September 25th, 2008

Green Your Weekend

Posted by Cassie Walker

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Every weekend, each of us probably has a long list of things that we need or want to do. We are no different here at Low Impact Living, as our to-do lists seem never ending. Here’s what we’re hoping to accomplish this weekend – with a green twist!

At the Car Wash

Getting tired of the “Wash Me!” directive finger-painted into the dust on your back windshield by an unoriginal thinker? Before you pull the hose out to the driveway, consider this: your dirty, soapy water running down the storm drain is deposited directly into our lakes, rivers and streams, untreated. Many people don’t realize that the storm system is completely separate from the sewage system – but now that you do, remember the adage, “Only rain down the drain!” If you must wash your car at home, park it on the lawn so that the suds can be cleansed by the grass.

Of course, better alternatives exist, including spray-on “waterless” car washes. With these products, you just spray the eco-friendly formula onto the car, and wipe off. No water (other than what’s in the product itself) no mess, and no runoff. We’ve found that this option works best for touch ups – if your car is seriously dirty, you may run out of elbow grease before the job is done.

If you need a real wash, hit the local commercial car wash. When you watch your car go past all of those sprayers, it seems impossible that these systems use less water than you would at home, but it’s true. Commercial systems recycle a lot of the water that they use, plus any runoff is directed to sewage systems where it can be properly treated.

Laundry List

Now that the car is clean, it’s time to do the same for our clothes. Remember the tenants of greening your laundry:

+ Wash only full loads
+ Use cold water
+ Buy environmentally-friendly detergent
+ Hang clothes to dry (and avoid chemical-laden dryer sheets)

If you’re in the market for a new washing machine, make sure to get an Energy Star-rated machine, which will use less water and electricity than standard models.

Green Thumbs-Up

With the first day of fall officially behind us, it’s time for those of us in warmer climates to plant our fall gardens. Leaf and root crops, from spinach and arugula to turnips and carrots, can fare well in many areas. If you’re in colder climates, investigate raised beds, cold frames or greenhouses. Regardless of the method and crop that you choose, you can reap many tasty rewards.

As you get your garden going, make sure to consider the steps needed to make it organic, like using compost and natural pest control methods. For details, check out our post featuring Christy Wilhelmi from Gardenerd.com.

Bam! Let’s Cook!

If you’re like us, you don’t have much time to enjoy cooking during the week. But come the weekend, we like to do it up right! Cooking at home saves money, and allows us to see what we’re actually eating.

Starting with a trip to the garden or nearby farmer’s market, try to use locally-grown, seasonal ingredients in your meals. Cutting the distance from farm to kitchen cuts the energy used in shipping, and generally results in fresher, more nutritious food. Choose organic, and you’re not only reducing the chemicals that you ingest, but you’re also reducing the chemicals that are applied to the earth, which end up in our rivers, streams, and oceans.

Once you’re ready to get cookin’, consider the costs and impact of different methods and foods. For example, microwaving uses less energy than the oven, and is usually faster. Consider using a solar oven. Eat less meat, especially corn-fed beef, which takes a lot of water to produce. Buy in bulk to cut down on packaging. All of these steps will reduce the impact of your meal on the environment.

Reading is Fundamental

For a little quiet time, nothing beats a bookstore. Except maybe, a used book store, where it feels a little more like a treasure hunt, with costs savings as the prize! Instead of ponying up big bucks for the latest hardcover best-seller, take the green route and cruise the shelves of pre-loved books. Most cities have local faves, like Half-Price Books (in 15 states). If you’d rather shop in your pajamas, used options abound from giants like Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Or, consider a used book sharing service, like PaperbackSwap or BookMooch. These services generally work on a point system: post what you’re willing to give away, and earn points for sending books to other members. Redeem points by requesting books that you’d like to read from other members. Very simple, very easy, and very green.

Another new option, for those voracious readers among us, is Amazon’s Kindle. Though it’s not cheap ($359), once you buy the device, you simply download books from Amazon’s website. The books aren’t free, but are generally less expensive than new printed copies. Plus, there’s no paper for printing and no shipping required! The quality is great, and now you don’t have to take a pile of books when you go on vacation.

Last but not least, once we’ve completed all of our chores, we hope to sleep – it’s carbon-neutral!

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