Eco-Friendly Week Two Challenges
How did you do with your eco-friendly challenges for Week One?
Quick Recap:
1. Turn if off:
How I did: Diligent. Only forgot to turn downstairs ceiling fan off once at bedtime!
2. BYOB:
How I did: Great! Local grocery store was giving away free bag with purchase of eggs. Eggs were on my shopping list anyway! Free bag plus the store was out of regular eggs and were substituting organic for no additional charge. Bonus! And, I saved 5 plastic bags (I test-bagged my groceries after!)
3. BYOB of H2O:
How I did: Check. I did not invest in a cool new one yet, but instead of buying bottled water, I used to-go containers already in my house.
4. Go Paperless:
How I did: Well, I actually did this about 3-4 weeks ago but I’m already seeing the benefits: no bills in my mailbox!
5. Recycle:
How I did: Check! I was actually amazed how much I accumulated by looking at the bottom of my containers.
Bonus: Looked up my local farm stands and visited. Bought local pumpkins and apples!
On to Week 2!
1. Go Vegan! Hey, I said things were going to get harder every week! But, this time I mean try it for just a day. Did you know that reducing your meat and meat by-product intake by 20% you can actually impact the environment as much as if you switched to a hybrid car? That breaks down to 1.5 days a week. So this week, try it for a day! Check here for great ideas how:
2. Here’s a bright idea: Change your bulbs. Buy a pack of CFL, or Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs, preferably Energy Star quality. You don’t need to redo your entire house this week; that can be very costly! But invest in at least one pack this week and start updating as your lights go. Check out Energy Star’s Website for tips on how to update your home and where the lights should be.
3. Paperless Squared: Take being paperless to the next level. You e-file your bills, now cut out the junk. Contact the Direct Marketing Association to stop all that unwanted solicitation and Credit-Card Opt Out to stop pre-approved credit card offers. Continue your paperless battle and save the lives of trees in your neighborhood.
4. Chill Out. Feeling the chill outside? Work with it. Adjust your thermostats accordingly. Fall and Winter up north? Avoid turning on the heat until necessary. Hey, I was the first one to turn it on when I lived at home in cold upstate New York with mom & dad, believe me. But instead, throw on some comfy sweats and snuggle under the blankets with some hot apple cider. Begin lowering the thermostat in your house day by day to help your body adjust. Fall & Winter in the South: Thank Mother Nature for the break in the heat by turning off the a/c and throwing open those windows! Learn to adjust. Utilize ceiling or portable fans to move the cool air.
5. Clean up your act. Engage in a little “fall cleaning.” It’s time to switch the closets over to winter wear and pack up the remains of summer. But before you do, go through and see what you didn’t wear this year—or what you hate to admit that you did wear—and pack it up to donate instead of packing it up to not wear next year. Check around the house for any other items like books, movies, kitchen gadgets, and toys. Redecorating? Call your local Goodwill or shelters to see if they need your old furniture.
Bonus: Educate yourself. Being green is easier when you have the knowledge. Get facts and read up on issues that might interest you to help you stay on task. For me this week was about how to eat healthy and be green, or as I like to think of it Green Eggs and Ham.
