We are hearing more and more a big push to go green. To live with less, to bring balance back to our lives and world after the past decade of excess & living in a disposable society.
OK, I'm game. Now what? Think baby steps to a bigger change in your life and the world around you.
Learning the three R's of the millennium. No, I'm not talking reading, 'riting, and 'rethmetic. The three R's for the new millennium are
Reduce,
Recycle,
Reuse!
Take a look at your space and armed with your three R's think of ways to make simple everyday changes that you can live with.
Tips you can use now:
1. Stainless steel water bottles - ditch the plastic. You will save money and lessen the burden on landfills.
2. Electric Shavers - Using an electric shaver again saves money & reduces our landfills.
3. Reusable shopping bags - Most of us have at least one now in our closets or pantries - now we need to think ahead & take them with us!
4. Donate - Take stock of your out of date, too small or unworn clothing and donate it! Take the tax write off and give to a good cause. It's a win, win situation. Don't overlook other household items that can be put to good use by others. Toys, kitchenware, small appliances that still work but you may have updated can all be donated and reused by someone else.
5. Use washable kitchen towels - when wiping the counters and table tops use kitchen cloths - not paper towels. There will be times when you need a paper towel but with a conscious effort you can cut the use of paper towels by 50%!
6. Compost - yes, most of those table scraps can be used in your flower beds or kitchen garden instead of added to the landfill. You will save money on store bought compost and have a nutrient rich alternative for your gardens.
7. Recycle - if you don't have a recycle spot it is as easy as setting up a plastic bin or a heavy cardboard box. Let the family know what goes where - plastic, glass and/or paper. Some companies will pick up all items together and separate after pick up. Find out what services you have in your area.
8. Light bulbs - replace your light bulbs as they burn out with compact florescent. They will last longer & use less energy!
9. Re-purpose/Re-define - No longer use that dining room - take your table and re-purpose it into a family desk or sell it and re-define the space into a family game room. Look at your home and figure out how to get the most use out of each room so that it works for your lifestyle today.
10. Adjust - by adjusting your thermostat by 2 degrees you will save a lot of money on your energy bill. Turning a fan on when a room is in use will keep things comfortable and still give your electric bill a break.
These are a few tips we try to incorporate in our home - baby steps by each person will make a huge impact on our earth!
