By Sri Keshava, for Omkara World
Part 2 of – Going green, by Sri
Being green is not so sophisticated. It simply involves paring down our hectic object-driven culture to a simpler way of life. Think of that we do as a footprint upon the Earth: What kind of print are we leaving? Are we rock stars trashing hotel rooms or welcome guests who leave the home in better condition than we found it? A few tips listed here, by no means exhaustive, prove that change really is in our hands. We don’t have to wait until we can afford the latest hybrid car or palatial green home. We can paint our lives many shades of green and collectively be the change we wish to see.
Cleaning products
With regard to cleaning products, if the label reads, “Consult poison control if ingested” then by no means should it go down the drain or onto our soil! Anything that goes into water tables or our soil ends up being ingested. That is the unavoidable cycle of life. Discontinue using harsh products such as bleach and replace them with natural, biodegradable products. At the very least, reduce your use. It’s amazing how much the Earth could tolerate if we were only moderate. There are several companies producing high quality, earth-friendly home care products, most of which can be found at your local health food store and increasingly at mainstream supermarkets. There are also common pantry items that can be used in place of conventional home care products such as diluted vinegar to clean glass and mirrors, rosewater as toner for the face, even chamomile tea to wash hair – at least as an “in between” wash. Moderation, not abstinence is key. Deciding what we need and what we can comfortably live with and without allows us to find the perfect balance between convention and innovation.
Installing dimmers on lights is a great way for both owners and renters to reduce electricity costs and consumption. Bright light isn’t always necessary, and frankly we’re better looking without it! Especially during daylight hours, lights should be avoided. Using low voltage lighting and low wattage bulbs where possible makes a significant dent in energy consumption, saving high-wattage task light for areas such as your desk or kitchen. Another simple way to save money and energy is to not only turn off, but also unplug electrical appliances when they are not in use. The majority of electrical appliances continue to consume energy even when they are in the off position. It’s estimated this costs American consumers over a billion dollars a year! If you don’t have time to individually unplug, plug items into a power strip and then unplug just once at the wall. Here are some tips from SoCal Edison.
Install dimmers on lights
For air quality, ventilation and cooling, ceiling and floor fans are a great solution. Though they still consume energy, their consumption is far less than most air conditioners and no CFC pollutants are released into the atmosphere. We often hear about outdoor pollution, but only recently have we learned that indoor air quality tends to be worse. Encouraging as much ventilation as possible through the use of fans and screened windows and doors combined with the use of oxygenating plants indoors can significantly improve indoor air quality as well as control temperature during warm months of the years.
For simple home renovation such as new paint, use low or zero-VOC paints. VOCs (volatile organic compounds) off-gas and release harmful chemicals into the air. That ‘new paint’ smell we love is the smell of our lungs suffocating. Keep in mind, the lighter the color the less VOCs. When painting a light color zero-VOC paint, one can occupy the room immediately, but if painting with dark pigment, even with a low-VOC base, there will still be some off-gassing and poor indoor air quality. Visit livinggreen.com for low VOC paints and other home improvement products.
Like paint and wood stains, new synthetic carpets also off-gas VOCs. Once they stop emitting VOCs they are simply regarded as dirt traps. Removing carpets and refinishing floors with a zero-VOC varnish or even leaving them raw can significantly decrease indoor pollutants. Concrete can be stained or painted with stylish colors and designs. Depending on what type of carpet you have, certain carpet companies will collect your old carpet and recycle it into new. Visit carpetrecovery.org for more information. Throw rugs are an alternative as in theory, they allow you to take them outside to wash and air.
So much can be said about our collective lifestyle; from the latte effect to the 3000 plastic bags we have stuffed in our kitchen cupboard. Buy a refill cup for your coffee, reuse a glass or stainless steel bottle for your water. Carry a kit in your car, which includes cloth bags for groceries, a set of Tupperware and cutlery for take-out, reusable juice/smoothie cup, coat hanger with cover for your dry-cleaning… basically a long-life version of whatever your daily habits may be. Discover slight changes that are maintainable in the long term and build upon them. We should seek sustainable solutions not because of global warming or cooling or whatever the latest theory may be, we should choose sustainable simply because all things considered, it is the most intelligent thing to do.
To read Part 1 of Going Green, by Sri- Click Here
To read Part 3 of Going Green, by Sri- Click Here
Sri Keshava is a holistic entrepreneur who has made her passions, her business. She is the author of Gurus, Rock Stars & the Men In Between (a memoir from monk to punk diva in two seminal spiritual rock bands), co-director of Taal Dance Company, licensed real estate agent with a penchant for green, host of Gorgeous Green Homes and contributor to wellness and investment journals. 
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Adam is a Reiki Master, certified health and lifestyle counselor, licensed massage therapist, 20-year practicing bramana-initiated Bhakti Yogi, spiritual advisor, visionary, jock and veteran of the “hardcore punk scene” all rolled into one. He is the founder of Omkara World and produced the mind/body fitness DVD “Intelligent Fitness."
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