Practical article about ways to green out your life in twenty-ten!
By Jennifer Hallstrom
With
the New Year here it is a great time to think back at the last 12
months and the goals and efforts personally made to be a bit more
eco-friendly. It is also a wonderful time to set new goals for this
year to be even better.
In the fall, the EcoMetro Guide crew took part in the Ecology Center's
Climate Change Action Project group in Berkeley.
It was a great way to
really dig in and chat with other people working on their own
green-improvements around the house and at work. We wrote down our
goals and talked to each other about our progress. At work we explored
better methods for recycling and composting in the building we occupy;
and we have all committed to taking public transport or riding bikes.
My
personal goals at home were to install low-flow showerheads and
faucets, make the toilet more efficient, and replace the window
treatments in the home to better control the elements. I also aspired
to build a garden box and insulate the hot water heater.
Many of the
goals were easily taken care of with the approval of my landlord.
However, in the midst of making my home more efficient, I decided to
move.
The relocation, minus the handful of trips back and forth, has been an
eco-friendly move all around. Living in Alameda now, I have reduced
the number of miles I typically drive. With most of my favorite people
in Alameda, I drive much less and bike much more. Plus, I am still
biking distance from the office in Oakland. And, if it is raining, I
have no excuse not to catch the AC Transit 51 bus. It is literally
door-to-door.
The major perk with the new home is that it came with all energy
efficient appliances and low flow devices. I really appreciate the
efforts the landlord has taken to create an efficient home for the
tenants. The new goals for 2010 include even more bike riding, creating
the garden box and rounding up the other tenants to start a compost
bin.
What are some of your green goals for the New Year? Maybe one of them could be to check out the Ecology Center’s Climate Change Action Project for yourself.