Go Green! Tips for an eco-friendly Life

One of the main reasons many of us come to Costa Rica on vacation or decide to live here is that we love the idea of being in a tropical paradise, surrounded by nature and all its beauty. Taking this into consideration, it is our responsibility to do what we can to preserve Costa Rica’s natural resources. Of course, most of us can’t afford to install solar panels, put up a wind turbine or build a waste water treatment plant in our home. On the other hand, all of us can make a few simple changes that will have an enormous impact. You may even save a buck or two while you’re at it.

Here are a few low-budget ideas to start being eco-friendly:

Save Water
You may be using about 20 – 30 liters a minute every time you shower! Don’t worry, I’m not recommending you start showering every other day. Take a quicker shower or install a low flow shower head that can cut water use in half without reducing pressure. Repair leaky faucets. You’d be surprised how much water that dripping faucet wastes in a day. Water your lawn at night or in the late afternoon when the water won’t quickly evaporate. Put a bottle full of water or a brick in your toilet tank to use less water per flush. Don’t worry, your toilet will still flush properly, you just won’t be using as much water.

Reuse & Recycle
Don’t throw away those grocery bags – use them as garbage bags, reuse them next time you go shopping, or recycle them. We’ve all heard how easy it is to recycle those beer cans, plastic bottles, newspaper, etc. so do it. This might mean a drive to your local recycling plant every other week. Get a group together to share in the transportation efforts.

Save Energy
Use energy-efficient light bulbs. Granted, these are not yet as bright as the incandescent light bulbs we’re used to, but they’re good enough to replace those outdoor lights we leave on all night. They may be a bit more expensive up front but they last longer, reduce production of greenhouse gases and save you money in the long run. You can usually find good deals at EPA, HiperMas and similar stores.

Air dry your clothes. Turn off lights and appliances you’re not using and unplug appliances with a ‘Sleep’ or ‘Standby’ feature – they’re sucking up electricity 24/7 and you don’t even know it. Close the curtains that allow direct sunlight into your house to keep it cool. Turn on your water heater first thing when you wake up, take a few extra minutes enjoying your cup of Costa Rican coffee and then shower. Remember to switch it back off after you shower.

Compost
Don’t throw your fruit and vegetable peels in the trash can. Dig a small hole in a corner of your yard or build your own indoor compost bin. Composting reduces the amount of trash that ends up in landfills and it makes excellent fertilizer for your plants and flowers.

As you see, living green does not have to be expensive or be a hassle. All of us can make a small effort to keep Costa Rica – and the planet – healthy and green.

Sources & Further Reading
Toilet Tank Trick (www.videojug.com/film/the-toilet-tank-trick)
Composting (www.videojug.com/interview/composting-2)
Water Use Facts (http://ct.water.usgs.gov/education/waterfacts.htm)
Energy Saving Light Bulbs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_fluorescent_lamp)

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John D. Kloninger is a online marketer Living in Costa Rica. Born in California, he grew up in San Jose and then went on to University in Honolulu, HI and Boston, MA. You can contact him at jkloninger@gmail.com.

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Filed under: Living on March 3rd, 2008