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Can small steps have a big effect? You bet. |
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Written by Jessie Milligan (MCT)
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Friday, 28 March 2008 |
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Now and then I head straight for the "paper or plastic" question at the grocery store while my more eco-friendly cloth bags sit in the front seat of my car.
I use the office printer when I could save files on the computer.
Sometimes I forget to use both sides of a piece of paper.
I am the imperfect environmentalist.
Even after 30 years of recycling, composting and organic gardening, I have to stop and remind myself to do the right thing.
"Don't be wasteful," I think, as I am about to drain the pasta water down the sink. It's OK to cool it and use it on thirsty outdoor plants.
"Do I really need this?" I ask myself as I admire yet another pair of black shoes. It's all right to buy shoes. It's best to buy good quality shoes that are longer lasting, and to only buy them when I really need them.
One of the most significant changes in my life came when I asked myself, "Do I really need to drive anywhere today?"
As a result, for almost 10 years now, I typically don't drive my car on one weekend day.
The result has been an expansive enrichment of my life, instead of a restriction.
When I stay home, I learn. I read, I try a new recipe, I take an online class, I garden, I do artsy kinds of projects that I am not sure if I am confident enough to really call Art. I go for walks and meet neighbors. I have quality time with the dog and his tennis ball.
At the end of the day, all stress is gone. I am rested and relieved that I rewarded myself with a day that required no errands and no commitments beyond the repeated arrival of a slobbered-over tennis ball at my feet.
Not everyone can or wants to do this, especially if they have active young kids. But even small reductions in driving can translate to more cash in the wallet, more peace of mind and less carbon dioxide linked to global warming.
This month, my resolution was to check out carbon calculators on the Web. Just how much of a difference am I making by not driving on one day?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov/climatechange, says the average driver of a mid-size car travels 12,000 miles a year and produces an average of 6 tons of carbon dioxide a year. If I am that average driver, that's 1,700 pounds of carbon dioxide I am keeping out of the atmosphere every year by not driving one day a week.
My car gets good gas mileage, so I am only saving as much as $10 a month by doing this. Yet somehow, I feel far richer.
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