As we wake up each morning and go about our busy little lives we don’t always take the time to remember our impact on the planet. As governments around the globe push for new energy and environmental standards and green technology explodes, it’s vital that we remember our impact still starts with each and everyone of us. It is our lack of self responsibility that has gotten us in this sticky situation with climate change. The good news is, it doesn’t take a massive amount of effort to create huge change. Here are my top three simple ways to green your life.
1.) Bring Your Own Bag: Commit to never using a plastic bag again. Four to five trillion plastic bags are manufactured each year. Americans alone use 380 billion bags, 100 billion get tossed and only 1% of those thrown out are recycled. Oh ya and it takes about 1000 years for one of these bad boys to break down, meanwhile it will probably kill some innocent sea life or end up drifting in our massive ocean trash heaps. Buy a reusable bag and remember to use it.
2.) Buy Sustainable Products: From food to body lotion, sustainable products are plentiful now days. You can’t walk down an isle without seeing the words “organic, biodegradable, fair trade, all natural, free range.” The exciting bit is that I have seen a huge influx of companies who are innovating biodegradable packaging! While you might not have access to some of these eco brands, an easy way to begin is to buy green self care and home cleaning products. For personal hygiene, Tom’s of Maine all natural products leads the way. While companies like Method are making big waves in the green home products sector.
3.) Get Rid Of Your Car: There’s no doubt that car emissions are the leading culprit in climate change. Biking, walking and carpooling where you need to go are not always an option, but there are ways of monitoring your emissions if you must drive. Start by monitor your car’s OBD computer and investigate thoroughly if it causes your “check engine” light to come on. Drive your car as infrequently as possible, and drive as fuel-efficiently as possible. Only use air conditioning and heat when it’s absolutely necessary. If you’re going to idle your car for longer than 30 seconds, such as at a railroad crossing while waiting for a freight train to go by, shut your engine off. Shutting your engine off and restarting it bears a lower emissions cost than allowing it to sit idle—and it has the pleasant side effect of saving you gas money, too.
How are you using simple techniques to create a large impact?
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Don’t forget flying. Flying by airplane is individually the single worst thing the average person can do in their life. The carbon emissions of a flight from Rio de Janeiro to London is the equivalent to driving a car 24 km a day for 20 years. (van Brakel and Buitenkamp, 1992)
There is a great opportunity for a great entrepreneur to revolutionize our primary mode of international travel.
“are” the equivalent…
Wow, I really like the design and look of your blog page. This post in particular is highly effective and do work. The simplicity of this post is astoundingly amazing!!1
@Sin- Absolutely! We are on the verge of some amazing technology. I hope the airlines get it next.
@Bakar- glad you like the simplicity. I think the more simple the better. Clear and concise and to the point.
I carried a Trader Joe’s tote bag with me whenever I went grocery shopping in South America. It threw off the cashiers and baggers because I don’t think many people show up with their own bags anywhere down there. It straight up pissed them off when I tried bagging my stuff myself, but maybe that’s just a Bay Area thing.
The other reason I carried the tote bag with me everywhere was because I really wanted another gringo to see it and give me a fist bump for representing Trader Joe’s but in 8 months it never happened.
Oh, and my favorite tip for being a little less wasteful: use your stuff until it’s dead instead of buying new stuff too early. At this point I’ve got three crotch holes patched on my jeans but they still work and I don’t think enough people have checked out my crotch lately to notice.
@Clay- haha I can picture the crotchless pants. I too wear my clothes until they grow holes. Especially when I am dancing a lot I go through tights, shoes and socks like nothing else. Minimalist living is my new discipline since I have been back in the states. Everything tells you…buy buy buy. I actually have to physically remove myself from shoppping strips to avoid the urge.
I love totting my bag to TJ’s as well. I secretly hope it will rub off on other and they’ll catch on.
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