Green Myth #4: “Green” is always more expensive October 22, 2008

You don’t have to be rich to be green. Start with Reduce, Reuse, and Reycle. Add a little creativity with Repurpose and you’re on your way to green.

1. Hit the Road for Less – Park your car. Use public transportation. Join a carpool.
2. Eliminate catalogs from your mailbox.
3. Ditch junk mail.
4. Reduce your use of paper.
5. Reduce your water use.
6. Stop drinking bottled water.
7. Bring your own bag to the store.
8. Instead of shopping, try swapping: try Freecycle or look for a Swap-O-Rama-Rama event near you.
9. Switch to CFL bulbs.
10. Ship packages green.
11. Reduce your home energy use.
12. Recycle your old TV.
13. Use curbside recycling – Recycle More Plastic.
14. Recycle your cell phone.
15. Recycle clothing.
16. Trade books, CDs, DVDs, and video games by using a site such as swaptree.
17. If you’re in the market for a vehicle, make it fuel-efficient.
18. Green your holidays.

Need more ideas? Here are 50 Ways to Help the Planet.

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Website of the Day: ReUseResources and Swap-O-Rama-Rama April 20, 2008

Now that my favorite niece, Cassie, is a teacher, I understand just how much teachers spend of their own money to purchase supplies for their classrooms. According to ReUseResources. teachers typically spend between $300-$1500 of their personal money to purchase supplies for their classroom. I’ll bet Cassie can attest to that.

Every school could use a ReUseResources in their corner. What they do:

“At ReUseResources, teachers and community programs get low-cost supplies and businesses find a home for surplus materials otherwise headed for the landfill. We collect and offer surplus materials that are in good condition to match the needs in the classroom. This allows teachers to do much more with their limited classroom budgets.

Every day the train that leaves Seattle/King County for the landfill is about a mile long and much of what is thrown out is perfectly usable. Our mission is to reuse the good stuff to support education and reduce the waste of our resources”

ReUseResources recently hosted the Swap-O-Rama-Rama event at Greenfest in Seattle, WA. Swap-O-Rama-Rama is a clothing swap and series of do-it-yourself workshops in which a community explores creative reuse through the recycling of used clothing. All you need is at least one bag of “in-season” unwanted clothing and a small donation. Each swap begins with a giant collective pile of all the unwanted clothing. Everyone dives in and finds their next new/used items from the pile. Afterward, DIY workshops, equipped with sewing machines, help you transform your finds. All the materials you need to sew, embroider, bead, fix, repair, knit etc, are supplied. The Swap-O-Rama-Rama websites lists upcoming events as well as how to start your own swap.

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Add “Repurpose” to Your 2008 Resolutions January 2, 2008

I love a recent article in the Tiny Choices blog, “reduce REUSE REPURPOSE recycle“. I don’t care if you call it repurpose, reuse, reclaim, remake, refashion or recreate. I love the idea of turning something old into something new and fresh. In addition to the CD spindle repurposed into a bagel carrier (plastic concerns notwithstanding). Author, Jean, includes links to other repurposed items, although, I have to admit, my bras aren’t big enough to make a ”bra purse” that would hold all my stuff!

Related Posts:

• Website of the Day: Craft
• Website of the day: ReadyMade

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