I have been thinking of some green goals for myself and the family for 2008. Funny how one color can now encompass a large range of ideas.
One of the main ones is to reduce the amount of driving I do. I would like to have one car-free day a week as a goal. As I think of the environment, simplicity, frugality, and waste reduction, I quickly distilled out how much of an impact driving has.
I thought that when I drive I am consuming gas , polluting, sometimes going somewhere that involves consumption like the store,"entertainment", or food. Risk of impulse-purchases are high. Then there are the resources involved in packaging or getting goods home, and time involved. I know I must have missed a few impacts, but the simple act of driving really does impact a whole bunch of things. I think it would be nice to have a low-key day, to just BE with family instead of DOING with family, a Sabbath of sorts. I was convinced once I actually figured the impact:
One day of no driving per week=4 days per month= 48 days per year= about 1.5 months of no driving- at all-per year. I just gained a whole month and a half per year to spend on something other than driving and consumption.Any green goals for you in 2008?
