Sustainable Travel

Global Warming. Acid Rain. Melting Glaciers. Ozone Layer Depletion.

Just writing these things makes my stomach churn. They seem so daunting, overwhelming, threatening…the problems are so huge, how can I make any difference?

Actually, it is pretty easy. As the saying goes “every little bit helps”. So here are 5 little things you or your household can do to help make our planet a wee bit greener:

RECYCLE. Yes, we all dump our newspapers in those big blue bins. But there are lots of other things you can make an effort to recycle – for instance, batteries. Battery recycling programs keep all the nasty components in one place, preventing toxins from leeching into our air and waterways. From lithium to lead, many battery components, including plastic casing, can be recovered and reused. Many companies will accept used batteries so they don’t end up in our landfills. Some in our area are: Radio Shack, Staples and Home Depot.

LESS PACKAGING. By choosing daily staples that are packaged in recyclable or reusable materials, you are making an effort towards lightening your eco-footprint. Skip items that are packaged excessively in plastic. Put the paper components in the recycle bin. Buy food items in bulk stores like Henrys. I scoop up a big bag of oatmeal and make my own portions rather than buying the pre-packaged little servings (which I might add are full of chemicals!).

PAPER PLEASE. I’m sure you have heard it before, but ask for paper grocery bags rather than plastic ones that take millions of years to biodegrade. Plastic bags are going to outlive us all and clog up our landfills. Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods give you the option. If your store doesn’t, ask the manager – perhaps if more of us asked, we might have more choices. Better yet, bring your own canvas bags that can be used over and over again. And don’t forget to recycle the paper bags once you have unpacked everything.

TUCK IN YOUR WATER HEATER. Yep, putting a nice, cozy blanket on your water heater can save energy and money. The water in the tank will stay hotter longer and you will reduce the amount of energy needed to heat those long showers. Insulating water heater blankets can be bought at any home improvement store for around $20. When properly installed, it will pay for itself in saved energy within one year! Another tip – check the temperature on your heater. A setting of 120 degrees rather than the pre-set of 140 will reduce energy consumption and the risk of scalds from overheated water.

COVER UP YOUR FOOTPRINTS. Eco-footprint, that is. I’m not about to give up my car, my plane travel or using my heater. I’d love to ride my bike to work but somehow the idea of pedaling down the 805 every morning doesn’t seem likely! However, there is a way to offset (often called “green tags”) harmful activities by contributing to organizations that channel funds directly to carbon-reducing projects.

You can use the “carbon footprint calculator” at Native Energy to figure out the dollar amount to contribute to make up for your emissions. There are links on their site to make your contribution. My-Climate is also a great site for information and contributions.

The last time I traveled to Toronto, I felt much better about all that jet fuel I helped burn by offsetting my 4000+ miles (return trip) for around $30. And if that isn’t an option for you, plant a tree in your yard!

With all this talk of conscious consumerism, you may be wondering why we print our newsletters. The RPCC would love to make the Reporter an online-only information source. We wouldn’t have to deliver them! However, we have many neighbors that don’t have access to a computer. So for now, you will still be receiving your monthly news the old fashioned way. Of course, you can always read past issues.

And if you are wondering where I get all my eco-knowledge, I am helped greatly by a wonderful web site: The Ideal Bite. You sign up for their emails and you get a daily bite (tip) sent to you. The writing is witty and the information very useful. Check out their blog (discuss this tip) on the left – hilarious dialogues from the writers about greening their lives.