The 21st-Century Mother Turns Green
We do not need to be full-fledged LOHAsians to start turning green. As women, we are the decision makers at home where greening should begin.
Here are 10 simple ways towards a Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability for you and your family:
- Reduce overall consumption. Reuse what you can. Recycle items through proper waste management or giving away what you no longer need.
- Load up on vinegar! It is recommended to clean your bathrooms, toilets, and even your laundry with water and vinegar, preferably organic coco sap vinegar. That is echoed by Greenpeace which warns people against cleansers with chlorine.
- Go unplugged. Read articles on energy reduction and electric bill savings by simply unplugging telephone and computer battery chargers and water heaters, so you’d be diligent about pulling the plug. The result: 30% reduction in electricity consumption!
- Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. CFLs use 66% less energy than regular incandescent bulbs and can last up to 10,000 hours!
- Carpool, commute, or walk! You can lessen your daily carbon dioxide by 5.7 kg just by sharing a ride or commuting once in a while. If you’re not going that far, walk. It’s great for your health, too.
- Disposable batteries not included. Greenpeace advises us to try to avoid anything battery-operated or to use rechargeable ones for those unavoidable items like remote controls and wall clocks.
- Choose local products! According to Greenpeace, it’s not only good for the local economy, it will save energy because products haven’t traveled across the globe to get to you.
- Bring your own reusable shopping bags and boxes.
- Avoid throwing paper waste material down your toilet. It makes it difficult for proper waste water management.
- Assess your cosmetics, toiletries, and your family’s personal hygiene products. We should follow these simple guidelines:
- Make sure that the product contains natural and non-toxic ingredients.
- That they have not been tested on animals.
- Packaging is kept to an absolute minimum.
- The company has an ethical policy towards its workers and organizations.
To check the hazard level of the ingredients in your current products, I highly recommend going to Environmental Working Group’s www.cosmeticsdatabase.com. You might be surprised!
Going green is only the beginning. Embracing a lifestyle of health and sustainability is a state of being that requires education and commitment. Although it has become trendy to be socially responsible, going green is not just about being cool and in. It’s about reassessing our values and finding our connection with the broader environment including the people and the issues that surround it. Find that deep-seated motivation and soon, going green will turn into truly being green.
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