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ECO Tips

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

  1. May 5: CLEANING

EASY: Use safe cleaning products. Continue to reduce Single-Use Plastics (SUPs) like clam shells, plastic grocery bags, and plastic cups/plates…

CHALLENGING: Research safe household cleaners and consider making your own! Save money, reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals, and produce less waste. Find recipes online for natural cleaners.

  1. May 12: EDUCATE YOURSELF

EASY: Google regenerative agriculture vs industrial agriculture. Support good farming practices

CHALLENGING: Try to implement at least one of the regenerative agriculture practices.

  1. May 19: PAPER

EASY: Avoid bright-colored paper

CHALLENGING: If you must print a document, use double-sided printing if you can or perhaps condense the article to one page.

  1. May 26: REDUCE-REUSE-RECYCLE

EASY: Do not put grease or strong chemicals down drains.

CHALLENGING: When eating out, take your own container for leftovers.

166. Apr. 7: CLOTHING
EASY: When shopping for clothes, evaluate whether you really need another X, Y, or Z. Count how many you already have. Then decide if the clothing item really is a necessary purchase.
CHALLENGING: Clothing, particularly petroleum-based garments, are often treated with flame retardant chemicals (PFAS). Check labels to avoid contamination.

 167. Apr. 14: FOOD
EASY: Check labels. When possible, buy fair-trade & organic products.
CHALLENGING: Even better, when possible, plant your own food. April is a good month to plant vegetables and fruits.

 168. Apr. 21: NATURE
EASY: Read an inspiring article or book about nature. Pray for the protection of natural resources.
CHALLENGING: Research and take action on the at least one way to protect a part of nature in your town or country.

 169. Apr. 28: PLASTIC REDUCTION
EASY: Reduce the number of items you buy that come in plastic packaging. Perhaps start with grocery shopping. When plastic is unavoidable check out recycling plastic in your area (https://search.earth911.com/)
CHALLENGING: Research alternatives to plastic packaging (plastic peanuts, bubble wrap, and containers…) Patronize stores that offer alternatives to plastic packaging – maybe even just a paper bag.

 

161. Mar. 3: CLUTTER

EASY: What’s the messiest place in your home? Perhaps the entryway or kitchen? Choose one category of items (hats, kitchen notes…) to review. Dispose of or recycle extra ones.

CHALLENGING: In the spirit of the upcoming season of Lent, declutter not only your material possessions but also your mind. What grudges or angers are you holding on to? Declutter your mind.

162. Mar. 10: SHOPPING

EASY: When shopping, take reusable bags (canvas bags or reused paper/plastic bags.)

CHALLENGING: Contact your local supermarket or other stores. Please encourage them to minimize packaging at checkout, subsidize returnable packaging, etc.

163. Mar. 17: MONEY

EASY: Saving our environment can sometimes cost money, but we can also donate to a worthy environmental cause. Consider donating to FCGG.org at https://equasion.org/donate/faith-communities-go-green-fund-fcgg/ 

CHALLENGING: Research the most environmentally responsible cleaning, car, or energy-efficient products. Sometimes the purist products cost more. Weigh carefully where to spend your money.

164. Mar. 24: ENERGY

EASY: Set your computer and/or display to turn off after 15 minutes of inactivity.

CHALLENGING: Ensure your home is properly insulated to use less energy and reduce heating and cooling costs.

165. Mar. 31: SPRING CLEANUP

EASY: Choose either your home or yard. Clean up extras or debris. Enjoy a cleaner environment. Relax.

CHALLENGING: Invite your neighbors or community to help you clean up winter’s residue (cans, bottles, orphan mittens in the street, tree debris, loose stones, miscellaneous garbage…)

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.

 

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.