Going Green

Everyone is saying, "Live Green."  I think so many of us say, "not me."  I can't grow a garden on the roof of my house.  I don't have the money to revamp my house with natural products.  I am not tech enough to redesign the power in my house so I can get on the grid. I don't have a battery run car.  Our excuses go on and on. 

All of us can be green by just reusing.  Yesterday in the mail I got a coupon book from Hennepin County suggesting many ways I can save cash plus save the planet and get great stuff.  As I looked through the book, I thought reuse is logical and simple. 

When remodeling a house don't go out and buy something new. Explore Architectural Antiques where there are thousands of parts from buildings that have been torn down or remodeled.  In need of a second refrig for the basement or need an appliance to make your house look better when you list it?  Try Appliance Depot where the right appliance might be waiting for you at much less the price than a new appliance. 

 Many complain about the cost of weddings.  Brides of France have dresses for the bride, her attendants, and the mothers for a fraction of the cost of buying new.  Think about this. The dresses have been worn once for a matter of hours.  You will be wearing them for just a few more hours.  All consignment boutiques offer the same savings.  I have found some great purses that sold for hundreds of dollars in the stores for under $100 when I am in the consignment boutique.  To me they look new.  Some people often sell their items hardly used to these boutiques. 

 The business climate can think green by taking their ink Cartridges to a place like Cartridge World for refills or recycling their ink and toner cartridges. 

 Think entertainments and there are warehouses of CDs and DVDs to be explored.  Used book stores are wonderful.  I am an avid reader and get all my books at Half Priced Books.  Need to exercise. Think of Second Wind.  After all, most of that equipment was hardly used by the originally owner.

 It is not so difficult to live green when you think in terms of reusing.  It is saving the landfills from getting filled up with our stuff.  It is reusing materials that would be costly to produce.  It is saving the consumer money and it is putting people to work refurbishing goods for another person.  It is very "in" to shop these places.