For those of you who know me well, you know that I'm a "Go Greener." I'm not sure when this became an obsession of mine, but now when I see waste of any kind, it drives me CRAZY!!! It's weird because I live in country that recycles a lot of things (like, down to nothing) and doesn't consume NEARLY as much as we Americans do...but there is a ton of smog and trash and frankly, just ignorance about caring for the environment. You can't really blame anyone, most people here are just trying to feed their family from day to day. But while Europe, the States, and many other countries are trying to turn from our wasteful ways, we have introduced plastics and tons of packaging, etc. to many third world countries who have very little idea how to manage these things properly.
ANYWAY, I know many of you have heard all this before, but for some reason many of us still struggle to live a green lifestyle. Going green can sometimes take a little more effort, but it's worth it in the end, people! Please take the time to read these tips, research more for yourself, and start implementing these things into your daily life. Oh, and SPREAD THE WORD to your friends, family, neighbors, children...let's care for the beautiful earth God gave us! I don't know about you, but I want my children to be able to breathe fresh air and not be wading through trash.
Tips on "Going Green" At Home
1. Don't buy bottled water! It's not even good for you (look it up) and it is such a waste of plastic! Instead, buy a re-usable bottle and fill it with clean tap water =0)
2. Bring your own, reusable bags to the store! There are so many cute bags out there, and it really requires very little effort to remember to bring your own bag. Even in clothing stores, I always tell them I don't need a bag. There really is no reason to ever need a plastic bag.
3. Try and combine all your errands into one or two trips a week, or better yet, ride a bike or walk when you can. Thinking ahead can cut back on a ton of gas and smog and all that jazz.
4. Turn off lights, fans, appliances, electronics whenever you aren't in a room or not using them. I feel like so many people have every single thing in their house on at the same time! Ridiculous! And try and use natural light for as long as you can in the day.
5. Switch all light bulbs to CFL's...they even have lovely, warm, lamp colored bulbs.
6. Grow your own veggies and herbs if you can.
7. Try and buy things with as little packaging as possible.
8. Line dry laundry when possible, and wash your clothes in cold water instead of hot. Also, try and wear your clothes as many times as possible before washing them: for example, jeans don't need to be washed every day. I have a family of three and I do the wash once a week.
9. Use cloth napkins and towels in the kitchen- this will cut down on SO much waste!
10. Use "green" cleaning products in your house- they are just as cheap as regular products and good for the environment. You can also make your own cleaning products, which is even cheaper. Google it!
11. Buy used items whenever you can: thrift stores, Craigslist, yard sales, etc. And donate things you aren't using anymore.
12. Check out the Diva Cup for "that" time of the month- it's better for YOU, too!
13. Take short showers- I've always been a short shower girl, so this is no problem for me. No more than five minutes, people!
14. If you are a soda lover, try and buy glass bottles and then recycle them- plastic soda bottles or cans are no beuno!
15. Support your local farmers market- buy things that are fresh, not processed, and not packaged =0)
*The bonus in all of this is that it SAVES YOU MONEY!!! It's a win/win situation!
Love you all!
So, you have to private message me about the Diva cup. It was something I was looking into, prior to pregnancy, and I'd love all the personal endorsement. Include gory details please.
ReplyDelete