Now, before I share the details of my fact-finding mission on practical ways my family and I can "go green", understand that I am firm in my resolve to not overuse any phrases or terms that include the words go, going, or green.
While I am an ardent supporter of environmentally safe practices, this latest cliche of "going green" is, quite frankly, making me green...from nausea.
Tell me, since when did a color that is commonly associated with sickness, bacteria, and spoiled foods become so trendy?
My, newly fostered, Eco-friendly initiative began, via the Council on the Environment of New York City, with the assistance of the city's, NYCWasteLe$$ website.
Almost immediately, I learned a unique method for reducing paper waste in the home, and better still, the form of waste I helped to curb is of the unwanted kind, junk-mail.
Apparently, by dialing toll-free number, 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688), you can request to have your name removed from (or placed back on) the mailing lists of the country's three major consumer credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, Equifax.
This measure will enable you to cut down on some of the credit card offers you receive in the mail, but not all.
You should bear in mind that any junk-mail you receive can be disposed of, along with additional types of paper refuse, by placing it into either a bin marked with a green recycling decal, or a white (paper recycling) dumpster.
It's, also, worth noting that one of the easiest ways to reduce paper waste is to reuse old items, like books, by donating them to local charities.
The practice of donating goods for reuse isn't limited, simply, to books.
Organizations like CollectiveGood provide a service that allows people to donate their used cell phones, pagers, and PDAs for both reuse and recycling; the proceeds from which go towards a select number of charitable organizations, that the donor may choose from.
Ensuring the safe removal of, certain, old home appliances is another sound method for preserving the integrity of Earth's atmosphere.
For example...the next time I discard an air conditioner, or any other appliance (i.e. refrigerator, water cooler, dehumidifier, etc.) containing Chlorofluorocarbon gas, a.k.a. Freon, I'll be sure to call 311 to schedule a CFC recovery appointment, first!
Oops!
I can, however, take comfort in knowing that I can make up for that little transgression, by making certain that the filter for my new AC unit is cleaned, regularly, during the summer.
According to StopGlobalWarming, keeping the filter free of dirt will help to save 350 lbs. of carbon-dioxide from being released into the atmosphere, and $150.00, annually, on my family's electric bill.
2 comments:
I really need to check into the recycling for computers and electronics. I have a couple of boxes of things that need to go that I have yet figured out what to do with them. At least my new laptop will (hopefully) last longer than my old desktop and produce less waste when it is over.
Oh, and by the way, you might want to start seeking a wider audience for your blog by commenting on others' blogs that interest you (on politics or whatever). You can use the Google "advanced search" and search blogspot.com (the bottom entry field) for subjects you are interested in (the top entry field.)
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