So I decided to save the planet! I'm creating awareness & praying for change. Below are a few simple ways to make a big impact. Now don't worry, I'm not talking about buying a hybrid car or solar panels for your house. These a little things. If you're wondering about the green feet, they symolise the footprints that you leave on the environment. I listed some of the life style changes I have made to do my part in parenthesis.
FACTS
-If everyone recycled we'd reduce landfill waste by 75% (I am still in the process of trying to recycle. Its not easy when you live with 3 other people who don't want to!)
-5% of this country's electricity is used up by products that are plugged in but not being used. (unplug things like toaster and radios when not using them. Use power strips with on/off switches. This will save you money on your power bill too!)
-Oil is used to make more then just gas. Among other things it is used to make plastic. If Americans stopped drinking bottled water we would save 1.5 billion barrels or oil each year! (I now use a refillable bottle. It saves me money and makes me feel better about my choices.)
-(This is a tip for you computer guys!) Did you know blue-ray discs are eco-friendly. 50% of their composition is paper. They can be put through a shredder and are easily recycled.
-(This tip is for the coffee drinkers) 1/3 of North Americas tap water is used in coffee makers. I not too sure what you can do about this other than reduce consumption and watch "water fill" whatever that means.
-I have also stopped using plastic bags. I bought this cute bag that I take everywhere with me. It is small and now I do not have to waste a plastic sack every time I go shopping. You can buy them at Wal-Mart and Kohl's.
I hope that you all consider making little changes. Think about your impacts and how they'll affect your children and grandchildren. These stats come from a book of mine, The Green Book. If you want to borrow it let me know. I believe Jenn is first in line. Leave me a comment with your opinions, other facts you know, and/or things you think you might change.
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3 comments:
How about I don't drink bottled water, and instead use that much tap water more for my coffee?
Oh wait...that doesn't even out.
I'll keep working on it. :)
My favorite tip from "Living More With Less" (a book written by a Mennonite, it and its cookbook by the same name has been used by missionaries all over the world for years) is one we haven't actually done (but I want to, sort of): keep a bucket in your shower to collect water, then fill a smaller bucket from it and forcefully throw the water down down the toliet to flush it (we have flushed like this in Mexico). THINK of the water that we would save!!! But I don't think Jonah could handle this method!
do you have citation on 'unplug stuff to save power' thing? I'd like to read some more about that.
I think carpooling/biking/walking is a good way, too.
When it warms up, my bike and I are going to get to be a lot better friends.
Turning the lights off and using CFLs are good steps, too.
Ok, one last step: reduce consumption of stupid crap. Just overall. Reduce your consumption rates of stuff in general.
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