In the last year, I have become more interested in environmental concerns, particularly global warming, increasing my recycling efforts, trying to use more eco-friendly products, etc.
So I was stunned and pleased this morning when Kwasi told me that Sprint, his employer, has made it official–they are now encouraging people to work from HOME at least 2 days a week!! This isn’t news to him–he already works from home 5 days a week……but the fact that a major corporation is doing its part to reduce toxic emissions, save gas, and making its offices more “green,” is very encouraging and exciting!
I told Kwasi I would try to do the math of what he saves and how much the environment saves by him working from home each day:
88 miles = RT to the Sprint office
440 miles = Per week
1,760 miles = Per month
21,120 miles = Per year
SAVINGS: $3,936+ per year in fuel costs……priceless time not wasted on the beltway sitting in traffic….and most importantly…..less carbon dioxide and toxins for the environment! 🙂
This morning, I read the back of my Seventh Generation dish detergent bottle, which is plant-based and not petroleum-based, and it said that if every household replaced their dish detergent with plant-based detergent instead of petroleum-based detergent, it would save 86,000 barrels of oil a year!
It wasn’t hard for me to make some eco-friendly changes. Here’s some things I have done:
1. Using plant-based dish detergent instead of petroleum-based.
2. Reusing Kwabena’s wipes. Rinsing off the poop and tossing them into the washer has saved us from throwing away wipes that are perfectly able to be washed numerous times. (I also make his wipes solution).
3. Using cloth diapers. I admit that I haven’t used them as much recently because, well, he’s OUTGROWN the ones I made for him previously! I’ve got to get my sewing machine out and make him more…… Throwing diapers away just sits in a land-fill. I need to work more on this…
4. Using washclothes instead of disposible sponges, which can be washed and reused an unlimited number of times. More sanitary than using nasty little smelly sponges, anyhow!
5. Tossed out all my toxic cleaning chemicals, and I use baking soda for scrubbing. Forget the Windex–I simply use microfiber towels with plain water. You’d be amazed how spot free glass and windows become!
6. Rinsing out the styrofoam containers when I buy salad from the cafeteria at work. This really pisses me off, because I would prefer to just use a plate that can be washed. But they have to WEIGH the salad, and the scale is already set to be weighed in the styrofoam containers. So, recently I decided to start rinsing out the styrofoam container and reusing the same one each day (since I buy salad every day).
7. I use natural deodorant most days (still need the “hard” stuff when working out, though!)….I use natural toothpaste……I have thrown out all my lotions with parabens (parabens cause cancer) and only use almond oil on my body……
8. I attempt to turn the tv off when not in the room, as well as lights not being used.
And the list goes on………
I’m still not totally “there” with all the changes I want to make. But this is a start. Everything we do makes a difference in how much of a carbon footprint we leave. And it also impacts our health.
P.S. If you’re interested in seeing if the products you use are SAFE or UNSAFE, go to www.cosmeticsdatabase.com and type in the name of the product. Safety ratings are from 0 (safe) to 10 (unsafe).
HEy if you need another good all-around cleaner (Floors, windows, walls, counters etc) I would suggest adding plain white vinegar to your spray bottle of water! That’s all I use around the house now and it works great for windows!
That’s a good idea. I forgot about that!