Support Change:
- Consider donating to organizations, such as the Rainforest Action Network, who work to protect our forests, our climate, our rights.
General Home
- Buy antiques where possible: Antique furniture is well made and long-lasting. Quality pieces serve as cherished family
heirlooms and will remain in use for many years. Furniture made with chipboard or pressed wood, while inexpensive, offgases into your indoor environment and often doesn't stand the test of time. A wonderful alternative is custom-made furniture. Not only can you expect quality pieces that last, but you will be supporting local artisans and your community.
- Use rechargable batteries: According to the Ohio EPA, Americans purchase over 2 billion household batteries a year. These batteries contain toxic metals such as mercury, cadmium and nickel. Once they end up in the landfill, toxic chemicals from these batteries can leach into groundwater supplies. If they are incinerated, these toxic chemicals end up in our air. Using rechargable batteries and a charger works out to be much less expensive than using regular batteries and they are much safer. An alternative is to purchase products that don't require batteries or use solar power.
- Plant a Tree: Trees provide a range of social, communal, environmental and economic benefits. We feel more restful and peaceful in the presence of a tree's beauty. Trees are often planted as living memorials. For the community, they provide privacy and screen out unattractive views. They provide multiple environmental benefits such as improving air quality, conserving water, providing homes for wildlife and absorbing carbon dioxide, a green house gas. They moderate climate by adsorbing the sun rays during the hot summer months and reduce stormwater run-off and the potential for flooding. Trees also provide both direct and indirect economic benefits. Heating costs are reduced by coniferous trees acting as windbreaks. In the summer, cooling costs are reduced due to the shade created on a home from deciduous trees. Trees also increase property values. The indirect benefits include reduced health care costs associated with air pollution and the reduced use of fossil fuels.
- Purchase foods with less packaging: Many convenience foods on the market today use an unnecessary amount of packaging.
Home Renovation Projects:
- For furniture refinishing: Select stripping products that are safe for you and the environment, such as Ready Strip, by Back to Nature
Retail Businesses:
- Choose environmentally-friendly packaging: For those out there who purchase shipping supplies, consider using starch-based packing peanuts instead of foam ones. Starch-based packing peanuts are not made from petroleum and are biodegrable! For shoppers, remember to vote with your dollar by supporting retailers who use more environmentally-friendly packaging. In Ontario, contact Donway Packaging to inquire about their starch-based, biodegradable, packing peanuts.
Home Office
- Refill your printer cartridges: Don't let all that plastic go to the landfill! And let's not forget about the petroleum resources used to make the cartridges. Some companies, like Hewlett Package, do have cartridge recycling programs but why pay full price for a new cartridge when you can just get yours refilled. And refilling is less energy intensive than recyling anyways. Check your local area for companies that specialize in this. A great service in Toronto is Peacock Ink & Toner Refill Services.
- Find green printers: Most print shops don't use recycled paper. When starting your next print campaign, consider using green printing and mailing options. Research for organizations that use 100% post-consumer recycled paper and soya based inks. You may want to try Clean Choice Printers in Ontario, or Greener Printer in Calfornia.
Women
- Avoid tampons with plastic applicators: Plastic is not biodegradable and these applicators will end up either floating in sewage treatment ponds (where they have to be removed) or in landfills. A great alternative you may want to consider is a menstrual cup, such as the Keeper.
Please contact us with your own "Green Living Tips"