Happy Earth Day Everyone!!! A day where we are all supposed to reflect on what we as human beings are doing to protect Mother Earth. I will openly admit that I have never been the most Eco conscious person out there….not even close. But I have to pat myself on the back a little, since this year I started making some strides in my efforts. Although small, I think something is better than nothing, and I hope there are other people out there doing their part too.
About a year ago I was inspired by an Oprah episode, and wrote a post about how to decrease your carbon footprint. After seeing that show I began doing some little things that could help. See my biggest complaint has always been, how as an individual I can make my own little bit of difference. All the change people were talking about seemed so big. Like driving a Hybrid car (ok who’s paying for one?), doing a compost pile (I don’t have my own yard), and take public transportation (I live in the suburbs!). After watching the episode I was disgusted by the video footage of the garbage that is floating in the Pacific Ocean. I knew in my heart something had to change.
The Captain always gets mad at me when Oprah inspires me, but I figure at least she inspires me to make a change for the good. She doesn’t preach about changing your life completely, and shows you how little changes can make a big difference. So over the course of this last year I have done the following
- Recycling: It always seemed like a hassle even though we had curbside recycling pick up. But now I am very diligent about it.
- Less paper plates: I used to use paper plates for my breakfast and lunch meals. Now I only use them as a last resort (which is almost never)
- Less paper towels. I always used to clean my counters and dust with paper towels, but now I use a dish rag or sponge on the counters, and a micro fiber cloth on the furniture. I like it better!
- “Green” Cleaning products: I haven’t replaced them all, but I have found the the Lysol GreenWorks Products work well, and pretty much cost the same as the regular kind. I always held back because of the increase in cost.
- Power saving light bulbs: Most of the light bulbs in my house are now the energy saving light bulbs. I sometimes don’t like how dim they are, but I can deal.
- Power saving surge protector: We bought one of these for our entertainment system. It turns out that just because you turn off your TV doesn’t mean that everything else gets turned off, and the power is always running. Now, with this strip, we turn off the TV and everything else plugged in automatically gets turned off.
Although this list seems small, I am pretty proud of the little things I am doing to make a difference. If everyone just made a little bit of change in their lives I think we’d see a BIG change in our future. So what do you do to help? Do you have any tips? I am always looking for new ways to be inspired!
I really need to be better about paper towels. Stopping from SITS!
It’s definitely an easy way to make some change! ?
I will not burn any rubber tires today.
Thank you Dad! You are such a humanitarian!
We take for granted sometimes just how big a difference, “a little” makes.
I’m stopping by from SITS. Stop my blog for a giveaway for Earth Day and let me know you stopped by either way. I love your blog, so glad I found it.
Aimee
I will definitely stop by! And you are right, we all forget that even the little things make such a big difference! Thanks for visiting!
How about take a ride on al gores private plane then burn oil just for the fun of it, I say polar bear steaks for dinner
Good idea dear brother in law ?
I agree with you! At the start of 2010 I decided for a new years resolution we really needed to really start living more environmentally conscious, and I have stuck to my guns.
Stoppin’ by from SITS!
Good for you!! ? I’m glad you are sicking with it!
Thanks for visiting! ?
Great changes! It’s definitely a lifestyle change, but just think: you want this world to be in great shape for your babies and grandbabies! ? I’m working on my own Earth Day post this afternoon, too!
I think those are great changes! As an individual we are so small but if we all team up and do a little here and there a vast difference can be made! We started a compost last year, and this year planted out first garden! Big happenings here in Pink Haired Momma world. I watch those “baby” plants like a mama hawk anticipating their every growth and contribution to the earth and my tummy!
Go Jen! I have mostly power saving bulbs in our apt. I really want one of those power strips! And when I have a yard I will probably have a compost.
I think it’s important to remember that everyone has to do WHAT THEY CAN. It really does make a difference! I drive a hybrid car and it’s really not much more than a regular car, plus I make a lot of extra money with all of the mileage that I get paid for work…I don’t use as much gas as I did with my 4Runner so the reimbursement always pays about 175% what I actually spend.
Also, we compost and I just saw on Tori and Dean that they have composters that don’t go on the ground. They apparently are barrells that you swing around and compost that way. They could be housed on a balcony or back deck, but I realize that’s not optimal, plus what do you do with the finished product?
Anyway, I think you’re doing a great job. You are doing your part, as everyone should. And J hates when O gets me going too. He thinks she’s an evil empire, but I can’t help it, I love her!
I try to recycle as much as I can. But I have a real dilemma with plastic bags. They are suppose to be so bad for the environment, but they make such perfect garbage bags …. “What’s a girl to do?”