30 Things in 30 Days - #25 - Buy in Bulk

In an effort to reduce packaging, it is encouraged to buy in bulk. Now, just because you buy something in bulk doesn't mean that there will be less packaging, you need to examine this on a case by case basis. For example, when you buy bulk toilet paper at Costco, you are getting enough toilet paper to last you for months, BUT each roll is individually wrapped in plastic, like at a hotel, although at least most hotels have their TP individually wrapped in paper. But, for another example, when you buy nuts, dried fruit, or dry goods in bulk you usually are reducing packaging. In the US try BulkFoods.com. In the Canada, try Bins and Bins.

30 Things in 30 days - #24 - Stop Storing Data on CDs

I am a photographer by profession. I got to a point where I was up to my eyeballs in CDs. Before external hard drives were affordable and easy to find at the local electronics store, I would burn images to CDs for storage and for bringing orders to my pro lab for printing. Now, don't even get me started as to why CDs are a stupid way to store important information. Have you ever lost important information because a disc was scratched to the point of no return? And they take up so much room. Maybe not to your average bear, but to me, volumes. I may be a professional but people these days are camera crazy and digital has made it even more so. So, really, everyone should have the same problem.

For data storage at home, I have an external hard drive. It is a My Book which has a 1 TB (One gigabyte (GB) = one billion bytes, One terabyte (TB) = one trillion bytes). It will hold up to 285,000 photos! Yes! Awesome! So easy to set up and use. And I have no idea the cost comparison to buying CDs but I know that it is a lot smaller and more useful than scads of CDs.

But what really got me thinking about this post was taking an order to the photo lab the other day. I used to burn an order, no matter how small, to its own CD, so I could transport it to the lab (unless I was using a lab with FTP capabilities, then I just uploaded to the lab). This was before flash drives. As I was uploading something to my flash drive the other day, I realized I should post about this. If you are not planning to bring your actual memory card to your photo lab, don't keep burning discs. Invest in a compact flash drive or a travel hard drive. The flash drive is great for taking images to the lab. The travel hard drive is great for uploading photos from your camera or memory card while traveling, so you can clear your card for more images. There are many kinds of flash drives and travel hard drives out there. I have the travel drive that is in the link.

Shelve the CDs. Equip yourself and reduce the waste.

30 Things in 30 Days - #21 - Compost Your Waste

30 Things in 30 Days - #20 - Wash in Cold & Line Dry

Did you know that if you switch to cold water for all your laundry you can save 80% of the energy you use on washing? That is amazing! Switching to biodegradeable, non toxic powder is also a good step. I posted about Claudia's Choices, the soap I use, here. Hanging your clothes to dry is also a wise move, plus they smell so darn fresh. I live in a townhouse and there is a rule against drying lines. I smell a protest coming, I am just hoping that since I live in a very environmentally conscience community that they will come to their senses without my prodding. Stay tuned...

For more environmentally friendly laundry tips, check out this article by Annie Bond.

30 Things in 30 Days - #19 - Ditch Your Desktop

I JUST found out about this (what am I living under a rock?!). If you use a lap top instead of a desktop computer you will reduce your energy consumption by 3/4! Wow! Of course, you should power down your laptop at the end of the day. And I have to add that I didn't want to quit using my desktop but ever since I bought a laptop after Christmas I hardly ever turn my desktop on. I love being able to work anywhere.

30 Things in 30 Days - #18 - Take a Bath

I touched on this in the last post, but taking a bath instead of a shower CAN save water IF you take long showers like I do. I have read that the average shower is 4 minutes long.... hmmmmmmm, I would say my average shower is 10 - 15 minutes long! I am not proud if it, it is the most wasteful thing I do. The length of my shower depends on whether I am shaving, washing my hair, etc. I have previously stated that showers are a sinful treat for me, and I really over do them. The average bathtub holds 180 - 200 liters of water when full. A standard shower head dispenses 20 - 60 liters of water a minute. A low flow shower head dispenses 10 - 15 liters of water a minute. Here is a good way to decided if a shower or a bath is best for you.

"If you’d like to test the amount of water wasted yourself, here’s an experiment you could try at home. Put the plug in the bathtub next time you take a shower (but not a stand-alone shower as you might spill over the lower shower wall). After you've showered, examine how much the tub filled up. If there is less water than you would usually have in a bath, then you will probably save money by taking a shower instead of a bath.

The Environment Agency, however, would recommend short showers, not baths. Based on its latest research, it proclaims that a 5-minute shower uses about a third of the water of a bath and can save 50 litres every time." by Ray Dobson, the managing Director of WD Bathrooms based in Sheffield, UK.

Personally I believe in the restorative powers of water. Look at all the cultures that have public baths, saunas, therapeutic pools. A bath can be relaxing to mind and body. And bath time is a great time for young families to spend time together. Since having my daughter over two years ago, I now take a bath every other day, with her vs the daily shower I took alone before. We have a fun time bonding, and we save water. Yah to that! It is a long way from the military style showers I have been forced to take as a guest of family friends who will remain nameless but I am truly trying to curb my long, hot shower addiction.

30 Things in 30 Days - #17 - Low Flow Shower Head

I LOVE to shower! It is one of my sinful delights. In order to keep my water usage in check, which easily is double that of my husband, I have started taking baths with my 2 year old, but additionally we have a low flow shower head. And low flow doesn't mean low pressure. In fact, we have lower water pressure in our current home than in our past home and our shower head has regulated it perfectly. And we have a really big head so that it is like showering under a rain shower....oooooohhhhhh so nice! Now that it is chilling down outside for the evening, I may need to go warm up under my shower head. Maybe I can get my husband interested and we can shower together to save water...

30 Things in 30 Days - #16 - Check Your Tires

Keep your tires properly inflated. This will help your car to run more efficiently which in turn will produce less harmful emissions, and use less gas. I don't know what more to say. Simple!

30 Things in 30 Days - #15 - Recharge Your Batteries

Buy a battery recharger. Batteries are not combustible, due to dangerous metals they contain. This also makes them dangerous for landfills. Rechargeable batteries will pay for themselves over a lifetime.

One other simple way I have reduced the battery usage in our home is to limit the amount of battery powered items we use. Our daughter has very few battery powered items. This has resulted from careful selection of toys and asking the grandparents to buy her toys that don't have batteries.

30 Things in 30 Days - #14 - Farmer's Markets

In our part of the country, winter is just around the corner, but there is still time to buy locally from area farmer's markets. Squash, pumpkin, arugula, cabbage, spinach, bush beans, beets, and broccoli should all still be available. Many Farmer's Markets carry organic produce but not all do so ask questions. And it is always fun to try something new, so check out what is available. Support your local farmers and save on the energy that is used to ship items from afar.

I seem to have pumpkins on the brain so here is a recipe for Mexican Pumpkin Soup:
4 cups vegetable broth
2 cups mashed or pureed pumpkin
1 16-ounce can chili beans
1 tablespoons oregano
pinch of cayenne or other red pepper
1/2 teaspoon cumin
4-5 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped
5 red potatoes, diced into 1/2 inch cubes
1 large onion chopped
1 tbsp. seeded diced jalapeño
1/3 cup soy milk
cilantro or parsley

Heat a large pot. Sauté most of the onions (reserve a few for garnish) and the garlic over medium heat for about 1 minute. Add in the broth, pumpkin, chili beans, jalapeño, and potatoes. Stir in the oregano, cayenne, and cumin. Bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer.

Simmer for about 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes. Stir in the soy milk and serve immediately garnished with cilantro or parsley and onion (and extra diced jalapeño, if desired).

Check here from some more healthy pumpkin recipes.

30 Things in 30 Days - #13 - Walk Somewhere

Just do it. Put one foot in front of the other, breathe deep, and break a sweat. It will help save energy AND do wonders for your personal health. Stop being lazy, get off your butt, go outside!

30 Things in 30 Days - #12 - Turn Off the Lights

Yes, we can all hear our parents, "If I have told you once, I have told you a thousand times, turn off the light when you leave a room!" Well, like so many things, they were right. I must admit that once I moved out on my own I may have left the lights on a time or two just for spite... Luckily, I have matured :) or I think I have... anyway, turn off lights in rooms you aren't in (or anyone else is in for that matter). It is the easiest thing I can think of to save energy. For more info on energy conservation and some fun freebies go to FLICK OFF.

30 Things in 30 Days - #11 - French Press Coffee Maker

I will try to make this the last post about coffee. If you love java but don't want to use a method that uses a filter, even if it is a reusable one, then a French Press is the way to go. Here is a Wikipedia post that tell you all about them. And a CoffeeGeek post on how to use them. I have talked with several people who have use these for decades, and the only negative was that the glass sleeve can break, but they are re placeable and recycleable. And the person who mentioned this said only once in 30 years had they had to replace it. Check it out...

30 Things in 30 Days - #10 - Reusable Coffee Filters

While I am on a coffee kick (see the last couple posts) I may as well mention something I already posted about here. Reusable coffee filters. If you use a coffee maker, please consider getting a reusabl basket filter. They are available at all department stores, drug stores, and hardware stores. I really don't understand why someone would want to pay for filters when for about $6 - $7 they can buy a reusable one an help our environment. I don't usually use a coffee maker, I make coffee one cup at a time using a Melitta One Cup Cone, which costs about $6 in Canada but only $2.99 on their US Site. I just set it on top of my cup and pour hot water from a kettle into it. They also have one that you can use on a traditional carafe that makes 6 cups. There are reusable cotton filters available for these. I wish they were not made out of plastic as we all know how long that sticks around. But, my wish may have been answered as I see that they make a porcelain 6 cup coffee maker! Wow! That's awesome!

30 Things in 30 Days - #9 - Coffee Cup Cozy

Ok, so when first saw that people were making these, I thought it would only encourage people to use disposable coffee cups. I was against them. But, then I thought, not everyone is in a position to carry a travel mug all the time, and these cozies can fit in your pocket or purse, and at least you won't need to use a cardboard cozy at the coffee shop. They are called everything from coffee corset to coffee sweater, like this cute little red deer from ThinkingMama.

30 Things in 30 Days - #8 - Bring Your Own Coffee Cup

I was reading in our local paper that the council has looked at outlawing one time coffee cups but have decided against it at this time. I live in Banff, where they are always looking into ways to reduce waste, and they have stellar organics and regular recycling programs. Because it is a resort community, so the mayor argued that many people don't bring a coffee mug with them. Now, I personally do travel with a coffee mug and water bottle, but it is true that many people don't, especially with the airline bans on liquids. However, Toronto has proposed a ban or to at least tax the offending cups. If a business doesn't want to pay to carry a better alternative to say styrofoam, they can pay a tax...

Do you have a reusable coffee mug? There are some really cool ones out there. From stainless steel to the Vincent Van Gogh Starry Sky one I have. Just search your local coffee shops or search on Google or Etsy under "travel mugs". This one is my favorite from LittleDebbieDoos!

30 Things in 30 Days - #4 - No More Bottled Water

This week we purchased an under the sink water filter so we can drink our tap water rather than buying bottled water or using a water cooler. Bottled water produces so much waste! And we had our water cooler for 5 years and while it was great that we could refill the 5 gallon plastic bottles, I am not sure about the toxicity of those bottles, not to mention I think I only ever cleaned the sucker TWICE in 5 years! Yes, that is gross, but I have to tell you that putting bleach solution through it and then tasting it for 1-2 giant bottles afterward put me off cleaning it. Then, I saw that Health Canada tested water coolers and says you should put that solution through EVERY time you replace a bottle, which is probably overboard, but is not even close to what I was doing. It all gaves me the hebbee geebees. Plus we live in beautiful Banff, in the Canadian Rockies, and our local water, aside from the mild chlorine taste, is awesome water. We installed a filter to get rid of the taste, and presto, I feel much better about the water I drink. I drink A LOT of water and would have to say that if I ever get cancer I will blame it on the plastic commercial water bottles and Nalgene bottles I toted around for years. Sheesh. When did drinking water get so complicated...

It is best to use aluminum water bottles for resuable bottles. I use Klean Kanteen but Sigg is another good brand.

Here is an article on recent trends in bottled water consumption. And here is a great list of answers to common questions about bottled water, such as can bottled water be manufactured from tap water?

I have heard that many municipalities are no longer using water coolers because they stand behind their local water and want employees to drink it. I can't vouch for all the towns but many do have good water systems and for those that do, good choice!

If you live in a rental and can't install a filter system you could consider a pitcher system like Brita.

30 Things in 30 Days - #3 - Borrow instead of Buying

I wrote a bit about my love of the library in this post. Libraries are wonderful both in making knowledge accessible to all and in allowing people to save money and our environment by borrowing things they would normally buy. Libraries have books, magazines, DVDs and videos, and CDs. That covers reading, watching films and TV shows, and music. Nice! And most libraries I know, even our independent library in Banff, have the ability to order whatever you are looking for from another library if they don't have it.

There are also toy lending libraries in many towns, usually at a local community playgroup, where children can borrow toys rather than having to buy them. When it comes to large plastic toys like kitchens and work benches, this is definitely a great way to help the landfills.

30 Things in 30 Days - #2 - CF Lightbulbs

Hmmm, I had started to write a post about this awhile back but never completed it. Number two in our simple ways to go green is to change out your current light bulbs for compact fluorescents when they burn out. This is a quick and easy way to save both money and energy. An old fashioned light bulb spends a lot of energy creating heat, where as CFLs convert most of their energy to light. They use up to 75% less energy and can last for 10,000 hours instead of 1,500. So, if you get sticker shock when you see the price of CFLs, check the package for the facts, and you will be pleasantly surprised. This site says that by replacing one 75 watt bulb for a 25 watt CFL you can save up to $83 over the lifetime of the bulb. Wow! That will add up AND help the environment.

On a side note, my town, Banff, Alberta, Canada, has volunteers going from home to home, for Project Porchlight. These fine people are giving of their time to give a free CFL to each household, in fact, they came to my house twice, and I hope that once people try these bulbs that they will indeed make the switch. There website has info on recycling CFLs. These bulbs should not be thrown in the garbage but need to be disposed of properly, due to a very small amount of mercury (less than a tooth filling or watch battery) in the bulbs. If a bulb breaks just sweep it up, put it in a safe container, and dispose of it where you dispose of batteries and spray paint cans.

My wish is that eventually companies will just quit making things that waste energy, deplete the ozone layer, or are toxic, etc.