By Beth Dimond, NRCM Public Affairs Coordinator
When I began working at NRCM more than 17 years ago, I had no knowledge of environmental issues other than the advice I had heard for years of, “Don’t litter,” and “Reduce, reuse, recycle.” I didn’t separate my glass and plastic for recycling. I didn’t reuse paper or print on both sides, and I never really thought about bringing my own canvas shopping bags to the grocery store.
What a difference a year….or 17…makes.
I now have canvas bags in my car at all times. I turn lights and electronics off when I don’t need them. I recycle all of my plastic, metal, and paper at home and at work. I have a smart phone and a GPS system so I don’t need to print off directions to drive to new places. And I bring a BPA-free water bottle with me to places rather than buying bottled water.
I am sure that there are many other things that I do as part of my daily routine that I don’t even think about because they are so ingrained in my habits. I don’t let the water run while I brush my teeth. I decide what I want out of the refrigerator before I open it rather than opening the door wide and staring into it, hoping that a Boston cream pie might appear (though I admit, if I thought I could will a Boston cream pie to appear by just staring into the fridge for a few minutes, I probably would).
St. Patrick’s Day is this Sunday, and it is always a time that I stop to think about ways to “go green” to help ensure a healthy planet for generations to come. I hope you are thinking about ways that you can lessen your carbon footprint, reduce the amount of trash you throw out, and make purchases that are better for your health and the environment. For information and ideas, I encourage you to visit NRCM’s website. We have a new feature called Maine Green Minute, done in partnership with Portland’s first carbon neutral radio station, 98.9 WCLZ. Listen to the Minute, and then find resources related to that tip. You can learn some gas-saving tips, read about non-toxic paint, find ways to save money on your water and energy bills, and much more.
Another great resource is NRCM’s Buy Green page. Among other things, it has a useful link to get your name off junk mail and catalog lists. You can also find a list of safer sunscreens and cosmetics, to help protect your family’s health.
And, you can also sign up for NRCM’s Tip of the Day to get your daily green tip sent to you directly through our RSS feed.
So, this St. Patrick’s Day, spend some time on NRCM’s website to learn about ways to go green to save the planet as well as how to save some green on your heating, water, and gasoline bills.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
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