5 easy things you can do to be kind to the earth

by Rod Weston

March 19th, 2008

•  Make your own notebook. Let’s consider what notebooks actually are: paper to write notes on before you eventually create a document electronically. Notebook are essential, but I don’t attach any style to them. To me, they might as well be cocktail napkins. So why not put all the scrap paper around the office to good use? Take 50 sheets of scrap paper and arrange them with the blank side up. Find a paper cutter (they are in most of the copier rooms) and then cut the sheets in half vertically. Now you have 100 8.5″ x 5.5″ sheets of paper. Clip the sheets together with a binder clip. Now you have a handy scratch pad that cost the company and the planet nothing.

  

•  Wash your car in the rain. Sure, it may be easier to pull out the hose or just go to the car wash. But think about the water and power you’re wasting. Why do that, when here in Michigan, we’ve got free water two-thirds of the year? I know it sounds strange, but haven’t you ever just sat out in the rain on a hot day and gotten cooled off? Take a bucket, your sponge and your soap out there when it is raining. You’ll be surprised how clean you can get your car. (By the way, this does NOT apply to personal showers. Keep that inside, please.)

  

•  Stash extra napkins. You know the huge stack of napkins you get at the drive through window? Please don’t pitch them. Take them home, put them in your office, and use them when you need them. And how about paper towels? You could easily burn through 2 or 3 rolls a week! Instead, cut up old t-shirts, sheets and towels and use those for rags. I have a separate hamper for these and after about 2 weeks, they are ready to wash. I can usually do it all in one load. 

  

• Think twice about putting chemicals on your lawn. Do you know what mowed crab grass looks like? It looks just like mowed regular grass. Only, it wasn’t sprayed with pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers that end up ruining our sewers, rivers, streams, lakes and oceans. Check the front lawn vanity at the door. Your lawn will look good if you just mow it. Simple. Easy. And honest. And unless you live on a large amount of acreage, try using the old timey self powered spinny blade thing. The only power it requires is a little sweat.

  

•  Open the windows. I’m not going to try to tell anyone to not run the air conditioner in the summer. I won’t. Because I’m a stout little hairy man and I start to sweat at complete rest at about 75 degrees. However, at night, if it is cool, I open all the windows. In the morning, I close the windows and the house stays cool for at least a few hours…and I don’t need to turn on the A/C until I get home from work. This alone has saved me as much $50 on my electric bill!

Nothing earth-shattering in these ideas, but every little bit helps.