Blog Archives

Reducing use of plastic

2/24/2020

Plastic is everywhere and many of the items we rely on are made with plastic. Plastic has led to many good changes in our lives. However, the single-use disposable plastic items consume a lot of resources for just a few minutes of use - not only the ingredients to make plastic, but also energy required to extract raw materials, transport to and from factories, manufacture, and then dispose. Many types of single-use plastic items are not currently recyclable, and many of the ones that are recyclable are not recycled. Here are some simple ways to reduce your use of single-use plastic items.

If you live in a location with safe tap water, drink tap water in reusable bottles instead of buying bottled water. Here is a good article on tap water vs. bottled water. https://earth911.com/business-policy/whats-wrong-with-bottled-water
If you eat at fast-food restaurants, bring your own silverware instead of using the plastic throwaway items.
Look for alternatives to plastic wrap in your kitchen. Buy reusable covers for bowls and baking pans.
Some people need to drink from a straw for medical, dental, or similar reasons. And some people just prefer using a straw. Some of the new reusable straws are bendable and easy to use. You can get a small straw-cleaning brush to keep the insides clean. If you are not going to use the straw provided by the restaurant, try to tell the server “please don’t bring me a straw” as you order your drink.

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Making it easier to remember

2/16/2020

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We are all busy and have a large variety of responsibilities and concerns. It’s hard to remember sustainability activities and tips when your focus is on those other concerns. Think about ways you can make it easier to remember or automate the actions. Here are a few ideas. I’m sure you can think of more.

Can you use a timer? Outdoor or holiday lights can be plugged into a timer. Bathroom exhaust fans can use a timer (you’ll need an electrician for this) so you don’t have to remember to come back and turn them off.
Programmable thermostats are a great energy-saving device that can change your home’s temperature to match your schedule.
Check into the new systems that not only control your heat and lights based on your schedule, but can learn your habits and adjust. My electric utility company offered rebates on these last year.
Light sensors or motion sensors can optimize use of lights, but you’ll need an electrician to hook most of them up.
Put a note on your calendar to remind you of activities such as checking air pressure in your car tires so that you optimize fuel use, cleaning or changing air filters in your home, or cleaning the dust and lint off the coils of your refrigerator or freezer so it will operate more efficiently.

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Wool dryer balls

2/3/2020

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I had heard about wool dryer balls but didn’t really know much about them until I found the article below. They’re used in the dryer instead of one-use dryer sheets to reduce static. According to the article, they also help clothes dry faster, which saves energy. The wool dryer balls can be used thousands of times. If they are made from natural wool, the dryer balls contain no toxic chemicals. The article below has a little more information, including a tip on how to add essential oils if you want fragrance on your clothing. UPDATE: a reader commented that using essential oils in the dryer is a fire hazard so please don't try it.

https://earth911.com/home-garden/baa-baa-dryer-sheet-have-you-any-wool-laundry-meet-wool-dryer-balls

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