Why Go Green?
How We Can Help
It is the right thing to do
Saving the planet is in our hands....
Most people are already aware of the answer to: Why Go Green? Global warming, increased lung ailments due to impurities in the air, diseased fish that are then consumed by people…and those are just a few of the many things going on. There are only so many natural resources, and with the population expected to grow to 9 Billion by 2050, that means there is going to be a lot less to go around. Human consumption of natural resources is too high now and as the population grows, they will become harder to obtain.
Globally, people are learning to save in other ways, such as for weddings or for college educations, but saving resources in order that our children and grandchildren can enjoy the same quality of life isn’t something everyone thinks to do. Another problem is that people discard improperly the very things that endanger the natural resources. Throwing away batteries, for instance that will end up in the land fill and eventually pollute the ground and the ground water sources.
All it takes is a different way of thinking. It may take a while but it becomes second nature. Why go green? Because it is the right thing to do. Going green is the right thing to do for yourself, your family, loved ones and everyone on the planet earth. Most people start off small and work their way up. If that is what works, it’s perfect. There are many ways to save and preserve natural resources for future generations.
Saving Water
Saving water is very easy to do, it is just a hard habit to get into. Turning the water off while you are brushing your teeth is one way to save water. Sparingly watering gardens or lawns is another way. Normally, the lawn doesn’t need the garden hose running all day. And again, save ground water by not carelessly discarding batteries and other dangerous chemicals into land fills.
Saving Our Air
It is a given that industrial pollution does more that their fair share of air polluting but there are things individuals can do to keep pollution down. Car-pools have been around for a long time, but many still drive solo. If you work in a public place, it could be very easy to find someone to car-pool with. Write letters to your congressmen about that industrial pollution. Speak up and let your thoughts be known.
Another good answer for Why go Green? is that if we don’t, we may all be needing oxygen masks just to go outside.
Where to Start?
While everyone in the green community applaudes you for taking an interest in going green, we know it isn't easy or affordable to just jump right in and totally greenify your life. No one expects you to invest in a tankless water heater or solar panels. There is little things we can all do with little or no additional costs that would help our planet as well as our own health.
Reduce Your Waste
While recycling what we use is always a great green step, the most important thing we can do for our planet is to reduce what we use in the first place. This step is also the most cost effect as we can actually save money if we really take it to heart.
Think about all of the things we purchase or recieve on a daily basis that we don't really need. Below is a quick checklist of things you can do to reduce your waste with little to no cost:
Take a cloth bag to the grocery store
The amount of gas it takes to create a plastic bag could fuel the average car for a mile. An amazing 46000 pieces of plastic are in every square mile of ocean. Reusing or recycling these bags can help but ultimately cutting down on their numbers is the best course. Bring a few cloth tote bags with you to the store. They can usually hold more and can be reused time and time again. There are many designer bags you can find online but you can get good durable cloth totes for a few dollars a piece and it will really help the green cause.
Stop buying individually wrapped items.
If you can avoid it don't purchase unneccessary items with extra packaging. A good example of this is cheese slices. It isn't hard or expensive to purchase cheese in blocks and cut it yourself. Individually wrapped snacks are a convenience when you have kids but try making snacks in bulk and bagging them yourself. When the baggies are empty you can wash them out and use them again.
Stop Buying Bottle Water
1.5 Million barrels of oil were used to produce bottles for water in the United States. 86% of these bottles eventually end up in landfills or incinerated. Statistics have shown that bottle water is little to no cleaner than the tap water in most areas of the US but costs upwards to 1000 times more to produce. A good green step is to invest in a water filtration system for your home. It pays for itself in no time.
Switch to Electronic Bills
It is unfathomable how many tons of paper this country uses on a daily basis to send requests for money. If 20% of Americans switch to electronic bill receipt and payment we could save almost 2 million trees and 100 million gallons of gasoline a year. Check out this cool calculator to see how many resources you could be saving at PayitGreen.org.
Shop Sensibly
15% of the food purchased by the average family is thrown out from rotting or other causes. Really think about your purchases when shopping. Don't stock up on perishables unless you are sure you are going to be able to use it.
Start a Compost
Making a compost is a great way to keep perishable foods and yard clippings out of the landfill. You can spread compost in your garden, on flower beds, around trees, and even on top of your lawn. Woody compost can be used as an alternative to synthetic mulch, as well. We recommend taking a look at Cleanairgardening.com for composters.