MAKE BACK-TO-SCHOOL TIME BACK-TO-GREEN TIME
If your summer was anything like mine, it wasn't quite as green as you wanted it to be. Oh sure, you may have biked a little more, but road trips to see friends or visit the beach didn't exactly reduce your carbon footprint. Nor did all those take-out meals with the kids. Not to mention running the air conditioning a little more than strictly necessary. You may have even cooled down with bottled water!
Well, now is the time for a fresh start. Green Homes will help you green your back to school experience. Let's start with the school supply list. Unless the old ones are torn and unusable, you can reduce your consumption by skipping the new back pack and lunch box (A reusable lunch box is a sustainability must. If you didn't have one last year, move this to the top of the list.) For ideas on how to pack a more eco-friendly lunch, check out Wastefreelunches.org.
Many of your basic school supplies come in environmentally friendly options. Most of the big retailers now sell notebooks, paper, and other supplies made of recycled content. Your local Office Max, Office Depot and Staples (and their on-line counterparts) all have eco-friendly alternatives for your paper needs. If you look a little harder, you can even find pens, pencils, highlighters and markers made of recycled content. Go to greenearthofficesupply.stores.yahoo.net/index.html for eco-cool items like pencils made from recycled jeans and old money. However, their most eco-friendly option is the EarthWrite pencil. The older version is made from 100% recycled paper, the newer ones from reclaimed wood.
Once you've stocked up on school supplies, time to jump in the car and head to the mall for new school clothes - right? Wrong. Many people don't realize that on-line shopping is the more eco-friendly option. Although shipping items by truck or plane has an environmental cost, it is less impactful than the hundreds of separate trips to the mall that consolidating all those items into one load eliminates. If your child goes to a school that requires uniforms, odds are it has a uniform exchange program. Take advantage of this wallet and earth-saving option. Drop off your old uniforms and pick up some new ones. This is the basic Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, people!
Speaking of the Environmental 3R's, what are you doing with all the rest of your old stuff from the last school year? We've already talked about the back packs and lunch boxes, see if your child can reuse her old calculator, ruler, compass, protractor, binder and book covers as well. The left-over pages in last year's notebooks make for great scratch paper. Reducing consumption and reusing what you can makes sense for both the environment and your bottom line ; especially in these challenging economic times. That leaves the "recycle" bit. Make sure you are properly disposing of old electronics. Most municipalities have drop-off centers or collection dates for used electronics. http://www.nrdc.org/cities/recycling/gelectronicsrecycling. Your school might even be interested in some of your old equipment. Did you know that your old sports equipment and gym shoes can find new homes as well?
Okay, so your child is all geared up. You've donated or recycled your old stuff. Now it's off to school. But how to get there? This is a BIG part of our September challenge: at least one day a week have your children walk, scooter or ride their bikes to school. Transportation accounts for 66% of all U.S. oil consumption. (U.S. Dept. of Energy.) And eighty-eight percent of all trips are by car. If your child can walk or bike even more than once a week, the health and environmental benefits will quickly add up. There are psychic benefits as well, nothing clears their heads for a day of learning like a little exercise and fresh air.
So there it is: the September Green Homes Challenge. Green your back-to-school experience. On an on-going basis, have your child bike or walk to school at least once a week, but more often if possible. Keep checking here for tips on how to green your child's school days.
CSF
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
Sam’s Club by Bike
Gas is really expensive. My 2001 bright red minivan boasts a respectable 25mpg for a 7-seater, but it now costs me $110 to fill my tank. So I don’t drive it. Well, occasionally I do, but because the weather here is finally glorious and because my bike-enthusiast husband rides either to the train station (green) or downtown (very green,) I have his zippy little Toyota Matrix at my disposal. Makes a huge difference. I drove to Phelps - the lovely hamlet where Doug’s family owns a lake home – twice this summer. The van can make the 350 mile ride on one 26 gallon tank, but that’s over $200 round trip now (I know – math wiz.) The Matrix can also make it on one tank, but its tank only holds 12 gallons and thus sets us back only $50. Obviously, we take the Matrix whenever possible.
Last Monday was a glorious day and, after driving those 350 miles a day prior, I decided I’d do as much as possible on bike or foot. I took the dog for a run. I rode my vintage Schwinn Collegiate to see two clients. I ran with the dog to Best Buy to get Doug’s birthday present. But the kicker was when Corey, my daughter, and I decided to go to Sam’s Club via bike. Sam’s, as you know, is a wholesale club, so there are obvious limitations on which items I could purchase. Since the primary mission was coffee, I decided we’d be fine. We loaded our reusable grocery bag with three packs of batteries, a honeydew melon, a package of grapes, a gallon of milk and, of course, a 2.5 lb bag of Starbucks Coffee.
When we got back to our bikes, we compared the size of our load and the size of my wire basket and got nervous. I carefully loaded all of our items in my wire basket, took off, and promptly lost the melon. I reloaded, tied the bag off and set off. Driving home was a bit hazardous. The load in front made my bike unwieldy and it felt so front heavy I just prayed we wouldn’t have any sudden stops. But bit by bit we made it home, very satisfied with the outing. We got it all done, we replenished our coffee and fruit supplies (both key summer life ingredients) and did not use an ounce of gas. Thank God we didn’t need toilet paper.
JCH
Last Monday was a glorious day and, after driving those 350 miles a day prior, I decided I’d do as much as possible on bike or foot. I took the dog for a run. I rode my vintage Schwinn Collegiate to see two clients. I ran with the dog to Best Buy to get Doug’s birthday present. But the kicker was when Corey, my daughter, and I decided to go to Sam’s Club via bike. Sam’s, as you know, is a wholesale club, so there are obvious limitations on which items I could purchase. Since the primary mission was coffee, I decided we’d be fine. We loaded our reusable grocery bag with three packs of batteries, a honeydew melon, a package of grapes, a gallon of milk and, of course, a 2.5 lb bag of Starbucks Coffee.
When we got back to our bikes, we compared the size of our load and the size of my wire basket and got nervous. I carefully loaded all of our items in my wire basket, took off, and promptly lost the melon. I reloaded, tied the bag off and set off. Driving home was a bit hazardous. The load in front made my bike unwieldy and it felt so front heavy I just prayed we wouldn’t have any sudden stops. But bit by bit we made it home, very satisfied with the outing. We got it all done, we replenished our coffee and fruit supplies (both key summer life ingredients) and did not use an ounce of gas. Thank God we didn’t need toilet paper.
JCH
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Can you have a green vacation?
I tried. I really did. I took the train to Connecticut to visit my family instead of driving. Let me repeat. I took the train to CT from Chicago with my three kids. That's 20 hours on Amtrak, folks, and I recommend it highly. I did start to get that caged animal feeling after about 16 hours, but on the whole it was pleasant and so lovely to be able to stand up, read my book and drink water with abandon. Speaking of which, I bought two plastic water bottles at the train station when I realized I had forgotten reusables - but Amtrak has water spigots in each car and we reused those bottles the whole weekend until I dumped them in my recycling container at home this morning. I know, I know, you're not supposed to do that, but there were no wild temperature fluctuations and aside from the fear that we'd all catch Dylan's fever, we braved reusing plastic bottles.
Failure began on the train, ten hours into the trip, when I ordered a cup of coffee. Paper cup, paper tray, four-fold paper napkin. I dispensed with the napkin and the tray, but guiltily accepted the cup, in which I emptied a disposable container of half and half. By the time I ordered our breakfast I had resigned myself to green failure- we had muffins, egg sandwiches and scones, all individually wrapped in plastic and served in, you guessed it, cardboard trays with four-fold napkins.
Once we got to my parents' house we were able to keep our waste to a minimum, largely because my parents do the same. But on my first visit to Walgreen to get supplies I realized I didn't have a reusable bag, (my mother later said there were several in the trunk) so guiltily accepted plastic. First time since March. It got worse. Shorehaven's delicious beverages were served in plastic cups. And the Circle Line Tour serves its beer and water in disposables only with no recycling on board. Toss. And in central park's Leap Frog Cafe every single utensil and serving piece was disposable. Toss.
So the question is - is it possible to have a green vacation? Ironically, had I driven I would have had more control over my immediate environment while sending significantly more carbon into the atmosphere. I would have brought my cold and hot portable cups and reusable bags for that quick run into the store.
On the positive side, the experience made me realize that many things that used to seem like a hard habit to break or form have now become rote for my kids, my husband and me. We compost. We don't use paper napkins. Our town recycles everything so we produce very little trash. But once I got outside of my little green cocoon, it all fell apart. And it was depressing to realize that my family's efforts are such a drop in the bucket.
What's the answer? Short of traveling only to recycling friendly cities, I have to plan better or just do the best I can under the circumstances. And next time I'll at least bring a Green Homes coffee mug.
Jane
Failure began on the train, ten hours into the trip, when I ordered a cup of coffee. Paper cup, paper tray, four-fold paper napkin. I dispensed with the napkin and the tray, but guiltily accepted the cup, in which I emptied a disposable container of half and half. By the time I ordered our breakfast I had resigned myself to green failure- we had muffins, egg sandwiches and scones, all individually wrapped in plastic and served in, you guessed it, cardboard trays with four-fold napkins.
Once we got to my parents' house we were able to keep our waste to a minimum, largely because my parents do the same. But on my first visit to Walgreen to get supplies I realized I didn't have a reusable bag, (my mother later said there were several in the trunk) so guiltily accepted plastic. First time since March. It got worse. Shorehaven's delicious beverages were served in plastic cups. And the Circle Line Tour serves its beer and water in disposables only with no recycling on board. Toss. And in central park's Leap Frog Cafe every single utensil and serving piece was disposable. Toss.
So the question is - is it possible to have a green vacation? Ironically, had I driven I would have had more control over my immediate environment while sending significantly more carbon into the atmosphere. I would have brought my cold and hot portable cups and reusable bags for that quick run into the store.
On the positive side, the experience made me realize that many things that used to seem like a hard habit to break or form have now become rote for my kids, my husband and me. We compost. We don't use paper napkins. Our town recycles everything so we produce very little trash. But once I got outside of my little green cocoon, it all fell apart. And it was depressing to realize that my family's efforts are such a drop in the bucket.
What's the answer? Short of traveling only to recycling friendly cities, I have to plan better or just do the best I can under the circumstances. And next time I'll at least bring a Green Homes coffee mug.
Jane
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Challenges and Suggestions
The most common response I hear to the plastic bag challenge is "I have the reusable bags, but I forget to bring them." Habits are hard to break, harder to form, but with a little persistence and some practical tips, we know it's doable!
Here's what I suggest. Cloth grocery totes are everywhere now. We sell them (shameless promotion - they're cute and cost $7/each or 3 for $20) but so does every major grocery store now, usually for about a buck each. I have at least ten in the back of each car. Many times I've gotten to the register and realize the bags are in my car. I simply leave my cart for a minute and run out to get them. Two minutes, no guilt!
I find it's easy to remember them at the grocery store but harder to remember to bring a bag in to the drugstore or bookstore. The key for me is leave at least one bag in between the front seats, right where I put my purse. When I grab my purse, I grab my bag - it's as simple as that.
So keep fighting the good fight. If you forget, just aim to remember the next time. Habits are hard to break, harder to form, but it's worth it.
Here's what I suggest. Cloth grocery totes are everywhere now. We sell them (shameless promotion - they're cute and cost $7/each or 3 for $20) but so does every major grocery store now, usually for about a buck each. I have at least ten in the back of each car. Many times I've gotten to the register and realize the bags are in my car. I simply leave my cart for a minute and run out to get them. Two minutes, no guilt!
I find it's easy to remember them at the grocery store but harder to remember to bring a bag in to the drugstore or bookstore. The key for me is leave at least one bag in between the front seats, right where I put my purse. When I grab my purse, I grab my bag - it's as simple as that.
So keep fighting the good fight. If you forget, just aim to remember the next time. Habits are hard to break, harder to form, but it's worth it.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
No Shopper is an Island
The challenge continues. And what a challenge it is turning out to be! I was feeling quite virtuous about declining all plastic bags when Peapod delivered and deposited 15 plastic bags in my kitchen! When I asked the delivery guy if he could take them back to be reused, he told me he could take them, but didn't think they would be reused. I decided to keep them to pick up dog poop - at least it's one way to reuse! A Green Homes client told me that he was informed by his Peapod delivery person that returned bags are reused. Further research is needed...
Another problem we've been hearing is what to do about the plastic bags in the produce department. We recommend going bagless or using a reusable string bag. You really don't need a bag to carry your produce. But if you don't like the idea of lemons rolling around your cart, or your bunch of grapes brushing up against your chicken breasts, why not try a cotton string bag? These allow the produce to breathe and let the grocery checker see the number she needs to ring up your purchase. There are many great options. Check out the ones at http://www.greenfeet.com/ .
So back to the title of this blog, "No shopper is an island". Are any of you having trouble getting the rest of your family on board? Are interlopers bringing plastic bags unbidden into your home? Take heart! Even if the rest of your family hasn't gotten with the program yet, you ARE making a difference! People will get used to seeing you with the canvas tote and start thinking about their own behavior. Whether you realize it or not you are serving as a role model. You never know who is noticing you at the grocery store and resolving that next time, they too will use a reusable bag.
We appreciate your comments and would love to hear more about your experience with the Green Homes Challenge.
Plastic Bag Fact #3: The average American family of 4 throws away about 1,500 plastic bags every year. Each bag can take up to 1000 years to decompose.
Monday, May 5, 2008
The Challenge Continues...
How has the ban on plastic bags been going for you? We had a big family event this weekend with extra shopping to do, but managed to avoid receiving any plastic bags!
My achievement did however, cause great consternation to the Jewel worker who just couldn't believe that I REALLY didn't want a plastic bag for my eggs!
Have you faced any resistance in your attempt to shop without plastic bags?
If you need more encouragement to continue the challenge, check out:
Plastic Bag Fact #2: It takes 12 million barrels of oil to produce the plastic bags used by American consumers each year!
My achievement did however, cause great consternation to the Jewel worker who just couldn't believe that I REALLY didn't want a plastic bag for my eggs!
Have you faced any resistance in your attempt to shop without plastic bags?
If you need more encouragement to continue the challenge, check out:
Plastic Bag Fact #2: It takes 12 million barrels of oil to produce the plastic bags used by American consumers each year!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
GREEN HOMES' MAY CHALLENGE- No Plastic Bags!
Are you ready for the first challenge? Here it is: JUST SAY NO! - to plastic bags that is. This month we challenge you to forego plastic bags completely. When you buy a bottle of shampoo at CVS, just say, "No, I don't need a bag. Thank you." At the grocery store, bring or buy reusable bags.
It may take a little getting used to. You're bound to find yourself at the checkout counter with an armful of items and your reusable bag in the car. Don't be embarassed. Ask someone to hold your place and go get them!
With a little practice it will become habit. Just keep your reusable totes in your car and they'll be ready whenever you make a quick stop at the store.
There are plenty of options available for reusable totes. Jewel, Dominic's and Whole Foods all have them. Plenty of on-line vendors offer a variety of options. Green Homes sells large reusable totes for $7 each or 3 for $20. Just drop us an e-mail at yourgreenhome@aol.com and we'll get them right out to you.
It really doesn't matter what reusable bag you use. But please, JUST SAY NO to plastic bags!
PLASTIC BAG FACT #1: Each year Americans use 30-100 billion plastic bags; of which only a tiny fraction are ever recycled.
It may take a little getting used to. You're bound to find yourself at the checkout counter with an armful of items and your reusable bag in the car. Don't be embarassed. Ask someone to hold your place and go get them!
With a little practice it will become habit. Just keep your reusable totes in your car and they'll be ready whenever you make a quick stop at the store.
There are plenty of options available for reusable totes. Jewel, Dominic's and Whole Foods all have them. Plenty of on-line vendors offer a variety of options. Green Homes sells large reusable totes for $7 each or 3 for $20. Just drop us an e-mail at yourgreenhome@aol.com and we'll get them right out to you.
It really doesn't matter what reusable bag you use. But please, JUST SAY NO to plastic bags!
PLASTIC BAG FACT #1: Each year Americans use 30-100 billion plastic bags; of which only a tiny fraction are ever recycled.
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