Faith Communities Go Green

ECO Tips

The below tips are from Susan Vogt.
Susan provides monthly tips on becoming eco-friendly in our everyday lives.

157. Feb. 3: PLASTIC

EASY: Reduce use of plastic bags as much as possible by refusing, reducing use, using a paper bag, or (if it’s small) just carry it.

CHALLENGING: Additional alternatives to plastic bags are canvas bags, a packing box, or put it in a backpack.

 

158. Feb. 10: DRINK WATER

EASY: Drink water from the tap. It is by far the cheapest drink in both emissions and money. It also avoids plastic bottles and usually has fluoride for healthy teeth.

CHALLENGING: Consider buying a reusable water filter dispenser to reduce chlorine, lead, mercury… I use the Pur dispensers with a filter.

 

159. Feb. 17: TRASH

EASY:Walk around your neighborhood with a garbage bag to pick up trash and recyclables.

CHALLENGING: Post your experience on social media or talk with others to multiply your effort.

 

160. Feb. 24: PAPER

EASY: When possible, avoid unnecessary use of paper by using email, text messaging…

CHALLENGING: When paper is essential, try recycled, post-consumer, acid-free note/office paper or paper from a tree farm.

 

153. Jan. 6: CLOTHING
EASY: Perhaps you got a new piece of clothing for the Holiday. Swap out a similar piece by donating it to a secondhand store – or at least retire it as a rag.
CHALLENGING: If you genuinely need a new piece of clothing, evaluate the fabric it’s made of. Seek natural fibers. Avoid petroleum-based fabrics such as nylon, polyester, and fleece when possible.

154. Jan. 13: BATHROOM CLEANUP
EASY: Review your bathroom medicine cabinet for duplicates and out of date medicines. Pick at least one duplicate item to donate to a homeless shelter. Discard expired medications.
CHALLENGING: Count how many plastic containers are in your medicine cabinet. Can you reduce the number by half? Examples: replace bottled shampoo or lotions with bars.

155. Jan. 20: ENERGY USE
EASY: Beyond heating, cooling, cooking, and lighting, count the items in your home that run on electricity. Is there anything you haven’t used in a year?
CHALLENGING: Give away any electrical devices you haven’t used in a year. Consider setting your computer to turn off after 15 minutes of inactivity.

157. Jan. 27: EDUCATING YOURSELF & OTHERS
EASY: Use the library or Internet to educate yourself instead of buying books (except mine 😊)
CHALLENGING: Encourage others (your office, schools, religious organizations, etc) to recycle. Multiply your personal efforts by motivating others.

 

  1. Dec. 2: ADVANCE HOLIDAY PREP

EASY: Consider reducing the number of gifts you purchase. Agree with family/friends on a limit to the number of gifts or cost. 

CHALLENGING: Instead of separate visits to all of your friends during the holiday season, consider hosting an open house. Perhaps have a used/homemade gift exchange.

  1. Dec. 9: HOLIDAY CARDS

EASY: Holiday cards? Consider sending personalized E-cards to save paper and cost.

CHALLENGING: Or for print cards research companies and organizations that offset their carbon footprint by planting trees for each card order.

  1. Dec. 16: GIFT GIVING

EASY: If you are going out to buy gifts, make as few driving trips as possible, thereby reducing your carbon footprint.

CHALLENGING: When possible, buy from local vendors, crafts artists, grocers, farmer’s markets… 

  1. Dec. 23: WRAPPING PRESENTS

EASY: Recycle cardboard cores from wrapping paper. 

CHALLENGING: Avoid buying tissue paper. If you already have some, use it/re-use it (Tissue paper can’t be recycled.) 

  1. Dec. 30: STARTING A NEW YEAR

EASY: Review 2024 with an environmental eye. Make at least one New Year’s Resolution that involves an environmentally friendly new practice.

CHALLENGING: Looking ahead to 2025 and knowing that global warming remains a serious threat, decide one political or public action you can take to influence positive systemic environmental progress.

144. Nov. 4: HEATING

EASY: Winter heating: Change the air filter on your furnace once per month during the heating season. A dirty filter restricts air flow and causes the system to run less efficiently.

CHALLENGING: Inspect the ductwork in exposed areas (basement or attic). Repair any leaks from electrical lines, plumbing, and gas pipes from outdoors. Seal with foam insulation OR, If your heating system is in need of repair, replace it with an ENERGY STAR®-certified furnace, boiler or heat pump.

 145. Nov. 11: FOOD

EASY: Ease up on the meat and cheese; consider chicken and wild fish instead.

CHALLENGING: Buy locally sourced and organic food. It is estimated that food production and transportation account for 13 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the USA, primarily in the form of fuel and fertilizer.

146. Nov. 18: PLASTIC REDUCTION

EASY: Pack a lunch when possible, instead of buying it.

CHALLENGING:If you smoke cigarettes (or know someone who does), consider that quitting can help the environment. By sheer numbers, cigarette butts top the list of plastics littering the world’s beaches.

 

147. Nov.25: TRANSPORTATION

EASY: Reduce car transportation by using public transit, biking, or walking when possible.

CHALLENGING: Can you get by with 1 less vehicle for your household? What if you only have 1 vehicle? Is it a hybrid or electric? 

140. October 7 – CLEANING

EASY: Avoid cleaning products packaged in plastic. Since doing this 100% is practically impossible, to start, review your current cleaning products and list which ones come in plastic containers.

CHALLENGING: Avoid spray or disposable products for cleaning. Find substitute cleaning products (not packaged in plastic) for 1 or 2 cleaning products. Check Cleancult and Blueland for ideas. 

 141. October 14 – CLOTHING

EASY: Got stuff you’re not wearing anymore? Donate them to a local charity, church, or resale store.  BUT…

CHALLENGING: BUT… Don’t donate torn, soiled clothing that cannot be worn and will therefore burden others. Click here (https://imperfectidealist.com/where-to-donate-clothes-besides-goodwill/) for alternative donation possibilities.

 142. October 21 – CLUTTER

EASY: Pick one day this week (perhaps laundry day) to check one room of your home for stuff that’s laying around unused or not put away. Collect the loose stuff. Put it near the front door to remind you to find a permanent home for it (even if it’s just the trash).

CHALLENGING: Do this “Clutter Check” weekly or monthly. Research local organizations/people who can pass your extras on to someone who needs them more than you.

143. October 28 – HALLOWEEN

EASY: With Halloween approaching, folks buy candy/trinkets to give away. Fine. But…also consider treats that are healthy for the body and spirit. Perhaps something with minimal sugar but still fun.

CHALLENGING: My own family of origin gave away pretzels because my dentist father didn’t want to promote tooth decay. It did decrease the number of trick-or-treaters we gotbut maybe you could come up with a more appealing treat – maybe a cute book mark, a sweet apple, …Be creative. 

  1. September 2 – REDUCE/REUSE/RECYCLE

EASY: With the recent Paris Olympics in mind, read about how athletes received their gold medals while standing on trash. Click here for article. (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/06/business/olympics-recycled-plastic.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare)

CHALLENGING: Think of a creative way to repurpose something you would normally just put in the garbage.

 

  1. September 9 – SPIRITUAL

EASY: Meditate this week on how I can reduce my consumption of goods and choose one action to take.

CHALLENGING: Meditate regularly on simplifying my life. Find a way to multiply your insights with the broader community through writing or speaking.

 

  1. September 16 – PLASTIC STRAWS

EASY: Don’t buy plastic straws for home use. Decline them when offered at restaurants.

CHALLENGING: If a straw is necessary at home (or you just really like using one) try a bamboo or reusable metal one.

 

  1. September 23 – ENERGY USE

EASY: Try an electricity free day. Candlelight at night can be romantic. It’s OK to keep the refrigerator or other essential appliance running.

CHALLENGING: Consider whether you can eliminate one electric appliance (shaver, fan, dryer, AC) from your home – or at least reduce its use.

 

  1. September 30 – PAPER

EASY: Stop junk mail. Opt out at 1-888-567-8688 or click here to find out how. (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-to-stop-junk-mail_n_5b27beb7e4b056b2263c5b54)

CHALLENGING: Use recycled, post-consumer paper products for kitchen, bathroom, and cleaning.

 

 

 

131. August 5: BATHROOM

EASY: Purchase body, facial, and shampoo soaps that come in bar form to avoid plastic containers.

CHALLENGING: Go the extra mile and choose products that list natural ingredients and come in paper or compostable packaging.

 

132. August 12: NURTURE NATURE

EASY: Plant something that grows in your yard or home – (a flower, plant, shrub, or tree)

CHALLENGING: Plant a shrub or tree beyond your own home in a place that is tree bare. Care for it.

 

133. August 19: TRANSPORTATION

EASY: Reduce carbon emissions by keeping whatever motor vehicle you have running efficiently. Do routine maintenance like oil changes, check tire pressure, etc.

CHALLENGING: Set aside one day a week (or month) to walk, bike, or use public transit to work or the store. If you don’t need regular car transportation for work, smile and appreciate your blessing.

 

134. August. 26: PROTECT NATURE

EASY: As you walk your neighborhood, notice what is living and what might be dying. Check if any public area needs watering. Even if it’s only your own yard, do it.

CHALLENGING: Look beyond where you live. Is there an animal habitat that seems threatened? Is there a way you can restore it? Protest a local environmental violation.

TO EDUCATORS, LEADERS, & MINISTERS:
I offer you these Eco-Tips as a resource for those you serve.
My own faith tradition is Catholic, and thus Pope Francis’ teaching in Laudato Si’ inspired these ways of Living Laudato Si’. Of course caring for creation transcends religions and is indeed a universal undertaking. It cannot be done alone.
You are welcome to reprint these in bulletins, newsletters, and on your website with the credit “By Susan Vogt, www.SusanVogt.net
Since those we reach may be in many different places regarding environmental efforts, I offer 2 options each week:
EASY: Some of us are just starting to awaken to the need to care for creation, or have been busy with jobs, raising a family, or other social justice commitments. We may not have much discretionary time. OR, it may simply be a relief to note, “Hey, I’m already doing this one!” Good.
CHALLENGING: Others have been engaged in the environmental movement for awhile and are ready to take a bigger step. To multiply our efforts, we are called to go beyond our own personal lifestyle, and to make bigger, systemic changes. Consider how to impact change in our neighborhoods, cities, country, the world.