Today is my post day and I couldn't think of anything overly exciting to post about. I decided to just write about the recent decisions and changes I have made in my shopping habits. Some or all of you may have already made theses changes but I'm moving pretty slowly on some of these...
After reading the articles and discussions on plastics this week, I have decided that I will try and buy as many products as possible in glass. If the product I need is not in glass then I move on to plastics but look for those labeled as either 1's or 2's, since those are the ones that are most likely to be recycled. If the product I need is not either in glass, or in a 1 or 2 type plastic, then I am going to skip it! I just did major grocery shopping and I made it through with only these types of packaging. (Besides cardboard of course).
I have also decided ( again a lot of you are doing this already) to begin to by organic dairy products. I wasn't doing this yet because of financial reasons (double the price for a gallon of organic vs. non-organic milk), but I think I can manage with a few small changes. I have repeatedly read that organic grains aren't as big of an issue as say organic produce or dairy. I have decided to skip the organic bread and snack foods(crackers, chips, cookies) and instead save that money by buying mainstream grains (still whole wheat!) and putting those savings towards dairy instead. Did that make sense?
So thats it for this week, a few changes that I can finally make in this green journey...
Showing posts with label One a week- Sarah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label One a week- Sarah. Show all posts
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Staying Cool, While Staying Green
Well I thought a post on this subject may be appropriate do to the super hot weather we are having. We all know that A/C isn't the greenest choice when it comes to keeping your house cool so I thought I would post a few ways to beat the heat while staying green. Here are 5 super practical, easy things you can do right now...
1) Fans and Ceiling fans. I discovered that a ceiling fan can make your house 6 to 7 degrees cooler. So if have them turn them on and if you don't, then some oscillating fans may do the trick.
2) Bowl of ice. I know this sounds weird but I tested it out today and it really works! Put a big metal bowl of ice behind one of your oscillating fans. It blows the super cold air around your house. I don't know that it make a giant difference, but I can definitely feel cooler air being pushed around. Then when the ice is melted you can water a plant, give it to your pet or let your kids play in it.
3) Twist your blinds. This may be a "duh" one, but make sure you twist your blinds so that the sun is being reflected outward and not into your house. So that they point up if that make sense. I just read about this and was like" oh thats why they twist 2 ways". There may more reasons why they twist two ways, but apparently this is one of them.
4) Avoid your Oven and Dryer. If you have to use one or the other make sure the appliance fan is on while doing so. Even showering and washing clothes on hot can add to the humidity (and how hot the room feels). And of course, turn off all your lights. The sun will brighten your house enough.
5) Windows. Open them at night ( or early morning when you first wake up) and close them around 9-10 am when the heat starts really blazing. This is the one I do every morning and it makes the late afternoons a lot more bearable. That and some Iced Chai :)
Not very new ideas but like Jennifer said, repetition is good. Anyone else have some tips to share to make it through this summer?
1) Fans and Ceiling fans. I discovered that a ceiling fan can make your house 6 to 7 degrees cooler. So if have them turn them on and if you don't, then some oscillating fans may do the trick.
2) Bowl of ice. I know this sounds weird but I tested it out today and it really works! Put a big metal bowl of ice behind one of your oscillating fans. It blows the super cold air around your house. I don't know that it make a giant difference, but I can definitely feel cooler air being pushed around. Then when the ice is melted you can water a plant, give it to your pet or let your kids play in it.
3) Twist your blinds. This may be a "duh" one, but make sure you twist your blinds so that the sun is being reflected outward and not into your house. So that they point up if that make sense. I just read about this and was like" oh thats why they twist 2 ways". There may more reasons why they twist two ways, but apparently this is one of them.
4) Avoid your Oven and Dryer. If you have to use one or the other make sure the appliance fan is on while doing so. Even showering and washing clothes on hot can add to the humidity (and how hot the room feels). And of course, turn off all your lights. The sun will brighten your house enough.
5) Windows. Open them at night ( or early morning when you first wake up) and close them around 9-10 am when the heat starts really blazing. This is the one I do every morning and it makes the late afternoons a lot more bearable. That and some Iced Chai :)
Not very new ideas but like Jennifer said, repetition is good. Anyone else have some tips to share to make it through this summer?
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