“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” +Rethink and Renew
You are probably familiar with the three “R’s” of environmental stewardship: reduce, reuse and recycle. In the last number of years, it has been heard almost daily in our lives. Now, there are some new ‘R’s’ being added like rethinking how we do life and renew with the arrival of renewable energy.
Really, what we can do best for our planet is to use less of it. At the heart of the environmental crisis is our consumer society. Regrettably, because we live in this “disposable society,” we are encouraged to buy the latest and greatest items even if there is nothing wrong with the one we have. When buying something, we should buy items that are durable, and we should maintain them and have them repaired when necessary. If we do this, many things can not only last a lifetime, but can be passed along from generation to generation.
Here are a few questions you can ask before you buy:
Do I, or whoever I am buying this for, really need it?
How long will it last?
Are the materials used to make this renewable?
Is there another product that would do the same thing and be more sustainable?
Where was this made and under what circumstances?
If it is disposed of is it environmentally friendly?
If something gets to be truly unusable for its original purpose, try being creative by thinking of how else it might be used. When you are done with it, think of who else might be able to use it.
So let’s look at the R’s.
Reduce:
Reduce the amount of the Earth’s resources we use.
Today it is in everyone’s best interest to reduce their ecological footprint to help conserve dwindling natural resources and reduce the environmental impact our society creates.
We can do this by reducing our use of plastic drink containers–water bottles and polystyrene cups. Use your own reusable coffee mug or water bottle at home, at work or on the go whenever possible.
Reduce your use of electricity: Unplug all home appliances that do not need to run full time (not refrigerators and freezers of course) but more than half of the energy appliances use is consumed while they are turned off yet still plugged in and kept in a ready state. And it’s more then our entertainment electronics that this applies to.
Reducing the amount of water we use isn’t only for times of drought. We cannot afford to waste this precious resource at any time. There are many ways we can achieve this.
Reducing means that we also need to choose things with the least amount of packaging possible.
Reduce may mean… having fewer new things but this will save you money and reduce pollution and the waste going into the environment and by having this attitude you can green your living and make a difference
Reuse:
Reuse means extending the ‘life’ or repurposing an item rather than discarding or throwing it away.
Reuse means… thinking “can it be used again?” before you throw things away. If you can’t reuse it, maybe someone else can. Swap, sell or donate items such as toys, clothing, furniture, sports gear, tapes and records. By having this attitude you can green your living and make a difference.
Recycle:
Recycle means… can the materials be made into something new?
Recycling is the processes of collecting, processing, remanufacturing, and reusing materials instead of discarding them. This helps conserve raw materials and energy that manufacturers would otherwise use in producing new products. Recycling also reduces the amount of material going into landfills. Recycling helps lessen the pollution that may result from waste disposal. Examples of things that are often recycled are glass, plastic, newspapers, aluminum cans, used motor oil, and batteries.
Waste, and how we choose to handle it, affects our world’s environment — that’s YOUR environment, everything that surrounds you including the air, water, land, plants, and man-made things. We all know we need a healthy environment for your own health and happiness so you can understand why effective waste management is so important to YOU and everyone else. By recycling you can green your living and make a difference.
Rethink:
Rethinking the way we do life is how it all begins. It’s only through rethinking your part in initiatives of reducing, reusing and recycling, you can green your living and make a difference.
Renew:
Fossil fuels and metal ores, such as tin, are among our “non-renewable” resources. We will come to the end of them someday and we can’t predict when that will happen. By choosing to use product from renewable resources like ethanol and plantation forests etc. you can green your living and make a difference.
The concept of Reduce Reuse Recycle is applicable to any sphere of life, whether in the home front or in our industrial sector. Today there is a noise of green and green-washed marketing so much so that people may be overwhelmed by the right things to do. But with 83% of people saying they would change their consumption habits to make tomorrow’s world a better place, there is hope in the future. Here at Green Your Living we will try and encourage you to make green habits both easy to do and worth keeping.
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How I Lost Thirty Pounds in Thirty Days posted on May 27, 2009:
I was just searching around about this when I stumbled on your blog post. I’m simply visiting to say that I definitely enjoyed reading this post, it’s really clear and well written. Are you thinking of posting more on this? It seems like there is more material here for future posts.
My Amazing Weight Loss Story posted on May 28, 2009:
Thanks for writing, I very much enjoyed reading your most recent post. I think you should post more frequently, you evidently have talent for blogging!
owner posted on May 29, 2009:
Sorry I wasn’t able to reply earlier. Thanks for your encouragement. I will be updating this blog regularly with lots of great info. Hope you enjoy it all.
monica singh posted on June 21, 2009:
hi dave, i am so happy i cliked in your link as i have been learning so much, its such a good thing to go green, i love it, it should be done many years ago, thanks, monica singh
Sidney posted on July 2, 2009:
I like your blog and I will come back to learn more.
Dolls posted on July 3, 2009:
I am just starting to take this seriously. Thanks for the help.
Press posted on July 3, 2009:
This is the start of a great blog. Keep it up.
Adaline. posted on July 4, 2009:
going green is the right way to go.
bloghoster. posted on July 5, 2009:
This whole idea of reduce reuse recycle is catching on isn’t it.
Sid posted on July 7, 2009:
Going green is not only the new thing to do it is the right thing. Thanks
Effa posted on July 8, 2009:
I am really getting excited about being more green. I will be back to check out your site some more.
Ynona posted on July 9, 2009:
Going green is the way I want to go and I’m working on it.
Foard posted on July 10, 2009:
Without a doubt this is the way we have to go. I think we need to do more to reduce.
Chester posted on July 11, 2009:
I am trying to live more green that is why I am here. good article.
Tinna posted on July 12, 2009:
Making our lives more green is a good thing isn’t it.
Eprad posted on July 13, 2009:
Thinking green is getting more and more into peoples minds and thats a good thing
Aden posted on July 14, 2009:
I like your blog. Going green is not always easy but in my opinion it is the way to go.
Uda posted on July 15, 2009:
Living more green is a goal of mine and your blog will help and encourage me I’m sure.
Chiper posted on July 16, 2009:
When you start thinking green it really starts to make a difference in your life and the world.
Dan posted on July 17, 2009:
I really like the thoughts of going green but It seems like it costs not saves money.
Buna posted on July 18, 2009:
To reduce reuse and recycle we all need to be doing more. keep up the good blog
Billy posted on July 18, 2009:
I am really trying to reduce what I buy and how it is wrapped. It’s a start.
Vince posted on July 19, 2009:
I like what you have to say here. There is a lot to learn in your articles.
You can posted on July 20, 2009:
Going green is doable. You can do it. Start today
Baner posted on July 21, 2009:
I think this going green is a whole lot of talk and not much action.
Minie posted on July 21, 2009:
Going green is the best thing we can do for the planet.
Tipre posted on July 22, 2009:
You have a wonderful blog here and I am glad I found it.
Bilingual posted on July 23, 2009:
These three words seem to be capturing peoples imagination these days and it’s about time we did something.
Pase posted on July 24, 2009:
When you want to reduce reuse recycle and all that green stuff you have to start somewhere. Just start.
Overs posted on July 24, 2009:
To really go green you need to start and do a little bit and then each week add a little more.
Pepion posted on July 25, 2009:
I really thing the general population is starting to take notice and do things to go green.
Badol posted on July 26, 2009:
I like the 3 or as you put it 5 R’s good blog.
Terrie posted on July 27, 2009:
Many time we say we are going to do something and that is as far as it goes. This is something we all need to take action on.
Benin posted on July 28, 2009:
I am convince that going green is the only way to go. reduce yes, reuse yes, recycle yes
Tami posted on July 29, 2009:
You know what your talking about. Going green is certainly a good thing.
Bonne posted on July 30, 2009:
You have a good blog here and I see you have some good ideas. I think your doing a great job.
Lever posted on July 31, 2009:
good blog and with lots of good content.
anna posted on August 1, 2009:
I’m for sure going green
allan posted on August 2, 2009:
Reduce reuse recycle is my motto
one posted on August 3, 2009:
I find it easier to recycle than to reduce but I’m working on it.
Acmi posted on August 4, 2009:
When you start thinking and living green it is hard to stop. thanks for the help.
Abil posted on August 4, 2009:
I am so glad I found your blog it is helpful and easy to understand thanks
Effe posted on August 6, 2009:
you have a great new blog here and worth building full of content.
7sultans casino. posted on August 6, 2009:
you have a good blog here and I know the info you share is right on.
Dawn posted on August 7, 2009:
Great blog Going green is not only becoming the thing to do but it is certainly what we should be doing.
Wager posted on August 7, 2009:
going green is one of the important things in my life.
Pete posted on August 8, 2009:
I am reading all I can about going green to help me make the moves I need to make. Your blog is a good one.
Cari posted on August 9, 2009:
I have been trying to make changes to my lifestyle and go greener but I am finding it hard. with the help of your blog and other I am now starting to make prgress.
Rimonabant. posted on August 10, 2009:
you are doing a great job with this blog so keep it up.
Apap posted on August 10, 2009:
When I think of doing something grenn I mostly think of recycle but there truely is a lot we can do in many areas.
Pavin posted on August 10, 2009:
We all can do more then we are presently doing.
Proper posted on August 11, 2009:
Going green and that means to me we need to change the way we think and that is not easy.
Tex posted on August 12, 2009:
This is good thanks for your help
Betty posted on August 14, 2009:
I like learning about going green and doing things for the environment. You have a good blog.
Guid posted on August 16, 2009:
The three R’s are something we all should aim for.
Zema posted on August 17, 2009:
How long does does it take for some people to realize what they are doing. Well if they are like me far to many.
Baidu posted on August 19, 2009:
I think that going green is a great thing for people to do just not for me.
one posted on August 22, 2009:
You have something good going here and I will bookmark you site and come back for sure.
Orvil posted on August 22, 2009:
When trying to make changes to the way a person lives It is sometimes easier to make big changes then to make small as they don’t seem all that important and are therefore easier to forget. good blog
Whitee posted on August 26, 2009:
I always like to be on top of things and when it comes to going green it is true here as well. Good blog.
Klopin posted on August 27, 2009:
I am just getting into this green thing and I need all the help I can get.
Tamol posted on August 28, 2009:
You have a good blog here and I like what you are talking about. Helping people go green thanks.
Binno posted on August 30, 2009:
When I want to know more about going green I will certainly come back to your site.
Cippr posted on August 31, 2009:
Great blog, I’m just starting to take going green serious. thanks for the help.