Greening Your Consumption Habits:A Simple Guide
We are all going to continue to buy stuff.I am not one of those environmentalists that think everyone should sit at home and just read a used book and watch the paint slowly yellow; it’s just not in my nature to be like that.Regardless of what happens around us,we still need to live – we still want to listen to new music,read a new book,get some new clothes.We still want to turn on a light bulb at night or take a hot shower…and I don’t begrudge anyone for doing so.Do you think I want to live in a hovel while contemplating where my next meal is coming from?No way!But there are very simple things we can do,and while I have talked about general steps one can take to be more green,what happens when it is time to go shopping?How can you reconcile your desire for consuming with your desire to be green?Hopefully a few of these will help you balance that equation.
When buying music,downloads are best.There is no plastic shrink-wrap,no plastic CD case,no paper inserts,and no shipping costs.I know some people like to listen to CD’s in the car,but if you have a portable music player (like an iPod),you can usually get a plug to adapt your car stereo so you can listen to all your music.
Buy in bulk.I am not talking about buying things in bulk just for the sake of buying in bulk; not everyone needs to shop at Costco for their family.But buying things like cereal,granola,cookies,and candies in bulk from the store saves a lot of packaging.Think of the last time you opened a box of cereal – that paper and plastic box is half empty by the time you get it.You can even bring your own containers to some stores,just have the clerk weigh it first to determine the tare.
Building on “buy in bulk”,bring your own container.While this pertains to your shopping bags as well,I am mentioning this specifically for buying food from a hot or cold bar in a store.For example,Whole Foods has a wonderful hot bar – but has plastic and paper containers to bring the food home in.My wife asked if she could re-use the plastic containers,and they said yes.So just be sure to wash it out and bring it back next time!
Buy it used and/or trade for it.This can pertain to clothes,garden tools,snowblowers,baby supplies,etc.When I was growing up,a few of my neighbors shared a snowblower.They all went in on the price,and the one person with the most space to store it got to use it first.But as soon as they were done,it went from house to house.Not only did it save each family money,but it meant that 2 or 3 more snowblowers did not make their way into someone’s garage.
When you can,buy less.That is the single most important aspect of trying to green your consumption habits,because if you are not buying anything,you are not having an impact on anything.The average American family now has a 3,000 square foot house.Do they need it?Probably not.Buying for the sake of buying not only doesn’t make financial sense; it doesn’t make green sense