Month: October 2018

Might you classify yourself as a laid-back (or even “lazy”) environmentalist? It’s all good! If you care about the world you live in and feel pressure to go green, but are looking for ways to ease yourself into the eco lifestyle, you’ve come to the right place. Here are 5 little life adjustments that will see you on your way to making a big difference in preserving the planet.

1. Update your bulbs at home. 
Lighting accounts for 18 percent of a typical home’s electricity bill. It stands to reason that you can significantly reduce your energy use and bills by seeking out certified energy-efficient LED bulbs. LED bulbs last up to 15 times longer and use about 70 to 90 percent less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs. You’ll really score by saving yourself the extra effort of frequent bulb changes.
 
2. Create compost. 
Composting may sound like a lot of work, especially for those who don’t know how to get started – but it’s easy! The basic principle behind the practice is that you toss organic material into a pile, provide a little oxygen and water, and after a while – voila! – you’ve got nutrient-rich compost that is suitable for fertilizer. Countertop or freezer composting is especially ideal for apartments, condos and other small living spaces. In recent years, many cities have added compostable food scraps to their waste collection. You may also wish to check in with community gardens or your local farmers market for disposal options.
 
3. Clean up your personal transportation. 
Did you know that car tires, if left underinflated, can decrease your car’s fuel efficiency by up to 3 per cent, thereby adding to greenhouse gas emissions? Alarming, right? By keeping your car and trunk tidy, you’ll be free of unnecessary weight that could be forcing your vehicle work harder than it should. Take a couple of minutes to lighten the load, and drive smarter.
 
4. Pare down on packaging. 
When you consider that every item you throw into the garbage is destined for landfill, it’s easy to trace the direct impact of your shopping choices towards this growing problem. Look for products, especially produce items, that come with little or no packaging. If you need to purchase packaged and/or processed foods, you may take a moment to check out labels for recycled or recyclable materials that play a small, but important role, in reducing landfill overwhelm. In general, these decisions in grocery stores and restaurants present multiple opportunities for action for so many of us, every single day.
 
5. Enrol friends and family in the cause. 
So, you’ve discovered how simple it can be to make a huge difference in protecting the planet. Now, more than ever, is the time to be loud and proud: share these tips, and others you’ve uncovered on your journey, with friends and family. You don’t need to be a social media star to make an impact that draws positive attention. Environmental action is an area in which sharing truly is caring, for ourselves and for each other.  We’re all in this together and we all benefit as citizens of a cleaner, healthier world!

Live Eco, Love the Planet.
#iliveeco

With love and compassion,
Team Karunaki

Photocred: rawpixel on Unsplash

Not long ago, we shared a short list of suggestions for saving money by living the eco life, and we’re back with fresh tips, as this topic has been one of our most popular to date, and the most opened newsletter based on our analytics. We hope you’ll enjoy this awesome list of additional green-saving ideas!

Save Money at Home

1. Put a brick in your toilet tank.
There are many ways to reduce your water consumption at home, like taking shorter showers, installing low-flow showerheads, and reducing lawn watering, but there’s another place where a simple action can make a big difference, and that’s by placing a brick in your toilet tank. This will displace and reduce the amount of water wasted with every flush. Important tip: To prevent damage to your toilet, be sure to first wrap the brick in a waterproof plastic bag. When the time comes to replace your toilet, you’d be well-advised to install a low-flow, dual-flush model.

2. Put laundry on the line.
The average dryer uses 3.3 kilowatt hours of energy and estimates an average of 11 cents per kilowatt hour. Line or rack drying your clothes saves a lot of energy, thereby saving your money, and preventing air and water pollution from power plants.

3. Use a power bar.
“Phantom power” is the electricity that plugged-in electronics continue to draw from sockets, even when they’re turned off. A regular power strip (also known as a power bar) with an on/off switch is an inexpensive purchase and can be useful in reducing phantom power. Important tip: use a power strip to manage multiple electronics that are often used together, but aren’t required to be running at all times, like a printer and a shredder. Position the on/off switch so that it is accessible and makes it easy for you to remember to switch “off” at night, or when you leave the house to reduce energy use and save money. 

Save Money When You Shop

1. Use rechargeable batteries.
Investing in new battery-operated devices? Over time you can invest in a full set of rechargeable batteries for all of your gadgets, remotes, and smoke detectors in the house. Recharging batteries keeps dead batteries out of the landfill. There are a number of styles of rechargeable batteries, including specialized options for individual electronics, such as cell phones and portable gaming systems, and general batteries that fit most common devices, such as remote controls and clocks. These simple batteries provide consistent power while saving you money.

2. Make use of your local library.
As a consumer, you can save on resources and keep money in your own pocket by checking out books and magazines from the library. Libraries offer inexpensive entertainment in the form of activities, lectures, and movies at a fraction of the cost of obtaining access to these things elsewhere.

3. Bank online.
By doing your banking online, rather than in person with the help of teller, you can save money and time and the print and paper that come with statements by mail. Many banks offer incentives to go online. It’s easy to stay cyber-safe with online banking by ensuring that your email inbox is secure, and that you never respond to an email, however authentic it looks, that asks for personal or financial information.

It can be personally and financially satisfying to live the eco-life. Keep at it and reap the rewards!

With love and compassion,
Team Karunaki

Photocred: Kat Yukawa on Unsplash