Just by lowering it 1 degree, there is a huge change in our enery usage. So, even though we used to keep it at 20-21, we will now keep it at 18. It's a big change, but we will adjust.
If you find it to be too much of a change, try to lower your thermostat 1/4 degree/2 weeks (1/2 degree/month). It will take a couple months to get there, but you will get there and it shouldn't be painful to do.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
#87 - Bring Garbage Home
Yesterday I started to bring my garbage home when I am out for the day.
For example, my apple core - it can be composted, so I don't want to throw it in a garbage bag simply because there is no compost bin at the mall or at school. I can just as easily throw it back in my bag, that I brought it in, and compost it when I get home.
It's the same for recyclables - I can do that at home, so why trash it just because I am out and about.
Here are a couple interesting stats I heard recently:
42% of the greenhouse gases that come from landfills are actually coming from materials that are compostable.
3% of the world's greenhouse gases come from compostable materials in landfills
That's staggering! Composting alone could reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 3%! That means we don't have to reduce our driving, get a battery operated car, etc. One easy fix is to compost. Obviously, reducing car emissions would be great too! But, many people see that as being something that is unattainable. Composting is attainable for everyone - even apartment dwellers.
The explanation for this is that organic materials require oxygen to break down. When they are forced to break down sans oxygen (oxygen cannot enter into plastic bags), they produce gases. However, when they compost, oxygen is present.
I also read yesterday that the world's usable dirt for gardening will run out in 35-40 years. Seriously? I don't know about that and I would have to look into it, but since composting makes dirt, it seems like an easy fix.
For example, my apple core - it can be composted, so I don't want to throw it in a garbage bag simply because there is no compost bin at the mall or at school. I can just as easily throw it back in my bag, that I brought it in, and compost it when I get home.
It's the same for recyclables - I can do that at home, so why trash it just because I am out and about.
Here are a couple interesting stats I heard recently:
42% of the greenhouse gases that come from landfills are actually coming from materials that are compostable.
3% of the world's greenhouse gases come from compostable materials in landfills
That's staggering! Composting alone could reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 3%! That means we don't have to reduce our driving, get a battery operated car, etc. One easy fix is to compost. Obviously, reducing car emissions would be great too! But, many people see that as being something that is unattainable. Composting is attainable for everyone - even apartment dwellers.
The explanation for this is that organic materials require oxygen to break down. When they are forced to break down sans oxygen (oxygen cannot enter into plastic bags), they produce gases. However, when they compost, oxygen is present.
I also read yesterday that the world's usable dirt for gardening will run out in 35-40 years. Seriously? I don't know about that and I would have to look into it, but since composting makes dirt, it seems like an easy fix.
Monday, September 7, 2009
#86 - Reduce Medications
I am a wus. I really am. Anyone who knows me will say `why is she repeating herself? it's so obvious!' David will tell anyone willing to listen that I did not handle child birth well. Most men are in awe of their wives, but mine laughs at me. Can you tell I am a little resentful? I am a wus though, and I only have myself to blame - it was REALLY painful though!
I have always had bad headaches, but since I have gotten control of my eating, lost weight, stopped binging, etc, I feel healthier. I now feel like I can handle life's discomforts.
I did not blog about my fall on this site, but I did blog about it on my other blog. I fell about 3 weeks ago. I scraped up my left leg, my left arm, bent the nails back on my right hand, and crushed the left side of my chest. I didn't break anything, but I was in serious pain. Well, 3 weeks later, and I am still recovering. Everything is better except for my left breast. It's still extremely sore. I truly think that my fall could have killed me if I was still 110 lbs heavier than I am now.
However, everything else aside, I am proud that I did not take a single pain killer. I no longer take pain killers for anything, but I do occasionally take a migraine pill when I feel one coming on.
I have a cold coming on now, but I won't take any meds for it.
I will not stop my son's asthma meds - they aren't voluntary. I also won't hold back the cold meds for the kids if they want them.
I will raise my tolerance of what I can handle because the more meds we use, the more unnecessary chemicals are entering into the water table. In addition to reducing the chemicals, I will also reduce the packaging that the medications come in.
I may utilize physio though to heal my chest that is still very, very sore. What can be done for a sprained boob?
Just an aside: I get the most bizarre of injuries! Another reason David laughs at me.
I have always had bad headaches, but since I have gotten control of my eating, lost weight, stopped binging, etc, I feel healthier. I now feel like I can handle life's discomforts.
I did not blog about my fall on this site, but I did blog about it on my other blog. I fell about 3 weeks ago. I scraped up my left leg, my left arm, bent the nails back on my right hand, and crushed the left side of my chest. I didn't break anything, but I was in serious pain. Well, 3 weeks later, and I am still recovering. Everything is better except for my left breast. It's still extremely sore. I truly think that my fall could have killed me if I was still 110 lbs heavier than I am now.
However, everything else aside, I am proud that I did not take a single pain killer. I no longer take pain killers for anything, but I do occasionally take a migraine pill when I feel one coming on.
I have a cold coming on now, but I won't take any meds for it.
I will not stop my son's asthma meds - they aren't voluntary. I also won't hold back the cold meds for the kids if they want them.
I will raise my tolerance of what I can handle because the more meds we use, the more unnecessary chemicals are entering into the water table. In addition to reducing the chemicals, I will also reduce the packaging that the medications come in.
I may utilize physio though to heal my chest that is still very, very sore. What can be done for a sprained boob?
Just an aside: I get the most bizarre of injuries! Another reason David laughs at me.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
#85 - Re-Use Packaging
The more I move away from plastic packaging, the more alternatives I am finding.
My flour and granola comes in a paper bag tied shut with a woven piece of string. If I cut only one end of the string, then I get a 2 foot piece of decent string. Why not keep it? I use it whenever I need string and don't need to buy anymore.
What about the elastics that are wrapped around all sorts of produce? Re-use or donate to the Post Office.
Peanuts from shipping boxes? Great for mailing to friends/family.
Tissue that breakable items get packaged in in stores? Great for gift wrapping!
Large boxes from half buying bulk fruit? They make great storage/shopping bins instead of buying large plastic totes. It's the same with boxes from reams of computer paper.
Since I buy very little that is pacakged, I don't have a lot of other items that many people would have, so I haven't thought about all the different possibilities. These are simply the ones I have found. What about using the bread bag clips instead of twist ties??? If you really want to use baggies, then why not get the ones that do not have the seal, and use bread bag clips to close them?
I am reducing garbage immediately, saving money and preventing new items from being made and ultimately going into the landfill in the future.
Please post anymore ideas that you might have! We can all learn from one person's idea.
My flour and granola comes in a paper bag tied shut with a woven piece of string. If I cut only one end of the string, then I get a 2 foot piece of decent string. Why not keep it? I use it whenever I need string and don't need to buy anymore.
What about the elastics that are wrapped around all sorts of produce? Re-use or donate to the Post Office.
Peanuts from shipping boxes? Great for mailing to friends/family.
Tissue that breakable items get packaged in in stores? Great for gift wrapping!
Large boxes from half buying bulk fruit? They make great storage/shopping bins instead of buying large plastic totes. It's the same with boxes from reams of computer paper.
Since I buy very little that is pacakged, I don't have a lot of other items that many people would have, so I haven't thought about all the different possibilities. These are simply the ones I have found. What about using the bread bag clips instead of twist ties??? If you really want to use baggies, then why not get the ones that do not have the seal, and use bread bag clips to close them?
I am reducing garbage immediately, saving money and preventing new items from being made and ultimately going into the landfill in the future.
Please post anymore ideas that you might have! We can all learn from one person's idea.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
#84 - Wooden Toothbrushes
Throwing away plastic toothbrushes bother me.
So, from now on I will get the wooden ones. I will have to buy them at the organic food stores, but that's ok with me.
So, from now on I will get the wooden ones. I will have to buy them at the organic food stores, but that's ok with me.
#83 - Paperless Billing
This one is a big one for me. I know it shouldn't be, but I have an issue with beign forced to visit websites. I don't want the constant bombardment of advertising and I don't like having to continually `log-in' everywhere. I do not want anymore passwords!!!
I have been very, very willing to go paperless if companies are willing to email the bill to me. But, they say they cannot. They email me a link to my bill. Even that would be ok with me if I could simply click the link and see my bill. But, it doesn't work that way. When I click the link, I have to give a password. This has been the sticking point for me. I hate log-ins and passwords. I am sick and tired of having to run my life because other people feel they have the right to interfere in the lives of others. Because of a small element of society we cannot live as we should be able to. We require locks and keys. We require passwords. We cannot let our children go to the park on their own and we need security guards in schools.
I have accepted the security guards, and even fought for them. I have accepted the keys, restricting my children's movements, and I have even accepted that I cannot take my daughter's milk onto a plane for her to have cereal for breakfast because I cannot find lactose free milk inside of security in airports, but I have been unwilling to log-in to websites simply to find out how much I owe to companies. I feel they should be able to email me my total and if I want to look into that amount and question it, then I can log-into their site.
So, rant over. Stepping down from my soap box. Accepting that I cannot control how my life will be lived, and in an effort to change the little that I do have control over, I will go paperless and log-into their websites to get my bill.
:(
Something I had not previously thought of, is that a reduction in the amount of mail will also reduce gas consumption - fewer trucks are required to deliver the mail as we reduce our mail.
I have been very, very willing to go paperless if companies are willing to email the bill to me. But, they say they cannot. They email me a link to my bill. Even that would be ok with me if I could simply click the link and see my bill. But, it doesn't work that way. When I click the link, I have to give a password. This has been the sticking point for me. I hate log-ins and passwords. I am sick and tired of having to run my life because other people feel they have the right to interfere in the lives of others. Because of a small element of society we cannot live as we should be able to. We require locks and keys. We require passwords. We cannot let our children go to the park on their own and we need security guards in schools.
I have accepted the security guards, and even fought for them. I have accepted the keys, restricting my children's movements, and I have even accepted that I cannot take my daughter's milk onto a plane for her to have cereal for breakfast because I cannot find lactose free milk inside of security in airports, but I have been unwilling to log-in to websites simply to find out how much I owe to companies. I feel they should be able to email me my total and if I want to look into that amount and question it, then I can log-into their site.
So, rant over. Stepping down from my soap box. Accepting that I cannot control how my life will be lived, and in an effort to change the little that I do have control over, I will go paperless and log-into their websites to get my bill.
:(
Something I had not previously thought of, is that a reduction in the amount of mail will also reduce gas consumption - fewer trucks are required to deliver the mail as we reduce our mail.
#82 - Organic Cotton or other sustainable fabric
Whenever possible, I will buy organic cotton over conventional cotton. Most people don't know this, but cotton is the most `pesticided' crop anywhere in the world. The damage to the environment from this one crop is massive. Yes, we don't ingest it, but the chemicals are still going into the ground, into the water, creating `dead zones' in the rivers, and oceans and create extremely unhealthy water that is servicing communities as drinking water. Not only are the pesticides going into the water table, but it is also sitting against our skin. I know first hand how damaging this is because our son cannot wear new clothes. Everything he wears must be washed 2-3x before his skin can tolerate the fabric (and he's 9 and not a baby).
Organic is more expensive, and it's difficult to find. As more and more people request it and buy it, it will come down in price. It will also become more available.
My first line of attack will always be 2nd hand clothes or fabrics.
My second line of attack will be to look for organic cotton in the eco-stores. When in conventional stores, I will ask for organic cotton. In addition to organic cotton, there are also other sustainable fabrics, like some bamboos. Not all bamboo fabrics are good because even though it is a sustainable crop, most is not processed in a sustainable way (we're talking about the stuff used for fabric here and not the hardwood flooring, etc).
If I cannot find something 2nd hand, organic or other sustainable fabric, I will buy conventional in very limited occurances.
This will be expensive, but hopefully I will offset the cost because the majority will be 2nd hand.
Organic is more expensive, and it's difficult to find. As more and more people request it and buy it, it will come down in price. It will also become more available.
My first line of attack will always be 2nd hand clothes or fabrics.
My second line of attack will be to look for organic cotton in the eco-stores. When in conventional stores, I will ask for organic cotton. In addition to organic cotton, there are also other sustainable fabrics, like some bamboos. Not all bamboo fabrics are good because even though it is a sustainable crop, most is not processed in a sustainable way (we're talking about the stuff used for fabric here and not the hardwood flooring, etc).
If I cannot find something 2nd hand, organic or other sustainable fabric, I will buy conventional in very limited occurances.
This will be expensive, but hopefully I will offset the cost because the majority will be 2nd hand.
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