Some simple and effective ways to change the world :)

I found this great link online about 50 Ways to Help Save the Planet.  It has got some really easy, simple ways to reduce our negative impact on the environment.  Most of them are cost-effective, if not free, and are more about changing some of our habits... a lot of them are common sense tips that make complete sense when you hear them, but would simply not occur to your average Joe or Jane. 
Like this one, "Skip rinsing dishes before using your dishwasher and save up to 20 gallons of water each load," or this one, "Go vegetarian once a week. One less meat-based meal a week helps the planet and your diet. For example: It requires 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. You will also also save some trees. For each hamburger that originated from animals raised on rainforest land, approximately 55 square feet of forest have been destroyed."  Compelling stuff.

There is tons of good information on this site.  I really liked the one about professional car washes being much more efficient than doing it yourself.  Another fact I found crazy, but which made complete sense once I thought about it was related to coffee stick stirrers (who'da thunk?) "Each year, Americans throw away 138 billion straws and stirrers. But skipping the stirrer doesn't mean drinking your coffee black. Simply put your sugar and cream in first, and then pour in the coffee, and it should be well mixed." Huh!  Interesting, isn't it?!

And for goodness sakes people, lets all get with the times (including myself.)  It's time to move to paperless billing with ALL my bills.  I haven't arranged it with a lot of them, but I need to.  And I am going to, after reading this!  "By some estimates, if all households in the U.S. paid their bills online and received electronic statements instead of paper, we'd save 18.5 million trees every year, 2.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, and 1.7 billion pounds of solid waste."  After reading this, how can I not do something, when it is such a small thing for me, ONE PERSON to do, yet can have such a positive impact? 

Anyway, keep thinking green, and stay positive!  I'll be back soon :)

Love, Meagan