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Basics of “Going Green"

You have probably heard the term “going green”. People from celebrities to politicians make references to being greener on a regular basis. You may be thinking that you would like to be more environmentally friendly, but worry that some of the available options out there cost too much money. Well, here are some ideas that won’t break the bank. In fact, they may add some money to your pocket.

Become a vegan (or at least consume fewer animal products). The overuse of livestock is one of the largest contributing factors to our environmental problems today. Rearing cattle results in the release of large amounts of greenhouse gases, which are believed to be the cause of global warming. Animal waste, pesticides and fertilizers used on their food, as well as the hormones and antibiotics farmers use, pollute our water supply. Deforestation is another significant problem related to the use of livestock. Over 70% of the Amazon rain forest has been destroyed in order to raise animals for food and other products. If these reasons are not enough to convince you, consider that the majority of livestock, poultry and farmed fish being raised for our use are being raised in cruel and inhumane conditions.

Use reusable bags when you go shopping. The average American family uses over 600 grocery bags per year. This adds up to over 40 billion bags nationwide. The majority of these end up in landfills once they are used to carry groceries home. Paper bags are made from trees, and plastic bags are made from petroleum. Both use energy and natural resources to make, and petroleum to transport them to your neighborhood market. Using a reusable shopping bag even occasionally can greatly cut down on the total number of bags used.

Buy local and shop at your local farmers market or farm stand. When purchasing locally grown produce, you are not only helping the environment, you are supporting your local economy. Food that is purchased directly from the farmer will have traveled far fewer miles than produce that was grown far away. Large amounts of petro chemicals are required to ship food thousands of miles from where it is grown to where it is sold. Buying locally means fewer resources are used to get the food from the farm to your table. In addition to this, the farmer, and not middle men, receives 100% of your food dollar.

Buy in bulk. Buying in bulk is generally less expensive and requires less packaging. Buying in bulk also offers the advantage that you can purchase only the amount that you need of an item. This will help to minimize waste.

Buy organic. Purchasing food and products which have been organically grown is a very important way to go green. Organic items have been grown without the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides. These man made chemicals pollute our water supply and our bodies. If you are unable to choose organic produce, just make sure to wash your produce carefully before eating.

Drive your car less. Try to think of ways to reduce your car trips. Can you walk or ride your bike to run any of your errands? Try to combine errands into as few trips as possible. If possible, try to plan your trip so that you are making more right hand turns as opposed to left hand turns. Turning left usually requires spending more time idling your car while waiting for traffic and stop lights, which burns more fuel.

Explore your local library. Instead of rushing out to purchase brand new books, videos, or magazines, why not borrow them from your local library instead? These days, libraries have a plethora of items including books, magazines, DVDs, CDs and more. The best part is that it is all free to use. Many libraries offer free passes to local attractions. Using the library will cut down on your clutter, and result in using fewer natural resources to produce more of these items. Also, using your library helps out others in your community because the more popular the library is, the more funding it receives.

Use less water. The average American uses over 100 gallons of water each day! There are many things you can do to greatly reduce your water use without feeling deprived. You can install low-flow shower heads and faucets. You do not have to replace the whole unit. Speak to someone at your local hardware store or check consumer reports to find the best ones for your home. Run dishwasher and washing machines only when they are full. When washing dishes by hand, fill up the sink with warm soapy water, rather than letting the faucet run while you wash. Don’t pour unused water down the drain. Use it to water plants.

Wash your clothes in cold water. With the laundry soap that is available today, cold water is more than sufficient to get your clothes clean. The exception to this rule is really dirty items, such as dirty baby diapers. RawPeople has even sourced out a system called Laundry Plus that uses cold water, no soap and is environmentally friendly as well.

Try shopping at garage sales and thrift stores. It is hip to buy used items right now. Buying second hand items will not only save you money, but it will save these items from the landfill. When shopping at garage sales, you are helping to put money into the pockets of people in your community. Most thrift shops are run by non-profit organizations, so the money they make from your purchase goes to charity. Think of it as an adventure, you never know what you will find.

Being greener is great for the environment, but is also great for you too. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to change everything at once. Try to make one small change at a time and work your way toward a greener tomorrow.

By: Angela Coate-Hermes

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