Isn’t this beautiful? For spring break ten of my closest Fuller friends and I went up to San Francisco for the week, and on the way back we drove down the Pacific Coast Highway, which was one of the most breathtakingly beautiful experiences I’ve ever had. If you’re looking for a roadtrip to take, get over here. I got this shot right after driving through Big Sur- talk about being in awe of the world God has entrusted us with. If you know me, you know that one of my soapboxes is caring for the earth. So you can imagine my delight when my pastor this morning opened with the question, “Is God green?” I won’t regurgitate everything he said, but he talked about how a lot of people seem to have the idea that God cares about people, not the earth. But the Bible exhibits his care for both. Environmental stewardship is a biblical mandate beginning in Genesis 2:15, where we are told to care for the garden. The Vineyard church in Boise has a great website called letstendthegarden.org if you need more convincing.
Shop at thrift stores. There are a million reasons why shopping at thrift stores is better than buying new- (more $$$ for your bank account, more originality, bragging rights on your great finds, no guilt that your clothing was stitched up in a sweatshop) but one of them is that no fuel-burning trucks had to bring your clothes across the country. It’s the same reason you would go to the farmer’s market to buy your produce-or grocery stores like Trader Joe’s, which buy locally).
When its yellow, let it mellow. Why waste a gallon of water every time you flush? True, it may not be kosher to do this at a dinner party, but at least do it in your own home.
Cut down on your meat intake. It takes 16 pounds of grain and 2,500 gallons of water to produce just one pound of meat. That’s a lot.
Recycle. For the love of God (literally, do it because you love God). It’s so easy! And so beneficial. Making products from recycled products is 80-95% more energy efficient. Our street doesn’t have recycling pick-up, so we drop it off every week at a place where they do pick up (no need to make extra trips- just do it while you’re already out). If you’re recycling your cans, bottles, paper, cereal boxes, etc. and then composting your kitchen food scraps, your ecological footprint will be a lot smaller.
Compost. I’ll admit, I’ve wanted to do this for a couple of years, but I’m only just beginning my composting career. It’s a little bit harder for apartment-dwellers to compost, because we don’t have yards to do whatever we want with. But if you have the space (or know someone who does- I take my compost to a friend’s house who has a pile and gardens with her compost soil), this is a great way to reduce your waste. Did you know you can compost not just food scraps, but coffee grounds, dust bunnies, paper napkins, tea bags, vacuum cleaner bag contents… the list goes on. Here’s a good website for getting started: http://www.idealistcafe.com/2008/09/apartment-composting-how-to-compost.html
Try not to turn on your AC/ heat: I probably do this more because I’m thrifty and don’t want a large energy bill than anything else, but Americans are so conditioned to want to be a little cold when its hot outside and vice versa… turn on some ceiling fans or put on some sweatshirts, people!
So you turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Now try turning it off while your washing/ conditioning your hair and shaving your legs.
Replace your light bulbs with energy efficient ones and don’t go light bulb shopping again for seven years. Ten if you turn off the lights when you leave the room.
