Lessening your eco-footprint
Written by Devan McCarthy Tuesday, 22 September 2009 08:00
Our planet is home to 2 million different species that live together and share the same resources to survive. Global warming is an issue for humans and animals, an issue that is going to influence the future of our planet.
It may be easy to ignore because it is something that has yet to affect us on a personal level, but the benefits of living a “green” life do not stop at our planet’s wellbeing.
Some may argue that younger generations overlook many green options because they may be seen as an inconvenience. In a USA Today article by Eileen Blass, Bruce Tulgan, a founder of RainmakerThinking said, “Gen Y has been pampered, nurtured and programmed with a slew of activities since they were toddlers, meaning they are both high-performance and high-maintenance.”
That means a generation that is more concerned with what is fast and efficient rather than what will save our planet. Unless we want Earth to turn out like the landfill seen in the movie “WALL-E,” individuals may need to make a few changes.
Being green does not mean driving a hybrid or the refusal to use a product that is manufactured in a plastic bottle. It is about making small changes in your routine. Changes that not only help our planet but also improve our health, physical appearance, fitness, financial stability and the economy.
It is no secret that obesity is an epidemic in America. Overweight and obese individuals are at risk for many diseases and health conditions including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and strokes.
Prepackaged foods and fast food are convenient for someone with a tight schedule, but they can be detrimental to one’s health.
These foods are full of fat and high in calories. The production of these foods also takes large amounts of materials and energy. Eating healthier foods such as fruits and vegetables will improve health and help the environment. Buying locally grown produce saves energy by reducing the amount of fuel used to transport products. Eating organic produce also eliminates pesticides.
You can also improve your fitness and health by using your body as a means of transportation. Walking, riding a bike, and in-line skating are good options that burn calories. Calories burned based on a 135 lb. person per half hour are as follows: in-line skating burns 386 calories, walking at a brisk rate uses 122 calories and biking at a moderate speed uses 267 calories.
Also, using your vehicle less will decrease your chances of getting into a car accident. Decreasing the amount of time spent driving is also a great way to save money on gas.
There are a lot of green options that help save money. Paying your bills electronically will cut the cost of postage. And if you are a procrastinator, you can wait until the last minute to pay your bill without a late fee.
Another way to help the environment while saving money is reusing plastic grocery bags as trash bags. This could save you $10 for every box of bags you don’t buy.
Americans buy 25 billion single-serve plastic water bottles each year. 1.5 million barrels of oil are used every year to produce plastic bottles. That is enough oil to fuel 100,000 cars each year in America. By using a water filter and a reusable water bottle, you can save yourself money and lesson the impact on the environment.
Hang-drying clothes increases the lifespan of your favorite knits. It prevents fading and shrinking, it also takes up less energy and saves a couple dollars.
Going green can even improve your complexion. Green beauty products are free from skin hashing chemicals such as petrochemicals and parabens. The product packaging is often recyclable and eco-friendly. Buying organic beauty products can even be fun because you can create your own alcohol-free perfume using organic oils.
President Obama has an economic plan that includes creating over 5 million “green collar jobs.” His plan is to lessen our dependence on foreign oil and save Americans pennies at the gas pump. Going green is important to many aspects of life. Saving our planet, improving fitness, health, and physical appearance, while saving money, are all good reasons to get on board for a greener life.
You can see how your living habits are affecting our planet by taking the ecological footprint quiz at http://www.myfootprint.org.
