As we find ourselves back in the throes of Fall, let us not use falling leaves and hibernation as an excuse to stop being environmentally conscious. It is our duty to create a healthier environment and take care of the world we live in. Living in the Netherlands where preservation is extremely important (the majority of the country is below sea level), I have made several environmentally friendly changes that are a pretty standard way of life in my adopted country. I wanted to share them here in the hopes of inspiring more people to Go Green!
The biggest change I’ve made is in the way I get around. Bikes are a way of life in the Netherlands. There are bike paths pretty much everywhere. I cycle into town, to work, to meet friends, to meetings and classes. If I can get there in a 30 minute cycle, that’s the way I get there. And when I don’t cycle, I walk. Sometimes my husband and I will go two weeks or more without even setting foot in the car. Not only does this lessen pollution due to CO2, it also saves a lot of money. Remember that every little bit helps.
Recycling is also a great way to be kind to your environment. Most plastics, glass, metal, and paper can be recycled. Look for a grocery store that will give you store credit for turning in bottles, both plastic and glass. Almost all the grocery stores in the Netherlands do this. It really makes a difference in your monthly grocery bill. Find a metal and aluminum center that will give you change for your scraps. Take anything you can’t get rid of to the nearest recycling center. Donate or give away old toys, clothing, shoes, and appliances. You can also have a yard sale and make some extra cash! Be creative with the ‘leftovers’. Make a tire swing, cut pictures from old magazines to make collages, use junk to make coasters, notepads, scrapbooks, whatever you can think of. If you just have to throw it away, condense it first. Crush cans and plastic bottles, smash cartons, break down the glass, and pop those addictive little bubbles in the bubble wrap. This will limit the space taken up in the landfill as well as save you money on trash bags!
Reuse as much as you can. Refill plastic bottles. Make sure your dishwasher is crammed full before you run it. When you do do laundry, fit as much into each load as is safe for your machine. Consider air drying as much as possible and combine two loads of wash into the drier instead of one. Consider not using a blow drier for your hair. If you absolutely have to, I understand, but if you don’t need to, don’t. It’s really bad for the environment and, surprisingly enough, your hair.
Got a garden? If you don’t, you might want to think about it. They’re beautiful and peaceful for starters. They rid the atmosphere of CO2 and replace it with oxygen. They also provide food and shelter for other creatures. Plus gardening is relaxing and fun! If you already have a garden or are planning to start one, be sure to build a compost pile. Not only is it fantastic free fertilizer, it also diminishes the amount of waste that goes into the landfill.
Just say no to paper and plastic shopping bags! One thing that struck me upon my arrival to the Netherlands was that stores rarely give you bags. You have to ask for them. And be prepared to pay. Pretty much everyone carries around a vinyl grocery bag with them on a shopping trip. I’ve seen many a college student enter the supermarket with a plastic grocery bag overflowing with empty plastic and glass bottles, and leaving with the same bag filled with groceries. Most stores here in the Netherlands have these bags or you can buy a store-logo-free one at a market or the Hema (the Dutch equivalent of Target). If someone offers you a plastic or paper bag or absent minded-ly begins to shove your newly-bought items into one, just say “No thanks. I already have a bag.”
Don’t use heat and AC unless you really need it. For me, skimping on the heater was tough, but really, you can live with sweatshirts, sweaters, slippers, socks, and blankets. To my amazement, AC is not a common commodity in the Netherlands. There’s a restaurant in the city center of Utrecht that proudly boasts in paint on it’s windows that it has AC. This is rare. The country seems to have both a figurative and literal open door policy. They open doors and windows, pull out their fans and take advantage of the breeze.
This last one’s tricky. Limit your water use. I have found that this one takes the most self-discipline. Turn off the tap whenever you’re not actively using it. This includes while washing and drying your hands, brushing your teeth and taking a shower. You’ll use a lot less water this way. Also, if your tap water is safe to drink, drink it. Some studies say tap water is actually goodhousekeeping.com
Here are some sites with information about the Go Green drive and ways to do it
worldwatch.org
msnbc.msn.com
ivillage.com
cnn.com
goodhousekeeping.com
Photo: lydiashiningbrightly, Flickr
