Shorter Showers

“Clean water is precious.”  I’m still surprised that my father said this.  I wouldn’t say that he used water extravagantly, but he also never minded when my brother and I would routinely flood our sandbox as kids.  Still, I’m impressed by his awareness since he does not live in an area that suffers from water shortages.  

I also used to waste water by taking extra long showers, showering to the point where there was no hot water left.  According to Drinktap.org, the average person uses 11.6 gallons of water to shower each day.

A few years ago, when I became aware of the importance of water, I resolved to take five minute showers.  This was hard since I enjoy waking up each morning with the prolonged feel of hot water on my face.  Still, most days I am able to accomplish it.  

Another thing that helps conserve water is for me to turn the water off when I’m lathering up.  I really don’t need it when I’m trying to apply soap or shampoo.  While I miss soaking up the hot water, I feel good knowing that I’ve reduced my water consumption.  

Do you have any tricks for reducing your water consumption?  Please share.

New Year's Environmental Resolution

What’s your New Year’s resolution?  How about creating and Environmental Resolution.  Whether it is large or small, it should be something is achievable.  

Maybe your Environmental Resolution will be to order less take-out food, get an energy audit, or install a rain barrel.

For me, it will be to bike to work at least three times a week (subject to weather conditions).  Each gallon of gasoline that is burned produces fourteen pounds of carbon dioxide.  Plus, I enjoy knowing that I exercised.  

Many of us don’t always stick with those pesky resolutions that continue throughout the year.  If you find yourself sliding back into old habits, remind yourself of two things:
    1. You have already made a positive impact by working towards that your

Environmental Resolution.

2. Your positive impact will be greater if you continue.

Good luck with those regular and Environmental Resolutions.  Feel free to share and inspire others with your resolutions.

Reducing home heating costs.

Brrrr!!  It’s cold in here!!  Have you ever noticed how cold is feels when the temperature in your home is in the 60s?  How about on the first day in spring when the air temperature exceeds 60 degrees? It always feels so warm then.  

With that mindset, keeping your home’s temperature a little lower isn’t bad.  In fact, it is a simple way that you can reduce your energy consumption.  You can save approximately 2.5 percent on your home heating bill for each degree you lower your thermostat.  Since most homes are heated with natural gas, oil, electricity, or wood, you reduce your energy consumption along with your bill.  

Looking to be extreme, try these methods of staying warm when you have reduced your thermostat.  Be careful not to go too low in order to avoid a busted water pipe.

    1.  Wear extra layers.
    2.  Place extra sheets and blankets on your bed.
    3.  Open your shades and blinds in order to let the sun’s energy and heat in.
    4.  Cuddle up with someone. 

    5.  Close the vents and doors to rooms, such as spare bedrooms, that are not  

         being used frequently.

    6. Purchase a space heater and heat.

    7. Drink warm beverages such as tea or hot cocoa.

    8. Be active.

Do you have any other tips on lowering your heating costs or on staying warm?  Please post.

Wrapping Paper: Part 2

Since you probably don’t want your friends and family believing that you are giving them boxes of diapers or cereal, you’ll need to wrap or bag the gifts.  According to the Carnegie Mellon Green Practices initiative, "If every American family wrapped just three presents in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields."   If you wish to wrap the gifts, you can use old advertisements and newspapers.  I personally prefer the advertisements since many have a glossy finish and are more colorful.  

By choosing to reuse other materials for gift wrap, you save yourself a little cash.  Additionally you reduce the amount of paper that is being consumed, the fuel needed to ship the gift wrap to the store, and all of the other resources that are used to make the gift wrap, cardboard roll, and plastic film cover.  And who could forget, it is so thoughtful of nearby stores to send me free wrapping paper.


Or be creative and find alternatives to wrapping gifts such as knitting a DVD cover or reusing that carpet that was recently removed.   

Gift box made from leftover lumber.  The covering is salvaged carpet that was approximately 30 years old.

Wrapping Presents: Part 1

Wrapping Presents: Part 1

Happy holidays everyone!  Do you want to be more green for your holiday season?  One suggestion is to keep old boxes and gift bags and reuse them.  This year, my family will be receiving gifts placed in reused shoe, cereal, and best of all, diaper boxes.  Any box will do as long as it is clean.  The downside with keeping boxes for the purpose of placing gifts inside is that they require a large amount of space.  Even with breaking the boxes down, you will still need some storage space.  My suggestion for this is that you start keeping boxes when you begin buying gifts.  

If you tend to be a bit lazy like myself, reuse holiday gift bags that you have previously received.  The gift bags require less space to store and look festive as well.  Just be sure to take the old name tag off and it will be ready to go.  No wrapping required! 

Welcome

“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” Confucius

Welcome to my blog, Carrying Away Small Stones.  Here I hope to provide examples, and perhaps inspire people in ways that they can be more environmentally friendly. From bicycling to volunteering, each of these small acts can have a positive impact on the quality of our planet’s health.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to drop me a line at carryingawaysmallstones@gmail.com