HOURCAR members' earth day tips

Last week, on Earth Day, we asked you for ideas and tips for living a more sustainable life (other than HOURCAR, of course you are all helping the earth there). In addition to various biking and walking ideas, there were so many that we need to split them in to categories!

At home

• Drying clothes on a clothesline [editor’s note: sun-dried clothes feel great!]
• Turning off lights
• Taking shorter showers
• Subscribing to e-statements instead of paper [this is default for HOURCAR statements]
• Working in common spaces where lights are already on

Eat & Drink

• Carry reusable grocery bags
• Growing your own food
• Planting herbs, which (according to one member) you can even do in a city apartment!
• Using a refillable water bottle, and eschewing bottled water
• Re-use food containers, and fill them with bulk food
• Eat locally, join a CSA and shop at a coop
• Make food from scratch

Out and about

• Sharing books with friends and colleagues
• Buying second-hand clothing
• Live locally and travel less
• Traveling by train instead of by plane over long distances

Thanks for all the suggestions! If you have others, feel free to leave them in the comments section below. You can also check out the Neighborhood Energy Connection for energy-smart ideas, and come see us at the Living Green Expo this weekend at the Fairgrounds in Saint Paul (Bus #3 or #84).