I am constantly looking for ways to save money and live a "greener" lifestyle. Are there any simple changes I can make that will really make a big difference?
Angela R. emailed us at expert@sweetspot.ca, and Sophie Uliano, author of Gorgeously Green (and Oprah guest), answered;
- Pay attention to packaging: Whenever you go shopping, particularly for food, consider the grave site of your purchase. How will you dispose of the packaging? Is it recyclable? You can now buy breakfast cereals that are sold in a large bag (rather than a bag with an outer box). Avoid individually packaged items, such as carrots and ranch dressing or small bags of chips/cookies for lunchboxes. Instead, buy the largest bag you can and transfer to small reusable containers.
- Drive smart: This is a really easy one. Once a month, make sure that your tires are properly inflated to the manufacturer’s specifications. Also, be gentle with your accelerator pedal! Jerky/fast driving (as my husband points out), uses much more gas. On the subject of cars, consider hand washing your car with a non-toxic waterless wash. I like Lucky Earth Car Wash.
- Buy local, seasonal, and organic food: The first consideration should be local, as it will be much fresher and will obviously have less food miles. Only buy food that’s in season; green beans from Kenya in the winter have a huge carbon footprint. Organic farming requires less fossil fuel, so support it whenever you can.
- Use less hot water: This is a simple but very important change. Set your hot water heater to 120 degrees, and when you go on vacation, either turn your heater off or set it to the "vacation" mode. Always wash your clothes in warm or cold water. The “hot” setting is not necessary.
- Compost and grow your own: Compost all your produce scraps by gathering them in a compost crock on your counter and transferring to a compost bin. Use the compost to grow salad greens and herbs in the summer. If you live in an apartment, you could consider worm composting or try to set up a communal compost bin with your neighborhood association. If you have kids, encourage their school to start a compost program.
Sophie Uliano is a passionate environmentalist and who has developed an earth-friendly lifestyle that appeals to women who don’t want to compromise their glamour and style. She is the New York Times Best Selling author of, Gorgeously Green(Harper Collins). She is author of The Gorgeously Green Diet (Penguin) and the upcoming book, Do It Gorgeously.
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