Lower the thermostat: for every degree, you save about 2 percent off your heating bill. Once your body gets accustomed to the new norm, the problem will be getting friends and family to follow suit, because you’ll have to peel off layers every time you go visit. (If you buy a down vest, you can drop the temperature even more.)
Change your diet: eating more grains and beans will lower
the country’s emissions from food production by 50%. Every time I pause in front of the Stop & Shop meat shelf, I ask myself, do I really want all those hormones coursing through my body? The answer is a resounding NO. (Find a good health food store, like Orleans Whole Food on Main Street.)Eliminate plastic from your life: Plastic is made with petroleum by-products. Join the Compact (a worldwide buy-nothing-new movement). I have screamed my heart out on this one. See last month’s post on plastic, and my Plastics Lament.
Take public transportation, whenever possible, or walk, or ride bikes. (This fall Sven and I discovered public transportation is not always an option in the off-season, but at least we tried.)
Eliminate plastic from your life. What? Did I mention that already? Check out a great blog I discovered called Fake Plastic Fish and be enlightened.
What New Year’s resolution are you formulating with regard to the environment?
13 comments:
It was really interesting to read about your suggestions for greener living. It's been eye-opening to realize that eating less meat does more for the earth than driving a Prius, and that even though we drive many more miles than our friends, our carbon footprint is smaller because we don't fly in airplanes.
Love this. Thanks for the great reminders. I type this as I sit here in a 60 degree room, wearing about four shirts and long underwear. Layers and hot tea completely solve the "cold" issue.
I was so shocked to find out on Christmas that my aunt keeps her house at a balmy 74F all winter long! Seriously! When I balked, she shrugged. Some people really just don't get it.
I love this post! I really love this post. I hope your readers may listen and actually do all of what you suggest here. We keep our house at 50 at night and usually at 62 during the day. Friends know they need to bring a sweater when they come over. But my kids are so used to it they walk around in shorts and T-shirts and don't get cold (except when they eat ice cream!)
We also have 1 car for 6 people. Kill your car, which is one of the major causes of pollution that individuals make, and you're really helping the environment (plus getting more exercise!)
Thank you for writing about this.
Jennifer here again. That Fake Plastic Fish blog is amazing. Thank you for the link. And, I joined The Compact. I am all over buying nothing.
But what are my environmental resolutions? I guess to really get serious about eliminating plastic from our lives. That blog and The Compact should really help.
So, I just wanted to say thank you again.
Great post!
Here is my very simple resolution to help stay green:
Remember to bring my reuseable grocery bags with me!
These are wonderful reminders, Alexandra! Thanks for the list. I always try to lower the heat as much as I can bear, consolidate my errands and recycle anything I can get my hands on (if it's recyclable).
Great ideas to ring in the new year! I keep my house between 67-68 but often bump up the temp for guests (some complain that it's too cold), but I'd rather throw on an extra sweater than have a hot house.
Thanks to everyone who commented here. Not a whole lot of resolutions so far. If you stumbled upon this blog, can you add yours? You can find mine on my post tomorrow!
These are great tips! I live in the city, so I always take public transportation (don't even own a car). I also use reusable shopping bags, recycle paper and plastic, and eat an all-vegetarian diet. This year I need to convert more of my lightbulbs to the energy efficient kind.
At our place we've resolved to:
1)Get an energy checkup for our home. 2) Shop locally, especially for food. 3)Use as few plastics and chemicals as possible. 4) Keep recycling, and buy less "stuff".
Great resolutions, Susan and Janet!
We also keep our house pretty chilly which I find difficult. I do not like to be cold. I keep it around 63 during the day, 60 at night. I wear several layers of clothing. I really really HATE being cold, but it's just something we need to do. Thanks for all the other info too..
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