This past week has been pretty good. I have had a few setbacks, but I have definitely become a lot more aware of my energy and water consumption and waste production.
I went home this weekend for my sister's birthday and I told my family about the lifestyle project. I got a few weird looks from my sister but for the most part my family found the project to be really interesting. My mom even helped me find a way to take my breakfast on the car ride back to Georgetown without wasting a paper towel (she wrapped it in newspaper and then I recycled it when I got back). Because it was one of my no-waste days, I wrapped my sister's gift in reused paper and decorated it with markers. It was actually really fun to make my own wrapping paper and instead of throwing the paper away, my sister kept it because I had drawn pictures on it. I also thought of another neat way to reuse some of my waste. My other sister is an elementary school teacher so she is always collecting things for arts and crafts projects to do with her kids. Instead of throwing things away, I have tried to come up with some creative uses for them. For example, a straw can be cut into pieces, painted, and used as beads. Colored paper can be cut into pieces to make collages and empty plastic containers can be decorated to make banks, jewelry boxes, etc. So, I started a craft supply box so that my sister's class can reuse some of my waste. However, I have had a few issues with not producing waste. I have found that it is difficult to go to restaurants without producing waste (especially fast food). I just need to be a little more prepared by bringing my own cup, bringing Tupperware for leftovers, and bringing a cloth napkin.
I have been doing well in my heat reduction. I'm cold-natured but I have found it pretty easy just to throw on a sweater or sleep with an extra blanket or two.
I have definitely become a lot more conscious of my energy and water consumption. I realized that I usually leave my computer on all day so I have started trying to turn it off at night. I have also been trying to only turn on lights when I absolutely need to. Shortening my showers has been pretty easy and I try to only wash my hair every other day to keep my showers shorter.
Although I have had a few problems, I have learned from them. I think the most important thing is just to plan ahead and be prepared. I have noticed that a lot of my daily waste could be avoided if I had just thought about it a little more beforehand.
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The idea of bringing your own tupperware to a restaurant is so brilliant. It always occurs to me right after I get to the restaurant, and then I face the epic dilemma of Do I Waste the Food or Use STYROFOAM?
But also way to go on the napkin idea. I never thought of that.
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