Monday, February 1, 2010

Time to Go Green

"Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good action; try to use ordinary situations." — Jean Paul Richter

If you stop and think about how much goes to waste in your life on a daily basis, you will notice that our waste adds up fast... and if you think about the formula we're creating: more garbage + more pollution = higher expenses = less money, it's not a pretty picture. Perhaps you've heard my favorite muppet, Kermit the Frog, crooning his song, "It's not easy being green." Lately I've been thinking more about the green movement, but it didn't really hit home until I realized that unlike Kermit's words, it's rather easy to do. Going green isn't a fad; it's a change in your behavior... and it's really very simple to do once you raise your awareness and start paying attention.

There are a plethora of resources out there about greening your life, but allow me to highlight some simple habits if you don't know where to start.

Tips for Heading Towards Greenville:
  • First, and foremost, start paying attention to what you use, keep, and throw away. Remember the 3 R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
  • Use a washcloth instead of paper towels to wipe up spills.
  • If you like using paper towels, buy the half-sized perforated style which uses half the amount of a regular towel each time you tear one off (makes great napkins!)
  • Reuse the unused and gently used paper dinner napkins as handy wipes for wiping food from dirty dishes, greasy pans and for quick clean-ups.
  • Use the backs of previously printed papers in your printer. Most of what we print out are not final pages of a doctoral dissertation, so just save the new paper for the important stuff.
  • You know those cute little Ziploc bags? Unless you're filling them with pudding or peanut butter they can be reused.
  • Ask for a ceramic coffee mug at your local coffee shop - stay in, relax, and enjoy your java.
  • Try replacing your coffee with green tea (blended with jasmine or lemongrass rocks!) It's green and it's good for you.
  • Turn off non-essential lights.
  • Buy electronics with rechargeable batteries instead of disposable.
  • When possible, walk, bike, or carpool instead of drive. It's better for you, the environment, and saves money.
  • Reuse hotel sheets and towels. Do you change your sheets and towels every day at home? Then don't do it when you're on vacation.
  • Buy reusable shopping bags. Save a plastic tree!
  • Reconsider bottled water. Consider purchasing an aluminum refillable bottle and going back to the tap. Seriously - the whole bottled water craze is more of a fad than a fact. Did you realize they're slowly raising the prices for bottled water? Retailers are smart. But you are smarter.
  • Consider going greener by using non-chemical cleaning supplies and supplementing your health with essential plant oils instead. Young Living is a fantastic organization I've been working with for years to help support you and your families' health with greener choices. 


Green Resources:

Personally, I like National Geographic's Green Guide, which gives a consumer a heapin' helpin' of stuff on everything from home and garden to personal care and product buying guides. There's also:

I strongly encourage you to think about where you can Go Green by reducing, reusing and recycling more in your life. You'll feel good about the planet and your pocketbook. And by showing Kermit that you understand what being green is about, you'll make him a happy frog.

Namaste,

The Ambassador