My actual purpose for doing this blog was to make a more serious commitment to the environment. Of course that is not all I plan to write about but, the environment and getting green is really the point of the blog's name Get Green Things. I was composing a list of things 50 that I am committed to try at least once in an effort to clean up my impact on the planet. I was trying to get 100 but, I am not that creative. This is a start. Here goes-
Use less paper towels and Switch to post consumed paper towels
Making something useful out of trash.
Switch to post consumed toilet paper
switch to post consumed tissues
Grow three herbs
Go to a farmers market
Get 10 pieces of clothing at good will (that I wear regularly)
Get 5 pieces of organic clothing
Find three meatless meals my family will eat
Shorten shower time (with timer)
Take cloth bags to grocery store
Check tire pressure on car
Bring foil and bag for leftovers when I eat out
move dog door
Donate stuff to goodwill
Take a cup to Starbucks to refill
Find Environmentally friendly pest control
Find a green investment
Donate to a green cause
walk to the store
donate books
set some books “free”
hang clothes to dry
write a letter to my congressman
have an energy audit on my home
research more about vegetarian diet impact on the planet
use public transportation
find an environmental group in my area (meeting)
walk into the store with my bike and shop
reduce my junk mail
take earth day quiz
Find environmentally friendly cleaners
Use my printer less
learn about buying CO2 offsets
Plant a tree
learn about 5 major companies commitment to the environment
Bring cloth bags to the store for my groceries
Learn about composting
Take more nature pictures
Learn about the 100 mile diet
Learn more about local food sources
Switch to organic toiletries
Learn what the plastic recycling numbers mean
Take an environmentally friendly vacation (whatever that means)
Learn ways to waste less water
Learn about 5 species that are endangered right now
Adopt a dog from the pound
Clean our air filters (or get my honey to do it)
Find energy alternatives that might work for my home (and won't piss off my HOA)
Volunteer somewhere to help people and/or the environment
Whoo! That is a lot of stuff I need to try and learn about, I know. I am committed. Even though I haven't done the things on the list I am doing other things,(and somethings I am already slowly starting to do on on the list of 50, I just need to complete them) I list them below. I just know that if I want really lighten my foot print, I need to do and know more.
Things I already do-
Drive a hybrid
recycle paper, cardboard, plastics, glass and metal
Use energy efficient light bulbs (all of our bulbs in the entire house are EF)
Had extra insulation put in our home
Sun screens on all the windows and double pane windows
Installed programmable thermostats
Buy furniture from environmentally responsible vendor
Buy used furniture
Water conserving shower heads
Water conserving toilets
Shut off water when I brush my teeth
Put automatic shutting hinges on front door and garage door
Insulated the garage door
Use reusable plastic bottles for water (big and small)
Eat organic when ever possible
We work from home, less commuting
Combine errands together as much as possible
Donate to Goodwill
Buy recycled paper for printer
Try to buy things with recyclable or less packaging when ever possible
13 comments:
I am SO glad you posted this! So many great ideas here. I have many intentions of doing my part to get greener but often am at a loss for what to do next.
"Find environmentally friendly cleaners"
Have you tried Method?
one more thing. I Love that you posted about buying things used. We are big on this one- mostly because we're poor, but there is just something circle-of-life-ish about one man's trash being another man's treasure. :)
Wow, what a great list. I'm not nearly so ambitious, but will try to get a little better.
I don't like to drive much and walk nearly everywhere I can or take public transpo when practical. That's probably the best thing I do for the environment. But there are hundreds of other things I could get a lot better on.
By the way, I tagged you for a meme--hope that's okay. It's a pretty easy one, but feel free to ignore it. Details on my blog.
I'm impressed with your list. Two things - why move the dog door? I don't quite get the reasoning on that. And what is the 100 mile diet? Sounds intriguing. Do tell us if you find out more.
Thanks for the support!
katieo- I often just forget to do stuff so I am hoping that writing on my blog will remind me to do it. I have tried Method and I use quite a few things Method makes, I just have other things I need to switch over as well. I just need to run out of the bad stuff first.
Crabby- walking is one of the best things you can do! I will do the meme, I am just a wimpy and am waiting for someone else to do it first, so I know I understand what I am doing. I have never done one before.
Dawn- My dog door is in a sliding glass door one and it is not a tight fit (the flap) so air gets thru. I am sure this is a major energy waster with all the cold air in the summer leaking out. I plan on getting one installed in the wall that has two flaps to minimize air leakage.
The 100 mile diet is about only eating food produced with in 100 miles of your own home. I am not sure that is feasible for me but, I want to find out more information (theres a book) and what foods are at least easy to get locally.
Great list! I am so glad crabby lead me to your blog I really enjoy it.
Love this list! Kudos, brava, etc, etc...
It may not sound like much, but I wipe my ass several times with the same piece of paper until every inch has been used. Afterwards I wash my hands with soap and water and then dry them against the wall.
As Jack Palance said in The Three Amigos--"Just focus on one thing and be good at it."
lady rose- Thanks for stopping by, I like your blog too!
Urban vegan- thank you for the encouragement!
Spider- I am glad you are good at something!
This is a great list, and covers some things I aspire to do as well. One thing that my husband and I did this year, almost by accident, was to get rid of paper towels all together. We thought we couldn't live without them, so on new year's day, as an experiment, we just decided not to buy any. And 5 months later, we haven't bought a single roll! We just use cloth kitchen towels, or reusable wipes or sponges- I am so happy with this change! Oh, and if you're worried about bacteria in sponges, I've heard that microwaving them for about 2 mintues (make sure they're wet or they'll burn!) kills the germs.
Sam,
You've got taking cloth bags to the grocery listed twice. Other than that though, all of these things are things you can easily incorporate. Try one a month and make it a habit for that month - it will be really easy!
Kaos- Opps, I'll have to fix that. Now I have to think of one more thing.
Bazu- I think you inspired me to get over my paper towel addiction!
Our entire family resolved to go green in 2008, and you can track our progress at our new blog The Deneens Go Green. So far we've said goodbye to paper napkins, replaced more bulbs with CFLs, and reduced our trash to 25% of what it used to be! Little baby steps can add up to a big difference.
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