“Going green means reducing the toxins in your life and in the planet.”  Unknown

How are you doing with conserving some of our valuable resources?

May God give you of heaven’s dew and of earth’s richness — an abundance of grain and new wine.  (Gen. 27:28; NIV)

I’ve been reading more and more about “going green.”  Or in other words, being a better steward of our Earth’s resources.  Jerry and I don’t tend to be “heavy consumers” of much, but this morning I began thinking of simple ways to help reduce some of the burden on our natural resources.  I didn’t realize when I started writing that today is actually Earth Day!  I can still remember the inception of Earth Day.  And yes, I even had a pair of Earth Shoes!  Did you?

1. Okay, how many of you have memories of your parents saying, “Turn the light off?”  This is an easy habit to develop.  When you leave a room, turn the light off.  Jerry and I primarily work in our home office.  Oftentimes, when we’re both in the office there are no other lights on in the house with the exception of a small light over the kitchen sink.  Yes, at night our home looks dark compared to some of the neighbors.  But I’ll take my electric bill over theirs any day.  Every little bit helps.
2. Store leftovers and other food in glass containers instead of plastic bags or disposable plastic containers.  Storing food in glass is also healthier for us than using plastic.  We can greatly decrease our consumption of plastic bags by using glass containers and jars for food storage.  Resurrect your old “Pyrex” containers and begin saving your salsa jars.  They make great food storage containers.
3. Begin using reusable bags when going to the grocery store.  Most all supermarkets offer reusable bags now.  I have several that I keep in the car.  Once I bring them into the house and empty the groceries, I put them near the door so they get back in the car.  Years ago, in my “hippie” days, I used large canvas bags when I shopped at a food co-operative.  There was no paper or plastic bags available.  We had to bring our own.  Lately, when I began seeing people bringing bags to the grocery store, I enjoyed a reminiscent smile.
4. Bring the heat down in the winter and bring the air conditioner up in the summer.  Jerry and I kept our thermostat lower this winter than we ever have.  We also wore more layers during the day and used flannel sheets at night.  We’ve never kept our house really cold in the summer.  But this is an area where many people can cut back.  Instead of having the house at 70 or 72 degrees during the summer, bump the A/C up to 74 or 76 degrees.  If it’s quite hot outside, 76 degrees inside will still be comfortable.
5. Be mindful of the eternal faucet.  In other words, take note of how long you’re letting water run needlessly down the drain.  I can certainly do better with this one.  When brushing our teeth, is it really necessary to have the water running the entire time?  I think not.  When doing dishes, use a dishpan or large bowl to wash and rinse dishes as opposed to having the faucet running the entire time.  Long, lingering showers are another water robber.  Make them a special occasion rather than an everyday habit.

If you’ve not really thought much about what you can do in being a better steward of our resources, hopefully you now have a few ideas on how to begin.

Prayer Power
Father we thank You for each and every one of our most abundant resources.  May we not take them for granted.

Link of the Day
UNCOMMON Wellness Coaching e-book

Blessings on you as you look for ways that you can conserve.