Let’s get one thing straight…reuse vs recycle

When talking  about sustainability I often hear…”I recycle plastic grocery bags…I use them as trash can liners or as lunch bags.” I respond, “Oh…that’s great!” But what I am really thinking is; actually you reuse your plastic grocery bags. The fact that you don’t throw them into the trash is the most important part of the conversation but I want to make sure everyone understands the difference between the terms reuse and recycle.

Unfortunately, in our everyday vocabulary we use the words reuse and recycle interchangeably but they have very different definitions. Reusing an item means just that …to use the same product over and over again. The goal of reusing an item is to lengthen the life of the product, to make it last as long as you can.  Examples of reusing are buying and selling used items, renting DVD’s, “hand me down” clothes.  

Recycling requires a great deal more energy and involves a physical change.  The goal of recycling is to make a brand new product. Examples of recycling include using old tires to resurface roads or breaking down old cans to make new cans.

Reusing is also better for the environment because it prevents new items from entering the waste stream and it does not create pollution like recycling can. The most important part of the recycling vs reusing issue is that you’re consciousness of the importance of the 3R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle). So no matter how you describe your efforts I would describe them as commendable!

Photo: Zedomax.com

Wordless Wednesday

 

Photo: Earth911.com

The Art of Downsizing

Today I read an inspiring entry at SavvyHousekeeping.com . A couple in Portland, Oregon began donating their possessions (cars, clothes, books, cookware, etc.) until they were down to 100 personal items. Three years after the couple began downsizing they now live in a 400 sq ft studio apt. with four plates and two pots. She owns just three pairs of shoes! They live on a $24,000 annual income and are no longer $30,000 in debt.  

The couple commented that “The idea that you need to go bigger to be happy is false,” she says. “I really believe that the acquisition of material goods doesn’t bring about happiness.” This is the embodiment of the statement less is more.

Take a look at your belongings…not only what you have but how much you have. Would you be happier with less? A better question to ask may be could you be content with less?

 I think about the number of resources that could be saved if we all bought less! Tell me your thoughts.

Photo: K12Perspectives

Just the Facts – Natural Gas

In light of the excitement on campus yesterday, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to explore natural gas.

•  Natural gas is found in 33 states. The dark blue states on this map show you where large amounts of natural gas are extracted. In the medium blue states, moderate amounts of natural gas are extracted. And in the light blue states, just a little natural gas is extracted. Natural gas is not extracted at all in the states that are white.

 

• Natural gas, a fossil fuel, is more environmentally friendly than other fossil fuels (besides carbon dioxide and water vapor) it does not release any other harmful substance, into the atmosphere.
• Existence of natural gas was known to people of ancient Greece, India, and Persia, in the form of burning springs. These springs were created when fountains of natural gas, seeping out from cracks in the ground, were ignited due to lightning.
• Natural gas was used for the first time in the US in 1816, to light street lights in Baltimore.
• Natural gas is third most widely used fuel in the US, after petroleum and coal.
• Natural gas is naturally colorless, odorless, lighter than air and non-toxic.
• Despite its various uses one of the major disadvantages of natural gas is that it is highly combustible, due to which explosions are very likely.
• By itself, methane is odorless, colorless and tasteless.  As a safety measure, natural gas companies add a chemical odorant called mercaptan (it smells like rotten eggs) so escaping gas can be detected.

Wordless Wednesday

 

 

 

Photo: Treehugger.com

What does “building a green economy mean”?

Emagazine.com  features an “Earth Talk” column which answers questions about the environment. A Sustainable Life will occasionally share some of these Q&A’s with you.

Dear EarthTalk: What does it mean when one uses the phrase, “building a green economy?” I’ve heard it repeated a few times lately and would like to have a better understanding of the concept.

– Rosie Chang, Islip, NY

The phrase “building a green economy” means different things to different people, but in general it refers to encouraging economic development that prioritizes sustainability—that is, working with nature and not against it in the quest to meet peoples’ needs and wants—instead of disregarding environmental concerns in the process of growing the economy. The primary way governments around the world are trying to “green” their own economies today is by increasing investment in—and, by extension, creating jobs in—industries on the cutting edge of non-polluting renewable forms of energy, such as solar and wind power.

Website Alert: Etsy.com

 

The Etsy.com motto is Buy, Sell and Live Handmade. Founded in June 2005, Etsy is the Ebay of homemade crafts and other goods. Their mission is to enable people to make a living making things! Buyers and sellers can connect on the site to trade goods and to relate to a community of crafters.

Wordless Wednesday

Today I would like to introduce a new feature “Wordless Wednesday”. On Wednesday’s “A Sustainable Life” will not contain words, but only a photograph. Carefully look at the picture and think of what the it says to you. If you would, please share your thoughts or comments on the image. We hope that you will enjoy “Wordless Wednesday’s”.

Photograph: Appalachian State University

New uses for silica gel packets

It has been said that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure….well this article is a perfect example. When you get a new ________________ (fill-in-the-blank) it usually comes with a silica gel packet. This unsuspecting packet of tiny beads is usually just thrown away, mainly because the packet says “THROW AWAY” but there are uses for these tiny little beads.

 

Silica gel is a desiccant, a moisture absorber which keeps our purchases from spoiling or molding due to humidity. The gel is nontoxic unless it is mixed with certain chemicals (at that point it must be disposed as hazardous waste). Instead of throwing these packets away try using the silica gel in your home…….

• Store silica packets in camera bags and with film to absorb moisture, or in the backs of photo frames to protect photos against humidity.
• To make a natural air freshener, open the packets and soak the beads with essential oils and place them in a bag or bowl.
• Need to protect documents? Try storing them with silica gel packets.
• Place gel packets in your tool box to prevent rusting.
• Protect your silver from tarnishing by storing your jewelry with silica gel.

• Use the gel to dry flowers or place with seeds to keep them dry until you’re ready to plant.
• Rather than mothballs, store your next season’s clothes, shoes and handbags with silica packets to preserve the fabric. This also works with luggage!
• Place packets on the dashboard of your car to help maintain a clear windshield!

Since the silica gel can absorb up to 40% of its own weight, it can offer some serious moisture protection. We’d like to hear from people who have tried some of these tips…..how did it work for you?

 Source: Earth911.com

Photos: MentalFloss.com, About.com

How to care for reusable shopping bags

I am beginning to see more and more shoppers using reusable shopping bags. These bags are great for the environment but not so great for your health if you don’t care for them properly.

 New studies show that reusable bags may harbor bacteria (e. coli and salmonella) from raw produce or meat. If you keep your bags in the car so you will not forget them…then risk is even greater.

 To keep the bags clean and bacteria free follow these tips…..

 •Wash the bags regularly.

•Don’t store the bags in the car when it’s warm outside (or really sunny)……as bacteria thrive in heat.

•Dry your bags in the sun when you can …..sunlight kills bacteria.

•Designate specific bags for raw meat and for produce…you may even want to use a plastic produce bag for raw meat and produce.

 Now you’re probably saying to yourself “That’s too much work, I’ll just go back to plastic bags.” But before you abandon the reusable bags remember these important facts……

  • The average person will use over 350 bags in a single year.

 • In 1999, more than 14 million trees were cut down to produce 10 billion paper bags that were used by Americans that year.

• One paper grocery bag requires 1 gallon of water to make (yes, 1 gallon per bag).

• The manufacturing of paper bags actually uses far more resources and creates more pollution than the manufacturing of plastic bags; however, paper bags are compostable and biodegradable.

• Plastic bags never actually biodegrade; instead, they photodegrade, which means the sun breaks them down into tinier and tinier pieces until they eventually mix back into the soil and water, to be consumed by plants, animals, fish – and therefore you and me.

• Plastic bags are produced from petroleum (oil).

• In New York City, one less grocery bag per person would reduce waste by five million pounds and save $250,000 in disposal costs.

You’re doing a great service by bringing reusable shopping bags to the grocery store….your environment thanks you!

 Source: Simple Organic