Start off your week (and recover from the holiday weekend) by watching this video called "The Story of Stuff." :)
Monday, July 6, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
How To Get UnWASTED!
So, we've all heard of the three R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. They're practically plastered all over everything these days. Recycling is a great first step, and it's something we can all do without having to think too hard (because let's face it, once we're done with homework and classes, about all we want to do is eat, sleep, and stare in to space, and maybe hang out with a few friends.) And I'm definitely an advocate of recycling. But reusing, and even more so REDUCING, makes an even bigger impact.
Something I didn't really even realize until I started seeing it mentioned in a few different articles is something called "down-cycling." Although it sounds like a fun activity involving a bike and a very large hill, it's not, I swear. Basically, when you recycle that plastic water bottle (didn't you buy that reusable Sigg yet...?) it can't be made into another plastic water bottle. Because there are so many different kinds of plastic, it's harder to sort, and because it's not as durable as something like, for example, glass, it becomes a lower grade of plastic when it gets recycled. And a lot of those recycled plastic products can't be recycled again. You know those weird colored park benches made out of that funny looking material (okay, maybe I just think they're weird colors and funny looking?) Yeah, a lot of those are recycled benches. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all about a nice park bench, but reducing how much we consume is probably a better option in the long run. (Imagine: a world overrun by recycled park benches because we all insist on continuing to drink out of those annoying plastic bottles because we claim to recycle them after we're done with them. Not my idea of Utopia.)
When we consume less, less ends up in landfills, and less energy is used to convert materials back into something useful.
So, reducing what we consume is starting to sound like a better idea, eh? My thoughts exactly. And when we do buy things, like that water bottle I've been relentlessly pushing you to buy for the last two posts, at least they're things that are going to last a while and not just get tossed out with next week's recycling, or even worse, the trash! *GASP* (I just had to get a new Sigg water bottle on Amazon because someone STOLE mine from my house last week. Although, I guess if you're going to steal something from me, I'm glad you chose to be eco-friendly, but whoever you are, you're not invited back. It's still a little bit of a sore subject, just ask my housemates.)
Anyways, REDUCE whenever possible (did you really go to Wal-Mart to buy that or are you just buying it because you can?) REUSE when you have to consume (even those annoying plastic water bottles are good for a few uses) and RECYCLE as much as you can (the moral of this story: stick to cans and bottles of beer instead of plastic party cups!)
I'm off to fill up my brand new water bottle and gather the recycling bins that are still on the curb from last night's collection!
Jinnie
Something I didn't really even realize until I started seeing it mentioned in a few different articles is something called "down-cycling." Although it sounds like a fun activity involving a bike and a very large hill, it's not, I swear. Basically, when you recycle that plastic water bottle (didn't you buy that reusable Sigg yet...?) it can't be made into another plastic water bottle. Because there are so many different kinds of plastic, it's harder to sort, and because it's not as durable as something like, for example, glass, it becomes a lower grade of plastic when it gets recycled. And a lot of those recycled plastic products can't be recycled again. You know those weird colored park benches made out of that funny looking material (okay, maybe I just think they're weird colors and funny looking?) Yeah, a lot of those are recycled benches. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all about a nice park bench, but reducing how much we consume is probably a better option in the long run. (Imagine: a world overrun by recycled park benches because we all insist on continuing to drink out of those annoying plastic bottles because we claim to recycle them after we're done with them. Not my idea of Utopia.)
When we consume less, less ends up in landfills, and less energy is used to convert materials back into something useful.
So, reducing what we consume is starting to sound like a better idea, eh? My thoughts exactly. And when we do buy things, like that water bottle I've been relentlessly pushing you to buy for the last two posts, at least they're things that are going to last a while and not just get tossed out with next week's recycling, or even worse, the trash! *GASP* (I just had to get a new Sigg water bottle on Amazon because someone STOLE mine from my house last week. Although, I guess if you're going to steal something from me, I'm glad you chose to be eco-friendly, but whoever you are, you're not invited back. It's still a little bit of a sore subject, just ask my housemates.)
Anyways, REDUCE whenever possible (did you really go to Wal-Mart to buy that or are you just buying it because you can?) REUSE when you have to consume (even those annoying plastic water bottles are good for a few uses) and RECYCLE as much as you can (the moral of this story: stick to cans and bottles of beer instead of plastic party cups!)
I'm off to fill up my brand new water bottle and gather the recycling bins that are still on the curb from last night's collection!
Jinnie
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
How to be a Green Machine (or atleast act like one)
Hey everyone! I'm going to start off with my first post on this blog focusing on small things you can do in the dorm to start living a greener lifestyle. Live off-campus? You're not off the hook. These tips also apply to you.
1. Swap out your energy sucking incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs, also known as CFLs (they're those weird looking spirally light bulbs.) You can find them almost everywhere now, including Wal-Mart. They might be a bit more expensive, but they last longer, and they use way less energy. Double whammy!
**A friend just informed me that you can get CFLs for your room from Physical Plant FOR FREE (Thanks, Z!)! Allegheny FTW! (Also, check out the comments-- Recycle your CFLs at Home Depot!) **
2. Turn your computer off when you finally decide to hit the hay. Those e-mails (which you might even get forwarded to your phone anyways...), Facebook messages, tweets, and blog updates are still going to be there when you wake up in the morning. And let's face it, if someone really needed to get a hold of you, they'd call or text you... So save that 6-10 hours of power draining for during the day when you really need it to chip away at that 10 page paper you have due in a few hours (or screw around on Facebook, which is what you're probably doing instead...)
3. Thirsty? Buy a Brita and a reusable waterbottle. Don't waste your money on the Aquafina they sell in McKinley's, it's just the same filtered water you get out of a Brita, only with a pretty blue label and a plastic bottle you're probably going to forget to recycle. I have a Brita in my house, and I love it. Personally, I think Brita water tastes better than Aquafina, anyway, and I can refill my waterbottle as many times a day as I want, FOR FREE. So, invest now, and save yourself some cash in the long run.
4. Instead of using plastic and styrofoam disposable plates, cups, and utensils, head out to the Dollar Store and pick yourself up some super cheap glass or cermaic plates and cups. If you're going to keep using disposables, at least make sure they're plastic (rather than styrofoam) and recyclable. Buying red plastic party cups for that upcoming bash you're planning? Have people recycle them instead of throwing them away (or all over your living room) and consider reusing those 12 pong cups... there was just water in them, after all.
5. Probably the easiest thing I'll say to you: RECYCLE. If you live in a dorm, it takes an extra 30 seconds to run to the trash room and recycle your waste. If you're really that pressed for time, keep a box in your room, and take it down whenever you have to take down your smelly trash bag. If you're living in a house, it's probably even easier. Did you know in the city of Meadville, you don't even have to separate your recycling? You don't even have to take off the labels. Just make sure your containers are clean and the lids are off. Check out this article from the Meadville Tribune for more info!
There are about a million other things you can do, too, but we'll start off with five. Even if you claim to hate the Earth and the Environmentalists trying to protect it, doing these things doesn't just benefit the planet, they benefit you. They'll save you money, and you'll get into the habit of doing these simple things so that when you move into your own house or apartment (if you don't already live in one) and you have to take responsibility for your utility bills, maybe that time of the month when you dread the mail won't be quite as dreadful.
I'm off to read about more environmentally friendly practices!
Jinnie
1. Swap out your energy sucking incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs, also known as CFLs (they're those weird looking spirally light bulbs.) You can find them almost everywhere now, including Wal-Mart. They might be a bit more expensive, but they last longer, and they use way less energy. Double whammy!
**A friend just informed me that you can get CFLs for your room from Physical Plant FOR FREE (Thanks, Z!)! Allegheny FTW! (Also, check out the comments-- Recycle your CFLs at Home Depot!) **
2. Turn your computer off when you finally decide to hit the hay. Those e-mails (which you might even get forwarded to your phone anyways...), Facebook messages, tweets, and blog updates are still going to be there when you wake up in the morning. And let's face it, if someone really needed to get a hold of you, they'd call or text you... So save that 6-10 hours of power draining for during the day when you really need it to chip away at that 10 page paper you have due in a few hours (or screw around on Facebook, which is what you're probably doing instead...)
3. Thirsty? Buy a Brita and a reusable waterbottle. Don't waste your money on the Aquafina they sell in McKinley's, it's just the same filtered water you get out of a Brita, only with a pretty blue label and a plastic bottle you're probably going to forget to recycle. I have a Brita in my house, and I love it. Personally, I think Brita water tastes better than Aquafina, anyway, and I can refill my waterbottle as many times a day as I want, FOR FREE. So, invest now, and save yourself some cash in the long run.
4. Instead of using plastic and styrofoam disposable plates, cups, and utensils, head out to the Dollar Store and pick yourself up some super cheap glass or cermaic plates and cups. If you're going to keep using disposables, at least make sure they're plastic (rather than styrofoam) and recyclable. Buying red plastic party cups for that upcoming bash you're planning? Have people recycle them instead of throwing them away (or all over your living room) and consider reusing those 12 pong cups... there was just water in them, after all.
5. Probably the easiest thing I'll say to you: RECYCLE. If you live in a dorm, it takes an extra 30 seconds to run to the trash room and recycle your waste. If you're really that pressed for time, keep a box in your room, and take it down whenever you have to take down your smelly trash bag. If you're living in a house, it's probably even easier. Did you know in the city of Meadville, you don't even have to separate your recycling? You don't even have to take off the labels. Just make sure your containers are clean and the lids are off. Check out this article from the Meadville Tribune for more info!
There are about a million other things you can do, too, but we'll start off with five. Even if you claim to hate the Earth and the Environmentalists trying to protect it, doing these things doesn't just benefit the planet, they benefit you. They'll save you money, and you'll get into the habit of doing these simple things so that when you move into your own house or apartment (if you don't already live in one) and you have to take responsibility for your utility bills, maybe that time of the month when you dread the mail won't be quite as dreadful.
I'm off to read about more environmentally friendly practices!
Jinnie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)