America is a consumption-oriented society… it is partly associated with our high standards of living. We can still maintain our high standard of living, while trying to minimize impacts on the world’s resources and environment.
Actions to consider:
Buy durable items, avoid “disposable quality” items : Whenever possible, avoid buying items that are inferior quality. Such items seems to be better value, but because the manufacturer may cut corners, the durability may not be there. The item may fail or break prematurely, only to force you to buy another item. Such items cause waste of resources. It is better to buy a product that will last. The trick is, knowing which items to avoid. That is why a little research would go a long way. Want to be green, buy things that serve its purpose forever.
Return unused items to the store: Have you ever bought a pair of shoes that you never used? Take it back to the store and get your money back. Not only would this save money, your action would save the environment by not wasting resources. If the return period is over, at least donate the item to charity (Goodwill, your local church thrift shop) or hold a garage sale. Don’t forget to always combine trips to save time and the environment.
Green Renovation: what an oxymoron? Have you heard about the movie stars who are living green after spending millions to renovate their house? That’s just blow my mind! What do they think would happen to all the discarded functioning materials they changed out? All these items go to the dump. Would it be better to use whatever you have until it can not perform before changing out over time? Why talk about being green when your carbon footprint is more than 10 times others, like VP Al Gore?
Reuse and Repurpose: What do you do with the water after washing your vegetable in a big bowl? Dump it on your plant. After shredding your papers, use it for packing. Please write to us what you do to save the environment.