Easy Green Chic Post # 2

I am still reading Green Chic, so here are a few more tips for you guys!

• Tip #1: Christie Matheson, the author of Green Chic says to pop little purchases in your purse. Since I know not all of my readers carry purses, I'll just say while you're out shopping, try not to use plastic/paper bags. My brother makes fun of me but whenever I buy a few DVDs or CDs at Bestbuy, I tell them that I won't be needing a bag. Or when I go grocery shopping with my grandma shopping cart, I ask the baggers to load my groceries back onto the cart without using any bags. Or at the mall, if I already have a bag from a previous store, I'll just put the rest of my purchases in the same bag.
• Tip #2: Take shorter showers. Showers produce thousands and thousands of pounds of CO2 emissions each year. (CO2 emissions is a common way to quantify an individual 's/household's impact on global warming.) Matheson states that the amount of emissions varies depending on how long or how hot the showers are. I take about 10 minute showers, which I thought was pretty good, but because I LOVE taking HOT showers, I could produce about 2,000 pounds of CO2 annually. If I cut my shower to 8 minutes, I can save 400 pounds. I am now working on 8 minute showers.
• Tip # 3: Keep unused appliances and chargers unplugged. When plugged in, appliances and chargers still draw energy, even if they are not on. Keeping things unplugged also saves you money on your electric bills. I try to keep the lamps I don't use regularly unplugged and my phone charger unplugged when I am not charging my phone. I used to keep my hairdryer plugged in no matter what, but now I make it a point to unplug it and put it away under the sink when I am not using it. My next step is to tackle the scary computer plugs under my desk. These are the times when I wish I had a Mac.
• Tips #4: Do all your laundry in cold water. I started doing all my laundry in cold water a while ago before I even found out it was green. I did it so that my clothes wouldn't shrink but then I started washing everything in cold water because I was too lazy to change the water settings. I even washed gross bathroom floor towels with cold water. They came out so fresh and so clean. Now that I've realized cold laundry also saves energy, I'm an even bigger fan.
• Tip# 5: Adjust your thermostat. You save up to 240 pounds of CO2 annually just by turning your heat down 1 degree in the winter and setting your AC 1 degree higher in the summer.

I Heart the CTA Green Plug

Riding public transportation is much greener and therefore much more environmentally friendly than driving your own car. Walking would be better, but I'm not a Green Saint.

I Heart the CTA

A couple Fridays ago, my friend Debbie came to visit me from the suburbs. It was all very Sex and the City. We dressed up, we opened a bottle of wine, we gossiped about boys and then we went out to dinner. FYI, I am NOT Samantha. I cannot speak for Debbie though, you'll just have to ask her yourself.

Since finding parking near me isn't the easiest thing to do, I was hesitant to drive anywhere. I picked a restaurant a half a block away from me and planned on taking the El to the bars afterwards. Yes my friends, this is what you'll have to look forward to if you ever visit me. If you are looking for a chauffeur, you are looking at the wrong hostess. Taxis, buses and the El are all we'll be riding. Get used to the smell.

After a dinner at Exposure Tapas (a bit overpriced but yummy), I talked Debbie into going out with me. She was tired but I didn't want to waste my cute outfit on just her and Olivia, so I dragged her out to Pops! for Champagne, a Champagne bar I've been meaning to check out for a while.

The first indication that the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) wasn't the right choice for my dear friend Debbie, came as we hopped onto the Red Line. She opted to stand instead of sit (Why?)and got a bit anxious as more and more people hopped on, pushing us against the door. "Not only did you drag me out, you're making me ride the train!" she whispered to me. Apparently I conveniently forgot the fact that Debbie is an even bigger germaphobe than me.

We got to Pops! without a hitch. After a couple of yummy drinks, some chocolate fondue, and a neighbor who stared at me politely and then tried to make even more polite conversation, we left for another bar, where we had more food and drinks. By the time we were ready to leave I was a bit tipsy, so that'll be my excuse for hopping back onto the Redline at 2 in the morning rather than grabbing a cab.

So we went underground, where some scary guy smelled so strongly of marijuana, I almost got high smelling it. Then he proceeded to tell us how he doesn't like cops as we nodded our heads and looked around and tried not to meet his eyes. Instead, I looked at the dirty walls and down the dark tunnel for any signs of the train. But the tunnel only served to remind me of a scary movie I saw about a deformed murderer living in the deserted tunnels of the London Underground. Which scared me even more. When the train finally arrived, I sighed in relieve, but it was very short lived. We just sat down, (I think Debbie was to tired by now to stand), only to cringe as some guy across from us threw up at his feet, leaving a huge puddle of grossness and smell for us all to enjoy. Debbie turned to me and silently stared at me, but I got her message loud and clear.

As I've said before, get used to the smell.

Easy Green Chic Post #1

I've started reading Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style by Christie Matheson. It's pretty good and I'd advise everyone to read it if you're interested in living a more green life. For those who aren't going to pick the book up no matter what I say, I've decided to post Easy Green Chic Tips.

Tip #1: Change your lightbulbs
Switch from incandescent lightbulbs (regular lightbulbs) to energy-saving compact flourescent bulbs (CFL). Energy-star rated CFLs use about 2/3 less electricity than regular bulbs, but warning, they do costs a bit more than your average bulbs. I almost didn't buy my first CFL bulb because of the price (they're about $4-7), but I thought about what I've read and decided, screw it, I'll try it out. CFLs last ten times longer than incandescent lightbulbs and have an average lifespan of 5 years which means you save money in the long run.

Other things you should know about CFLs:

• Watch for the conversion wattage on CFL boxes. A 20 watt CLF is about the same as a 75 watt incandescent.
• The diposal of CFLs is a bit more difficult than disposing your regular lightbulbs. Because CFLs contain about 5 milligrams/less of mercury (older home thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury), you can't just toss out the lightbulb in the garbage. The mercury could seep into soil and groundwater or evaporate into a toxic gas. Check earth911.org or lamprecycle.org to find out about recycling and disposal options near you. You can also bring CFLs to IKEA, where they have a CFL take-back program. At the LAST resort, seal the burned out CFL in two zip bags before disposing. Make sure not to dump it in an incinerator though.

Other "duh" tips ("Duh" as in you probably already know this but I'll restate it for you anyways):

• Turn off the light whenever possible. You can even try watching a movie, listening to music or eating dinner by candlelight!
• Drink tap water instead of bottled water. It takes lots of energy to produce plastic bottles. Try drinking tap water and filling a reusable bottle if you're on the go. If you have to buy water, try buying glass bottles, which take way less energy to produce. And remember, recycle after use!
• Keep the water running for as little time as possible, like turning it off while you're brushing your teeth or taking quicker showers.