About Katie Becker

Ever since I was a child, this type lifestyle has interested me. I grew up in Ohio, finished my high school and college here and got a license to be a tour guide. Since then, I try to promote eco – tourism, green living and reasonable travel, by keeping a watchful eye on the environment and natural resources.

Posts by Katie Becker:

Off-GridCamp

Sustainable Refrigeration & Cooling Solutions

/ , /

Sustainable refrigeration solutions are increasingly important in reducing environmental impact and improving energy efficiency. One effective approach is the use of roto-molded coolers, which are designed to offer superior insulation, reducing the need for frequent cooling cycles. These coolers, like those reviewed on the Coolers On Sale Website are made through a rotational molding process that creates durable, energy-efficient containers capable of maintaining cold temperatures for extended periods. This minimizes energy consumption and prolongs the freshness of perishable goods, making them ideal for outdoor activities, emergency preparedness, or off-grid living.

Refrigeration & Portable Solutions

In addition to roto-molded coolers, high-efficiency refrigerators are another key element in sustainable refrigeration. These refrigerators utilize advanced technologies such as variable-speed compressors, energy-efficient insulation, and smart temperature controls to reduce electricity use while maintaining optimal cooling performance. Many modern models also incorporate eco-friendly refrigerants that have a lower global warming potential (GWP) compared to traditional hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). When combined, these innovations contribute to a more sustainable approach to refrigeration, lowering carbon footprints and reducing waste while ensuring that food and beverages are kept fresh with minimal environmental impact.

Off-Grid Cooling Options To Consider

Sustainable cooling options for off-grid living are essential for minimizing energy consumption while maintaining comfort and preserving resources. One of the most effective strategies is the use of passive cooling techniques, which rely on natural processes to regulate temperature. These can include architectural designs that maximize airflow, such as strategically placed windows, skylights, and ventilation shafts, or the use of thermal mass—materials that absorb heat during the day and release it at night—to stabilize indoor temperatures. In combination with shading strategies, like planting trees or using retractable awnings, passive cooling can significantly reduce the need for mechanical cooling.

For more active cooling solutions, solar-powered systems offer a sustainable option for off-grid cooling. Solar refrigerators, fans, and air conditioning units can be powered by photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, which provide a reliable and renewable energy source. These systems are designed to be energy-efficient, using advanced technologies like variable-speed compressors or evaporative cooling systems, which use less electricity than traditional systems. Additionally, thermoelectric coolers, which use the Peltier effect to transfer heat between two different materials, can be a low-energy alternative for small-scale cooling needs.

Roto-molded coolers also provide an off-grid solution for keeping food and beverages cool without relying on electricity. These coolers are highly insulated, making them effective for maintaining low temperatures for extended periods without frequent need for ice or refrigeration. Together, these sustainable cooling solutions allow for comfortable living off the grid, reducing environmental impact while providing reliable and energy-efficient cooling options.

Eco-friendly Energy Saving

Eco-friendly energy-saving tips for homesteads focus on reducing energy consumption while promoting sustainability and self-sufficiency. One of the most effective strategies is improving energy efficiency through better insulation and airtightness in the home. Sealing gaps around windows, doors, and walls, and using high-quality insulation materials can significantly reduce the need for heating and cooling, which are major energy expenditures. Additionally, installing energy-efficient appliances such as LED lighting, low-flow faucets, and Energy Star-rated refrigerators and washing machines can further lower electricity and water usage.

Another key approach is harnessing renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. Installing solar panels or small wind turbines on the homestead can provide a reliable, renewable energy supply, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and lowering electricity bills. Solar water heaters and solar ovens can also be used for heating water and cooking, minimizing the need for traditional electricity or gas-based systems.

Rainwater & Solar

Rainwater harvesting and water conservation techniques are also important for reducing energy use, as heating water can be one of the most energy-intensive tasks in a home. By collecting and storing rainwater, homesteaders can minimize the need for electric water pumps and reduce water consumption. Furthermore, planting native or drought-tolerant plants around the homestead can lower water usage and reduce the energy needed for irrigation.

Lastly, investing in energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, such as wood stoves, passive solar heating, or geothermal systems, can further enhance sustainability. These alternatives are less reliant on grid energy and can help maintain a comfortable living environment while reducing carbon footprints. By incorporating a combination of these eco-friendly practices, homesteads can significantly reduce their environmental impact and create a more sustainable, energy-efficient lifestyle.

LeatherJacketBeforeandAfter

Restore & Renew Clothing Vs Buying New!

/ , /

Restoring and renewing clothing, particularly items made from materials like leather, can help extend their lifespan and maintain their appearance. The first step in restoring any piece is thorough cleaning. For leather garments, use a soft cloth or sponge and a gentle leather cleaner or a mixture of mild soap and water to remove dirt and grime. Always test the cleaner on an inconspicuous area before applying it to the entire piece. After cleaning, allow the leather to air dry naturally—avoid using direct heat sources like hair dryers, as they can cause the material to dry out or crack.

Once cleaned, moisturizing and conditioning the leather is essential. Leather tends to lose its natural oils over time, leading to stiffness and cracks. Apply a leather conditioner or cream designed to replenish moisture, working it into the material with a soft cloth in circular motions. This helps to restore the suppleness and luster of the leather. For clothing made from fabric, consider using a fabric softener or specific conditioner designed for the material.

For deeper repairs, such as scratches, scuffs, or stains, a leather repair kit can be useful. These kits often come with filler compounds such as resolene fiebings and color matching dyes that allow you to restore minor damage. For fabric clothing, small holes or rips can be mended using fabric glue or a sewing kit, depending on the size and location of the damage.

Additionally, regularly maintaining your clothing through proper storage is key to prolonging its life. For leather, store garments in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent fading and deterioration. Use padded hangers for jackets and coats to preserve their shape, and for fabric clothing, ensure it is washed according to care instructions to avoid wear and tear.

By following these simple steps—cleaning, conditioning, repairing, and proper storage—you can significantly extend the life of your clothing and keep it looking fresh and revitalized.

If You Can’t Restore, Consider Donating

Donating clothes can save a significant amount of landfill space compared to throwing them away. According to various studies, including data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), approximately 85% of textiles in the U.S. end up in landfills or incinerators each year. In 2018, the EPA estimated that around 17 million tons of textile waste were generated in the United States alone, and most of this waste could have been recycled, reused, or repurposed.

When you donate clothes instead of tossing them, you help divert those items from landfills, where they would otherwise take up valuable space and contribute to environmental degradation. While the exact amount of landfill space saved can vary depending on the material and the volume of clothing, the broader impact is significant. For example:

  1. Clothing is bulky: Textiles, especially items like coats, sweaters, and jeans, are large and take up a considerable amount of space in landfills. Donating just one large bag of clothes can prevent multiple cubic feet of waste from filling up landfill space.
  2. Textiles can take years to break down: Some fabrics, like synthetics and blends, can take hundreds of years to decompose fully in a landfill. While natural fibers like cotton, wool, or silk decompose more quickly, even they contribute to landfill mass.
  3. Reuse reduces demand for new resources: Donating clothes extends their lifecycle, which reduces the need for new garments to be produced. This indirectly helps reduce the demand for raw materials, such as cotton, oil (for synthetics), and water, which are needed to manufacture new clothing. The production process for new clothes is resource-intensive and contributes to environmental issues like water pollution and carbon emissions.

Environmental Benefits of Donating Clothes

  • Landfill space: Each ton of textiles that is diverted from landfills is equivalent to saving about 3.6 cubic yards of landfill space.
  • Energy and resource savings: Donating clothes also helps reduce the energy and resources required to make new items, lowering overall environmental impact.

Practical Impact

If every American were to donate one additional garment per year instead of throwing it away, it would result in millions of tons of clothing being kept out of landfills. In 2020, it was estimated that 92 million tons of textiles were thrown away globally. If just a fraction of these items were donated instead, it could result in a substantial reduction in landfill waste.

In summary, donating clothes not only saves significant landfill space but also contributes to a circular economy by reusing materials, conserving resources, and reducing the overall environmental impact of textile waste.

Naturally Mosquito Control

Natural Methods for Mosquito Control

/ , /

Mosquitos are a problem for most people in virtually every area of the world. Some have a few mosquitoes and other areas may have them ten months out of each year. It has a lot to do with how much moisture is in the area where you live and how cold the winters get. Another problem stems from the fact that not everyone wants to use chemicals to combat mosquitoes and their itchy, painful bites. In this case, we recommend you consider more natural methods for mosquito control.

What Mosquitoes Love to Live In

Areas that are damp are an instant mosquito magnet. They thrive in damp, dark places. Swampy areas are prime real estate for them to make their home in. The same is true for river beds, creeks, and lakes. These nasty little insects can even make a home in an old tire that you have lying around, your dog’s water, and your compost pile or bin. If there is any source of water available, they will make their home near it. Can you eliminate all the potential moist areas around your home? Or would you prefer to seek out ways to gain control of them and keep the water?

Natural Pest Control

Naturally Mosquito ControlIf you are not worried about a little chemical being used, you can use very small amounts to help. We used a backpack mosquito fogger to pre-treat our lawn. Afterward, we looked into natural ways to get rid of mosquitoes. We built a garden that was filled with all the plants that are known to naturally send mosquitoes away. These plants include lavender, marigolds, catnip, citronella grass, and scented geraniums. We also planted rosemary and basil herbs. You can also use a natural spray around your home and your body when you go out during peak mosquito hours. A lot of scented oil options can be used to safely apply mosquito repellent to your clothing. You can find recipes or buy a spray that is all-natural and pre-made.

Another natural option for gaining control of your mosquito problems may be to use a trap. However, these devices may not effectively eliminate mosquitoes quickly. This could be a problem if you are trying to plan a backyard event that is coming soon. Bug zappers are also useful according to many home owners.

Things to Consider

Plants To Control MosquitosMosquitoes serve very little purpose except to bite us. At times, their larvae and the adults may be used as food for some animals, but overall, if we lived in a world without them, we would all simply be happier. However, because they are a natural part of the world we live in, extermination of them will not come easily. If you live in an area where you are the only one who works to eliminate them, you will still have some that find their way to your home. This means, in a neighborhood where everyone has a compost pile and only one person trying to control the mosquitoes; that person will always be trying to get rid of them. In similar neighborhood where everyone works together to regain control of these pests, everyone will begin to notice fewer of them.

Composting Toilet Diagram

Composting Toilet Vs Self Contained Toilet

/ , /

With the constant interest in thriving through a “greener existence” we see a lot more of the tiny homes and people who enjoy RVing today. This is because people are trying to cut down on their overall carbon footprint and living life in a more simplified way. They opt to leave plots of land for the wildlife and live off the grid where they do not have to deal with outrageous electricity usage. With the sudden tiny home movement, we also hear a lot more about our toilets, since they are often impractical in a tiny home or an RV. Do you know which one is better between composting and self-contained toilets? Would you be comfortable using either of them?

Composting Toilet

Composting Toilet DiagramA composting toilet is a toilet that turns your poo into something that can be used as fertilizer for your garden if you want it to. It is safe, sanitary, and sustainable. You do not need to hook up to a septic tank or a water line and a lot of them can work without electricity. Your toilet will have a ventilation system to ensure that you never have to worry about a visitor stopping by and smelling your bathroom. All that is required of you is that you use natural microbes to keep it sanitary and cut down on the smell of what you leave behind.

Coco Coir CompostConsidering most American households use 74 gallons of water a day, with more than a third of that being toilet water, how much water do you think you would save? Research shows that on average 6,600 gallons of water will be saved for more important things than a toilet flush if you switch to a composting toilet. How is that for a greener existence? Water preservation and free fertilizer in one.

Self Contained Toilets

Self-contained toilets are more ideal for some families. They do not require you to deal with your “deposits” after you have put them where you needed to. They are ideal for smaller spaces that cannot hold a traditional sized toilet. You can easily hook it to an existing sewer line. This makes them much easier to work with. If you consider reading Sanicompact toilet reviews, you will see that some water is required for use. They are macerating toilets that use only one gallon of water per flush. It works by simply pushing a button. Everything else is handled for you.Self Contained Toilet

The beauty of this toilet option is that whether you have a tiny home, an RV, or an attic that needs a space for you to “go”, you can have it with this toilet. It is ideal for people who want a toilet in an area that doesn’t normally have one. You can even use the water supply at a sink to ensure it’s a clean flush. Older people, disabled people, and anyone else can benefit from putting a fully functional toilet where they need it the most. As to whether it is good for the environment or not, on average a traditional toilet can use up to seven gallons of water per flush. You are cutting it down to only one gallon. For many people, that is enough of a savings to make them happy.

Which is Best For The Environment?

There is no single right or wrong answer to which one is best. It depends on what you want from your toilet. Some may say that using no water and having fertilizer is perfect and others may be willing to sacrifice all comforts except for their toilet. The choice is yours.

Raw Wool Fibers

Sustainable Non-Synthetic Fibers

/ /

Our world is vital to our future. Without it, we would have no place to live and thrive. Yet, every day, we do things that damage our Earth and the damages that we cause today will take years and years to repair. The resources that we use, may never be replenished. For this reason, there is a lot of talk about living a life that is eco-friendly. However, it isn’t just the amount of water or electricity that we use causing damage. You have to look deeper into the lives that we lead. This also means finding sustainable, non-synthetic fibers in our clothing.

The Problem with Synthetic Fibers

SyntheticWe all know that trash is overflowing in our landfills. Plastics never completely go away. Instead, they end up being washed out of the landfill and into our oceans. This can destroy our oceans. Not to mention, plastic is also very dirty to create, which also does not help our air quality. If you look at your favorite outfit with its bright colors and beautiful design, you may think it is perfect, but if you look deeper you will find that it is also bad for the environment. A lot of our clothing is made with toxic chemicals thanks to the dye that is used to create them. It is the second largest polluter of water on a global level. Simply take a look at polyester.

Polyester is in approximately 60% of the clothing that is available today. It is one of the most popular fabric types. When washed, it can shed microfibers that drain out into our soil and may eventually end up in our oceans as plastic. Admittedly, its only a small amount, but when combined with everyone’s laundry worldwide, it can be a major problem. Once it hits our oceans, plankton may eat the microfibers, then it will be eaten by fish, and as we eat them, we eat plastic. Do you want to add plastic to your menu for tonight?

A Better Alternative

Raw Wool

Raw Wool

It is hard to say that we will avoid wearing clothes because they are bad for the environment. We kind of need them to protect our privacy and to keep us warm. Therefore, a better alternative to the clothing that is now standard in our wardrobe, is using natural fibers instead of synthetic. One option is wool. It is a natural fiber that is renewable. You simply have to know that wool comes from what animal and you will know that each spring, sheep are sheared to keep them cool. Then that “fur” can be used to create clothing. Linen is plant-based since it is made from flax. Cotton is an all-natural plant that can be grown by farmers. Rayon and Modal are man-made, but it is made of cellulose, which is softwood trees.

Change Your Wardrobe and Change the World

Did you know it could be so simple to change the world for the better? Simply changing the way you dress can keep synthetic fibers out of our oceans, lakes, and rivers. Isn’t it worth it? Synthetic isn’t the only way to have comfortable, beautiful, and even stylish clothes and Mother Earth will thank you for putting her ahead of your appearance.

eco

How to Make Your Construction Business More Eco-Friendly

/ /

Construction businesses get a lot of flak for generating waste and are often blamed for the destruction of the environment, especially when erecting new buildings. This reputation has pushed many of them to utilize green building construction techniques and massive reuse of materials. Here are a few tips on how to make your construction business more eco-friendly.

Royalty Free Photo

Use Sustainable Materials

One of the best ways to make your construction business more eco-friendly is to use sustainable materials. Sustainably raised wood is a good first step. Using aluminum that is 100% recycled and recycled steel is another.

When you can build with salvaged wood and reuse older hardware, that is a plus, though not all projects permit this. Sustainable concrete made from partially recycled materials is becoming more popular. Recycling asphalt is almost commonplace. Consider using recycled glass and plastic in your projects.

Use High-Efficiency Hardware

When you’re bringing in generators to run your power tools, look for the most efficient generators you can find. Your site lighting, too, should be high power LEDs, not high wattage traditional lights. Look for power tools that use as little power as possible. When you’re working, don’t leave lights on when it isn’t necessary and turn everything off as soon as possible. If possible, use solar panels to power as much equipment as possible.

Put in Portable Sanitation Facilities

Putting in portable sanitation facilities is green in more ways than one. While providing convenience to your workers, it prevents waste and sanitation chemicals from creating hazardous conditions on the work site. Companies like Satellite Industries provide portable sanitation facilities that avoid these ecological problems, while ensuring human health, as well. Proper hand washing, for example, in a portable bathroom reduces the risk of illness spread through poor hygiene.

Invest in Insulation

The value of insulation for reducing heating and cooling costs is well known. Something construction sites often overlook is other applications for insulation. For example, they don’t insulate the mobile office or portable bathrooms, so they run heaters and air conditioners longer to make them tolerable. They ignore insulation on generators that dampen the noise and everyone compensates by using hearing protection or yelling instead.

Consider Your Windows

When it comes to windows, you should look at window placement to maximize light and minimize heat loss. Go for triple pane windows where you can, but double pane windows are the bare minimum. You may want to consider putting film on the windows that keeps heat in during the winter and reflects it away in the summer.

This is a valuable solution when you cannot afford to replace the windows right now. If you really don’t need to look out the window much, put up insulating blinds. And don’t put in more windows than really necessary, whether in your portable buildings or those that you’re building.

Conclusion

Eco-friendly construction methods range from building entire buildings out of recycled materials to looking for ways to use less power and water during the construction process. This allows you to make the building or renovation of buildings as green as the design itself.

477904_17022714050051268003

3 Everyday Eco-Friendly Products

/ , , /

It wasn’t long ago that striving to live in the most ecologically friendly way possible made someone something of an outsider. We used to refer to these people, with more than a little hint of derision, as eco-warriors. Now, however, being ecologically conscious is completely normal, and a good thing that is too!

Royalty Free Photo

The effects of climate change are now very much present around us, they are no longer abstract dangers that may or may not appear in the future. We now understand the underlying science behind climate change, and not only has this made everyone more aware of the danger, it has also made many people more aware of just how easy it is to live in a more ecologically friendly way.

The products on this list are ecologically friendly and allow the environmentally conscious to easily live a greener life. There are nearly always greener alternatives to the products that we use everyday, all we have to do is look!

Cloth Napkins

Most homes have a stash of napkins somewhere, and millions of them are disposed of every day. These are single use items, meaning that they are constantly being disposed of and then having to be repurchased. As with most single use items, users of napkins can reduce their environmental impact by switching to a reusable alternative. Cloth napkins serve the same purpose as their tissue counterparts, however they can be washed and then reused afterwards rather than being sent to landfill.

Reusable Bags

We all need something to carry our groceries and other shopping in. While grocery stores will often offer paper bags, which are less harmful to the environment than their plastic counterparts, most of our shopping is carried home in a plastic bag. Worst of all, these bags aren’t very durable, meaning that after a few uses they need to be discarded, that’s if they are reused at all! A very simple yet very effective step that you can take in order to reduce your ecological footprint is to invest in a reusable bag (and to make sure that you remember to take it out with you of course!). Check out these custom printed reusable bags for a stylish and functional solution.

Rechargeable Batteries

Batteries aren’t going away anytime soon, we will always need these fuel cells to power various items around the home. Even though our main electronics, laptops, smartphones, and tablets, all have built-in rechargeable batteries, most other appliances are powered by AA or AAA batteries which cannot be recharged. Disposable items are a no-no for the eco-warrior and this is a perfect example of a product which isn’t just greener when it is reusable, it is far more useful to the owner. You will also save money by not having to buy new batteries constantly.

Living a more ecologically friendly lifestyle is nowhere near as difficult or as expensive as many people think. By making a few minor changes to your lifestyle and habits, and investing in a few simple greener alternatives to everyday products that you use, you can easily reduce your carbon footprint almost overnight.

images-2

How to Teach Your Kids About Green Living

/ , /

Teaching kids about green living is not as difficult as it sounds. Many times, kids will mimic what you do so if you are living a green lifestyle they will pick up living green from you. According to an article, the world belongs to our kids so we need to start taking measures now to guarantee that they will have a world to inherit. Some steps that you can take to teach your kids to be green include: setting a good example by always being green yourself, talking to your kids about the importance of living green, teaching recycling methods, and teaching your kids to compost. In another article, it continued with the fact that it is easier than ever to go green. While you may already be composting and recycling there is plenty more that you can be doing with your kids that will help the environment. For example, you can choose to buy eco-friendly toys and beauty products as well as going organic and natural. Most of all, you want to engage with your kids as you teach them the importance of living green. Remember, the earth belongs to all of us.

Although you will never be finished when you live the green lifestyle you can finish strong when you shop Finish Line. At Finish Line, you will find the right pair of athletic shoes and aerodynamic apparel you need to live a healthy and green lifestyle. What Finish Line has to offer is the latest and greatest in active wear ranging from apparel to shoes and accessories. Finish Line offers great apparel, shoes and accessories for men, women, and kids. Some of the brands that you can choose from include: adidas, Alala, Brooks, Brandblack, Casio, Columbia, Converse, Crep, Dyasty, Ethika, Garmin, Jordan, K-Swiis, Lacosta, Neff, New Balance, New Era, Nike, Polar, Puma, Reebok, Skechers, Stance, Timberland, Under Armour, and much much more. Shop Finish Line for the confidence that you need and take advantage of their partnership with Groupon Coupons to save even more money.

Before you shop Finish Line be sure to visit over to Groupon Coupons for money saving deals in the form of coupons and coupon codes. Use this promo code and get an extra 25 percent off plus flat-rate shipping. Enjoy 40 percent off Nike and Jordan with this code. Use this promo code and get $15 off! Get up to 50 percent off during the July sale! Use this promo code and get $10 off back-to-school items. Enjoy $20 in rewards with winner’s circle when you use this code. Act now and get 20 percent off with this promo code. Enjoy free shipping with this code. Get 65 percent off during the epic Jordan sale. Get more savings with 50 percent off running shoes and sneakers with this code. From $20 in rewards with the mobile app to $15 off when you spend $150 you will always be saving when you use Groupon Coupons.

Shop Finish Line and enjoy living the green lifestyle more. Be sure to stop on by Groupon Coupons first for money saving deals.

Screen Shot 2017-06-08 at 5.36.18 PM

10 Ways to Travel Sustainably in Los Cabos

/ , /

Los Cabos is a popular getaway that’s only a short flight from California. More and more tourists are visiting every year and hotels and vacation rentals in Los Cabos are filling up faster than ever before. You can go down to this part of Mexico to experience some of the natural beauty and participate in the ecotourism or simply enjoy a few days of surfing. Whatever you’re here for and decide to do, travelling sustainably has never been more important. Here are 10 ways that you can make your trip to Los Cabos as sustainable as possible.

1# Choose the Right Tour Company:

Some of the tour companies in Los Cabos are only out there to make as much money as they possibly can. This means that they may not care as much about leaving their print behind afterwards. An example of this is that some of the tour guides throw litter and their cigarette ends into the mountains or desert on a tour. This shows that they aren’t really bothered about the environment. Research the tour companies before you book one to make sure you join and give money to the ones that care.

2# Respect the Local Communities:

You’re a guest in their country and should behave like one. Some may want to go out and party all night and do the things that they probably shouldn’t. Unfortunately, this happens quite a lot when arrogant tourists fail to show any respect to the locals. If you do venture out of the touristy areas, don’t cause damage or do anything inappropriate.

3# Don’t Disrupt the Ecology:

Ecotourism is growing in popularity in Los Cabos. You can kayak and snorkel in and around the bay where you can see hundreds of tropical fish and marine life. It’s also possible to reach some of the more protected islands. If you do, enjoy what you see, but make sure that you don’t leave any litter behind or disrupt the local wildlife.

4#Release a New Born Turtle into the Ocean:

At certain times of the year, turtles come and lay their eggs on some of the beaches. When they hatch, only a small proportion of them actually make it to the water. The others either go in the wrong direction or are attacked by wildlife. It’s possible to join a tour or group in Los Cabos where you can release the newborn turtles into the water. You should always make sure you join a reputable group to do this and never attempt it on your own.

5# Stay at Smaller, Greener Hotels:

Over the last few decades, the region has had a lot of development and construction. While this may seem to be good on the surface and to help boost the local economy, it’s also damaging to nature. Larger hotels and resorts consume too much power and waste many resources. If you want to reduce your impact, consider staying in some of the smaller hotels. Or even better, find a place to stay that’s green.

6# You Don’t Have to Feel Like You’re in the Arctic:

This is related to the point above. You don’t have to sit inside your room with the air conditioner on full at all times. This consumes a lot of energy and larger hotels are bigger culprits. An alternative is to raise the temperature to reduce power consumption or simply open the window whenever you can.

7# Eat Fish from Local Fishermen:

One of the legacies of growing tourism is that the bigger corporations are making a lot of money from selling fish to the restaurants. The fish are caught after dragging large nets across the water and a significant percentage of the fish aren’t even consumed. This disrupts the ecology of the area and is highly wasteful. The methods that they use also damage the seabed and increase pollution. Local fishermen, on the other hand, are more sustainable. And, buying from them (or places that source from them) has the double bonus of reducing the environmental impact and putting money back into the local economy.

Image from Pixabay

8# Rent a Bicycle:

It’s easy to get around Los Cabos and you’re not too far away from nature. A greener and cheaper option than catching a taxi or relying on the bus is to rent a bike. You can cycle around the town and get the bonus of the extra exercise as well.

9# Clean Up Your Mess:

If you smoke, don’t throw the butt onto the floor. And if you have any litter make sure you carry it and throw it in the garbage. Too many tourists come here and are more relaxed about littering or leaving a mess behind. You should set an example and treat the place in the same way as you would back home.

10# Learn About the Environment:

The more that you know about a place, the better equipped you are at doing your best to protect it. It’s a good idea to read about the environmental issues that Los Cabos and the Baja Peninsular, in general, are faced with. When you know what the problems are, you can find it easier to protect them.

The Takeaway Message:

Los Cabos is a beautiful destination with lots of amazing things to do and see. However, there’s also a darker, environmental legacy of the tourism. Educate yourself and do the best you can for the environment to make sure your trip to this destination is as sustainable as possible.

 

girl and flowers

Changes You Can Make to your Lifestyle That Benefit the Environment Part 2

/ , , / , , /

In my last blog post, I set the stage for some of the changes you can make, that are simple to do, and also have a real impact on the environment for the better.

But I merely scratched the surface in that post, and thought it would be a great idea to continue on in that same vein for this post also. So let’s dive straight in.

Create a Compost Pile: 

I detailed in a previous blog post about how this can be done. This is a great way of using up food waste that would otherwise be tossed in the trash, maybe for the benefit of the refuse collection companies.

Check that post out for more details!

Use Your Own Cup at the Water Cooler:

How often do you visit the water cooler in work each day? Do you use a new cup each time? That is a serious amount of plastic, when you think about it, even in terms of a month.

Using your own cup means you will never need to use a disposable plastic cup again!

Love Hot Tea? Ditch the Tea Bags:

You will have 2 main benefits achieved here, by ditching tea bags. Firstly, the flavor is greater, as tea leaves are far fresher than those found in tea bags.

Secondly, there is far less packing material used, so you are benefiting the environment.

Imagine all the tea you drink over a year, and the amount of paper that goes into making those tea bags. It’s a lot, huh?

Choose Farmer’s Markets for Produce:

Choosing your local Farmer’s Market over big name shopping chains has many benefits. The produce you get is fresher and not genetically modified.

You are benefiting your local economy by buying there, rather than paying to a nameless, faceless brand. And you will benefit from having food that has not been sprayed from seed to harvest in harsh chemicals.

Why not get a bunch of friends together, and for best effect, carpool over to your nearest Farmer’s Market?

Start Your Own Gardening Routine:

If you don’t already, why not throw your hand at some gardening? You can grow your own veg, and even your own herbs, meaning you are getting the ultimate in freshness.

Gardening is good for the soul, and is a very rewarding and healthy past time, to boot.

BYOB:

No – Not beer! Bring your own bag to the store with you when you go shopping. Plastic bags are extremely durable, and can be re-used over and over.

So why not use them again, instead of getting a new bag each time. Better yet, look out for “Bags for life” that you can purchase, ideally made from plant fibers.

There we have it. All small steps that can make a huge difference. Why not examine your routines, and see what changes you can make?

1 2