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.
Friday, August 6, 2010
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!
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!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
No more plastic take-out containers (Day 21)
As mentioned in previous posts, travelling certainly puts a dent in any eco-changes I plan. Everything I do must be done on the road, without the comforts of home and routine.
Take today, for instance. I arrived at my friend's house late afternoon. After spending time starting to catch up on our lives, we realized it was dinner time. The only problem - neither of us had given any thought to it.
And it was 5:30 p.m. - the witching hour in my house. Dinner had better make an appearance in the next half hour or so, or the rest of the evening wasn't going to be pretty.
"I have chicken," she said dubiously, "but it's not completely thawed." Hmmm....twenty minutes to completely thaw and another 1/2 hour to cook? Yeah, NOT going to happen.
"We could always order in," she continued.
I nodded. That worked for me. While she ordered pizza, I perused Vanessa's list looking for changes that could be made while I was away. And wouldn't you know it - take out containers were on her list.
"Hey, look at this," I pointed to the screen, "No more take-out containers unless I bring my own."
"What about compostable ones? Pizza boxes can go in the green bin. Do those count as eco-friendly?," she replied. I thought about that. I wasn't going to completely give up take-out food - really, as a busy mom with lots of activities to go to and work schedules to contend with, there was no way I was going to give up my "mother's helper." But could I restrict our take-out to only restaurants that provide compostable packaging? Would I be able to remember to bring my own take-away containers if we ate in a restaurant?
It might work; it means no more Swiss Chalet delivery for a while, only eating in the restaurant. Same thing with my favourite Thai place. Both restaurants use styrofoam and/or plastic containers.
But in reality, my family doesn't eat restaurant food that often. DD's allergy prevents us from eating at many restaurants easily, so we tend to stick with the chains that provide us with standard allergy information. And quite frankly, it's expensive for a family of 5 to eat restaurant food, so I usually make home cooked meals, anyway.
"OK, " I said to my friend, "here's my change for today. No more plastic or styrofoam take-out containers. I will only use delivery service where there is compostable food packaging. I will only bring left-overs home if I bring my own containers."
"Works for me," she replied. Me, too.
Take today, for instance. I arrived at my friend's house late afternoon. After spending time starting to catch up on our lives, we realized it was dinner time. The only problem - neither of us had given any thought to it.
And it was 5:30 p.m. - the witching hour in my house. Dinner had better make an appearance in the next half hour or so, or the rest of the evening wasn't going to be pretty.
"I have chicken," she said dubiously, "but it's not completely thawed." Hmmm....twenty minutes to completely thaw and another 1/2 hour to cook? Yeah, NOT going to happen.
"We could always order in," she continued.
I nodded. That worked for me. While she ordered pizza, I perused Vanessa's list looking for changes that could be made while I was away. And wouldn't you know it - take out containers were on her list.
"Hey, look at this," I pointed to the screen, "No more take-out containers unless I bring my own."
"What about compostable ones? Pizza boxes can go in the green bin. Do those count as eco-friendly?," she replied. I thought about that. I wasn't going to completely give up take-out food - really, as a busy mom with lots of activities to go to and work schedules to contend with, there was no way I was going to give up my "mother's helper." But could I restrict our take-out to only restaurants that provide compostable packaging? Would I be able to remember to bring my own take-away containers if we ate in a restaurant?
It might work; it means no more Swiss Chalet delivery for a while, only eating in the restaurant. Same thing with my favourite Thai place. Both restaurants use styrofoam and/or plastic containers.
But in reality, my family doesn't eat restaurant food that often. DD's allergy prevents us from eating at many restaurants easily, so we tend to stick with the chains that provide us with standard allergy information. And quite frankly, it's expensive for a family of 5 to eat restaurant food, so I usually make home cooked meals, anyway.
"OK, " I said to my friend, "here's my change for today. No more plastic or styrofoam take-out containers. I will only use delivery service where there is compostable food packaging. I will only bring left-overs home if I bring my own containers."
"Works for me," she replied. Me, too.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
I'm travelling again...
Hi everyone, I am travelling to Toronto tomorrow AM to visit friends for a few days. I'm not sure if I'll get a chance to post while I'm away, but as with my previous trip, be assured that I am making changes, and will blog about them when I get back. Have a great week!
Good bye Chapters, hello library (Day 20)
OK, a disclaimer first: I work for the public library, so this next post is a little biased..... :)
I love to read. In fact, my current "to be read" pile stands at 8 books. And those are just from the library. That doesn't count the 5 bookshelves of books that I own that still need to be read.
I was looking at the bookshelf yesterday, and thought at how much money and paper was tied up in the books sitting on the shelf. Many of them will be read only once, although some I will pass on to friends and family to read. (In fact, if anyone is looking for a good book, you should check out my parents' place. I swear they have an entire bookstore downstairs).
Those more I looked at them, the more I realized that most of them could be found at the library. Now, as I mentioned, I work for the public library on a casual basis. But it wasn't until I started working there, that I realized what a resource the library is. I can find anything I want - books, magazines, movies, CDs, newspapers - the list is endless.
When DH discovered what our library has to offer, he went a little crazy with requests. I think he requested about 30 items. "I didn't know I could get all of this stuff!" he exclaimed. "It's great!"
One of my kids' favourite trips is to the library to get books. We go about once a week, spend half an hour, and end up bringing home 30-40 books. But I haven't really thought about using the library for me. If there was a new book out that I really wanted to read, I usually went and bought it. (Hence the five shelves...) Many of them are books that I won't read again, and given my taste in reading material, no one else in my family will read them either. It seems silly in retrospect to purchase brand new books, when they are already available at the library.
So I have decided to make the library my "bookstore". I am not going to buy any new books or magazines with two exceptions: 1) if I get a gift certificate (a favourite birthday present in my family) or 2) if I am giving a books or a GC as a gift (another favourite birthday present).
Otherwise, all of my reading material will come from the library. I'll save a few trees in the process, and my bank balance will thank me. A win-win situation, all around.
I love to read. In fact, my current "to be read" pile stands at 8 books. And those are just from the library. That doesn't count the 5 bookshelves of books that I own that still need to be read.
I was looking at the bookshelf yesterday, and thought at how much money and paper was tied up in the books sitting on the shelf. Many of them will be read only once, although some I will pass on to friends and family to read. (In fact, if anyone is looking for a good book, you should check out my parents' place. I swear they have an entire bookstore downstairs).
Those more I looked at them, the more I realized that most of them could be found at the library. Now, as I mentioned, I work for the public library on a casual basis. But it wasn't until I started working there, that I realized what a resource the library is. I can find anything I want - books, magazines, movies, CDs, newspapers - the list is endless.
When DH discovered what our library has to offer, he went a little crazy with requests. I think he requested about 30 items. "I didn't know I could get all of this stuff!" he exclaimed. "It's great!"
One of my kids' favourite trips is to the library to get books. We go about once a week, spend half an hour, and end up bringing home 30-40 books. But I haven't really thought about using the library for me. If there was a new book out that I really wanted to read, I usually went and bought it. (Hence the five shelves...) Many of them are books that I won't read again, and given my taste in reading material, no one else in my family will read them either. It seems silly in retrospect to purchase brand new books, when they are already available at the library.
So I have decided to make the library my "bookstore". I am not going to buy any new books or magazines with two exceptions: 1) if I get a gift certificate (a favourite birthday present in my family) or 2) if I am giving a books or a GC as a gift (another favourite birthday present).
Otherwise, all of my reading material will come from the library. I'll save a few trees in the process, and my bank balance will thank me. A win-win situation, all around.
Body-friendly deodorant (Day 19)
I'm slowly "greening" my beauty regime. As I use up my current products, I plan to replace them with environmentally and body friendly alternatives. Next on the list is deodorant.
I have to confess right now, that I am NOT looking forward to this change. With kids, I am outside a lot. I tend to perspire heavily, especially in summer, and have always used antiperspirant as a means from preventing my clothes from getting too stinky and stained. The one time I tried a deodorant (as opposed to antiperspirant), I ended up with sweat stains on some of my favourite shirts.
I dutifully checked EWG's Skin Deep database (http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/). I checked my current antiperspirant and was pleasantly surprised to find that it rated a 5 out of 10 for nastiness. However, my goal is to try and get all of my products to 3 or less. I found three products that are carried at my local drug store. I need to pick up a prescription today, so will also pick up one of these deodorants while I"m there.
I'm going to grin and bear it, and hope that I don't get too smelly. And hope that I can find a "green" stain remover, just in case.
I have to confess right now, that I am NOT looking forward to this change. With kids, I am outside a lot. I tend to perspire heavily, especially in summer, and have always used antiperspirant as a means from preventing my clothes from getting too stinky and stained. The one time I tried a deodorant (as opposed to antiperspirant), I ended up with sweat stains on some of my favourite shirts.
I dutifully checked EWG's Skin Deep database (http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/). I checked my current antiperspirant and was pleasantly surprised to find that it rated a 5 out of 10 for nastiness. However, my goal is to try and get all of my products to 3 or less. I found three products that are carried at my local drug store. I need to pick up a prescription today, so will also pick up one of these deodorants while I"m there.
I'm going to grin and bear it, and hope that I don't get too smelly. And hope that I can find a "green" stain remover, just in case.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Good-bye CFCs (Day 18)
I did some spring cleaning today. (Yes, I know it's August, but hey - considering it's still the same year as when I started, I think I'm doing well.)
I decided to clean out the cupboards underneath my bathroom sink. We store our extra toiletries in there (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc.), and I haven't checked our supplies in a while. Actually, it was quite obvious that I hadn't looked in there for some time, because stuff fell out of the cupboard when I opened it!
It didn't take long to sort through the "keep" and "throw out" piles. Most of the stuff was "keep", so it was a matter of reorganizing the space to accommodate everything.
But the "throw out" pile was quite interesting. There were expired bottles of hydrogen peroxide and "Deep Cold" cream. Several packages of Band-Aids that had seen better days.
There were also 3 cans of spray disinfectant, and one can of bathroom scent.
I didn't even know we had these. We moved into our house in 2002, and I can honestly say that I have never used them.
As I was about to toss them in the garbage, I noticed that two of them were "CFC-free". Did that mean the other two had to be disposed of at the hazardous waste depot?
I didn't even know that CFCs were still around. I remember CFCs being a big deal when I was in high school and university, but I had always assumed that after the Montreal Protocol in 1987, the problem had disappeared.
Apparently not. According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), they still are being produced, although many countries are voluntarily phasing them out. (http://www.unep.org/themes/ozone/?page=home)
I checked out their kids website (http://www.ozzyozone.org/) and found lots of useful information. Did you know that one chlorine atom can spend 100 years breaking apart up to 100,000 ozone molecules before the chlorine atom finally disappears? That means that any chlorine atoms released into the atmosphere today will still be around in 2020. That's a scary thought.
Even scarier, in 2006, the hole in the ozone above the Antarctica was the size of the African continent.
Is there anything we can do, I wondered? The UNEP encourages people to buy ozone-friendly products and ensure that all refrigerators or air conditioners that are thrown away have the CFCs removed by a certified specialist.
So, I'll set aside my cans until our next hazardous waste day, and take them over for proper disposal. I've made a mental note to make sure I buy CFC-free products in the future.
And I'll make sure to slather on the sunscreen when I go outside.
I decided to clean out the cupboards underneath my bathroom sink. We store our extra toiletries in there (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc.), and I haven't checked our supplies in a while. Actually, it was quite obvious that I hadn't looked in there for some time, because stuff fell out of the cupboard when I opened it!
It didn't take long to sort through the "keep" and "throw out" piles. Most of the stuff was "keep", so it was a matter of reorganizing the space to accommodate everything.
But the "throw out" pile was quite interesting. There were expired bottles of hydrogen peroxide and "Deep Cold" cream. Several packages of Band-Aids that had seen better days.
There were also 3 cans of spray disinfectant, and one can of bathroom scent.
I didn't even know we had these. We moved into our house in 2002, and I can honestly say that I have never used them.
As I was about to toss them in the garbage, I noticed that two of them were "CFC-free". Did that mean the other two had to be disposed of at the hazardous waste depot?
I didn't even know that CFCs were still around. I remember CFCs being a big deal when I was in high school and university, but I had always assumed that after the Montreal Protocol in 1987, the problem had disappeared.
Apparently not. According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), they still are being produced, although many countries are voluntarily phasing them out. (http://www.unep.org/themes/ozone/?page=home)
I checked out their kids website (http://www.ozzyozone.org/) and found lots of useful information. Did you know that one chlorine atom can spend 100 years breaking apart up to 100,000 ozone molecules before the chlorine atom finally disappears? That means that any chlorine atoms released into the atmosphere today will still be around in 2020. That's a scary thought.
Even scarier, in 2006, the hole in the ozone above the Antarctica was the size of the African continent.
Is there anything we can do, I wondered? The UNEP encourages people to buy ozone-friendly products and ensure that all refrigerators or air conditioners that are thrown away have the CFCs removed by a certified specialist.
So, I'll set aside my cans until our next hazardous waste day, and take them over for proper disposal. I've made a mental note to make sure I buy CFC-free products in the future.
And I'll make sure to slather on the sunscreen when I go outside.
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