The GreenRoost Blog

Here are five more easy actions to live more sustainably!

photo credit to adlogiconline.com

1. Stop phone book delivery.  YellowPagesGoesGreen.org is a movement against unsolicited phone book delivery.  Sign up to remove your home or office from receiving telephone directories (beware phony sites; you should see a photo of a mountain at the top of the correct page) .  If you need a book, simply call to request one.  This will prevent unnecessary waste and save you the trouble of recycling unwanted phone books.

2. If you’re looking for a new creative outlet, consider starting a constructive hobby, like knitting, sewing, quilting, weaving, or making personal care products, such as soap and bath oils.  Hand-crafting useful objects for yourself and your family leads to fewer purchases (and the packaging they usually come in) and more control over the materials you bring into your life and others’.  Simply learning to cook is inherently green, because it means you’ll rely less on takeout and dining out in restaurants.

3. Has your office been freezing cold this summer?  This is a very common complaint.  Don’t be stoic and just bring a sweater!  Speak to your facilities director to see what the source of the problem may be and whether it can be corrected.

4. China produces and discards over 45 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks every year, cutting down as many as 25 million trees in the process.  Another 15 billion pairs are exported to Japan, South Korea, and other countries, including the US.  Invest in a pair of reusable chopsticks that you can take when you dine out and use at home.  Just remember to say, “No chopsticks, please,” when you order and pick up.

5. If you still aren’t on the xeriscape bandwagon and are watering a glossy green lawn, water in the early morning, around 5 a.m.  The lower temperatures at that time guarantee less evaporation, lower winds mean the turf is less likely to be blown dry, and higher humidity and morning dew contribute to what’s coming out of the sprinklers or hose.  Bonus:  Early morning watering helps prevent lawn diseases since your lawn will be dry by nightfall.