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 Changing
Personal Consumption Patterns To Benefit Our Planet
Last week we wrote about the power of nature to decrease
stress and increase our well-being. For nature to be able to provide
these benefits, we need to preserve the natural world as best we can
while supplying the needs of an ever increasing human population. There
are many solutions suggested at the societal and political level. This
article will list suggestions of behaviors that individuals can engage
in to help preserve our environment. Not everyone will choose or be
able to do all of the things suggested, and that is not necessary. We
would like you to think about these behaviors, and choose to do those
that you can.
Food
- grow some of our own food
- eat fewer meat products
- eat more unprocessed, fresh foods
- join a food co-op or shop at local farmers'
markets
- reduce food waste
- thaw frozen foods before cooking
- eat cold meals
- do not preheat ovens
- do not buy/use unnecessary gadgets that use
electricity
- match size of pan to heating element
- let dishes air dry in dishwasher
Clothing
- wear clothes made of natural fibers
- buy clothes that will last
- sew your own clothes
- wash clothes in warm or cold water
- dry clothes outdoors on a clothesline
- remove wrinkles by hanging clothes in the bathroom
while we're showering
Transportation
- use public transportation, a bicycle, or walk
- join a carpool
- consolidate errands into one trip; eliminate
unnecessary trips
- keep our automobiles tuned up
- keep tires inflated at recommended pressure
- drive at a steady pace
Solid Wastes
- buy durable goods
- avoid buying/using throwaway products
- use cloth or string bags when shopping
- reuse paper and plastic bags
- maintain and repair products rather than replace
- recycle aluminum cans
- compost food and yard waste
- use a lunch box rather than paper bags
- write on both sides of a piece of paper
- recycle paper
- buy returnable beverage containers
Water
- shut off water faucets while washing, shaving,
brushing teeth
- do not boil a whole kettle of water for one
cup of coffee/tea
- do as much household cleaning as possible with
cold water
- take showers rather than tub baths
- place a brick in the toilet tank to reduce water
stored there
Energy
- heating – keep the thermostat at 65 degrees during
the day, 55 degrees during the night
- dress in warmer clothing
- use a window fan for cooling when feasible
- set air conditioner at 78 degrees
- turn off window air-conditioners when you will be gone
for several hours
- turn off lights not being used
- keep lamps and light fixtures clean
- use compact fluorescent light bulbs whenever possible
- use outdoor lights only when necessary
- keep water heater at 120 degrees
- do not leave the radio, television, etc., running when
not being actually used
- when purchasing a new appliance, pay attention
to energy-conserving features
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