Don't Overdo It

Some of us get a little too involved in what we're doing and end up getting less bang for our green buck. After hitting the wall on some green projects, I have been aiming for savings in other areas. With great joy I discovered that Home Depot now sells the smaller 9-watt compact flourescent lamps for less than $1 each. I had been using the 13-watt lamps we get at Costco for about the same price. There are a number of places where the slightly dimmer lights (I can't tell the difference) are a better use of electricity.

While I was replacing a few of the 13-watters, I ran into 2 problems. First, the old lamps pooped out on me just from handling them and I had to toss them out. Oops, more bad stuff going to the landfill. So I left the other lamps alone until they actually burned out, which may not happen for years.

Second, while changing the bulbs, I took the time to adjust each light timer. You might say I obesessed about getting the timing just right, only to have it all undone by a short power outage. I learned it's better to get it close and not exact. Often, sunset to sunrise timing is just fine. Also, keep in mind some of those timers and photocells actually use additional electricity, so your savings may not always be what it seems. Let's hear it for the good 'ol light switch.

Prioritizing Our Recycling

After a summer of missing recycling day, complaining about the small and inconvenient recycling bins, and cajoling the family to throw the right stuff in the right container, I've had to adjust my recycling style. I have settled on recycling just plastic, aluminum cans, newspapers and some glass. These are the most valuable items in the recycling process, and they're also the easiest ones for me to handle.

They now recycle almost everything at the school, but they have launched a very ambitious program that makes it extremely easy to do. Every trash can sits side-by-side with a recycling can, and all I need to do is decide which to use. I take all of our old alkaline batteries to school, but nothing else. I'm still trying to make this as easy as possible, and carrying a bag full of old envelopes and such just don't seem to make the impact I'd like.

My biggest complaint are these darned recycling bins our trash company requires us to use at home. When will I get something easier to take to the curb? The family is willing to contribute to side-by-side containers, but then what? Too much of a good thing! So, I have my priority of recyclables, and until I get some help, cardboard and other useful products are still headed for the landfill. Curses, foiled again!

Don't Frustrate Your Mom

This has happened before, I reached another road block in my recycling efforts. This time when our recycling bins got full, the family stopped using them. Instead of letting the cans and bottles slide out on to the floor, they just tossed them in the trash. And I wouldn't know to look there.

The problem is these itty-bitty recycle bins. I can't get our trash company to pick up something bigger. They gotta be in these little bins and they gotta be their bins! I do get frustrated. If I miss a bunch of recyclables, I start feeling real guilty...that I'm just not doing enough. I realize with this web site I'm doing more than some, and if my suggestions get you to get off your can and re-cycle some of your cans, then maybe my efforts aren't in vain.

I'll be complaining to my trash company that I need bigger recycling receptacles. I hope yours are. One frustrated Greenie is enough.

Thinking in the Bathroom

Yes, I ponder more "simple" Green answers while sitting on the throne, and my latest ideas happened right there! If you have more than one bathroom, I bet you favor one over the other because it clears in only one flush. Some require two or more. My favorite toilet was in a room with no windows, so I would spend time there reading with the lights on.

If I wanted to save water, I would favor the toilet that requires the fewest flushes. If I'd rather save electricity, I would use the toilet with a window that didn't need lights. Ideally, that bathroom would be the same room. If not, it might make sense to upgrade to a new water-saving toilet in the brightest bathroom.

Mom Strikes Back

After not being able to recycle all the stuff sitting in the garage, I needed to create a method to keep the family Going Green when we couldn't take our recyclable stuff to the curb. The result is my new "If You Can't..." page which give you alternatives to the "normal" way of living a Greener life. This is in response to my last article where Mom Gets Thwarted.

Some of them, like using a dish towel instead of paper towels couldn't be easier, so you're really pushing it if you claim you can't find anything to do from my Green List, but I addressed that, too ("If you Can't do Anything...") Now I'm working on a way to make the Green List easier for you to remember.

Mom Gets Thwarted

I can't believe it's happening to me! I have a huge pile of recyclables piling up in the garage because I'm on vacation on recycling day. The neighbors are away, so they can't help. We can just put the normal trash in bags and get them to the street a few days early. But with recycled stuff, we need to place out the bins, and we don't want them lying outside acting as a "come rob our house since we're not home" sign.

It's a coincidence that we haven't been home on just that day of the bi-weekly pickup. So, in response to this situation, I'm going to start a list of things you can do if you can't _____ (fill in the blank), like recycle stuff, or drive slower, or use less water in the yard. etc.

I guess it's a good thing it happened, but I'm still stuck with a huge pile of plastic bottles that won't be going anywhere until next month...and it's still growing. The newspapers are already being thrown out. But leave it to your Mom to come up with a solution...if I don't get buried in cans, first.

New Web Site Features

Like I said, your Mom is here to help you through every step down your path to becoming Green. I edited down the verbiage on the Home Page and added "recent additions" links. Stop by every month or so to pick up something new from the list, and by checking the "recent" list you'll be able to find the latest easy ways to Go Green.

Also, I wanted to point out "Mom's Recommendations" for Green Advertisers on the Home Page. While i don't endorse these advertisers, I do find clever and helpful stuff at their stores. If nothing else, consider giving a Green gift to someone. It's a way to help the Green movement without making a change yourself.

And an apology. I came home to find the link to "Mom's Blog" wasn't working from the navigation bar. Shame on Mom. Thanks for finding it anyway.