The Red, White, and Green

Photo via Flickr: dcJohn

Here at the RWG, we feel strongly that solving our environmental problems is directly tied to the future of this country (see clever tagline, above). So this July 4th, we’re beginning a new tradition: the Independence Day resolution. If the New Year’s resolution is all about self-improvement, then the Independence Day resolution is all about bettering our country. And you don’t even have to stop the barbecue; tonight, when the fireworks are over and the last beer has been drunk, take five minutes and think about one thing you can change — no matter how small — to green your daily routine.

Some easy ideas:

Switch one regular light bulb to a CFL. If every household in the US replaced just one incandescent bulb with an energy-efficient CFL, it would be the equivalent of taking 1 million cars off the road.

Give up the (plastic) bottle. At last tally, more than 113 billion beverage cans and bottles have been landfilled, littered, or incinerated in the US so far this year. Get a Brita pitcher or sink filter for home (just don’t forget to recycle the filters), and take a Sigg or other reusable canteen with you on the go. And if you’re a pop drinker, consider a home soda maker.

Try Meatless Monday. The movement is gaining momentum worldwide, with a former Beatle and The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health now among its proponents. If every American were to go meatless on Mondays for a year, it would be the equivalent of all of us switching from normal cars to Toyota hybrids — saving 12 billion gallons of gasoline.

Donate unwanted items on Freecycle. Instead of dropping that worn-out couch by the dumpster, why not post it on Freecycle (like Craigslist, except all items are by donation only)? You’d be amazed at how many thrifty, resourceful people would be grateful to turn your trash into their treasure.

Turn off the DVR at night. According to Energy Efficient Choices, DVRs use anywhere from 12 to 20 watts in standby mode alone. Unless you’re partial to taping informercials, why not turn it off at night? The representative I spoke with at Time Warner Cable says it’s absolutely fine to do this — since the DVR is essentially a hard drive, your programs will still be saved even when the power isn’t on.

And about that beer for your July 4th bash: Make the switch to a keg, and you’ll be keeping dozens of bottles and cans out of the trash (or the recycling bin — even recycling takes energy). Just don’t forget to use glasses instead of plastic cups!

–Jennifer Grayson

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