Clutter!

The amount of stuff a person can accumulate is outrageous. That dress we never wear but think it might work for some far off occasion (that never happens), those birthday cards from five years ago, a million reusable water bottles, mismatched plates you've collected over the years....It's amazing how much we have.

Having a lot of stuff may not directly prevent us from being green but it does prevent us from truly evaluating whether we need something or not, causing us to buy more useless crap (that may not even be green by itself, let alone with all the packaging and energy it takes to produce it). So, what's a person to do? Here are some steps.

1. Sort your stuff into three piles: Absolutely love, kind of like or don't like but in good condition, and stuff in bad condition. For things you don't need that are in bad condition (or can't be given away, like papers), recycle them as much as possible. Some things you can't recycle but do some research and see if there are recycling places that take things like textiles. For things you can give away, check for your local Goodwill or other organizations.

2. Organize. Hang up your nice clothes, file important papers, keep your toiletries in a basket or shower caddy if you don't have the bathroom space (or you have roommates), put your chargers in a bin when you're not using them, etc.

3. Set up a trash and recycling center. You should have separate bins for glass, papers, and plastic. Remember to break down things into their components (take the plastic top off of your cardboard milk carton, for example) and remember to check and see if certain things are recyclable.

4. Evaluate whether you actually need something before you buy it. Can you get that book from a library or rent that movie from Redbox? Do you "need" that cup of Starbucks or can you make coffee at home? Will those new jeans replace a ratty pair or do you just want another pair of jeans? Do you need take out or can you set aside a half an hour to prepare dinner? Not only will this help the environment (due to saving energy involved in producing the product), it will also save your budget.

As I mentioned, organization helps us think clearly and critically about what we need. In addition, it'll help you find things you need quickly and it'll make your place look nice as well.

How to be green?

As I mentioned before, when studying environmental politics in college, I hated how I would learn the dreadful and grim state of the environment without learning how I could make changes in my own life. While I understand that environmental politics is inherently about the system and not so much about turning your lights off, I do feel that any environmental class should cover how citizens themselves can make change. Otherwise, it remains something celebrities may have the luxury of doing but largely inaccessible to most of its citizens.

To combat this, I will list a few simple things anyone can do to start being green (in addition to saving on your utilities bills). Some of these I borrowed from the book Green Chic by Christie Matheson, others are just common sense.

1. Turn off all your lights and electronics when you are not using them. It actually saves pounds of carbon dioxide from entering our atmosphere and tons of energy throughout the year.

2. Unplug your chargers when you're not using them, in addition to all small appliances. They still eat up energy even when the appliance is off or unattached.

3. Cut your showers to ten minutes or shorter. Also, let your hair air dry about 15-20 minutes before blow-drying.

4. Volunteer with an environmental organization in your community for a weekend, whether it's picking up trash, working in a community garden, etc. You'll do something positive and learn about the environmental issues that affect your community (so it's not just a faraway issue).

These are some tips to follow. Feel free to add more!

Not "why" but "how"?

People often ask, "why be green?" I decided not to focus on the "why" as much, since there are multiple reasons. I could wax on about the consequences of global climate change, the adverse effects of our fast food culture on both our bodies and our ecosystems, our over consumption, yet these are issues we are talking about. At school, We would jokingly call our environmental classes "doomsday classes" because we would hear so much about impending catastrophes and the failure of our institutions (companies, governments, international institutions) to hold themselves accountable, it started to feel hopeless. At this point, I understand the "why." Now, it's time to focus on the "how." How can I, as an individual, learn to live sustainably? How can I eat, clean, work, celebrate and travel in a way that allows me to reduce my negative impact on the planet? How can we as citizens come together to learn, implement, and advocate for sustainable measures in our lives?

Green in the City is meant to focus on the "how." Focusing on the "why" fills me with an overwhelming sense of dread and a desire to fight. Focusing on the "how" can help me make my fight more effective. 

Welcome!

Welcome to Green in the City! Here, I will post my journey to becoming a more aware, sustainable citizen within an urban environment. My studies in international development, as well as my desire to live a healthier life and greater concerns about the products I use and consume everyday, have led me to this path. I hope you all enjoy it and I welcome all advice and suggestions as I continue to learn and write. Happy blogging!