Saving the environment...one step at a time

[JenW777]

I just thought I would share some small, practical ways that my family helps the environment.  I know that some of these may be too crunchy for some, but my family has saved some money (and trees by doing some of these things)

1. Use reuseable grocery bags!  - Stores around here sell them at nearly every chain now, or you can order some online.  Or even better- Order from a WAHM.  Then you can save the earth while stimulating the economy.

2.  Cloth diapers and wipes!-  Reusable.  You save sooooo much money, and babys bum will never look better!  I know they seem daunting, but they arent prefolds and pins anymore.   And you are yet again, saving trees, keeping it out of landfills, and if you buy from a WAHM, stimulating the economy.

3.  A diva/luna/keeper cup...or mama pads-  Reusable.  Saving money, keeping that gross out of the landfills.  A nice little bonus:  With out those Chemicals in tampons and regular pads...your period should be lighter and less crampy.  I myself have a diva cup

4.  Turn it off-  The lights when you leave the room.  The faucet when you brush your teeth.  The TV after a certain time.

5. Hoof-it-  Pop that baby in a carrier(like the moby or a mei tai) and take a walk.  Do you really need to drive two blocks to the park/store/library?  With gas prices what they are walk if it/'s close.  An added bonus?  Bonding time with baby, and walking off those abs

6. Breastfeed-  Its free...Healthy...And costs nothing to make.  No aluminum cans to throw out (or recycle like a good momma), no BPA in your bottles.   

7. Recycle- You know the drill.  Don't boyscouts do this?

k.  I'm pretty much out of ideas here.  These are just things we do in my home.  By all means feel free to add to my list.

[Xakana]

Mar. 24, 2008 at 11:55 PM

We just started cloth this week and it's amazing, even with just four diapers, the impact on our trash and Lilly's improvement in potty learning! I actually think she doesn't look as clean after cloth as after disposables and she makes it clear she's not as comfortable in them--when I ask her for a diaper, she grabs a disposable and pulls at the cloth ones. But it's just an adjustment.

The rebags are great! I always reuse plastic grocery sacks for cat box, diaper disposal, trash bags for small cans, etc. 

As for recycling--I wish it were easier where I live. Right now, they basically punish you for doing it, you end up paying to recycle in the gas from having to drive to a facility. Pickup isn't available and unless you're a business, you can really only recycle aluminum (and since we don't drink soda, we have no aluminum cans). It's a PITA. DH misses curbside pickup back in CA. 

Just turning out lights behind us and monitors off when not in use has cut over $30/month off our electric bill O_O I'ts unbelievable how much you use without ever realizing! But monitors (and televisions) are big electric sucks, which I knew, but didn't understand until I started getting anal about making sure they're off.  Switching to swirlies helped, too, although there's the mercury concern...

[llansky]

Mar. 31, 2008 at 11:57 PM

woot woot! :) we do all of those (except breastfeed... *sigh*) as soon as we move into our new house (about a month now, soooo excited!) we're going to start a compost and put up a clothesline :)

good for you for doing your part!