Most of us were brought up believing that our natural resources would last forever. Now try to imagine a world without blue skies, towering trees, and all the natural beauty that makes Big Bear such an amazing place to live. It’s painfully obvious now that we have squandered our resources and if we all don’t take action, many of the things that we take for granted could soon be lost.
So what can one person do about it? Can one Big Bear household really make a difference? Absolutely! Conservation starts in the home and is much easier to practice than one might think. Many households shy away from adopting green living habits thinking that it will be too hard, time-consuming, or expensive. In reality, there are many green habits that can fit easily into your daily routine. To start out, start thinking “reduce, reuse, recycle.”
Reducing your consumption means being a conscious consumer. Choose packaging that easily biodegrades, such as cardboard or paper. Avoid plastic when possible and only use plastic when it’s the kind that can be recycled. Use your own grocery bags when shopping to reduce the amount of plastic bags you consume.
For young families, make the earth-friendly and cost-effective switch to cloth diapers. From birth to potty training the average child’s diapers cost $2,000 – $3,000. Cloth diapers on the other hand cost around $450 and can be reused for other children.
Next, reuse products when possible. Do you have the have the new “whatever” or is the old one still in good working order? Do you have jars, jugs, and containers that you can give new life to? Find creative ways to continue using products instead of sending them to the landfill.
Finally, recycle whenever you can. The best way to stick to a new recycling habit is to set up separate bins or storage containers in your pantry, kitchen, or garage. Empty out your jugs, bottles, and jars, give them a quick rinse and then sort them into their appropriate containers. Use a metal bin for empty vegetable and soda cans, one for glass, and a bin for all your household plastics.
You can also recycle by making sure your old clothes and furniture are donated to those in need. What is old to you is new to someone else. Finally, contact your local city offices to find out where you can take your recycling or if there is weekly or monthly recycling pickup in your area.
Reduce, reuse, recycle is a simple way of changing how your family thinks about living green. Just remember, every little bit counts. Investing a little time and effort now will mean much more to the future homeowners and visitors of beautiful Big Bear Lake.
More About Energy Efficient Homes;
-
Energy Efficient Homes On Rise, But US Will Lag | Earthtechling – Energy efficient home-building and retrofits are forecast to grow at around 40 percent through 2020 globally, but the U.S. will see the slowest growth.
- Clean Energy, Energy-Efficient Homes on the Rise? | Green Tech … – Clean Energy, Energy-Efficient Homes on the Rise? May 15, 2012. By GTA. More clean energy and energy efficient homes? … Maybe. In the May 2012 issue of Nature Climate Change, authors Joseph E. Aldy, Matthew J. Kotchen and Anthony …
-
How Would the New Energy Efficient Homes Change Your Life? – There has been a surge in the number of construction companies that offer energy-efficient home designs. These new home designs are not something of one type or one size fits all. There are certain features that need to be …
Speak Your Mind