Simple ways to become a smarter consumer

What does it mean to be a smarter consumer and why do you care?

Reduce Reuse Recycle

First of all being a smarter consumer means you pay attention to the things you buy in an attempt to reduce waste and help lower the carbon footprint of the population. Lofty goal I know, but if we all do a few simple things being a smarter consumer is not hard at all.
Pay attention to all the disposable things you buy and really try to limit their use. Yes it is much easier to just throw away paper plates and napkins...but watch as your garbage fills and fills. Lucky for you there is a system in place that will remove that garbage every week. Try to imagine the heaps that would accumulate if all you ever used were simple throw away things like plates and silverware.
Pay attention to single use and over packaged items. This one is a little more difficult because you will have to make some sacrifices. This sort of thing means not buying the pre-cut vegetables and fruit at the grocery store. Stop paying for convenience and start paying attention to the amount of packaging you throw away. It really is not hard to cut your own vegetables or fruit.
Here is a list of a bunch of stuff you can live without...I promise:

Paper Billing: I don't know about you but I used to get 20 envelopes a month for bills that I already have automatically scheduled to pay. Take 5 minutes out of your super busy life and sign up for electronic billing. Some companies even offer rewards for signing up!

Land Fill Full of Disposables

Anything disposable: cups, plates, forks, knives, napkins, diapers, razors - do yourself a favor and invest in some decent quality stuff that can be reused again and again. This stuff is really not worth the use in the long run, don't be lazy because you don't want to do dishes...be a grown up and care about stuff.

Tin Foil: I know its easy just to grab some tin foil...wrap up that pizza and go, but that is an obvious waste we can live without. Invest in some good glass/plastic containers instead.

Non-Reusable Batteries: obviously you use them and throw them away...unfortunately these can be considered hazardous waste - try and use rechargeable ones instead.



Bottled water - bottled anything: If you are not going to recycle the plastic water bottle because it is a pain...then please please please use your own water bottle and fill up at drinking fountains.

Cutting out a few of these things will make a difference.

Vermicomposting - a better way to compost

The practice of using worms while composting to help break down material into a richer soil

Earthworms can eat their own weight in organic matter ever day

What it is all about:

While organic waste can be composted year round you will find many home owners do now want to take a trip outside in the middle of winter. Also there are plenty of home owners who do now want a large bin full of decaying matter on their property in the first place.

I had a wicked batch rotting in a 5 gallon bucket that I would leave outside...unfortunately I had to move before I could try it out but I will be trying again for the spring time.

Worms have been the recyclers of dirt since soil was soil. Their populations can double each month which is good because they have to do all the tunneling and digesting.

Using an earth worm bin could be your choice for keeping organic rich soil inside without all the stench and icky bugs.

The Process:

Be warned...dealing with rotting material is quite disgusting and not for the weak of heart. These worms will eat and digest and eat and digest food scraps until the material looks like dirt and is full of worms. Once the material passes through the worm it becomes saturated with nutrients and is referred to as 'casting'. These 'castings' or worm manure is the nutrient rich 'vermicompost' that plants love. Use this worm soil as a mulch or a mix with regular soil.

Is it worth it?

Depends....if you are already into composting and would like to speed up the process then vermicomposting would be extremely valuable to you. Worms digest plant material much faster than traditional composting.

Traditional composting can take weeks or even months if the conditions are poor.

Another advantage of vermicomposting is the time release capabilities of the castings. The worm castings have a mucous coating which takes time to break down.

Casting contain:

5X more nitrogen

7X more phosphorus

11X more potassium

than plant soil

(The three main ingredients that help plants grow)

Precycling - Like recycling only one step further

Reducing waste by reusing products or by buying a product based on its potential to be recycled.

Recycling a single aluminum can saves the amount of energy needed to power a television for 4 hours

What it is all about:

Precycling is a broad term that means anything from buying items in bulk in order to cut down on packing material to brining reusable grocery bags with you to the store. How many plastic bags get filled everyday later to be thrown away in the garbage?

The difference between "precycling" and recycling is the idea that precycling takes the initiative even further. It makes the consumer think more about what they are buying and how it will effect the world. Not just reducing waste but also reduce the potential for waste.

How to implement:

Precycling is just as much about doing something positive as not doing something negative. It is easy to precycle and the more effort you put in the bigger the pay off. Find the companies that use only organic ingredients and recycled paper to package the food item. Try to avoid single serving items or items that have a lot of packing. Use the fabric bags at the store...save the plastic bags and recycle them (most grocery stores have a place to recycle plastic bags).

 

Does it work:

There is no question here...we all share the same planet so why poison the drinking water and foul up the land will landfills?

In 2009 the average American generates 4.3 pounds of trash per day...or 1,569lb a year in Maine (about 40% recycled)

 or 1,980lb a year in Wisconsin (34% recycled)

If you buy stuff with a lot of extra packing the manufactures will KEEP MAKING ITEMS WITH WAY TOO MUCH MATERIAL
Think before you buy!

Topic for today: Energy consumption

Energy Consumption

        

    Energy consumption in American is a large problem that needs attention. There are many countries that use less energy than the United States, but there are also some that use more. Devices have been made to measure appliance use in real time to give homeowners a better idea of how to use efficiently. Home owners can also reduce their consumption by using energy efficient appliances. Easy steps can be taken to lower our energy consumption, and we all should pay more attention to how we use electronics. Cities and towns should be better constructed and planned better to transport energy without excess loss.

            In 2005 the average residential monthly utility used of electricity was 938 kilowatt hours. That does not take into consideration how some areas in the United States are far more densely populated than others. That number also does not factor in the many colleges and business areas in the United States. Some of these places do not turn their lights or computers off at night. College campuses have many buildings with sections set aside just for computers. These computers get accessed all day long and never get shutdown. One or two computers does not make much of a difference however all of these little electronics add up, especially if we are to include the entire world. There are plenty of states and companies that are striving to make a difference, they have implemented various schedules that will lower energy consumption. Different tactics like employee car-pooling, four day work weeks and public transportation are various ways some companies are adapting to the current energy demands. 

            In 2008 the United States used 13,654 kilowatt hours per capita and we are on a steady upward slope. Finland and Canada used more at around 16,000 kilowatt hours. More densely populated areas such as china can be found at the bottom of the list with 2,455 kilowatt hours, but that is subject to change as the middle class in china will be major energy consumers in the near future. In Iowa the average retail price for one kilowatt hour was 9.45 for residential use on January 2011. Iowa is not bad compared with Hawaii at about 30.00 per kilowatt hour and Connecticut which has residential electricity for 16.00 a kilowatt hour.

            There have been devices made that can measure the use of kilowatt hours in real time in the home. These devices may be a little expensive however the save much more energy over the long run. The Energy Detective or TED is one of these devices that can be installed easily into the home and give an accurate read out for the entire house. Energy efficient appliances have made progress by lower energy consumption in the residential and even commercial areas. They are generally a little expensive up front but after a few years of use the energy saved will displace the cost. There have even been tax incentives initiated by the president to provoke the general public to buy these higher rated energy appliances. Regular light bulbs should be replaced in the home by the more efficient compact fluorescent bulbs to lower energy consumption easily and effectively.

            Every single person can help lower their carbon footprint by paying attention to the appliances we use. As a country we are using less energy than some other more industrial countries. Home owners should take steps to make sure their house is energy efficient by using devices to monitor kilowatt use and also purchase energy efficient appliances. Our cities could be set up much more efficiently to transport energy without loss of energy.