The evidence is in: we have ransacked Mother Earth’s cupboards for all they were worth and it is time, way past time, to replenish them. But the good news is that we are waking up to a more conscious approach to living and caring for our planet.
And GREEN is the color of our future.
Options and resources abound for living a greener life. If you, like me, are interested in saving money, living healthily and preserving our world’s precious resources, take heart: there are many simple steps that can start you on the path to a greener life. Here are some tips to get you going:
REPAIR:
- Check the seals around windows and doors and add weather-stripping as needed. Storm windows can reduce heating costs. “Repair first, replace second” is a good mantra for green living.
- Make sure your fixtures are in good working order. Leaky faucet or shower head? Fix it. Can’t be fixed? Replace it with a new water-conserving fixture. And energy efficient fixtures add to the value of your home!
- Adding insulation to attic, crawl spaces, and around water heaters can increase energy efficiency and save money
RECYCLE:
- De-clutter. Simplify. Pare down. Clean out your closets and your attic. Recycle items to charities or friends in need. In a tough economy, less is more. And really, it is just a more conscious approach to living, isn’t it?
- Make a rainwater catchment system. It is easier than you think to set up a system for catching, containing and disbursing rainwater.
- Use recycled building materials for new construction or surface replacement. There are all kinds of beautiful, non-toxic materials available on the market now for countertop, flooring, paint and everything in between.
REPURPOSE:
- Why buy something new when you can give new life to something old? Old has charm. Old has history. Old has value. Honor it.
- Carve out space instead of adding on. It is amazing how much space can be utilized in even the smallest home.
- Get creative with interesting ways to reuse clothing and household items.
REVISON:
- Rediscover the joys of self –sufficiency. Even a small vegetable garden can provide a bounty of healthy and delicious veggies all summer. If you have room for a large garden, you can freeze or can the excess…..or gift to neighbors.
- Learn to share. Transportation, magazines, books, cd’s, movies…even services can be swapped or bartered.
- Enough with the bottled water. Buy a water filter and turn on the tap!
Kermit may lament “it isn’t easy being green.” But, in fact, it really is if we each do our part. A healthier world lies ahead.
