My environmental commitment.

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-

1. Use less paper towels and Switch to post consumed paper towels

2. Making something useful out of trash.

3. Switch to post consumed toilet paper

4. switch to post consumed tissues

5. Grow three herbs

6. Go to a farmers market

7. Get 10 pieces of clothing at good will (that I wear regularly)

8. Get 5 pieces of organic clothing

9. Find three meatless meals my family will eat

10. Shorten shower time (with timer)

11. Take cloth bags to grocery store

12. Check tire pressure on car

13. Bring foil and bag for leftovers when I eat out

14. move dog door

15. Donate stuff to goodwill

16. Take a cup to Starbucks to refill

17. Find Environmentally friendly pest control

18. Find a green investment

19. Donate to a green cause

20. walk to the store

21. donate books

22. set some books “free”

23. hang clothes to dry

24. write a letter to my congressman

25. have an energy audit on my home

26. research more about vegetarian diet impact on the planet

27. use public transportation

28. find an environmental group in my area (meeting)

29. walk into the store with my bike and shop

30. reduce my junk mail

31. take earth day quiz

32. Find environmentally friendly cleaners

33. Use my printer less

34. learn about buying CO2 offsets

35. Plant a tree

36. learn about 5 major companies commitment to the environment

37. Bring cloth bags to the store for my groceries

38. Learn about composting

39. Take more nature pictures

40. Learn about the 100 mile diet

41. Learn more about local food sources

42. Switch to organic toiletries

43. Learn what the plastic recycling numbers mean

44. Take an environmentally friendly vacation (whatever that means)

45. Learn ways to waste less water

46. Learn about 5 species that are endangered right now

47. Adopt a dog from the pound

48. Clean our air filters (or get my honey to do it)

49. Find energy alternatives that might work for my home (and won't piss off my HOA)

50. 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.

(Not to toot my own horn but, I am known by my family and friends as a fairly environmentally aware person)

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