While most of you are doing your celebration of earth day/week/month by doing something that makes you feel better about yourself that you did something/anything, I would like you to take a moment to think about the economy of being real green, maybe not totally green everyday.
I am not saying this as the normal left wing extremist that are always seem to fit the category mentioned above, but as a healthy and better personal economy for yourself. Here are some things I do not preach but have practiced for some time in my life.
Reduced use of chemicals:
This is everything from bug spays and stuff you might spread on your lawn to certain personal hygiene products and household cleaners and air fresheners. If you take just a few moments to read what is in those consumer goods and like me don’t know what they are and attempt to look them up on the web. You will find you do not want to use them unless you have no alternative and while you are looking, look for a better/natural alternative.
example: I use products with boric acid to take care of ant problems (also good for roaches) as it is fairly safe and will bio-degrade in a short time. I use two “IONIC BREEZE” to keep my air inside the house fresh as well as collecting even the most minor airborne partials while only using 16 watts of electric.
It is also a minor producer of ozone (03) that has an ability to destroy airborne organic odors. Compare that with covering them up with chemicals that you will indeed breath in and it will get to your bloodstream. They actually have an index to how much the body can tolerate of these chemicals as many enter the body quickly but do not leave for quite a while or not at all.
Best of all, doing things like this not only makes life safer for you, your kids and your neighbor, it is much more economical. With the US economy to be in shambles for some time to come this stuff will get more popular.
It only makes sense to plant a garden not just for the economy, but to ensure you have some safe food around that you know what chemicals they have been subjected to. Mexico is now a leading provider to US food supply and they do not have the same rules down there and the FDA is not only inept to deal with food in the US but merely powerless to that from Mexico.
Besides, think of the experience this would be for your kids. The best father/son mother/daughter project.
On the other side of things, dealing with electric/utilities/car, I can only say in a short way that must be in your thoughts whenever you are buying anything. ” STOP CONSUMING ! “
Of course this is no good for our over consumed economy but when I make a purchase, I have one thought in mind and it is a phrase every big, smart business uses “TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP”.
Example:
Car cost 20,000. I travel 15,000 miles a year. Car averages 25 mpg. I expect to keep the car for a least 8 years and I need to consider the cost of financing the car and I normally add 15% of the total cost of the car for maintenance but less if I were only keeping it 4 or 5 years. Also consider the cost of insurance.
Now add the totals up and compare to find the best deal. There are many more things to consider with this but I think you get the idea that calculating the total cost of ownership for a period of time is important and I contend that it is part of being green.
Many folks dream of or want to have a solar electric system but I can tell you fist hand that if you are not getting mega tax breaks on a system you install yourself, it is hardly worth it. In fact most states will not give you a tax break unless it is certified professionally installed so it was a trade off that I just did it all on my own without tax incentives.
It is a commitment you just have to want to do over the cost. The bright side is that electric rates are going to go up soon and I’m sure that the cost of this equipment will also so it will pay off in the future (or so I hope) And I am happy with the idea that when the power goes out, I still operate as if nothing happened. The power company had received many calls of disbelief when the guy down the street was lighting up his whole house/yard from the last couple of storms when we had long term and wide spread outages.
I have found being a bit green green everyday is easier, faster, cheaper and better for me as far as health goes. It just takes a little knowledge or access to it and the “will to do it”. It actiually has uncomplicated part of my life and saved me money and health.