I don’t always have the “stats” at my fingertips but “being part of the solution” matters deeply to me so I try to bring little “green” acts of awareness into my life as much as possible… Keeping in mind that there are going to be times when this modern, fast-paced, “disposable-happy” society may not cooperate. There will be the occasional need “when in roam” or just away from my stainless steel favorite, for an emergency water bottle (that I will then carry with me until I find a way to recycle it). There will be times when I have to use just one side of the paper or can’t find a way to recycle the “number 5s and 7s”.
My husband and I have more than once stepped back after reading about the latest ‘green’ recommendation and had to decide the feasibility of immediately making that change in our lives. For example, we aren’t at a point where it’s logical to invest in solar panels or a new alternative energy vehicle. But we can choose to have PSE&G use renewable sources for our energy (and use CFL’s throughout the house) and make sure that my 11 year old Corolla is operating efficiently (32mpg on average!). We can plan errands around one general location and as few trips as possible.
One practical step that I thought would be easier to implement but took some time was converting to canvass shopping bags. It was months before that became a true habit and it’s still not “full-proof”. There are days when I find myself running an errand without a canvass bag and immediately feel guilty. (How do the folks in California do it?) That’s when I have to remind myself that recycling is still a good alternative.
I think the key for my husband and I, is being just hard enough on ourselves to continue to motivate change but patient with the changes. Staying deeply connected to the “why” of what we’re doing keeps us moving forward, trying to live as eco-friendly as we can.