My Blog Reflection

I had a rather difficult time choosing a topic for my Final Blog Project this semester, which could possibly be because the assignment in and of itself was rather broad. This could have worked one of two ways; for some people, the open ended assignment may have made it easy to pick a topic. Not for me! I chose to focus on small steps to sustainable living because last semester, I took a class called Moving Towards Sustainability, which I found to be extremely informative, intriguing, and important. Being an apartment dweller, that class sparked an inner curiosity as to how I could "greenify" my life in inexpensive, simple, and easily transportable ways. However, while I felt that my topic was narrow enough, it proved to be a bit too narrow, and I only ended up with one entry focused on green apartment living. I'm not really sure if my Blog even pertains to this past semester and the work and readings we did. In a way, I feel that it does. This class has been a study in people overcoming obstacles, barriers, and hardships in their lives, ultimately for drastic life changes and personal betterment. In a way, my Blog challenges people to examine their own lifestyles and perhaps make changes to better [their lifestyles]. In terms of grading my own Blog, I am not sure if it fully meets all the assignment criteria; I feel as though my posts could have been longer, more detailed, or focused on more narrow topics... My final reflection is present, and I have more than the required three postings, however short they may be... I cited sources both within entries and using a works cited list at the end of each entry, as well as having a separate posting dedicated to being a working bibliography. My topic did involve changing the world, although in small, subtle ways, and I provided multiple ways in which people could make their lives a bit greener. I researched the topic as best I could, and had a great time finding images to use in my postings. Aesthetically, I love my Blog. I only wish I had been able to find and compile more and better information!

The Most Important Step

"It isn't is easy being green!"

The most important, and first step anyone interested in a greener lifestyle should take, is educating oneself about sustainable living. We all know we want to "save the planet," to "live green," or to become more environmentally conscious. However, knowing the right steps to take to achieve our goals can be difficult. Check out your local bookstore, library, or go online; there is a plethora of advice and information out there, waiting to be discovered. Educate yourself on the facts! Here's a list of some great sites offering tips on living sustainability... I would also recommend reading Lester Brown's Plan B 4.0 to anyone interested in moving towards sustainability.

The Daily Green.
Going Green Made Easy.
Super Eco.
Earth Easy.
Carbon Footprint Calculator.

It can be immensely difficult to break our energy hungry lifestyles, but the desire to change and save our planet's extremely limited natural resources is the only way to begin. Remember this, though: When you take into account your energy savings, the education you are getting and will be able to pass on, and the peace of mind you get from the knowledge that you are taking small steps to help the environment, going green can seem a whole lot easier.

Green Up Your Holidays!

"Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree..." -August Zarnack

 LIGHT UP YOUR TREE WITH LED!
As the Christmas season falls upon us, we find ourselves running frantically about, buying gifts for extended family members we see once a year, stringing lights from every peak and gutter on our homes, and of course, taking the family to the nearest tree farm to pick out a Christmas tree. Christmas is a time of giving, families, and celebration, and we seem to forget about our planet each year when it rolls around. Electricity use skyrockets during the month of December, and it is no mystery as to why.

I was watching the lighting of the National Christmas Tree this year on TV. Shortly after, a commercial for LED Christmas lights came on, and I wondered whether the National Tree was utilizing these energy saving bulbs this year. In fact, it is! According to Mary Beth Gotti, the manager of the GE Lighting Institute in Cleveland, Ohio, this is the first year that the National Tree had been decorated using LED lights, rather than custom ornaments. (The National Tree) If our National Tree is representing these new, energy efficient bulbs, it seems only fit that the rest of us follow suit. We all spend so much money during the holidays, it only seems appropriate that we cut down on our "spending" of electricity!

According to Gotti, these energy efficient LED decorations are "not only energy efficient and long lasting; they are also very beautiful, even... when they are not lit." The beauty of LED Christmas lights is not only aesthetic; They are now easy to find, and inexpensive to buy. Home improvement stores such as Lowe's or the Home Depot offer LED light sets as low at $10. They also offer even more energy efficient options, like solar powered Christmas lights. These solar powered alternatives are a bit more expensive, starting at around $20 per set, but keep in mind that your savings will be apparent on your first electric bill! Being more energy efficient around the holidays is not limited to reducing your electricity usage.

REAL TREES .VS. ARTIFICIAL TREES

One of the biggest environmental disasters associated with Christmastime is the cutting down and throwing away of countless trees. Tens of millions of trees each December are cut, brought inside for a week, then tossed out onto the curb. A live Christmas tree can cost anywhere from $20 at a "cut-your-own" tree farm to upwards of $100 at a high end tree nursery. A greener alternative? Buy an artificial tree instead! Not only does it save an innocent tree from being brutally chopped down, artificial trees are able to be used again and again, year after year. They are widely available at stores from Home Depot to Walmart to Sears and everywhere in between. They come in a huge array of sizes, colors, and types, without lights or pre-lit, in every price range.

The artificial tree pictured on the right is from the Home Depot, a 6'5" tree, for $69.95. Granted, this is a bit more than your average tree from a tree lot or farm, but you can use it again and again. It is pre-strung with lights, saving you time on decorating. (the Home Depot) With so many options as to how we can lessen our carbon footprint during the holidays, we are not only able to give to our friends and family during the holiday season; We are also able to give a little something back to our Mother Nature, by not ripping her apart in more unnecessary ways.




Works Cited

Groovy Vegetarian.  Energy Saving LED Christmas Lights.  2010.  Web.  3 December 2010.

The Home Depot.  Trees and Trimmings.  2010.  Web.  5 December 2010.

The National Tree.  Making the Tree the Most Energy Efficient Ever.  2010.  Web.  3 December 2010.

You Don't Have to Buy to Act

"It's not enough to rage against the lie... You've got to replace it with the truth." -Bono

This is just a brief post, but an important one all the same. We all worry, complain, and argue about global warming, about how people need to change their habits to save the planet, and about how we all need to stop consuming this beautiful planet's extremely limited resources at such an alarming rate. However, with all of these discussions taking place on a daily basis, we continue to use and buy and consume. It seems like every time I drive somewhere, I am surrounded by gas guzzling SUVs... But then I think to myself, I'm still driving too... And therein lies the problem. We all know what we need to do. It's just not enough to talk about it, and it's time to take action. You don't have to go out and buy a bunch of Energy Star rated appliances, a pantry full of organic and locally grown food, and a hybrid car to make your life greener. In fact, the best, easiest way to start is to simply change our habits. Take shorter showers. Walk to work, or ride the bus. Ride a bike. Read a book instead of running the television. You don't have to buy to act, and simple habit changes and small actions can make a world of difference.

Greener Apartment Living

"Til now, man has been up against Nature; from now on, he will be up against his own nature." -Dennis Gabor, 1964 (Quote Garden)

Now, we always hear about how to "green up" our lifestyles by making small alterations to our homes and lifestyles. However, I found myself wondering how the large number of renters out there were going about making their lives a bit greener. When greening up your home can involve such large investments as purchasing new appliances, altering your home's heating, or other drastic changes, the thought of a green lifestyle can seem rather daunting. However, there are plenty of simple, easy, and best of all, inexpensive and easily movable ways to green up your lifestyle. As a renter, I find that these simple changes not only reduce my monthly electric bill, but give me a little peace of mind in knowing that I am lessening my carbon footprint.

TURN DOWN THE THERMOSTAT!

(greenliving.about.com)

My apartment has electric heat, so when winter comes along, I dread turning it on. In an apartment, there are a few simple, easy ways to conserve and utilize your heat. First of all, understand the obvious: Sweaters, sweatpants, slippers, and blankets can keep us very warm. Set the heat as low as possible! We really don't want the pipes to freeze, and don't want to be uncomfortably cold; however, it is completely unnecessary to set your heat above sixty or sixty five degrees. Keeping the doors to bedrooms closed and the bedroom thermostats down during the day can also cut back on your heating costs, in turn using less electricity. Stripping along doorways and windows can drastically cut back on heat loss as well. So, without making any changes to your apartment, you can save money and use much less electricity. It may be a habit to turn up the heat, but break it, and reach for a warm blanket or wrap instead of the thermostat.

INVEST IN A LOW-FLOW SHOWER HEAD!

Another simple change one can make in their apartment is purchasing a new, eco-friendly, water conserving shower head. Waterpik offers a wide variety of low-flow shower heads, which conserve water, reduce energy usage, help to protect the environment and natural water habitats, and of course, save you money on your water and electric bills. I bought my low-flow shower head from Walmart for about $18, but there is a wide variety of models, ranging from around $15 to $30. Save the apartment's original shower head so you can take your low-flow head with you when you move! This is simply another inexpensive investment that will ultimately help to save your money. (Not to mention the fact that these shower heads come with a variety of pressure settings; ultimately much nicer than the shower head I originally had in my apartment!) It's hard to "greenify" your apartment, but small purchases such as this are steps in the right direction to an ultimately greener life!




Works Cited

Quote Garden.  Quotations About the Environment.  2010.  Web.  27 November 2010.

Super Eco.  10 Easy Ways to Green Your Apartment.  2009.  Web.  24 November 2010.

Waterpik.  About Low-Flow Shower Heads.  2010.  Web.  28 November 2010.

Working Bibliography

Brown, Lester.  Plan B 4.0.  W.W. Norton and Company.  New York, 2009.  Print.

The Daily Green.  The Consumer's Guide to the Green Revolution.  2010.  Web.  23 October 2010.

Going Green Made Easy.  Earth 911.  2007.  Web.  21 October 2010.

Groovy Vegetarian.  Energy Saving LED Christmas Lights.  2010.  Web.  3 December 2010.

The Home Depot.  Trees and Trimmings.  2010.  Web.  5 December 2010.

The National Tree.  Making the Tree the Most Energy Efficient Ever.  2010.  Web.  3 December 2010.

Quote Garden.  Quotations About the Environment.  2010.  Web.  27 November 2010.

Super Eco.  10 Easy Ways to Green Your Apartment.  2009.  Web.  24 November 2010.

Waterpik.  About Low-Flow Shower Heads.  2010.  Web.  28 November 2010.