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WAYS GIVEN TO GREEN YOUR LIFE AND WALLET
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Kevin Vickery
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It has been my experience that environmental and clean energy information fed to consumers is frequently encapsulated in a political or social agenda that alienates anyone who doesn’t readily align with the message or the messenger.
A successful migration away from fossil fuels towards clean energy relies on people having access to good information and making different choices based on that information. If we, the consumers, have in our arsenal simple solutions that will help us save money while saving the planet, then we stand to shift the context that shrouds the environmental conversation from one of exclusivity and judgment into one of empowerment and sustainability.
The following lists a variety of simple actions that will not only reduce your carbon footprint, but will ultimately save you money. And who couldn’t use a little extra money in their pockets? As you endeavor to live a “greener” life, I encourage you to share what you discover with the people around you. Seek out and support businesses that carry environmentally friendly products and employ sustainable practices, and show others how to do the same.
Office
Cell phone: Charge your cell phone or iPod with a solar or hand-crank charger. The Solio solar powered battery charger is fully juiced after eight hours in direct sunlight, which charges the average cell phone twice. Alpha Gear for Gents in West Hollywood carries the Solio as well as hand-crank chargers at alpha-man.com.
And when you can’t possibly juice that cell phone up one more time, make sure to recycle it, as well as PDAs and other wireless devices. Wirefly offers a trade-in incentive at wirefly.org. Other organizations that recycle cell phones are collectivegood.com and phones4charity.org.
Computer: Pay bills online. The United States Post Office delivers more than 212 billion pieces of mail every year or about 8,000 letters per second. According to a study by the Department of Energy, the paper industry is the fourth biggest producer of carbon dioxide among manufacturers. Paying bills online helps alleviate the problem. Check with your bank or vendors to see if they offer this service.
Printer: Print on both sides of paper to reduce paper waste. Also, expand the margins on your documents so you can get more words on a page and use less paper.
Bathroom
Medicine cabinet: Keep the cotton that is packed into vitamin and pill bottles instead of throwing it away. You can use it for cosmetic and first-aid purposes. A considerable amount of pesticides and fungicides are used to grow cotton, so reducing the amount you have to purchase reduces the amount of pollutants put into the environment.
Shaving: Consider using shaving oil instead of foam or cream. Not only is the packaging a lot smaller, the oil will help keep blades sharp much longer than gels and foams.
Tooth brushing: Southern California is in the middle of a drought. So dire is the water shortage that water is being diverted from Northern California to keep Southern California hydrated. When brushing your teeth, turn off the tap.
Toilet: If you own your own home, consider replacing your toilet with a duel-flush toilet that uses less water.
Laundry room
Detergent: Many detergents now come in concentrated versions to reduce the plastic used in packaging. Keep your eyes open for these products or their greener counterparts, which come in biodegradable versions.
Dry cleaning: For dry clean-only clothing, use an environmentally friendly or organic dry cleaner that doesn’t use perchloroethylene (perc). Perc is a dangerous chemical that pollutes fresh groundwater and may cause cancer.
HANG ‘EM OUT TO DRY. Save money, energy and even your fabric with this Old World-turned-New World method.
Dryer: Instead of using a dryer, which can over time distress your clothing, use a clothesline. Apartment dwellers can put a retractable line in the shower or place a collapsible rack on a balcony or near an open window.
Kevin Vickery is a clean energy specialist and Larchmont Village resident. As co-producer on the biodiesel/clean energy documentary FUEL (2008 Sundance Audience Award for Documentary) he created strategic partnerships with some of the most innovative clean energy companies in the world. He currently works with PHAT ENERGY to help individuals and businesses save money with solar power. kev@phatenergy.com
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