The fact is that there are a lot of little things that you can do, with very little capital outlay. Some even end up saving you money, and some are simply free! While they don't seem huge, think of how big an impact it would be if 100 people did these little things? What about 1000 people? Try 1 million people! Now we're talking some Earth-friendly change!
Here's just a few free or low cost ways that you can help the environment!
1. Compost! Yum! Composting not only helps create super rich soil that will help your plants grow better (for free!) but it also keeps a lot of gunk out of the landfills. If you pay for garbage service by the can, you might even save money but putting out less bags of trash! Composting tips: Worms love coffee grounds! Grass Clippings are great, as is newspaper! Avoid fats like meat products which will attract pests! For more information about starting and maintaining a compost area: Composting 101
2. Pay Bills Online This may seem like more of a convenience issue, but paying your bills online eliminates not only a lot of paper waste, but also how much mail is being driven around! Added bonus? Some companies give you nice perks like reward points, drawings, or better rates when you opt to pay online and receive electronic statements!
3. Buy Local - If you're buying things anyway, why not buy things that are grown locally? Buying local fruits and veggies not only helps local farmers make a living, but it reduces the amount of transportation, giving it a lower impact on the environment. For local farmer's markets in the Wichita, KS area, visit this website: Kansas Grown Farmer's Markets
In addition, buy local plants when landscaping. These don't normally affect transportation much, since even non-native plants tend to be grown in the area of sale, but using native plants means using plants who are built for our soil and climate. That means less maintenance and less water used.
4. Use Rain Barrels - While I've only seen a few on homes for sale in this area, rain barrels are a great way to collect water and re-use it. You can retrofit your own barrels or containers, or purchase a ready-made rain barrel, which will often come with a spigot to easily access the water within. I learned today that a 1" rain on a 1000 sq ft roof can provide 620 of natural (non chemically processed/treated) water for your garden! While you're at it, buy local: Wichita Rain Barrels
5. Recycle Electronics - Hold on to your electronics as long as you can, and when you're done, make sure to send them to a qualified recycling facility. Electronics often contain material that's not very friendly to the environment, so don't just throw them in the landfill. Consider re-use by offering them as a donation or for sale, so that the electronic can continue to be useful and not clog the trashpile.
6. Do an Energy Audit - While the audit itself won't really help save the environment, the results may help you make serious changes to conserve energy, thereby lessening your environmental impact. Our Wichita, KS electric company, Westar, even has a special program for a low-cost audit and a way to finance the resulting repairs or upgrades needed: Westar Simple Savings program
Just a few small ways that you can help, without spending a fortune. If you're looking for bigger and better ways, there's tons of those!
Bigger ways to reduce your impact include:
- Low-Flow Water Fixtures
- Energy Efficient Windows, Furnace, A/C, Water Heaters
- Energy Star qualified appliances
- Programmable Thermostats
- Replace your light bulbs with CFLs, or even better, LEDs.
As for me... I'm off to unplug the 400 energy sucking devices sitting on idle around my house, using up juice while doing absolutely nothing! Bye bye little blue "standby" lights!
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