Lately I’ve been watching reruns of star trek the next generation on the sci fi channel… Today I was noticing how the characters always feel the need to adjust and tug on their uniforms. Now…this is the future right. You’d think they would have invented more comfortable clothing.
Our two newest pets. Violet is completely hairless, and Olivia (formerly Pedro) is a blue rat. They get along great, and are lots of fun.
It’s such a buzz word lately. What does it mean? I’m just going to explain what it means to me. I’m sure a lot of people could argue their different definition.
Green: A lifestyle that promotes sustainability and reduces harm to the Earth and our future. Some core concepts include energy efficiency, use of renewable resources, recycling, and tons of other types of things I’m sure.
Now that I’ve tried to sum that up. I decided to give a few tips to everyone out there. I don’t pretend to know everything about going green, but I’m trying… I think that is where people often go wrong. They think it is an all or nothing type of situation. You don’t have to be a dirty hippy and wear patchouli oil to be green.
So here are some tips. Enjoy.
Change your lightbulbs. Use CFL bulbs instead of the standard incandescent bulbs. They last a lot longer and use a lot less energy.
Buy Local. Do you know how much energy is used to transport all those food and products to your local store…? Farmer’s markets. Co-ops. Even growing your own. Try it out.
Buy Organic. This can hurt the wallet. But I think we’ll see the prices starting to decrease with more demand.
Death to the plastic bag. You’ve seen them littered everywhere. Paper bags are somewhat better. But you should really use reusable canvas or hemp bags. I admit I’m not doing this myself, but I know I should and will get there…
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. You’ve heard it before right. Because you should do it! A lot of towns actually have curbside recycling programs where you don’t even have to sort all the different types. For those lazy types…
Compost. I’d really like to start doing this. I would have almost no real trash.
Do you really need that gas guzzling SUV? Besides gas is crazy expensive right now. There are a lot of gas efficient and hybrid car options available these days. Check them out.
Spay or Neuter your pet. Overpopulation is a big problem.
Do you really need to drive your car all the time? There are other options available. Public Transportation, bicycling, walking. And if you have to drive, why not car pool?
Next time you purchase an appliance, make sure it Energy Star Certified.
Purchase Renewable Energy Certificates.
Next time you are painting, choose low or zero VOC (Volatile organic compounds) paint. Not only will you breathe better…but it’s better for the environment.
Read the ingredient labels on what you buy. Avoid petroleum based products or ingredients from other non-renewable resources. There are a lot of options -even some budget friendly ones- that use completely natural, renewable, and biodegradeable ingredients. For household products, check out brands like Method, Seventh Generation, Ecover, Planet, Mrs. Meyers, and even some major brands now have some green friendly product lines like Clorox Green Works, Purex Natural Elements, and Arm & Hammer Essentials.
You don’t need to buy bottled water. Use a Brita or Pur water filter if you have to.
Mow your lawn less often.
Try to wait until you have a full load before washing clothes or dishes.
Clean up after your dog, and use 100% biodegradable poo bags.
This bullshit pisses me off…http://www.ohioans4financialfreedom.com/
They make is sound like Ohio is purposely trying to put payday lenders out of business, and take away the rights of people. No. Payday lenders have every right to stay in the business, they just have to follow the rules and regulations set forth by the state of Ohio, which says that the maximum annual interest rate for loans be 28% (not the 391% payday lending loans currently charge).
Please, vote YES on this ballot issue (House Bill 545) in November! And if you’ve signed a petition to repeal under false pretenses, please have your name removed by contacting Ohioans for Financial Freedom at 614-477-5042.
