Never mind oil. According to Worldwatch.org, if Americans recycled 60 percent of their solid waste, we’d save the equivalent of 315 million barrels of oil per year. Speaking of oil, drive less. Carpool. Take buses or subways. Ride your bike or scooter. Walk.
Go to your local library. Library books are free. You save money and trees—and avoid more household clutter. I am personally forgetful when it comes to returning them, but even if I spend $5 in late fees, I’m still ahead of the game. The average book costs more than that.
Get the junk mail off your counter once and for all! Save time opening it, prevent identity theft, and save some trees while you’re at it. Some Web sites, such as Greendimes.com, will actually do it all for you.
These are a just a few ways I’ve started to think about my role in the environment. Yesterday the word sustainability was barely on my radar, but today I actually find myself seeking out articles. Every topic I read about is connected to another. And there is always something I’ve never thought about.
Making this world greener, cleaner, safer, and more habitable for our next generation is not as easy as I’ve made it look here. But rethinking our relationship to the environment is a start—and worth striving for. None of these planet-saving ideas cost you much or take too much of your time. And, as I discovered, you don’t have to be an expert—or stand at a lectern—to care deeply about the world you live in.
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