Countdown to Earth Day - Tip #1
Friday, April 18th, 2008
It’s almost time for the Cincinnati Earth Day celebration! Tomorrow is the big day and today is the 10th tip.
Tip #1
Money talks.
Manufacturers and companies are built by offering products that people will buy. You can make a green statement by being choosy about what you purchase.
- Yesterday. Buy used. There is obvious value in older items. Antiques and vintage furniture can be classic, unique, and built to last. Is the furniture you are buying today going to last 100 years? You never know what you’ll find at a yard sale, flea market, or antiques market. Some of the coolest homes I’ve ever been in have had interesting and fun second-hand touches like dining room chairs that came from a barber shop, or a desktop made of an old classroom door, complete with the room number and teacher’s name still on it.
- Today. It’s important that the items you may need to buy now for work or life be energy efficient and made of environmentally responsible products. The internet offers a good resource for research and price comparisons. Spend time looking for the most efficient model and the best fit for your lifestyle before buying. If you get the right thing the first time, you won’t need to replace it for a long, long time.
- Tomorrow. You work now to save for tomorrow. Consider making Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) a part of your portfolio. This way you’ll be making an investment in companies who support your ideals of sustainable business, renewable energy, and conservation of resources.
When you think green, you are making a commitment to changing your habits and move beyond simply being a consumer. When consumers talk (especially in the language of currency), businesses listen and standards start to change. Think twice and buy green.
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Freecycle! Give your unwanted stuff to someone who wants it, and if you’re looking for something, look there first! We have several groups here in Cincinnati, depending on the area of town you live in.