vegetarian diet) and promote the education of girls (birth control) in developing countries, use greywater in your home, support water-efficient irrigation, etc. Click here for more tips.

Don't believe there is a global water crisis? Check out these articles:

Africa's great shrinking Lake Chad

China’s water table levels are dropping fast

The Ogallala Aquifer Depletion (Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Nebraska)

Peak water in Saudi Arabia

Beijing’s Water Crisis

IMMINENT WATER CRISIS IN INDIA

Israel Facing Worst Water Crisis in 80 Years

Dry Taps in Mexico City: A Water Crisis Gets Worse

Behold the incredible shrinking Colorado River

The Shrinking Euphrates ( Iraq Suffers )

The Shrinking of the Aral Sea (near Kazakhstan)

Water crisis hits Egypt "Country of Nile River"

Sea of Galilee is Shrinking

Dead Sea shrinking by 1 meter every year

Water Conservation: I Never Let The Water Run… Except, of course, when the bathtub overflows

2009-11-29T21:06:00.000-08:00

Funny how I am trying to conserve water at the same time I am trying to drink more of it!

It is better to use water for something useful (drinking) then to just let it pour down the drain unused.

I always turn off the water when I brush my teeth, but I recently decided to look hard at how most of our water was being wasted.

The culprits: baths, showers and toilet

I used to give my four year old a bath every day. This was largely to shampoo and condition her long, unruly hair. If I skipped a day it would look ratty and she would scream and cry when I tried to comb it out. This was a huge, unnecessary waste of water.

So my solution? I cut her hair to look like Rihanna's. She loves it. She thinks she's a rock star.

Now she needs fewer baths and never cries when I brush her hair.

I was also spending a long time shaving in the shower.

My solution? Laser hair removal. I never have to shave again. It's expensive, but think of the time it saves in just one year of not shaving (not to mention the water it saves)!

Also, one thing I am thinking of getting is a shower timer. It can be a game to see if my kids can get done before the timer goes off.

The next issue is the toilet. It helps to put a small plastic jug filled with water to displace water in your tank, but there is something else you can do...

I really don't want to discuss this on my blog, but here it goes. You don't HAVE TO flush every time you pee. OK I said it...That is up to you and your tolerance level...

On to other, more pleasant subjects.

Other ways we can help:

-use rain barrels at the end of downspouts to water gardens or other needs (i.e. washing car)
-turn off the water when brushing teeth
-don't rinse dishes before the dishwasher and never wash dishes by hand
-use water conserving appliances
-use environmentally friendly cleaning solutions (such as vinegar and lemon juice)
-don't use chemicals

Drinking water.... Oh yes. Isn't it nice to have clean water to drink, wash, etc. ?

Let's keep it that way by using less of it!

Recycle For Easy Money: No Matter Where You Live

2009-11-24T19:41:00.000-08:00

Everyone should recycle to the extent that is possible in your area....

or else the earth will become deluged with landfill waste (like the picture here (yuck!)).

It is easy to get started. What I did was purchase seperate garbage cans to hold paper/cardboard, glass, aluminum, plastic and non-recyclable trash. Then, when they were full I put them in the outside bin designated for recycling. You can even go a step further and recycle food scraps with the help of a composter.

You may not receive money for your efforts, but you will receive those intangible rewards of knowing you did the right thing....

Now we will skip ahead to those who came here because they wanted to learn about THE EASY MONEY....

1. Consign or sell your gently used items. Buying used and donating/selling used items is recycling. You may not have thought about it this way before, but it is. Whenever you sell something that is used at a garage sale, on E-bay or Amazon or your local paper or craigslist or to a pawn shop you are saving the planet.

2. Refurbish old furniture, repair clothes, fix up old cars or other items rather than throwing them out. This doesn't make money, but it will save you money which is almost as good. You can also turn around and sell the item you saved from the landfill. It is also fun to find ways to reuse your trash for something else, such as a large, old box for a playhouse (rather than buying a new one).

3. You can sell used parts, glass, paper, scraps, rubber etc. at recycleinme.com.

4. This website and also this website explains about some companies that pay you for your used ipod, laptop, ink jet cartridges, boxes, golf balls, gaming console, etc. Check them out!

5. And finally I am going to put in a plug for John at Cell Phone Recycling because he left a comment on my blog and so check out his site HERE and recycle your old phones for money!

Sustainable Action: Help The Poor And Make Yourself Rich

2009-11-23T18:12:00.000-08:00

1. I click here ... every day. This is an easy thing that costs nothing, but giving away free food is not enough to change the world. We need to support programs that really get involved with programs that create change.

2. I give away 50% of the money I make to charity. This is the website that inspired me to do it, although I didn't sign up as a member. Before you all think that I am some sort of saint you need to realize that I don't make much money and we don't give away 50% of the money my husband makes. By giving to charities that serve social needs around the world it strengthens the world as a whole and serves to create a sustainable and stable world.

We need to support programs that are making efforts towards universal education and healthcare (especially curbing HIV), stabilizing population in poor countries, encouraging gender equality and eradicating poverty.

Here are the "charities" I have given to recently and recommend:

Kiva.org : This site allows anyone to give loans to people in poor countries. The cool thing about this site is that you get your money back.

World Food Programme : Fights Hunger world wide

Childfund : Provides children with education, health care and other needs

Greatergood.org : We sent a child to school in Guatemala, but there are a lot of things you can choose at this website

Children's Hunger Relief Fund : Helps hurting children around the world.

I also recommend Oxfam International and Unicef

If a child was dying from starvation on your front lawn you would do something, so why would your compassion end simply because the child is residing elsewhere?

We can all make a difference towards a sustainable future by supporting organizations that bring prosperity and stabilization to societies around the world .

When we are contributing to the prosperity of others, helping people who can't help themselves we are truly rich.

Yummy Organic Gardens and Beautiful Shady Trees

2009-11-20T21:49:00.000-08:00

Healthy families, healthy food, clean air and water...

This is what sustainable actions will bring- today and in our future.

A key to receiving this abundance is through tree planting and organic gardening.

We can be a part of this solution.

I recently found an awesome deal online- for only a $10 membership donation you can get 10 free trees or have 10 trees planted for you in your name: click here to see.

Planting trees wherever we can is always a good idea. Here is a great website that teaches you how to plant your own trees: Click here.

At the same time, we need to stop supporting deforestation. This means we need to help curtail the demand for products that are reliant on deforestation. We can do this by purchasing recycled paper and cardboard products/packaging as well as recycling our own paper and cardboard. We can also buy wood products made from sustainable wood farms. Some examples are here and here.

Organic gardening equals clean water and healthier food.

The reason that this is true is because conventional gardening/farming uses pesticides that get washed into our water supplies and leave a residue on our food. When we buy from organic farmers this leads to a healthier planet that supports healthy life.

Purchasing organic food is great, but we can go a step further and grow our own organic fruit and vegetable gardens. Here is a great site to teach you how to grow an organic garden: click here.

Short on space? You can grow veggies in pots on your porch or deck: click here to learn more.

Through our combined efforts we can truly make the earth a garden of beauty for us and future generations.

My Diet: Is It Sustainable?

2009-11-18T23:43:00.000-08:00

I try to purchase organic and local food when I can (with my cloth grocery bags of course).

Our grocery store is not well-stocked with sustainable items, and I don't have a local farmers market, Whole Foods, Harris Teeter or Trader Joe's, but I do what I can.

I try to eat/serve less beef, pork and chicken with a preference for turkey.

I wish I could say that I buy locally raised, organic free-range turkey, but they are not available here in Seoul where I live.

So here is my daily diet (yes, I always eat the same thing):

Breakfast: Cherrios + organic flax cereal + local milk + organic cliff bar (energy bar)+ tap water

Lunch: plain oatmeal + local milk + organic and nonorganic fruits + mixed nuts+ tap water

Dinner: turkey bacon, tortilla, organic and local veggies or

spaghetti and peas and local bakery bread or

turkey slices and organic broccoli and rice or

Amy's organic frozen dinners or

turkey hotdogs and carrots

Dessert: organic dark cocoa

I have recently eliminated juice in favor of the real fruit (example: oranges instead of orange juice) which is more sustainable. I also try to only drink tap water over bottled water which is also more sustainable. Local bakery bread is more sustainable than organic bread that has been shipped a long way to your grocery store.I am still waiting for an organic spaghetti sauce that actually tastes good. Any suggestions? Also, I am waiting for our grocery store to stock organic rice, oatmeal, nuts and oat cereal. You know what? I just decided that I am going to speak to the manager of our local grocery store about this- maybe I can help things along.

I would also like to incorporate more beans and less meat in my diet- especially black beans, but I need some good recipes that will make my kids like it. hmmm???

So, yes, my diet could be more sustainable... but for now this is where I am.

Someday I will grow my own veggies on my deck. Taking one step at a time.

Meanwhile I think I'll rent the movie Food, Inc. to learn more.

Sustainability: Vote For That!

2009-11-16T17:21:00.000-08:00

Do you feel that there is nothing you can do to make a difference?

You want to, but what can one person do?

One person can do a lot when they join with others who are already voting for sustainability.

Taking action is like voting for what you want to see happen in the world.

For example-

I just took action to tell the EPA to protect our waters from harmful nitrogen and phosphorus pollution.

Check it out: http://action.sierraclub.org/ProtectOurWaters

These are the kinds of simple things we can do to make a difference. After we take action it is important to let others know about it (that is what I am doing right now). The more people who hear about it the better.

Another way to vote for sustainability is with your money. If you purchase items derived from sustainable sources you are choosing/voting for what you want to see more of. Production is driven by what people spend their money on.

Here is a great site to get started on sustainable shopping: click here!

Another way to make a difference at the same time as making money is to invest in socially responsible companies. By supporting these companies and avoiding others helps to grow the right kinds of business. You can learn more here.

Environmental Sustainability: Changing the World in my Pajamas

2009-11-12T02:52:00.000-08:00

Honestly I used to be better at changing the world in my p.j.s - spending great amounts of time writing to congressmen and signing petitions online... and I need to start doing that again, but this is what I am doing now...

I click here ... every day to help save the rain forests. But I could do more.

We need to support organizations that are working to restore the earth through protecting forests, conserving and rebuilding soils, regenerating fisheries, and protecting plant and animal diversity.

The following organizations could use our help in creating a sustainable world...

(Pick your favorites!)

Audubon

Works to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats; aka The National Audubon Society

Bluewater Network

Champions protection of ecosystems by reducing fossil fuel use and eradicating other causes of air and water pollution, global warming, and habitat destruction

Center for a New American Dream

Helps Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life and promote social justice

EarthJustice

Public-interest law firm dedicated to protecting the magnificent places, natural resources, and wildlife of this earth and to defending the right of all people to a healthy environment

Earth Rights International

Activists, organizers, and lawyers working on human rights, environment, and corporate/government accountability

Environmental Defense

Works to link science, economics and law to create innovative, equitable and cost-effective solutions to society's most urgent environmental problems

Environmental Working Group

Environmental research organization that uses the power of information to improve public health and protect the environment by reducing pollution in air, water and food

Friends of the Earth US | Friends of the Earth International

Campaigns on the most urgent environmental and social issues of our day while simultaneously catalyzing a shift toward sustainable societies

GRACE - Global Resource Action Center for the Environment

Links with the research, policy and grassroots communities to protect the quality of the environment and preserve the future of the planet

Greenpeace

Focuses on the the most crucial worldwide threats to our planet's biodiversity and environment

National Environmental Trust

Informs citizens about environmental problems and how they affect our health and quality of life

Natural Resources Defense Council

Uses law and science to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things

National Wildlife Federation

Unites individuals, organizations, businesses and government to protect wildlife, wild places, and the environment

Resources for the Future

Works to improve environmental and natural-resources policymaking worlwide through objective social science research

Sierra Club

Mission: to educate and enlist humanity to enjoy and protect the wild places of the earth, its ecosystems and its resources

Union of Concerned Scientists

Alliance of more than 100,000 concerned citizens and scientists; pursues scientific analysis and innovative thinking to build a cleaner, healthier environment and a safer world

Wilderness Society

Protecting America's wilderness since 1935 through the potent combination of science, advocacy and education

World Resources Institute

Develops solutions to move human society to live in ways that protect the earth's environment and improve people's lives

Worldwatch Institute

Analyzes interactions among key environmental, social, and economic trends to promote transition to an environmentally sustainable and socially just society

World Wildlife Fund International | WWF US

Committed to saving endangered species and the wild places that are so vital to our planet's health and survival

I am also partial to giving to adoption programs because we adopted an orphan from Russia in 2007. If everyone adopted one child in place of having one biological child we would no longer have an orphan problem in the world.

Reece's Rainbow: Help's down syndrome kids get adopted

Sweet Hope The proceeds from the sale of all of the candy (super yummy!) goes directly to Baby House (orphanage) #2 in Khabarovsk, Russia.

Spreading the word is another way to change the world in my pajamas: Writing this blog is a way to get the message to readers around the world about the importance of sustainability. Sustainability is IMPORTANT. It's vital for our future survival.

Homes and Communities: An Oasis of Sustainable Love

2009-11-10T20:54:00.000-08:00

I think building and designing sustainable cities and homes needs to go hand in hand with building clusters of strong, close communities. We can retrofit suburbia with an updated sustainable design.

A library, food co-op, tool bank, churches, book store, community garden, police, post office, parks, day cares, cafes, thrift store, recycle center, local grocery, work places, community center and schools can all be built close together for individual communities inside the larger city.

Housing can be built up around these services- building up instead of out.

The goal is to get the maximum amount of people in the smallest amount of space without sacrificing comfort- all in walking distance to needs and services. Using space better will enable more people to access renewable sources of energy. For those times when people must leave their community- a system of fast trains, buses and subway trains should be available everywhere- all interconnected. The city needs to be designed with people in mind. Strong, close, interactive communities is the goal.

The streets should be walkable and narrow. There should be bike lanes and streets just for bikes. The city should be designed around walking and biking and using mass transit- not around cars. So parking lots could be converted into building space. Also, the buildings need to be designed with sustainability in mind- using recycled or other sustainable materials. Building or retrofitting buildings to become LEED certified would need to be mandatory.

Other important initiatives would be reducing urban water use and creating areas for farming and gardening inside the city. There would also need to be an extensive recycling program.

More and more cities are becoming sustainable. Check them out here.

Also- check out the video above to see a newly retrofitted sustainable community.

My Sustainable Home: Turn off the Lights.... Turn on Your (significant other)!

2009-11-09T16:03:00.000-08:00

Is my home an oasis of sustainable love?

We live in a nice, mid-rise apartment. I already have points going for me here because multi-family housing is more sustainable than large, single-family homes. This is simply because less-energy, space, and water is being used per person. (Some of you may be thinking- well that is nice for you, but we have kids, so we could never live in an apartment, but it's OK... we have kids too!) Read why single-family homes are obsolete here.

The other great thing about apartments is: no lawn care! No mowing= more free time. If I feel like I need a yard I can go to a park or forest or hike up a nearby mountain.

My apartment is located in walking/biking distance to the grocery store, post office, library, hair salon, schools, work, movie theater, thrift store, subway station, bus stops and restaurants. We don't even need to own a car. We chose our location well.

Inside my home; however, I could do better. All of our furniture was new when we bought it. Sustainability didn't cross our minds during our furniture buying frenzy. It would have been better to buy used furniture. However, my husband would sooner set himself on fire than sleep on a used mattress, or own a used couch. So, what to do? We could shop from a store that uses wood from sustainable sources and other recycled materials such as Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams or the Inhabitat Shop or 2modern. We could also look into refurbishing old furniture.

Next, lets move into my kitchen and bathrooms. A great resource for greening your kitchen is here. So... are we equipped with all energy and water saving appliances?... NO....why not? Because we don't own our apartment or our major appliances- so our hands are tied in many respects. As far as our small appliances (mixer, blender, toaster)... I try to keep them unplugged and to limit their use. We would love a more energy-efficient refrigerator and dishwasher, but we have to endure the status quo. We even have a funky water faucet that doesn't fit any water-saving faucet aerators. Nor can we switch out our current top loading washing machine for an energy-efficient front-loading one. Nor can we install an awesome new eco-friendly toilet...

BUT we can try this and I will have to look more into this.

Also, I need to replace our bathroom shower heads with these. (Hmmm...Christmas wish list?). A great website of information to really green your bathroom is here.

Another thing for my wish list is a dryer rack for our balcony- this would cut down our use of the dryer, which is a huge energy-suck!

Since we don't own our apartment, we also can't install a programmable thermostat for our home. However, we can dress appropriately for the weather and manually keep the heating and cooling down a bit. Another thing that helps us is closing the blinds when it is really hot or cold.

Other items on my wish list are some power-saver strips (such as these). These devices are great because they connect to computers and TVs getting rid of phantom power that is totally useless anyway!

Moving on through my home, we do have sustainable lighting throughout. It was very easy to replace all of our burned out light bulbs with new energy-efficient CFL lights. We also try to keep the lights off when not in use. It's more fun in the dark anyway!

Other factors that affect sustainability is water pollution. How do I pollute water? By using chlorine bleach and toxic cleaners in my home. There are so many eco-friendly cleaners out there that it really isn't a problem, except when you have a house cleaner who insists on toxic crap and when you give her eco-stuff she complains and complains. So, then perhaps you put your foot down, but your husband rebels and secretly goes out and gets her what she wants. So that's my house, but when I clean- it's vinegar and lemon juice or just plain water.

The other thing I plan on doing to be more sustainable is start a small organic fruit and vegetable garden out on my deck. This will be completely experimental- and I plan on watering with left over bath or shower water. In the future I'd like to hook up a drip water system using gray water. One step at a time I suppose.

Even if I can't do everything I would like to do now, there are some things that I can do and at least I know what to do when we own our future home. See below for my check list....

Buy Now

more dishrags, so I don’t need paper towels

more cloth napkins, so I don’t need paper napkins

reusable plastic covers (they resemble shower caps), so I don’t need plastic wrap

reusable lunch sacks and containers, so I don’t need disposable items

four large trash cans to separate my glass, aluminum, paper, plastic

small glass containers and cups, so I don’t need plastic ones that don’t recycle easily

extra thrift store dishes and silverware, so I don’t ever need disposable stuff

SIGG water containers for adults and kids

“green” cleaning products for general cleaning, dishwasher and washing machine

more compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), replace all old kind

low-flow showerhead

tank bags for toilets

organic shampoos, conditioners, soaps, deodorants and lotions (no petroleum)

reusable toothbrushes and razors (only replace the head)

organic cotton towels, curtains and clothes

recycled toilet paper

organic, local food

in-shower timer to keep showers short

dryer racks, so I can use the dryer less often

organic seeds and fertilizer

cloth grocery bags

smart strips (power-saving strips)

recycled paper

To Do List

repair leaks

stuff cracks for better insulation

recycle everything that I can

close blinds in winter and summer

unplug small appliances

use tap water (filtered if needed), instead of bottled

reuse towels a few times before washing

lower the temperature of hot water heater

use natural light whenever possible

buy in bulk and items with low-packaging

compost and garden

use microwave over using an oven

don’t wash dishes by hand, use a sponge before filling dishwasher instead of rinsing

reuse paper and don’t print unless you have to

don’t buy it

get energy from a renewable source

Buy Later (when we own our home)

energy and water efficient (Energy Star) large appliances, including convection oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, front-loading washing machine

faucet aerators

eco-toilets or adjustable flappers/dual-flush

tankless hot-water heater

bamboo, cork or sustainable wood flooring

VOC-free paints, stains, caulks, grouts

formaldehyde-free cabinets

secondhand fixtures and accessories

window caulk, door snakes, heat-trapping blinds or curtains

used, refurbished or sustainable furniture

programmable thermostat

trees for around our home for cooling shade

Unplugged: 60 Energy-Free Activities

2008-06-26T19:19:00.000-07:00

1. Bike somewhere
2. Play any sports
3. Outdoor games (i.e. tag), races
4. Roll in the grass
5. Make a blanket fort
6. Read a book
7. Walk to the library
8. Play an instrument
9. Sing
10. Organize your closets
11. Declutter and clean your house
12. Garden
13. Give a massage (or get one)
14. Brush your teeth
15. Look at photo albums
16. Yoga on a mat
17. Read outloud to a child
18. Draw or color
19. Walk to a thrift store
20. Play dolls or action figures with your child
21. Brush and put sponge rollers or clips in your hair or your child's
22. Play finger games (itsy spider, etc.)
23. Go to the park
24. Write a story or journal
25. Write a poem
26. Do stretches
27. Knit
28. Sew by hand
29. Walk to the gym
30. Make homemade lotions
31. Write a children's book and illustrate it
32. Try origami
33. Get your hair cut or cut your child's hair
34. Play cards
35. Trim and buff your nails
36. Volunteer
37. Help a child with scout activities
38. Donate to good causes
39. Memorize scripture
40. Talk to someone and listen
41. Have a picnic with homemade food
42. Prepare lessons
43. Do exercises with free weights
44. Take the stairs
45. Put on a play
46. Give yourself a honey facial
47. Make a craft and save it for a gift
48. Play hopscotch or chinese jump rope
49. Learn sign language
50. Take a class
51. Explore a new place
52. Play a board game
53. Play party games
54. Do chores (i.e. hang your laundry to dry)
55. Take care of a pet
56. Hold a yard sale
57. Visit someone (walk to their house)
58. Meditate
59. Pray
60. Run outside (do an errand)

Any other ideas?

Favorite Green Images

2008-05-03T00:00:00.000-07:00