We are part of the solution at home

For years my wife and I continue to search for ways to conserve and reduce the carbon footprint of our lives. How conscious are we being of the waste we create in our personal lives? These are a few of the things we are doing in our home, share what you are doing and together we can post a more comprehensive list for all of us to work from!

· Buy in bulk-create less waste depending on packaging
· Almost any packaging other than plastic is preferable
· Opt for glass whenever possible
· Use cloth instead of paper napkins
· Recycle old tee shirts- cut small lengths to use instead of paper towels, wash and reuse

Check out your own carbon footprint at www.carbonfootprint.org

What We Do Matters; Be a Part of the Solution

Sad but true, for the most part, we don’t get involved or take personal responsibility until it hits our wallet.
Gas prices soared to the point where we HAD to do something, anything. We started to plan a little better, combining errands to limit our mileage. According to the Department of Transportation, specifically the Energy Efficiency Administration, gas consumption has fallen steadily month by month from March through September. Our individual and collective calls to action included switching to more fuel efficient cars and driving less.
There seems to be a pattern, frankly, if it is not disturbing, should be. We continue to be a day late and a dollar short. And there are changes that can be instituted, that is evidenced in these reports. What are you doing? How have you stayed within your budgets?
As a Nation we basically choose to stick our heads in the sand. We continue to deplete resources that we don’t have, spend money well beyond our means, operating as if there are no consequences, as if there is no gravity in the world.
Most of us are dancing as fast as we can, if we get a chance to read a newspaper or watch the news as we navigate through our busy work and home life we are lucky. Beyond knowing that there are plenty of pressing issues that need attention, the time and energy to do the research, get involved, figure out first what and then how to implement any personal changes seems overwhelming.
I am not suggesting that these are not complex issues for which there are easy fixes. Our gluttony and unconscious depletion of resources and lack of care for our earth has been years in the making and reversing the serious consequences that we are now beginning to experience is an opportunity for change that is real, not some imagined futuristic estimation.
What is it going to take to get our attention? I believe that change is possible and undeniably necessary. Change happens one person at a time, each step that we take. Personally, locally and finally globally.
Please stay tuned for some ongoing information about what you can do today take back some personal power in affecting rather than be at the affect of our environment, personal and global resources.
In the meantime, just for today, make a plan at your home and/or workplace to recycle aluminum cans. Make a difference that affects both our overburdened landfills and our oil consumption.
· It takes 90% less energy to recycle aluminum cans than to make them from raw material,
· Last year Americans recycled enough aluminum cans to conserve 15 million barrels of oil.
· Throwing away one can is the equivalent of pouring out six ounces of gasoline.
· America currently recycles 50 percent of all paper, 34 percent of plastic drink containers, and 45 percent of aluminum cans.
Do the math; think about the implications of one more person adding to the solution instead of the problem.

Back to our regularly scheduled blogging…recycling reality check

Before we headed off to the home expo we shared some statistics about the lack of space in our landfills and the fact that some States are already at or beyond capacity. Frankly, even with my research just two weeks ago, there was nothing readily available about the current state of our State, perhaps that is part of the challenge, but that is another story. The latest report indicated key areas of concern in North Carolina, although it was almost 10 years old there was no follow up.

If you missed, and or are “unmoved” as the front page article states in the Greater Wilmington Business Journal’s February 6th issue, maybe the $9.5 million fix option will get your attention. The New Hanover landfill is facing some long overdue upgrades.

What is going to take to get your attention?