Astoriamom

Advice for the Lazy Environmentalist

I agree that it is not a realistic goal for all families to abandon the suburban lifestyle for a less wasteful urban alternative. It is so ingrained in our American culture that it will take a long time to change this mentality. But you can reduce your carbon footprint without completely revolutionizing your lifestyle. The sort of thinking that it has to be all or nothing is harmful, because it leads people to do nothing at all. But it’s faulty. Every little bit does help. If you don’t want to live in the city or give up your car, what can you do to be more environmentally responsible? Here’s a few things (in order of increasing importance and difficulty):

 

1. Use reusable grocery bags. This costs very little and is almost no effort at all. Yes, if you do reuse plastic grocery bags in waste baskets or other ways, that helps. But it’s better not to have them in the first place. Remember this is the order: reduce, reuse, recycle. Of course, if you have plastic bags you don’t use, recycling them is better than throwing them out.

2. Use cold water for washing. There’s no need to waste energy heating water for laundry. Just wash it in cold.

3. Use your own water bottle. Bottled water is wasteful and unnecessary. Yes, you can reuse or recycle the bottles, but reducing what you use is better, as aforementioned. Use a filter to fill them, if you don’t want to drink tap water.

4. Only run a full dishwasher. Pack it as full as you can beforehand. Otherwise, it’s a waste of water.

5. Collect rain water. It’s free and easy. You can buy a container (like this) for that purpose or use any bin. Then use that water for your lawn or other plants.

6. Use compact fluorescents or better yet LED lights. They last so much longer, it just makes sense.

7. Eat less beef. I’m vegetarian for largely personal reasons. Since I can’t imagine killing a cow or chicken, I think it’s hypocritical for me to eat one. But the meat industry, particularly the beef industry, in this country also has a huge carbon footprint. You don’t need to become vegan, just eat meat, particularly beef, a little less. Try to eat more chicken (cage-free organic if possible). Try making a vegetarian meal once or twice a week. A few healthy, easy-to-make vegetarian recipes that my meat-eating friends enjoy are zucchini lentil casserole and summer pasta. Vegetarian meals can again be healthier for you and the environment, plus are often less expensive.

8. Buy recycled paper products. While you might want to skip the toilet paper made from recycled paper products, you can purchase disposable napkins and paper towels made from 100% recycled materials. And while you’re at it, maybe reach for a dish towel instead of a paper towel when possible.

9. Buy from environmentally responsible companies.They may be a bit more expensive, but companies like Toms of Maine, Seventh Generation, and Stoneyfield Farms have more sustainable environmental practices and buying from them will help reduce your environmental impact. You can read more about which companies to buy from at better world shopping guide or EWG’s Skin Deep.

10. Start Composting. You love your backyard? Give it some help. You can compost almost any leftovers other than dairy or meat (which make it smell bad and attract animals). Just get a good indoor container for it (like this) and a good outdoor container for it. Then bury it and mix it into the soil every so often.

11. Switch to a push lawn mower. I realize this might be tough if you have a ginormous lawn, but most lawn mowers are very polluting. Push lawn mowers are cheaper and offer the added benefit of giving you a better workout!

12. Better yet, ditch the lawn. If you live in an area where water is an issue, this is a no-brainer. In those areas, zero-scaping not only saves resources but can look very attractive. If you live in an area with abundant water (and not under the tyranny of an HOA), you can still choose to swap a traditional lawn for a low-maintenance ground cover like thyme. It’s still great to walk on and pretty to look at, but doesn’t require the same amount of upkeep and resources. Or devote a portion to a nice vegetable garden.

13. Walk when you can. If you need to go somewhere within walking distance, walk. At least sometimes. Better for the environment and better for your own health. You might even find you like it.

14. Car pool. You might need a car to get to most places, but don’t you know other people going to those same places? So many cars on the road have only one passenger. It might be slightly less convenient, but why not take turns driving with others who live close by? Save on gas and money.

15. Make a short commute a priority. Driving an hour or two to work everyday really is environmentally irresponsible. Try to either live somewhere with ample job opportunities or with public transportation to job opportunities close by. Or rent and move if you need to. With house prices declining in many parts of the country, owning is not always the best option.

 

The cock-eyed optimist in me believes that if we all make an effort, we can prevent a complete environmental disaster from occurring. Or at least, have some form of dystopian post-apocalyptic life when it does.

Why Raise Kids in the City: An Environmental Perspective

 

When my husband and I got married, family members asked, "So when are moving out of the city?" Not if, but when. We've now lived in Astoria over 10 years and have no plans to move. But most Americans grew up in the suburbs and so when they settle down to start a family, that's where they go (or stay). Few people factor the environment and the smaller carbon footprint of city living into the equation. As an urbanite who grew up in the suburbs, I know the difficulty of going against your own cultural background. Plus, the key factor in suburban living is convenience. And let’s face it: a convenient lifestyle is very tempting for someone with small children.

 

But just like a walk when you’re feeling lazy can revitalize you, breaking out of the conventional suburban family model can be freeing. The key advantage of city living is a car-free lifestyle. Walking everywhere (the store, school, the library, the pharmacy, the playground, restaurants, bars, the subway) is not just healthier for the environment, it’s healthier for you. Who needs an expensive gym membership if you walk everywhere? Plus, all my walking provides a time for me to talk to my kids in a way you can’t do if you’re driving. And since so many other people in the neighborhood are walking everywhere too, we constantly run into people we know. Not much opportunity for a chat  if you’re in a car, but plenty if you’re on the sidewalk! No need to worry about car seats or parking or gas. The average cost of owning a car is $10,000 a year (according to an AAA study), so that considerably reduces any cost benefits of suburban living. And it is safer. The leading cause of death of minors in the US is car accidents. Not violent crime, not disease, car accidents. Riding in a car is the single most dangerous thing most Americans do on a daily basis, so why wouldn’t you want to reduce how much you do it or have your children do it?

 

When my kids are bigger, this lifestyle will give them a lot of freedom since they will not rely on their parents for transportation. They can take the subway (a much safer mode of transport than cars, despite the depictions in 1970’s crime dramas). Many suburban teenagers feel trapped if their parents are reluctant to drive them around since more sprawling suburbs have virtually no place they can get to without a car. This will not happen to our kids.

 

 

                 

 

I can understand not wanting to live in a high-rise apartment building in a densely urban area. We don’t. We own an actual house (attached) with a back deck, backyard, and basement. It is small, but has what we need, including a play room off the kitchen. Our backyard has enough space for an abundance of flowers, some vegetables, several small trees, a sandbox, and a seesaw. In the snow, our children go out there to build snowmen and make snow angels. In the summer, they play in a baby pool and a water table. We hosted many barbecues last summer and there was plenty of room for all.

 

              

        

One interesting thing about not having a lot of space is that you tend to use the space you have more effectively. Walk down our street with its attached homes and you’ll see the tiny front yards covered in fruit trees, vegetable gardens, and colorful blooms. In many suburban areas, the oversized front yards are nothing but grass and often empty of anyone actually using them. In fact, I find that I spend way more time in my tiny back yard than people I know who have double the space in their own suburban backyards.

 

Contrary to what many people may think, New Yorkers in general spend far more time outside than people in the surrounding suburbs. I notice this just by taking a look at what people wear on a daily basis. This winter, most folks in my neighborhood didn’t leave the house without a puffer coat and serious winter boots. Go to the suburbs and you’ll see people leaving the house in wool coats and ballet flats or loafers.

 

I walk my son back and forth to school everyday (15 min each way, which adds up to one hour for me) plus any errands we run or playground time. That’s a lot of walking and a lot of outdoor time. If the weather is nice, we go to the playground twice a day. I love it. We see the same moms and children there, so there is a great sense of community. Having a shared space means that my kids interact with other children enriching their social skills on a daily basis. Plus, I get to have actual adult conversations with the other moms at the park. Yes, I know there is community and shared space in the suburbs. My suburban friends participate in all number of classes and programs with their children, which is great. But they have also expressed a sense of isolation for how they spend the rest of their time. And isolation is one of the few things that is hard to find in the city.

 

I understand that not everyone can make the shift from a suburban family lifestyle to city living. But if we can just make the environment part of the conversation, maybe everyone can at least reduce their dependence on cars and their carbon footprint a little. And maybe then our planet won't be completely doomed.