Happy New Year!! Looking for a few additional New Year's resolutions? Here are some great ideas to start the new year (be sure to look at the links too). This article is posted with permission from the author. nsk
by Donnie R. Dann, January 2012
Many argue that although living an ecologically conscientious lifestyle might be good for the environment, it's too costly. Only a few months ago Steven Kurutz wrote Eco Meets the Economy in which he cited several examples of green living that are virtuous but impractical because of higher prices. In these economic times, for most of us financial considerations must be primary. But can you be a 'green' consumer and still reduce your expenses?
Let's consider just a few simple examples that will lower our budgets and still lessen our impact on earth's resources.
- For each degree you turn down the heat you save 3 percent of heating costs, while each degree you raise the temperature of your air conditioner saves 3-4 percent of cooling costs.
- According to the U.S. Energy Star program, Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs can last about 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Thus using 10 incandescents would be equal to plugging in a single CFL, saving about $30 per bulb, and could pay for itself in about six months. (CFLs must be recycled because of their slight mercury content. Note from Nancy: you can recycle CFLs at Home Depot.) If everyone did this the NRDC tells us we could avoid the need to build 30 new power plants.
- Whenever possible buy locally grown food from farms within 200 miles from home. It is often less expensive as transportation costs are avoided as compared with food shipped the more typical 1,500 to 2,500 miles. Carbon emissions are reduced as well. Moreover, produce stays on the vine longer, ripens naturally and more often tastes better.
- Avoid disposables. Those one-use throw-away razors, paper plates and paper towels, plastic knives and forks, foods wrapped in plastic, etc, can add to our landfills and should all be rejected. You'll help save the planet as well as your wallet.
- Many TVs, DVRs and small appliances that are “turned off” but remain connected to a wall plug still use 5 to 10 percent of home energy and generate heat. Unplug them and use power strips. Connect almost everything into a multi-outlet strip with its own on/off switch that can efficiently control power from several appliances at once, and wasting power is avoided.
- Take shorter showers or let the water run only when you're using it reduces 2 utility bills: water and gas or electricity.
- On the subject of water, a variety of low flow aerators or other water saving faucets can save significant water usage. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends several choices.
Does living green have to be more expensive? No doubt many eco-friendly actions are too costly for many of us, but there are few who aren't able to adopt the suggestions shown here.
Remember Rachel Carson's words, “Conservation is a cause that has no end. There is no point at which we say, our work is finished”.
This Newsletter may be excerpted, reproduced or circulated without limitation.
Thanks for reading!! nsk
Nancy S. Karp
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