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The
3 R’s: reduce, reuse and
recycle. These have been around
for a long time, but how often do
we consciously practice these each
day? Often we take the road of
convenience versus the one of
conservation and care for the
environment. We can change that by
making some simple choices which
can reduce our negative impact on
the environment and also save us
some money in the long run.
Every
year each person gets junk mail
equivalent to 1 1/2 trees and on
average spends 8 months of his/her
life opening it.
Stop your junk mail and do
your part to save trees and your
time, which they say is money.
Sign up for free at: www.dmachoice.org/MPS/mps_consumer_description.php
Send your household names
and address with a $1 check to: Mail
Preference Service, Attn:
Dept
27145601
, Direct Marketing Association,
P.O. Box 282
,
Carmel
,
NY
10512
.
Every
year, approximately 12 million
barrels of oil are used to make
plastic bags, and only 1% of these
bags are recycled. This
is a terrible waste of valuable
resources for something that is
used one time. At the grocery,
just say no to plastic. Since
paper is recyclable, it is a
better alternative; however,
reusable bags are the best choice.
Many of the grocery stores and
retailers carry them and provide
credits when you use them. Kroger
reusable bags cost $.99 and earn
you a nickel for each bag reused,
even non-Kroger bags. They pay for
themselves in 20 trips, and after
that, it’s just money in the
bank.
Americans
purchase an estimated 28 billion
plastic water bottles each year
and less than 20% are recycled.
Bottled water costs more than
gasoline, and 40%
of bottled water
is just plain old tap water. The
yearly manufacturing of water
bottles requires approximately 1.5
million barrels of crude oil, and
it uses five times more water than
the plastic bottle actually holds.
Stainless steel water bottles
(approximately $15 - $20), the
most expensive water carrying
alternative, can be filled and
refilled for 50 years or more.
They pay for themselves after 18
refills. Sacrifice convenience and
fill up a bottle at home.
Approximately 1/3 of all packaging goes to
landfills. This packaging cost is
passed to consumers every time we
buy something. Essentially, we are
paying for garbage. With energy
costs going up, packaging costs
will also be rising. Avoid
containers that aren’t
recyclable, such as many plastics
and Styrofoam. Buy in bulk so
packaging is minimized. Skip the
plastic wrapped produce and use
your canvas bag to contain those
loose fruits and vegetables. Use
your money to buy goods, not
garbage.
If
the shower heads in your house
were installed prior to 1992, a
considerable amount of water and
money are going down the drain.
Install a low flow shower head,
costing $10 - $50, and save at
least 14,000 gallons of water a
year for a family of four taking
five minute showers. Northern
Kentucky Water District water
savings would be approximately $55
and sanitation savings would be
approximately $58. Hot water
energy costs will be reduced by
1/3, saving you more money. If you
are living with someone who
doesn’t know the meaning of a
five minute shower, your savings
would be substantially more!
The
above examples are just a few of
the many things that you can
easily put in place and have a
positive effect on the
environment. Resolve today to
reduce your dependency on our
natural resources. Both you and
the environment will benefit.
Sharon
Tepe is the founder of Go Green.
If you would like more
information, contact
Sharon
at sharon.tepe@fuse.net
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