As mentioned in previous posts, I don't use the drive-thru option very often. Usually, I have the kids in tow, making a quick zip through the bank or coffee shop much easier than lugging them in and out of the van. Like everyone else, I sit there, car running, inching forward little by little, until it's my turn at the window.
About a month ago, I drove to the car wash. It was beautiful out - I'd just cleaned and vacuumed the inside of the van. It was sparkling inside, and I wanted it sparkling outside. And, while the weather was nice, it was not warm enough that I wanted to wash it myself! So off to the car wash I went. There were three other vehicles in front of me waiting, all with engines running.
I had a light bulb go off in my head. I wouldn't run the van while running into the store for a minute. Why was I idling when I was in the car wash line?
Looking around, and feeling a little silly, I shut the van off. The guy in the car behind me shot me a look, like he thought I was weird. As the car in the wash left and the new one entered, I turned my van back on, inched forward and shut it off again. This processed continued until it was my turn in the car wash.
Looking back on it, I save myself about 20 minutes of idling. That's a lot of gas and carbon emissions. I wasn't cold sitting in the van, although I'm not sure I'd want to do this when it is -20C out.
I've even applied the "no idling" rule to the bank machine drive-thru and any place where I have to wait to pick someone up or drop someone off.
Another small change to help our environment.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
No more make-up (Change 133)
I had the best intentions of switching all of my cosmetic products to eco-friendly solutions. Really, I did. A few, I've managed to change. But the rest are sitting in my bathroom drawer, waiting for me to use them up, so I can make the switch.
It struck me this week, that even if I keep up this challenge for the next 5 years, I will never be able to completely make the switch. The reason? I don't wear makeup. As a stay-at-home mom, I can't be bothered putting on my "war paint" just to hang out around the house. I don't wear it when I go out to the grocery store or the drug store, either. Lately, I've been putting it on to go to work, but a couple of times I forgot, and the world didn't come to an end. I've also realized that I've gone out socially a few times, and haven't been wearing make-up then, either. No one has said anything.
That got me thinking about why women wear make-up. It is really to enhance their beauty, because they want to look beautiful, or is it because societal expectations are such that women are expected to wear make-up from the minute they wake up, until they go to bed at night? Deep questions to ponder, and a discussion that is really to big to take in single blog post. However, for those who are interested in persuing this discussion, I would be happy to take it off-line. I also recommend reading Naomi Wolf's The Beauty Myth. A real eye-opener into a billion dollar industry.
So back to me and my thoughts on make-up. 95% of the time I don't wear it, don't feel like I need to wear it, and everyone who is important to me comments that I don't need to wear it - my beauty is natural. I think I'll save it for really special occaisions - when I want to up and look extra pretty - family photo sessions, my brother's wedding, special outings with DH. The rest of the time, I'm going with the conscious decision to go au naturel.
It struck me this week, that even if I keep up this challenge for the next 5 years, I will never be able to completely make the switch. The reason? I don't wear makeup. As a stay-at-home mom, I can't be bothered putting on my "war paint" just to hang out around the house. I don't wear it when I go out to the grocery store or the drug store, either. Lately, I've been putting it on to go to work, but a couple of times I forgot, and the world didn't come to an end. I've also realized that I've gone out socially a few times, and haven't been wearing make-up then, either. No one has said anything.
That got me thinking about why women wear make-up. It is really to enhance their beauty, because they want to look beautiful, or is it because societal expectations are such that women are expected to wear make-up from the minute they wake up, until they go to bed at night? Deep questions to ponder, and a discussion that is really to big to take in single blog post. However, for those who are interested in persuing this discussion, I would be happy to take it off-line. I also recommend reading Naomi Wolf's The Beauty Myth. A real eye-opener into a billion dollar industry.
So back to me and my thoughts on make-up. 95% of the time I don't wear it, don't feel like I need to wear it, and everyone who is important to me comments that I don't need to wear it - my beauty is natural. I think I'll save it for really special occaisions - when I want to up and look extra pretty - family photo sessions, my brother's wedding, special outings with DH. The rest of the time, I'm going with the conscious decision to go au naturel.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Recycle those K-cups (Change 132)
OK, I have a very un-eco friendly confession to make. I now own a Keurig coffee machine. For those who aren't familiar with it, it is similar to a Tassimo machine. Each cup of coffee is brewed individually. There are lots of choices of flavours and strengths.
The drawback is that this machine creates a lot of waste, and uses a lot of energy and resources to produce its little plastic coffee filters. Instead of one coffee filter (made of renewable bamboo, unbleached and fully compostable) and organic, shade-grown RFA certified coffee, I now am using a little plastic cup, lined with a filter of dubious origin, filled with enough coffee (also of dubious origin) to make a single cup of coffee.
The great thing about the Keurig is that I am no longer wasting coffee by either a) making too much and pouring it down the drain because I can't drink it all or b) not getting around to my second cup of coffee for hours so the original pot ends up being bitter, and therefore making a fresh pot that ends up down the drain because I can't drink it all.
My Keurig machine came with its own reusable filter, so I can use my own coffee brand from before (which I will once the prepackaged kind that came with the machine are gone). As well, some of the packages that came with the machine contain up to 30% RFA-certified coffee.
So until I start using my own coffee and the reusable filter, I've decided to recycle the K-Cups. The means tearing off the foil lid, emptying the coffee grounds into the composter, pulling out the filter and putting it in the composter, and then recycling the lid and empty plastic cup. Lots of extra effort, but worth it to me.
The drawback is that this machine creates a lot of waste, and uses a lot of energy and resources to produce its little plastic coffee filters. Instead of one coffee filter (made of renewable bamboo, unbleached and fully compostable) and organic, shade-grown RFA certified coffee, I now am using a little plastic cup, lined with a filter of dubious origin, filled with enough coffee (also of dubious origin) to make a single cup of coffee.
The great thing about the Keurig is that I am no longer wasting coffee by either a) making too much and pouring it down the drain because I can't drink it all or b) not getting around to my second cup of coffee for hours so the original pot ends up being bitter, and therefore making a fresh pot that ends up down the drain because I can't drink it all.
My Keurig machine came with its own reusable filter, so I can use my own coffee brand from before (which I will once the prepackaged kind that came with the machine are gone). As well, some of the packages that came with the machine contain up to 30% RFA-certified coffee.
So until I start using my own coffee and the reusable filter, I've decided to recycle the K-Cups. The means tearing off the foil lid, emptying the coffee grounds into the composter, pulling out the filter and putting it in the composter, and then recycling the lid and empty plastic cup. Lots of extra effort, but worth it to me.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Join Paws for the Planet (Change 131)
I've signed up to join Paws for the Planet (http://pawsfortheplanet.ca). This joint venture between Purina and Evergreen, plants one plant for every sign-up. Here is the text of the email I received. I hope you'll sign up too.
| With your help, Purina will contribute up to $75,000 to protect green spaces. |
| Dear XXXXXX, |
| Would you and your pet like to make a commitment to help protect green spaces? |
| Purina® has re-united with Evergreen on the "Paws For The Planet" program in a continued effort to enhance and restore green spaces across Canada. With your help, Purina® will fund a $50,000 sponsorship to Evergeen to help protect green spaces. |
| To help make Canada greener and be a more eco-friendly pet owner, make a pledge to Paws For The Planet by clicking here. For every sign up, Purina® will make a donation to Evergreen to plant a Tree, Shrub or Wildflower across Canada. (Every sign-up counts and will help us donate an additional $25,000 to Evergreen.) Now that's green! |
| Visit PawsForThePlanet.ca for eco-friendly pet tips
and more information about this program. |
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Recycle my running shoes (Change 130)
Spring and Fall cleaning doesn't happen very often around my house. Truthfully, I have a hard enough time keeping up with the regular daily cleaning, let alone the thorough cleaning that should probably be done at least once a year.
However, every spring an fall, I faithfully pull out my kids clothes, have them try on those that I think will fit for the coming season, and give-away those that won't. I've always had a problem with shoes, though.
Shoes that are in decent shape, I've passed on. Those that are worse for wear, I throw out. But I've always felt guilty about it. Adding to the landfill, just because my kids have worn through a perfectly good pair of shoes just doesn't feel right. Now I can finally do something about it.
Enter Nike's Re-use A Shoe Program. (http://www.nikereuseashoe.com/get-involved). They take running shoes that are past their prime, grind them down and create athletic surfaces for organizations around the world. Check out this link here in Ottawa! http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2011/04/26/ottawa-university-football-field345.html
The only problem with this program is that there isn't a drop off location in Eastern Canada. I have to go to the US, or ship the shoes to Tennessee. Those of you living in Vancouver have a drop off location - lucky you!
My parents are making a trip to New England next month, so I'm going to ask them to take my bag of old shoes with them, and drop them off at a retail location.
It's inconvenient at best, but I like this idea better than sending my shoes to the landfill. If enough of us Canucks write to Nike/Converse, maybe they will think about putting a location in the Eastern Canada area. For now, I'm packing shoes and keeping my fingers crossed that my parents will help out.
However, every spring an fall, I faithfully pull out my kids clothes, have them try on those that I think will fit for the coming season, and give-away those that won't. I've always had a problem with shoes, though.
Shoes that are in decent shape, I've passed on. Those that are worse for wear, I throw out. But I've always felt guilty about it. Adding to the landfill, just because my kids have worn through a perfectly good pair of shoes just doesn't feel right. Now I can finally do something about it.
Enter Nike's Re-use A Shoe Program. (http://www.nikereuseashoe.com/get-involved). They take running shoes that are past their prime, grind them down and create athletic surfaces for organizations around the world. Check out this link here in Ottawa! http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2011/04/26/ottawa-university-football-field345.html
The only problem with this program is that there isn't a drop off location in Eastern Canada. I have to go to the US, or ship the shoes to Tennessee. Those of you living in Vancouver have a drop off location - lucky you!
My parents are making a trip to New England next month, so I'm going to ask them to take my bag of old shoes with them, and drop them off at a retail location.
It's inconvenient at best, but I like this idea better than sending my shoes to the landfill. If enough of us Canucks write to Nike/Converse, maybe they will think about putting a location in the Eastern Canada area. For now, I'm packing shoes and keeping my fingers crossed that my parents will help out.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Use eco-friendly and body-friendly hair conditioner (Change 129)
To go along with the eco-friendly shampoo, I'm now using eco-friendly conditioner. I found that the eco-friendly shampoo I am using is drying my hair out. (I guess all the yucky chemical additives of my other shampoo was what made my hair nice, soft and shiny. The commercials really are true!)
I'm using the conditioner every other wash, and it seems to be alleviating the dryness. I never used to have to use it, so I don't like purchasing another bottle, creating more waste, and using more precious resources so my hair looks nice. On the other hand, I am a bit vain, and don't enjoy looking like I could double for a scarecrow on a bad hair day! :)
When my current bottle of shampoo is finished, I'm going to try another brand to see if I still have the dryness problems. Any favourites among my readers that you could recommend?
I'm using the conditioner every other wash, and it seems to be alleviating the dryness. I never used to have to use it, so I don't like purchasing another bottle, creating more waste, and using more precious resources so my hair looks nice. On the other hand, I am a bit vain, and don't enjoy looking like I could double for a scarecrow on a bad hair day! :)
When my current bottle of shampoo is finished, I'm going to try another brand to see if I still have the dryness problems. Any favourites among my readers that you could recommend?
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Thank you!
A big thank you to all my readers, both silent and active. I couldn't have continued this without your support! I will still continue to blog about my family's eco-changes. Stayed tuned for another year of green challenges! :)
On that note, I have a favour to ask my readers. I am looking for suggestions of eco-friendly things to try, that are a) something you have tried yourself, but haven't seen me blog about yet and b) are not on Vanessa's list. Thank you in advance for all of your ideas - I can't wait to try them out!
On that note, I have a favour to ask my readers. I am looking for suggestions of eco-friendly things to try, that are a) something you have tried yourself, but haven't seen me blog about yet and b) are not on Vanessa's list. Thank you in advance for all of your ideas - I can't wait to try them out!
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