The state of Seattle, Washington is named for the Native American leader who said, “Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.” ~Chief Seattle, 1855. I find this beautiful and poignant truism a motivation to make small changes in my life that may seem like a drop in the bucket, but benefit the Earth.
Here are some ways you can start making a difference today.
1) Buy Green:
It is vital that businesses trying to do the right thing when it comes to our beloved Earth are supported. When other businesses see that the public supports this type of business, they will also adapt and promote Earth-friendly standards. In the meantime, wherever possible, let’s say “hey! I caught you doing the right thing” by spending our money in Earth conscious businesses.
For example, the web-based, family-owned business “Baby Earth” offers eco-friendly baby products and is committed to making your baby’s world as healthy, happy and safe as possible. Click the ad below to shop at Baby Earth.
2) Bring your lunch:
A reusable lunch box will lower the packaging waste that enters our landfills.
3) Seal your windows:
One of the major drains on home energy is inadequately sealed windows. If the $150-$200 a pop on eco-friendly windows sounds steep, you could try a cost-conscious alternative and simply install weather stripping. This can cost approximately $4.48 for 10 feet of black foam tape and approximately $1.98 for a 10-ounce caulking tube. Properly sealing your windows can cut your heating bill by up to 10 percent.
4) Unplug appliances:
According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, “standby power” accounts for about 10 percent of all residential electricity used nationwide. Make it easy by Connecting your appliances and electronics to a power strip and simply shutting it off when not in use.
5) Use a fan:
According to Progress Energy, “Fans used to supplement air conditioning save energy by permitting a higher thermostat setting. Air movement from the fan evaporates moisture on the skin and makes a person feel cooler. With this cooling effect, most people can raise their thermostat three to four degrees and feel just as comfortable. And that can mean savings of around 25 percent on your cooling costs. For every degree you raise the air conditioning thermostat, you can save 7 percent to 10 percent on cooling costs. However, there are no energy savings if you use a ceiling fan and do not raise the air conditioning thermostat.”
6) Switch to Compact Florescent Light bulbs:
CFL’s cost a little more than a traditional bulb but they drain about a quarter of the electricity that their incandescent competitors do and they last eight to 15 times longer – so are basically more cost-effective.
7) Get Serious – Grow your own food!
Many city-dwellers don’t have the practical space needed for gardening, but if you do, growing your own food can benefit the Earth as well as enhance your health and enjoyment. How does growing your own food benefit the Earth? One big reason is that fuel used to ship your food is a culprit in global warming. If you can’t grow your own food, always buy local and frequent farmers markets.
WikiHow has a great article detailing step by step how to grow your own food. Click Here.
In addition, Mastergardening.com has a large variety of worm composters, garden composters and aeration composters to get you started. They have everything you need plus great deals and free Shipping over $100.
8) Remember that we are in this together!
We all love our planet and want it to thrive. Show her some respect and Mother Earth will reciprocate by providing us with her life-sustaining bounty – but this is a partnership. Let’s all do our part!
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