Every two minutes you save on your shower can conserve more than ten gallons of water. If everyone in the country saved just one gallon of water from their daily shower, over the course of the year it would equal twice the amount of freshwater withdrawn from the Great Lakes every day.
Tagged: Reduce
Greener Lawn Care
If you must water your lawn, do it early in the morning before any moisture is lost to evaporation. Have a few weeds? Spot treat them with vinegar. Not sure if you should rake? Normal clippings act as a natural fertilizer, let them be. If you’ve waited too long, rake by hand – it’s excellent exercise.
Skip the Coffee Stirrer
Each year, Americans throw away billions of single-use disposable straws and stirrers. But skipping the stirrer doesn’t mean drinking your coffee black. Simply put your sugar and cream in first, and then pour in the coffee, and it should be well mixed. Determined to stir? Break off a piece of pasta from the cupboard! You can nibble after using it, compost, or throw away with less guilt.
Rethink Bottled Water
Nearly 90% of plastic water bottles are not recycled, instead taking thousands of years to decompose. Buy a reusable container and fill it with tap water, a great choice for the environment, your wallet, and possibly your health. The EPA’s standards for tap water are more stringent than the FDA’s standards for bottled water.
Go Vegetarian Once a Week
One less meat-based meal a week helps the planet and your diet. For example: It requires 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. You will also save some trees. For each hamburger that originated from animals raised on rainforest land, approximately 55 square feet of forest have been destroyed. Interested in yummy vegetarian options? A variety of producers now make excellent vegetarian or meat-free sausages, burgers, nuggets and other ingredients that are a flavorful addition to any meal. These options are so delicious and convincing, you wouldn’t believe there’s no meat!