Photo By IntangibleArts

The state of consumerism has turned into a revolving door of buying poorly made, environmentally unfriendly, disposable products manufactured with planned obsolescence in mind.  The only thing that the average consumer seems to care about now being how low of a price something can be obtained at. This in turn has led to our culture becoming more wasteful than at any point in human history.

It hasn’t always been this way though, it is actually a fairly new phenomenon, taking shape over the last twenty or so years. Before that, when you bought something you bought it to last. And in many cases these well built products are still in use today. Unlike their newer counterparts which if lucky, barely last a decade. Even worse, most corporations have outsourced their production to countries with little to no environmental regulations just to save a few pennies on the dollar which are used to entice you with lower prices.

You may be asking yourself, what can you do? how can one person make a difference? Well it can be done, you can make a difference. And for those who want to break this cycle and help the environment, here are a few easy steps to make your shopping more environmentally friendly.

Get To Know The Company Before You Buy

As difficult as this may sound, it has become beyond easy to do a little bit of research from the comfort of your own home. When you have a purchase in mind, find a few different makers, Google their corporate practices in regards to the environment, labor and quality. Then make an informed decision on which to buy. It really is that simple. And by doing so, it also helps the bottom line of the corporation you feel is meeting your standards.

It’s Cheap For A Reason

That old saying of, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is, couldn’t be more correct. From child labor, environmental pollution, or just plain old poor quality. You get what you pay for. And if what you buy breaks, forcing you to buy it again and again, all you are doing is wasting money, and natural resources that could have been put to better use by building a sound, quality product the first time around. Ikea would be a prime example. Sure they have great deals on furniture, but that savings comes at the expense of deforestation of old growth forests which supply a large portion of Ikea’s supply of exotic woods. And every time that cheap piece of furniture breaks, you have to replace it again with totally new resources that will yet again be wasted on something that is not made to last.

Demand Responsible Corporate Practices

If your like many people, you probably think this is just a naive fantasy of hippies. But in truth, your voice, and actions can go a long way in making even the largest corporations change their course. Just look at all of the corporations abandoning the US Chamber of Commerce these last few weeks over their stance on global warming. Corporations like Nike, Apple, PG&E, and Exelon didn’t leave the organization because they felt it was the right thing to do, they did so because they knew it would damage their credibility with consumers who want action taken to combat global warming.

By Mark Johnson

Photo By Ivan Mlinaric Via Flickr

Amazon Rainforest
If your looking for a vacation that will immerse you with natural wonders, the worlds largest tropical rainforest is a good start. over ten percent of all known species call this jungle home, making this one of the best trips you can take to see wildlife. Over the last decade many eco resorts and adventures have started to operate in the Amazon so you can feel good about the company you are giving your money to as well.

Photo By Ardyiii Via Flickr

Costa Rica
Known for decades as the worlds best ecotourism destination, this small country has made environmentally friendly travel one of the largest sectors of their economy. They take it so seriously that they even have the worlds first carbon neutral airline. Best of all, no matter your age or physical condition, Costa Rica offers an eco vacation suited for you. From five star jungle resorts with zip lines and canopy tours. To some of the best backpacking, snorkeling, and beaches in the world, you would be hard pressed to not find something to enjoy.

Photo By footloosiety Via flickr

Yosemite National Park
There is a reason John Muir and Ansel Adam’s favored this park so much. It is one of the most stunning geographical features in all of North America. Inside this park lies a multitude of activities and sights for all ages. From mountaineering and rock climbing to backpacking or just relaxing in the valley watching wildlife, this is a true natural treasure that everyone should see at least once. With multiple lodges and camp grounds in the middle of the park, this also makes a great destination for those wanting to enjoy all of natures beauty without trekking into the middle of nowhere to get to it.

Photo By epcp Via Flickr

New Zealand
Much like Costa Rica, New Zealand has created a very large industry aimed at ecotourism. Anyone who has seen the Lord Of The Rings movies knows just how vast and wondrous this landscape is. With its snow capped mountains and multiple volcanoes, this is one of the worlds best destinations for mountaineers, backpackers, or anyone who enjoys winter sports. On top of that, the rest of the country’s lower elevations are rich with unique wildlife.  And its coastal  shores offer everything from kayaking and whale watching, to scuba diving and pleasure boating.

Photo By canardwifi Via Flickr

Seychelles
Visiting this island nation in the Indian Ocean is almost like stepping back in time to a more relaxed and slower paced lifestyle. It is world renowned for its tropical beaches, distinct rock formations, and exotic species. One of the main destinations in this country is the 10 square km island of La Digue which, has no cars, and even though it is so small, rises to close to 1,000ft in elevation at points. If you ever wanted to feel like you were on Gilligan’s Island, this would be the place to visit.

Photo By TheLizardQueen Via Flickr

African Safari
No ecotourism list would be complete without an African safari to witness some of the largest species in the world in their natural habitat. The choices of what to do and see on safari are almost endless. From jeeps and hot air balloons to historic lodges or temporary camp sights in the middle of it all.  This is an especially great destination for those with a knack for photography.

By Mark Johnson

Photo By Bracketing Life Via Flickr

We live in a world where we are constantly on the move, constantly buying things and always creating waste. It has become such a normal part of everyday life that we rarely think about the impact it has on the planet. Even for those who are aware of it, they seldom take action for fear it will cost too much, or take too much time. But the truth of the matter is that every single one of us can easily lesson our impact by slightly adjusting our daily routine to that of a more eco friendly one. Here are some simple tips to help you do just that, without drastically altering your lifestyle.

1.  Reduce Your Home Water Use

For this tip, you have many ways to go about it. You can reuse the water you boiled food with to water your plants, take shorter showers, or even just turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth. Write down a list of all of your daily water uses at home and figure out just what can be cut back, or what can serve a dual purpose. With proper implementation everyone can save at least 5-50 gallons of water a day.

2.  Ditch The Chemical Cleaning Products

Get rid of all those nasty chemicals you use to keep your house clean. All of them can be replaced by something earth friendly at little to no added cost. From dish soap and Windex, to laundry detergent and bleach, you can find a cleaner safer version for all of it that works just as well as the petrochemical filled version.

3.  Walk More, Drive Less

We have legs for a reason. They are the cheapest, cleanest and healthiest way to get from point A to point B. So quit taking the car when your going less than a mile from home and not coming back with a ton of stuff. It’s like a free gym membership that saves you money, and helps the planet at the same time. Plus, you just might actually get to know those in your neighborhood and community in the process.

4.  Quit Using One Use Products

Why waste resources on something that will only get used once when a suitable reusable option is available? Bring your own thermos or cup to the coffee shop/stand, most places will let you. Toss a couple canvas bags in the trunk and keep a few by the door so you never get stuck using paper or plastic bags.  The list of one use products you can do without is almost endless,  you just need to figure out a way that works for you to not use them.

By Mark Johnson

Photo By Cimexus Via Flickr

With summer just about over and the colder months fast approaching, now is a great time to consider winterizing your home to make it more environmentally friendly.  Not only will you be kinder on the planet, but with these cheap and simple  tips, you can also save a few bucks over winter as well.

Reverse Your Ceiling Fan

Everyone knows that warm air rises, but many people aren’t aware that most ceiling fans can reverse their direction and move that warm air back down to where you want the heat.  So this winter, instead of turning off the fan, keep it going but in reverse. All that is required it to see which direction the fan blades are going. counter-clockwise for summer, and clockwise for winter, its as simple as that.

Check Your Air Ducts

This may be a bit challenging depending on how your home was designed, but if possible inspect all of your heating ducts. the DOE estimates that the average home could be losing as much as 60% of the hot air blown from your heater if it is not properly installed and maintained. The most important things to be on the lookout for when inspecting your ducts is any gaps or holes that need repair. But also just as important is to fix any crimped or heavily bent parts that could be reducing the optimum airflow of your heating system.

Wrap Your Pipes With Insulation

Find out which pipes in your house have hot water flowing through them, you can usually do this just by touching the pipes to see if they are warm. Once you have identified which ones are flowing with hot water pick up some simple foam pipe insulation along with some duct tape and get to work.  This is such a cheap and simple task that anyone can do it in an afternoon.

Block Unused Rooms

While this won’t be a problem for those with small houses, those with larger homes with unused rooms  can really see a huge difference in your heating  bill by doing this. Just turn off the heating to the room(s) you don’t plan on using, close the door and place a towel or other piece of cloth under the gap in the floor of your door frame.

By Mark Johnson