I’m collecting ideas on how to be eco-conscious while driving around the country. Our van is not a small, fuel efficient vehicle and if we had the means to do it, we’d probably trade it in. Although, the van affords us space to sleep if we want/need to for a few nights here and there.
Besides trying to conserve gas by not speeding and not running the AC (easy since it’s winter right now), getting out to eat instead of idling at the drive-thru, recycling all our trash and using our own containers for water and coffee when we stop – what are we missing?
Other things we’re trying to do – not buy any consumer plastic crap goods, only buy things for give-aways that are handmade by local vendors, take fast showers and wear everything twice to save on laundry washing impact.
Please leave your ideas in the comments. We’d like to do everything we can to offset our impact on the environment.
This is gonna sound a little nutty, but one of the best things you can do for the environment is to eat less meat. My friend Dr. Pam Martin did a study:
http://www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/06/060413.diet.shtml
She recommends mostly veg with some small, fast growing fish like sardines, anchovies and tilapia.
Even if you don’t go vegetarian all the way, a couple days a week would do a lot to reduce your environmental impact, no matter where you are.
Can you afford to convert the van to biodiesel?
I’m loath to seem overly pluggy here, but my husband’s company has a whole site to figure out just this kind of thing:
http://www.brighterplanet.com
You can calculate your footprint, your car’s impact, and look for tips and ways to offset it on the journey and beyond.
Sue – I think that would be doable. I’ll have to look into that more.
Teleken – That isn’t something we can afford to do right now. But, it’s a great idea.
Jonniker – Awesome! I’m going to check it out. Thanks!
How about your own reusable boxes for “doggie bags” when you eat at a restaurant? I use a to-go-ware tiffin box, but even one of those zip lock boxes rinsed out for leftovers would save quite a bit of styrofoam.
Hey Allisone – Great idea. I’ll have to look up what a tiffin box is. : )