Earth Day Ruminations April 22, 2009
Posted by Matt in Environment.Tags: cars, Earth Day, energy conservation, Environment, gardening, green living, Kermit, recycling
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Once upon a time, our great amphibian friend, Kermit, said, “It’s not easy being green.” In today’s world, though, things have changed.
It has never been easier to live a more environmentally friendly life than it is today. In recent years, our family has made some adjustments to our lifestyle in order to live “greener” and I think it is safe to say that both our lives and our world have improved in the process. So, in honor of Earth Day, I thought I would tell you about a few of them.
1) When buying a car, consider the environmental impact. Five years ago when I needed to purchase a vehicle, the Prius was a new addition to Toyota’s lineup, it was too expensive for us at the time, and it required a wait that could stretch out for months. So, we opted for the next best thing – a Toyota Corolla – and I could not be more pleased with it. The car gets nearly 40 mpg and carries with it Toyota’s characteristic low emissions. Later, when purchasing our van, one of the specific reasons we opted for it over an SUV was the lower environmental impact.
2) Regardless of the inconvenience, always recycle. Our county does not have recycling pick-up and our illustrious mayor’s office has never returned any of my emails regarding the possibility of starting a program, so I make regular detours to our local recycling drop-off point to leave behind our paper and metal products. Since they do not have one for plastics, we try to use and throw away as little as possible.
3) Plant a garden (or help with a larger one – hint, hint). There are few things more rewarding than to plant, cultivate and reap the benefits of a family garden. Not only will it make you a physically healthier person, but your social/family health will also improve as you work with others (hint, hint) toward a common goal. And it’s just nice to get out in the sunshine every once in a while.
4) Turn up the thermostat a couple of degrees in the summer and down a couple in the winter. Doing so will lower your own skyrocketing energy bill and help conserve for the future. It may feel a little uncomfortable at first, but your body will quickly adjust to the change.
What about you? What tips do you have to live a “greener” life?
