New Year's Resolution-Leading a balanced sustainable life

Happy 2011!

I typically don't make New Year's resolutions, as I think they are over-rated, but this year I decided to make an exception. My goal for 2011 is to make a renewed commitment to living a more balanced, sustainable life and hope you will join me.

Over the past year I have accumulated a number of resources to help us in achieving this goal. With information gathered from local sustainability organizations, books, magazines and the web, I hope to debunk the myth that being "green" is  complicated and/or expensive.  Every week throughout 2011 I'll provide topics and/or tips then relate them to their social, economic, environmental benefits.  To start us off, I've provided a list of
"Seven Easy Things"  we can do to begin our journey into sustainability.

Please let me know if you are interested in a specific topic by answering the question on the right or posting a comment.

Pax Vobiscum (peace be upon you)

Paula

Seven Easy Things, by Sustainable Lawrence
                                   (And Paula Waldron)

Our "SET" of Steps you can take to make an immediate impact, help save the Earth, and certainly save money.

1. Lower your thermostat one degree (or more) in winter.

• Lowering your thermostat 1 degree will save you 1% on your bill if reduced temperature is sustained for 8 hours or longer
• Reduce carbon emissions

2. Eat locally produced food. Use less meat products.

• Enjoy eating more flavorful, healthier food
• Support local farmers/businesses
• Reduce carbon emissions by reducing distance from farm to table
• Experience farming with your family
• Reduce methane gas emissions (stronger than carbon!) created from animal farming

3. Replace old-fashioned light bulbs with CFL’s (Compact Fluorescent Lights).
   Check out New Jersey's Clean Energy Site for information on discounted bulbs.

• An ENERGY STAR Qualified Compact Fluorescent Light bulb (CFL): can save more than $40 in electricity costs over its lifetime & uses about 75% less energy.
• If every one of 110 million American households bought just one CFL bulb, took it home, and screwed it in the place of an ordinary 60-watt bulb, the energy saved would be enough to power a city of 1.5 million people. One bulb swapped out, enough electricity saved to power all the homes in Delaware and Rhode Island. In terms of oil not burned, or greenhouse gases not exhausted into the atmosphere, one bulb is equivalent to taking 1.3 million cars off the roads.

4. Drive your car less: walk, bike, carpool, use mass transit.

•  One gallon of gasoline produces 19 pounds of carbon dioxide
•  Save money-the current national avg for regular gasoline is around $3.00/gallon
  
  
  Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_carbon_dioxide_does_a_car_put_out_in_one_day#ixzz1AHtsGili

5. Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms.

• Reduce energy consumption, emissions and save money.

6. Drink tap water instead of bottled water.
  (From filtered refrigerators or stand-alone water filters like Brita)

• Reduce the amount of plastic going into landfills (Yuck!)
• Save $.50-1.00+ for every bottle eliminated *

* Reward yourself for using water by putting $1 in a separate jar every time, or every day, that you use your own water versus buying bottled water. It will add up quickly! 


7. Teach children and teens to abide by these practices.

• Do these together as a family and enjoy the benefits of leading a healthier, more balanced life.