There Are Many Little Things We Can Do to Save the Earth

I just got a fabulous new book by Joanne Yarrow called 1,001 Ways to Save the Earth (I purchased mine at Uncommon Goods; the link for the book is directly from the publisher; you can also purchase from Amazon). It has all kinds of things we can do to help save our planet. Many of the tips are so easy to accomplish. Mike and I are doing several of the things she mentions already.

Here are a few of the ones I found particularly interesting (all are quoted directly from the book, my thoughts are italicized):
Tip #55

A more seductive candlelight Traditional paraffin-wax candles are petroleum based. Once lit, they emit toxins such as acetone, benzene, lead, and mercury into the air. Beeswax and soy candles, by contrast, are toxin free. Not only do they provide a healthier atmosphere for romantic dinners for two, but the pleasant experience will last longer, as these natural candles burn for 50 percent longer than synthetic ones. (My notes: There are lots of pretty handmade soy and beeswax candles on Etsy)

Tip #62

Glug down some organic milk If you're trying to "go organic," milk is a good place to start. The price difference is marginal, but the health benefits are significant: organic milk contains much high levels of nutrients - for example, up to two-thirds more omega 3 essential fatty acids - than intensively farmed milk.

Tip #95

Little helpers Put your children in charge of some green tasks around the home - such as checking that lights and appliances are switched off, looking after the composting, or feeding the birds - and reward them for doing well. Find something they enjoy, and the habits are likely to last a lifetime.

Tip #132

Unplugged Electronic applicances can consume almost as much energy during the time they're in standby mode as they do during the relatively small portion of the day when they're actively being used. Unplugging electronic equipment can cut your household electricity bill by up to 10 percent. This is particularly important in the case of pieces of digital equipment, which often use more energy than their analogue equivalents. (My notes: Check out a great system called Bye Bye Standbye. The kit includes two outlet converters and a remote for $34.95. You can add onto the system (additional kits are most effective and you get another remote). I am really trying to sell Mike on this one -- I think it would be great)

Tip #156

Bamboo bathrobe Bizarre though it sounds, tough bamboo fiber makes luxuriously soft towels. Bamboo is three times more absorbent than cotton and boasts antibacterial, antistatic, and antifungal properties. It grows quickly and without need for pesticides, which makes it a fantastically eco-friendly material. Ask any panda! (My notes: Consumer Reports agrees with the benefits of bamboo. They reviewed four different bamboo/cotton blend towels and rated them in this order: Land's End Cotton/Bamboo [score 73], Lenox Platinum Collection [score 67], cb2 Crate & Barrel Bamboo [score 65] and The Bombay Company Estate ***now out of business [score 62]. I just got the Lenox Platinum Collection at considerable savings on Amazon, using their 4-for-3 sale. I got 4 $20 towels for $60 (with one free).

Tip #172

Say no to junk mail Protect your home and office from an avalanche of junk mail by registering with a mail preference service. (My notes: I used Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Services to remove our names from mailing lists and prospect lists. It was free, though they did require a credit card for identity verification. I also removed my name from pre-screened credit offers using OptOutPrescreen.)

I have only read through the first 250 tips in the book and have found that will be valuable for years to come. This book will definitely be a desktop top resource for me.

Completely Unrelated Addition

This is a completely unrelated post, but I have to add it. I got a message from Melissa with a link to this video and it is so great, I can barely contain myself. Enjoy!