Resources for Making a Difference From Home
Even inside the home, anyone can take steps to lessen the damage we do to the greater environment and improve our positive differences in global ecology, from cooking to bathing (both at once?!).
Conserve Conserve Conserve
Conserve Electricity
Not only will you save yourself money, it's also helpful to use less of whatever is needed to create that energy which is still mostly fossil fuel burning (some areas regions are better). Super easy- use LED or fluorescent bulbs instead of old-timey incandescent. And they last longer. Consumer Reports suggests TP-Link Kasa Smart and Cree Lighting Connected bulbs for fancy smart options. See what else will save your energy.
Even the National Park Service knows about the many ways you can waste less water around the house. Water may be considered a renewable resources but we are losing our volume of drinkable & uncontaminated freshwater.
Conserve Food
more to come
Reducing Material Waste
Our modern society has so many conveniences but most of them have inherent high production of waste materials. Note the oversized box for that box of band-aids you ordered online with several other items but each shipped separately. And it's wrapped in plastic film too. The simple choice of selecting a container that can be easily and efficiently recycled (glass is better than plastic, so is aluminum) or that created less pollution in it's production can go a long way in helping our planet. Every drop of water helps the flood. What drops of water can you add to the flood of positive effects? When we have less material waste, we don't need as many landfills, contaminate less ground & river & ocean water, use less resources, and can even save money. Key terms include "single-use plastics"
Addison County Solid Waste Management District has compiled a list of "11 easy ways to reduce household trash" including food waste.
Super simple steps, like buying bamboo toothbrushes instead of plastic & buying 2nd-hand clothes (cheaper!!) & non-perishables in bulk (also cheaper!). Very parent-oriented list.
From the well known Nature Conservancy- "Learn how you can make small changes that are eco-friendly and will have a lasting impact".
From the Environmental Protection Agency itself- "Whether you're at home, on the go, in the office, or at school, there are many opportunities to go green by Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling."
Eating Better as you Waste Less
Not only can you eat your way to less trash in the word, you can also use your fork/chopstick/spoon or whatever you use (perhaps a tiny trident, if you had my childhood imagination) to reduce the environmental impact of the production of food. That's a mouthful, but our food choices do change both our health and the planet's.
