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DCL
It's no doubt a part of most of our lives. A slave to our to-do list, running errands has become our second job when we get off work. While there's no escaping all that needs to be done, there are tons of ways to make these errands so much greener, and if you ask me, more enjoyable.
Here are my top three ways to green your errands:
1.Green your grocery shopping. I seriously love grocery shopping. Maybe it's because I'm a huge foodie, but every week I look forward to this task. It could also be because I love experiencing food. What does that mean? I love to go to the farmers' market, check out corner stores, and weave in and out of the aisles of health food shops.
Green your grocery shopping by hitting the farmers' market every week and filling your canvas bags with the season's best. Make it a family event every week like I do and enjoy the experience. Buy only what's in season and try and buy from local, sustainable farmers and producers. That means that the food you eat didn't travel the U.S. average of 1,500 miles to get to your plate. At the store, try and buy organic to ensure that your foods were not treated with chemicals and pesticides. Try and remove all of the factory processed foods from your list. Stick to whole foods that are produced in your area like fruits, veggies, cheeses, grains, and eggs.
2.Either skip the dry cleaning or find an eco-friendly dry cleaner.
Currently, Perc or perchloroethylene is the cleaning fluid of choice for the majority of dry cleaners. Perc does not break down in the natural environment and it can contaminate the ground water and soil. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Perc is also a "probable human carcinogen."
Greener dry cleaners offer wet cleaning, which uses water to clean cloths labeled "dry clean only." Ninety-five percent of "dry clean only" clothing does well when washed with water and properly dried with tensioners and special dryers, according to Keith Waller, a Green Earth Cleaning certified dry cleaner.
Liquid CO2 is a greener dry cleaning option as well. This reclaimed CO2 doesn't add to the earth's CO2 burden. If you don't have a green dry cleaner in your area or you just don't want to spend money on it, skip it and hand wash your delicates.
3.Cut the waste out of a trip to the bank.
This is a standard errand. Whether you're depositing a paycheck or hitting the ATM, it's critical. How can you green the inevitable bank errand? Well, you can avoid going to the bank entirely by using direct deposit if your company has it.
Also, when you're at the ATM, skip the paper waste of getting a receipt. Use a checkcard instead of checks whenever possible and make sure your bank statement is sent to you online.
[i]Need proof that it's possible to balance being green and still be a supportive partner and parent? See how Ed Begley, Jr. does it on Planet Green TV's Living with Ed[i].
