Tuesday, June 24, 2014

A Year of Kindness - Challenge Week 25

Hope you all had fun picking up trash last week! Turns out that the "beaches" (if you can call them that) I was able to visit last week at Key West were trash-free. That's wonderful. The only place I could have picked up trash was along the construction route on the main road. But there were no trash cans along the route either. So I'll have to make up for that one here at home!

In keeping with our theme of being Kind to Mother Earth, this week's challenge is to CONSERVE.  Conserve Energy. Conserve Water. Conserve Natural Resources. And yes, I know I'm preaching to the choir, but here are ten easy ways to CONSERVE:


  • Run your ceiling fan counter-clockwise in the Summer; clockwise in the Winter.
  • Use shades, blinds, or drapes to block the heat of Summer sun, but open those shades and blinds in the Winter!
  • Keep your freezer full - it uses less energy than an empty one.
  • Unplug EVERYTHING that you aren't using - battery chargers, toasters, hair dryers, etc. If plugged in, they are still drawing energy.
  • Plug electronics into a power strip and turn off the power strip when the electronics are not in use.
  • Exchange incandescent bulbs for CFL
  • Take shorter showers (saves on water and heating)
  • Turn off water while brushing teeth
  • Only run the clothes washer or dishwasher with a full load
  • Walk, bike, or use mass transit
What are some of your favorite conservation techniques? What have I missed?
Sunrise in Key West. The area that needs to be cleaned up is the walkway to the left of the photo - but no place to put the trash. Maybe if the construction folks put out a few trash cans, folks wouldn't leave so much garbage on the sidewalk!

6 comments:

scrappyjacky said...

The only thing on your list I rarely do is take public transport....in the UK it's very expensive. It costs me far less to drive into town...pay to park....pay for petrol....than to catch a bus there and back. I walk when I can....but my annoying knees can make too much walking impossible.

Sian said...

That's a good list. Yes, I'm like Jacky..it's very expensive to take the bus here. I don't have a tumble dryer, though, because they use so much energy

Karen said...

Rochester has very poor public transportation. It's very complicated to take a bus anywhere, and from my home it would entail a lengthy walk to the stop, and frequent changes to get almost anywhere I go. I do try to walk to the library and drug store during the summer, but both are time-consuming (a mile or more away). I loved that keeping my freezer full saves energy. I'm always feeling like we need to get it emptied out! Beautiful sunrise. Hoping to get that one checked off the scavenger hunt list on our July road trip.

Melissa said...

Great list of ways to conserve. I'm like the others here as I don't use public transportation here at home.

Miriam said...

I am obsessed about saving water! I re-cycle everything, I keep the house blinds/curtains drawn to keep cool. Public transport is a nightmare here. Great list though Cheri.

Maria Ontiveros said...

I am the queen of turning off lights (but I have to admit that I don't unplug all those things I should.
Rinda