by Beth Gray

The thought of “going green” can be daunting and even overwhelming.  It may appear that living a greener lifestyle will require funds that many families are finding difficult to come by.  Some people may not know where to start.  Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”  Beginning the journey to a greener lifestyle should be looked at in the same way.  Once you take that first step, however, take several more to keep your momentum going!  Below are some easy suggestions that will not cost you much money, will not require tremendous energy or maintenance, and will get you started on your journey to a greener lifestyle.

Day 1
Change the settings on your thermostats.  Many thermostats can be programmed to automatically set themselves lower at specific times.  Set your thermostat a bit cooler than you would typically when you go to bed at night and when you leave the house for the day.  Even better, if you have ceiling fans, combine them with open windows on opposing sides of your house to get a natural breeze and some fresh air.  In the winter, keep your thermostat at 68F and in the summer, set it at 75F to get the most effective use of those systems.

Day 2
Make or purchase a composting bin and start composting.  For many, the notion of composting is unfamiliar and conjures images of waste piles that make you hold your nose.  The process of composting involves mixing yard and household organic waste in a pile or bin, then providing conditions that encourage decomposition.  The microscopic organisms in these materials devour the contents, leaving behind an organic fertilizer which can do wonders for your plants.  You can build your own composting bin or purchase one from a vendor like Planet Natural that offers many varieties of bins depending on the extent of your composting goals.  Composting can reduce yard waste by between 50 and 75 percent. 

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by Jennifer Lefebvre

I recently read a great quick-reference guide called the green book by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen.  It is filled with hundreds of little ideas that we all can do to make significant, positive impacts on our planet’s health.  For this article, I’d like to highlight one of the sections I thought was interesting and informative:  How to green your home, one room at a time.

The Kitchen
Composting.  Place fruits and vegetable scraps, as well as coffee grounds in a container or composter and add them to your garden.  These items are food for your plants, they help to recycle valuable nutrients, and save space in the landfills.  You can also save water by not running your garbage disposal, just by composting the items you would normally send down the drain.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that yard trimmings and food scraps constitute 26 percent of the United States municipal solid waste in the landfills.  For additional information on composting please see the recent American Public University System (APUS) Sustainability blog article by Allison Knox on Composting in the Workplace and at Home.

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by Allison G. S. Knox

My husband and I love gardening.  We love being outside in the fresh air and enjoy the satisfaction of growing our own food to eat.  Last spring we spent much of our weekends purchasing soil in which our plants would thrive.  After purchasing many bags of soil, we decided the cheaper method would be to start our own compost pile.  Thus, we began educating ourselves in composting so we could use our own materials to create a thriving vegetable garden.

Composting is a viable component of sustainability and an effective means of reducing one’s carbon footprint.  It reduces garbage waste heading to a landfill, makes people more independent with their food options, and provides a great benefit to the environment.  It also saves time and money for the individuals who choose to do it.

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