Some Things to Consider
- If every American home swapped five incandescent bulb fixtures for Energy Star CFLs, it would keep one trillion pounds of greenhouse gases out of the air.
- Each ton of paper recycled saves 17 trees and 7,000 gallons of water.
- Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours.
- Shoppers worldwide are using 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags per year. This translates to about 150 bags a year for every person on earth.
I feel a little better when I know that we aren't buying anymore regular bulbs for our house. We are starting to phase them all out for the green type of light bulbs. I recycle my newspapers, but I only get two days a week, so they don't pile up very fast. And I've switched to those neat canvas totes for shopping. I have five at home and I even take them to the mall when I can.
But what about you? I saw the number five pop up quite a bit in my thoughts, so I decided to take on a personal challenge. Could I talk five people into switching to the better bulbs and forgoing their plastic grocery sacks? Can you beat the fact that for every bag I bring back in to Hy-Vee, they give me five cents back? If you think about it . . you get your money back in 20 trips to the store since they are only a dollar a piece. Not to mention the added bonus of not having more plastic bags enter your house!
So are you up to a challenge OM? Nikki? MBG? Mama?
Since I don't think anyone else reads this, I'm going to hit up some friends around town. Get on it people! Think if this as your mini green challenge.
And if you are up for it, tell five more people . . .
I double dog dare you!
3 comments:
E and I started considering things to do in the house. All of the paint used is insulated paint. This prevents head loss in winter and keeps is cool in summer. Also:
Reinsulated the attic
Installed "green" lightbulbs in all light fixtures
chose compressed wood floor (more renewable than solid wood)
We are also going to start using the shopping bags (once we find them!!!)
Great Challenge! We, too are changing to the new energy efficient bulbs; I recycle my plastic bags (because I buy too much for a little canvas bag), I use my little "green" bag when I'm just getting a few odds and ends; we compost, recycle newspapers, magazines, glass, plastic, cardboard, and office paper; keep the house 2 degrees warmer than we did last year;bought a smallish car that gets about 35 mpg if I drive 5 miles under the speed limit; I reuse so many things for preschool, toilet paper tubes, little boxes, bubble wrap, Christmas bows and paper, etc. (The kids love it and its free.); my guys dry their work clothes on the line; I am reusing some old furniture; I take things I don't want to the thrift store that the small town hospital runs, OH, yes, we have a small garden and try not to use any chemicals or sprays on it. I need to add something to my list because I've been doing all of these things for quite a while. Send me any ideas for new "green" ways of life.
We have actually already switched all bulbs to the CFLs in our house. As far as the bags, I can't lie, I reuse them. I don't recycle them, per se, however, I use them for poopy diapers in my daycare. Also, we have started recycling all aluminum cans used in our house. Since we are limited on space, we can't effectively recycle all things such as paper, etc., so we picked what we use the most of, being aluminum.
One day, I hope to have a house with a garage where I can set up totes for every individual thing and recycle it all!!!!
This is a GREAT challenge, MTG!!!! LOVE IT!!!!
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