Making envrionmental choices at work

Have you ever noticed that you never see something until you have it yourself? For example, I never noticed how many blue Honda Civics were on the road until we bought ours.  Or how many women are pregnant at the same time until I was pregnant myself?

Lately, I've been noticing this phenomenon at work.  I hadn't realized the environmental impacts of my work place, really.  I mean, I noticed, but I didn't give it much thought.  Until recently. 

I've become the office supplies orderer for one of my library branches.  All of a sudden, I can make a choice about what type of paper, pens, and tape we buy.  I can decide how many transit slips we need, how much toner, how many envelopes.   It's been a real eye-opener.

I must state right away, that the library does environmental pretty well.  As a part of the larger City, we must comply with the city's take on environmental stewardship.  Here are some examples of how this happens:

1) printers are set to print double-sided AUTOMATICALLY.  You actually have to change the settings if you want to print single side
2) all internal communications are sent through re-usable envelopes.  You can get a lot of use out of these until they a) wear out or b) run out of room
3) all toner is taken back by our supplier for recycling and refurbishing/refilling
4) in the larger branches, green bins are kept in the staff room for compostables
5) our newest building was constructed according to LEED standards

It's the smaller stuff that I can affect.  I've purchased recycled printer paper.  I've made sure that our transit slips (which send items between branches) are reused at least 3-4 times.  I've tried to make sure that our used book sale racks are kept full with donations, instead of being sent to the recycle bin.

It's been great to be able to be green at work.  I'm looking forward to trying to further improve our processes/procedures.

A very successful year!

It's hard to believe that over a year has passed since I started this challenge.  I've learned so much from you, my readers - thank you so much for your support, encouragement and comments!   Although I didn't manage to make 366 changes in one year (my original goal), I am very proud that I added an additional 128 changes to my family's repertoire. Some of them didn't work out, but most of them have been lasting changes.

Because of the number of changes to date, I'm only going to highlight the ones that didn't stick.  Everything else has been added, relatively smoothly, and has now become habit about 90% of the time.

Here's what I couldn't keep doing:

2. Environmentally-friendly ant killer
8. Buy environmentally and body friendly face moisturizer
13. No more disposable coffee cups
15. Eliminate baths for kids; have showers instead
17. Use GoodSearch for Internet
21. No more plastic takeout containers
25. Only buy ethically farmed/fished seafood
27. Carbon off-set all vacation travel
30. Make my own hand soap
35. Use vinegar/water to clean eyeglasses
53. Ban Styrofoam
62. Only use dishwasher at night
63. Turn off "heat dry" feature on dishwasher
67. Get rid of mould in shower with hydrogen peroxide
81. Place compost bags in all rooms
120. Return plastic pots to nursery
123. Bring my own containers to bulk store

Not bad, eh?  (Eco Mama pats herself on the back).  I'll keep striving to implement changes that work for my family, and continue to improve current habits to try to get 100% compliancy.

What I won't be doing.....

I'll be glad when the madness of end of year activities is over and the lazy days of summer begin.  The end of June is a whirlwind of year end school parties, birthday parties, sports tournaments, dentist/doctor appointments and other assorted things that life throws one's way.

Barely having time to breathe, I haven't really thought about my next eco-change.  But I have given a lot of thought about what I won't be changing.

I reviewed Vanessa's list this week, and realized that several of her items just aren't going to happen in my suburban family of 5.  So to give my readers a chance to realize what I'm not capable of, I hope I'll be forgiven for the lack of major change in some areas.

1.  Cancelling my cable - I rely on my electronic babysitter too much to give it up.  "Please kids, mommy needs just 5 minutes to {insert item here}.  Why don't you turn on the TV for a few minutes while I finish up here?"

2. Not driving my car on weekends - living in the suburbs, we don't have access to ready transit.  Most things in our small community require some form of driving.  Many of the kids' activities happen on the weekend, as well as DH needing to go to the hardware store or Canadian Tire for his latest household project.  I just can't see how we can avoid driving on at least one day of the weekend.

3. Turning off my freezer - feeding a family of 5 healthy food while being cost-effective requires a lot of storage.  This includes a freezer for bulk meat, bread, jam, and veggies.  Turning it off?  Not going to happen!

4. Turning my oven off for good - I use my oven for everything from dinner to baking to preserving foods.  I don't think I'd be able to survive with out it.

5. Not using the air conditioning in my car - during the humid, sultry days of summer, I need to be cool.  If I'm hot, I'm grumpy.  And you know the old saying "When mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy".

6. Only using spices/herbs I grow at home - we cook a variety of cuisine at our house.  If I only use herbs I grew at home, we'd eat a pretty bland diet.  In order to try to encourage my kids to expand their culinary horizons, I can't, in good conscience, restrict my spice use just yet.

7. Unplugging my fridge - see my comments about the freezer

8. Selling the car - NOT!

9. Only staying at eco-friendly hotels - if they are inexpensive yes, but would they really cater to three kids and a dog?

10. Eat food straight from pot/pan - given that I'm trying to teach the little monkeys some manners, I don't think making this change would be useful.

11. Using hand-held fans instead of electric ones - only if the fan comes with some nubile young Greek god.....

12. Not wearing a gown at doctor's office - it would not be fair to subject my doctor to visions that might given him nightmares for weeks....

13. Reusing a fake Christmas tree from last year, not buying ornaments - we use a real tree, and part of our family tradition is buying a new ornament every year.  Maybe I could switch to enviro-friendly ornaments.

14. Packing carry-on rather than check-in luggage - again, when travelling with 3 kids, not going to happen.  Travelling by myself?  That's not going to happen either!

15. Sleeping more - I wish....

16. Sleeping naked - not until the little ones are grown and out of the house.  I can just picture the school yard or play date conversations...  "Guess what mommy?  So-and-so's mommy doesn't sleep with any clothes on."  How do you explain that to 4 and 6 year olds in a way that doesn't make you sound like a creep?

So, readers, forgive me my sins.  I'll try my best to make up for them in other ways.

Start to be more politically involved (Change 121)

This change really takes me out of my comfort zone.  I am the type of person that prefers to keep her politics private.  I don't really like trying to change people's minds - I prefer to let them come to their own conclusions without my thrusting my opinions on them.  If they ask for my advice, of course, I'll respond, but I would never venture to tell someone outright that I disagree with them.

But to really ensure environmental change, government has to become involved.  Canada's current environmental platform leaves something to be desired.  I am going to do something about it. 

Among other organizations, the David Suzuki Foundation occasionally sends out form letters that you can email to prominent government officials (the Prime Minister, the Environment Minister and the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, for example).  These letters always encourage the powers that be to take the environment into consideration when forming national policy.

I received one such letter this week, encouraging us to write to Environment Minister Peter Kent to ask for clean air and healthy oceans (http://action.davidsuzuki.org/oceans).  When I originally received this notice, the goal was for 2500 letters to be sent.  If you look at the link now, the new goal is 8000!

I usually delete these emails when I receive them - I am not comfortable sending these kind of letters to government.  But this week, I filled the letter out and emailed it.   What changed my mind?  The knowledge that although my 366 changes are great, they are still on an individual level.  We need national and global level action to help correct the environmental damage being done to our planet.  I realize that I still have a long way to go - there are many "big" issues that I have not yet tackled on an individual level (such as owning two cars, buying green energy, eliminating plastic completely from our house).  But I think that there are changes that need to be made that I can't do on my own.

It felt weird sending the letter, but in a good way.  I am finally trying to influence government politics, instead of just complaining about how those in government can't get it right.

Spend time everyday researching "green" issues (Day 23)

Whoops!  I forgot to post yesterday, too. So technically, Day 23 is really Day 22 and vise-versa, but you get the drift.  I made a change both days, right?   :)

Yesterday, I decided to add an educational component to my lifestyle (because I have nothing better to do), and spend part of every day learning about green changes, the environmental movement and other related issues. 

So far, I have found two new (to me) blogs - The Clean Bin Project (http://cleanbinproject.com/) and The Best Green Blogs Directory (http://www.bestgreenblogs.com/about/).   As well, I watched a really interesting video by the makers of the Story of Stuff, about the cosmetics industry  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfq000AF1i8&feature=player_embedded).   I haven't seen the Story of Stuff yet, but it is on my list on things to do.  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GorqroigqM&feature=channel)

If anyone can suggest good websites, articles, books or videos, please drop me a line.

Add a "green" tip to my email signature (Day 22)

Whew - I love travelling but it is always exhausting.   Got home around supper time tonight and put the kids to bed a little while ago.  Put some laundry on, cleaned up the kitchen, starting unpacking.

Then realized that I haven't updated my blog today.  Sigh.

I searched Vanessa's list quickly and found this change - adding a "green" tip to her email signature.  I can do that.

In fact, I'll even change it every so often so my friends, family and co-workers don't get bored of reading the same tip every day.  If any readers have favourite eco-quotes or tips, please pass them on!

366 Changes

[note - due to a mix-up on my part, this post should be read BEFORE "It hurts...]

It's going to take a lot of work to think of 366 changes to make to my family's lifestyle. As mentioned in previous posts, I am starting with the changes made by Vanessa Farquharson, and moving on from there.

There isn't enough space in this post to list all of the things she has done. I invite you to check out her blog at http://www.greenasathistle.com/.

I am starting with "March" - 31 changes in total. Well, for us, that really amounts to 15 of her changes to implement. We already either practice (14) or "do not apply" (2). (FYI, we do not have a cat, therefore no need for cat litter, and do not use dryer sheets, so no need to switch types).

As for the other 14, we already use recycled paper towels, don't use the heating pad except in emergencies, turn down our thermostat, rarely use bottled water, check tire pressure, use a phosphate-free dish detergent, am not going to buy any more electronic gym equipment, use tote bags, use recycled toilet paper, use vinegar/water to clean glass, belong to the Freecycle network, turn off all lights before leaving home, don't use disposable cutlery/plates, and don't use lint removers.

Once we implement her 15 changes, I then need to come up with another 16 for the month.

Oh my stars. The reality of this is starting to set in. Ok, don't panic. Take a slow, deep breath. One change at a time....

Houston, we may have a problem.....

DH noticed my introductory blog submission last night.

Uh oh.

"Hmmm", he said. "Are you blogging now?", with the implication, you don't have time for that nonsense.

"No," I replied somewhat truthfully, "not yet". I hadn't posted yet, so I wasn't really lying, was I?

"Hm." was the response. "Don't be getting any crazy ideas."

DD, DS, and DD thought my ideas were great, until they realized they would have to be involved.

"But mummy, I don't want to lose my TV and movies!" "Mummy, I want treats!" "Does this mean we don't get any more presents?"

So much for family buy-in. I guess I'll just have to apply the stealth method for the first few changes, until someone notices.

How green is my valley?

I just finished reading Vanessa Farquharson's book Sleeping Naked is Green, and I must say, I'm impressed. Here is a woman that sought to change her environmental footprint, one small step at a time, and succeeded. One change a day, for 366 days. At the end of her year, she allowed herself to revert back to her "old" ways. Surprisingly (or not), she managed to keep about 74% of her changes.


I thought about the changes she made, and began to analyze my own "greenness". She has made changes that we haven't and didn't make some that we have.


As I mentally tried to apply her changes to my family, it made me wonder, how PRACTICAL and REALISTIC are her changes for my family?


We are a family of 5 with three children under the age of 8. DH works a 40 minute drive away. I am a stay-at-home mom with an on-call job at the public library.


Can we really eat more local and organic food without breaking the bank? Is it really reasonable to get rid of satellite TV, not use the car on weekends, or not use staples?


A friend recently told me that she thought we were the most environmentally-friendly family she had met. But are we really? Is there anything else we can do to reduce our carbon footprint while acknowledging the realities of suburban life in 2010?


I have decided to take a leaf from Vanessa's book, and will make one change a day for the next 366 days. I want to see if we can improve our environment and our future. I will use Vanessa's book as our starting point, and hopefully come up with other changes.  Her website is http://www.greenasathistle.com/ - all of her changes are posted there.


I invite you along for the fun. The adventure is just beginning......