Monday, 14 July 2008 00:00
Originally published in Pocono Parent magazine, June/July 2008
Gas prices, food prices, oil, electricity, even garbage delivery… it seems like every time we turn around the cost of something else is going up. Most of us have a finite cash flow, so naturally when spending increases in one area, something else must be cut. These are trying economic times, and combined with our growing environmental issues, being a good steward of our resources is becoming less of an option and more of a necessity. Going “green” is fashionable, and without a doubt worthy. But sometimes it seems to me that the marketing of these products designed to make us more environmentally friendly are adding to the consumerism that contributed to the problem in the first place. There are plenty of ways, however, to reduce our consumption of resources and save much needed money in the process. Before we get to that though, let’s put our financial difficulties in perspective.
It may not feel this way right now, but we as Americans are wealthy. Not just well off, or comfortable, but wealthy. Do you have a place to sleep tonight? Are you wearing clothes? Did you eat today? If you can answer yes, then you are richer than 75% of the world’s population. Do you have any money at all in the bank? How about in your wallet? Or even spare change in the couch? If so, then you make the Top 8% of the World’s Wealthy list. Your children most likely make the list too. I’m not saying these things to minimize struggles you may be having, or to make you feel guilty. But we’re so bombarded with marketing messages and surrounded by things to buy that, at least for me, it’s easy to slip into the trap of forgetting to be grateful for what I do have and instead focusing on what I don’t have. It goes back to the basic need vs want discussion, and now may be a good time to be a little less liberal on our individual definition of needs, and practice the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
Reduce—What you have.
Simplify, simplify, simplify. I don’t know about you, but I never knew kids came with so much stuff! All that stuff accumulates, and we can spend a lot of time and energy organizing it, storing it, cleaning it. Try looking at it as tax deductions waiting to be claimed instead. Thinning out and donating to a qualified charity will help them and help you next April. Keep records and consult a good valuation guide—your donation may be worth more than you may think (and don’t forget the receipt). Enjoy the extra space!
Reduce—What you consume.
There is a website called www.myfootprint.org that has a quiz to determine how many earths are needed to sustain your consumption, if everyone consumed at your rate. I’m embarrassed to say what mine was! Here are some ways to reduce your footprint and save some money.
Wash clothes in cold water, and use dryer balls to reduce drying time. When replacing an appliance, buy an energy efficient unit. A front loading washer costs more but uses less water and reduces drying time as well.
Unplug appliances when not in use. Even if they are turned off, they are drawing “phantom” power. An alternative is to use a “smart” power strip, which senses when one appliance is turned off and electronically turns off related devices (a computer and printer for example). Install motion detectors for your outside lights, instead of leaving them on all night (tempting when living on a dark road!). Use rechargeable batteries when possible. I did come across a portable solar panel that can be used to charge cell phones and iPods, but that may go under the “defeating the purpose of less consumption” category.
When driving, keep your tires properly inflated, and drive smart—rapid acceleration and braking reduces gas mileage by up to 5% in town and 33% on the highway, not to mention wearing out your brake pads (I speak from experience…) Drive your cars longer—like Dad always said, good maintenance costs more along the way but your cars will last longer.
Use programmable thermostats, and gradually increase or decrease the temperature depending on the season, to become accustomed to being a little less comfortable. Use a ceiling fan or box fan instead of turning on the air conditioning. If you like cool air in the summer so you can use a blanket, there is a device called a bed fan, that operates under the covers to keep you cool! You can also use a water-filled pillow called a “chillow.” Shade the outside central air conditioning condenser unit. The unit will use up to 10% more power if in direct sunlight. Contrary to popular belief, turning the air conditioning off while you’re at work or at night so you can cool with open windows is not less efficient than leaving it on all the time. You will use less because the system is off, even though it will take a little time to cool the house when you turn it back on.
Annual spending on bottled water has reached $35 billion, and according to www.foodandwaterwatch.org, it takes up to 47 million gallons of oil each year to produce the plastic for the bottles. Although those bottles are recyclable, only 10% are in fact recycled; 2 million tons end up in landfills each year. Use a home water filtration system like Brita, and when possible, refill steel or aluminum bottles to take with you. It may surprise you to know that bottled water can cost 2 to 3 times the cost of gas per gallon. Check out the “Take Back the Tap Pledge” on the Food and Waterwatch website.
Reuse and Recycle
Think before you buy, not just about whether you really need it, but consider the packaging and its impact. Instead of buying new, look for items on sites like Craigslist and Freesharing.org, yard sales, or thrift shops. Use our wonderful libraries. Consider coordinating the purchase of tools or other large items with neighbors.
Skip the plastic shopping bags for re-usable ones. I tend to forget to bring mine so I was glad to find some online that fold up small enough to fit in your purse.
Plan your menus with recycling in mind. Rachael Ray has awesome Double Duty Dinner recipes. For those with infants, some baby food is simple to make on your own; it’s healthier, cheaper, and no packaging waste. You may even want to try cloth diapers—although when my kids wore them we had a diaper service in the area which cut down on the “yuck” factor tremendously!
Now that you’re thinking, I’m sure you can come up with many more ways that work for you and your family. Make it a game and see how much energy (and dollars) you can save, while making our earth a better place to live. And always be thankful!
