Have I peaked?

Four easy consumer decisions that will help our environment.

I resolve in 2011 that I will not stand in front of bulldozer in the middle of the Amazon, set my SUV on fire, or swear off electricity for the year; that would be extreme environmentalism and is not for me.

I will resolve to be an Ordinary Environmentalist and continue my simple environmental habits that reduce landfill waste, minimize fuel, electric, and water usage, and decrease my overall carbon footprint. Easy things like:

- Buying CFL light bulbs,
- Opening my south-facing curtains on sunny days when it is cold, and closing them when it is hot,
- Using cloth bags,
- Combining errands so I drive less,
- Reducing, reusing and recycling,
- Composting, etc.

Thinking about my 2011 resolutions, I have been wondering how I can continue to find ways to help the environment that do not take much time, are easy to incorporate into my daily life, and are repeatable. So, here is what I came up with… ummmm… hmmmm… yea, ahhh…. right, I’ll…. give me a minute here…

Yikes! Have I peaked as an ordinary environmentalist? Do I have to tip into the arena of an extreme environmentalist in order to continue to improve our collective lives through responsible, sustainable living? I do not have that much vacation time!!

With a little more thought, I did come up with a way to continue to tweak my habits as an ordinary environmentalist. It comes down to four decisions I will weigh as I make my purchasing decisions:

Decision #1: Bike More
It is the middle of a very cold winter and it is not an option for me to bike anywhere outside for the next 3-4 months, however once the snow melts, I will decide to use my bike to run my local errands to the bank, library, post office, office supply store, local volunteer meetings, etc. I will decide to incorporate this into my regular exercise by planning my errands around longer bike rides. More exercise is good, and hey, it will save a bit of wear and tear on my car, and reduce vehicle emissions by driving 50-100 miles less per month. I may even reduce impulse buys because I will not have room to carry them on my bike!

Decision #2: Buy Local
I will decide to buy as many products as I reasonably can that are made or grown within 150 miles of my house, and I will shop at local stores when possible. This will support the local economy, reduce fuel and emissions from long distant trucking, and help me to bike more. I will go to the summer farmer’s market for fresh produce and meat, and look for locally grown items like honey and grass-fed beef in the grocery store. I will also first try and find items at local boutiques and galleries, which often feature unique products that support local artists, before heading to the big box stores and malls.

Decision #3: Buy Sustainable Products and Packaging
When I am in the store, I will decide to look for and purchase sustainably made products, that use recycled and/or sustainable materials, and are also recyclable. This will help close the recycling loop and reward companies that support sustainability. I can for example use laundry detergent that comes in a box that uses recycled paper, and I can toss the packing in my recycle bin when I am done with it.

Decision #4: Buy Plant-Based Products.
As I shop for new household cleaning and beauty products, I will decide to try products that use plant-based/natural ingredients. Plant-based solutions are biodegradable, less likely to cause skin and airway irritations and they are sustainable. This will take a little more time up-front understanding the ingredients list, however once I find products that work for me, it will be simple to continue to purchase them.

No, I am not going to protest deforestation by living in a tree, chase down whaling boats in the arctic seas, or reduce my possessions down to 150 items. I will however I will use these four decisions as a guideline for 2011 to help positively affect the environment.

Best wishes to all Ordinary Environmentalists for a happy and healthy 2011!