EnviroHumanImpact

We reported a story not long ago about how drivers are driving less than they were last year, due much to the higher cost of fuel. Now, with a barrel of oil costing almost $140, gas prices are unlikely to go down. And along with it, expect skyrocketing costs of energy in general, as well as products that use a lot of oil in their production.  Transporting merchandise is not getting cheaper, either.

What does this mean for the average American consumer? Well, for those of us who haven’t already begun making the metamorphisis to a greener lifestyle, that change may be coming by force, rather than by choice. When you’re short on money, extravagance has a way of changing to a more frugal and environmentally sound lifestyle.  This should be a great chance for U.S. consumers to change some bad habits, but if you are not careful, it might happen to you by force instead of choice.

Eager to stay ahead of that force? Staying ahead will mean it will come as less as a shock and you’ll feel more in control of your life if you choose a greener, less expensive way of living now rather than giving one excess expense at a time as discretionary money becomes scarce.

A few things you can introduce now:

• Buy a $20 refillable water bottle, that is healthy for you and healthier for the planet. Choose a stainless steel one, or you can use a Sigg water bottle. Be sure to read our original review, and update on these products, first, however. After a few cases of bottled water were not placed into your grocery cart, you’ll start to see the savings, and never look back! You also improving the situation by reducing demand for oil used for plastic and for diesel which trucks use to ship bottled water to your store.
• Drive less, walk and bike more! Going a mile or less? A few blocks to a friend’s house or to the post office or store is an excellent opportunity to burn some excess calories (maybe tone up for the summer!) and save on your monthly gasoline consumption. If you do drive, make sure your car has had a tune-up, tires are inflated, and that you don’t accelerate and break suddenly, all habits that will help you to get better gas mileage.
• While trying to consume less and make less waste, when possible, do your part by recycling.  This helps in a few ways.  If you’re recycling plastic, the very act reduces the requirement for more oil contributing to new plastic bottles.  If you recycle metal cans, like aluminum, you reduce the need to extract new aluminum from the ground with energy intensive mining, shipping, and processing equipment.  Paper recycling means fewer trees will be cut down for our paper needs, leaving them for habitat, carbon dioxide sequestration, erosion prevention, and our own enjoyment.
• You can also check out a few of our series, namely, “Greener Under Twenty,” “Saved,” and, “EHI Quick Tips,” for more information regarding easy steps you can take to green your life.  Also, check out our, “Product Revews,” section for products you can introduce into your life to both do your part to improve our nation’s envirohuman impact, but also to green your own life!

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