Water Conservation Tips From a Real Pro

Posts Tagged ‘lifestyle tips’

Water Conservation Tips From a Real Pro

When she's not busy saving it, MWRD Commissioner Debra Shore is out enjoying Chicago water. (Photo via debrashore.org)

—Tips courtesy of Debra Shore, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner

Replace an older toilet (pre-1994) with a new low-flow or dual flush model. Why? Toilets are the biggest water guzzlers in our homes, older toilets use approximately 3.5 gallons per flush (pre-1980 toilets can use as much as seven gallons per flush), and the typical American flushes five times a day at home. A family of four could save as much as 11,096 gallons a year by installing a 1.6 gallon per flush toilet. A 1999 research study found that Americans use 5.7 billion gallons of clean drinking water a day to flush waste down toilets—now that’s a waste. (more…)

A Ticket to Ride…or Otherwise Actively Commute

EcoMyth: Biking to Work Is Too Hard Core for Most People

Remember how much you longed for your first car? Whether it was a hot rod or a hot mess, it didn’t much matter—a car meant freedom, a passport to the endless road. Nowadays, though, driving is more often about convenience than thrill. We’re too busy to dawdle when we’re on the go, right? And yet there’s a growing movement away from the car culture, with close to 30 percent of Chicago households living car-free. And we suspect it’s not just because it’s cheaper.

From cleaner air to better health, more people are giving up the wheel…for a couple of thinner ones. Yes, biking, along with walking and using public transit, is the ticket to ride these days.

But does taking a more active form of transportation mean you’ll inevitably show up smelly and late to the party? Nope. Putting a little more legwork into your transportation routine can be pretty simple, rejuvenating, and also dramatically reduce your personal carbon output. (more…)

The (Sea)food Network: Tuning In to the Wild Vs. Farmed Debate

EcoMyth: Wild Seafood Is Better Than Farmed

What does the word “wild” mean to you? To us, it conjures up visions of salivating grizzly bears, gun-slinging outlaws, untamed facial hair…that sort of thing. But it can also evoke a fuzzy feeling of natural goodness—pesticide-free lands, clear skies, and clean water teeming with silvery fish.

Problem is, wild isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be—at least not when it comes to seafood. And like the ocean itself, the question of buying farmed versus wild seafood can be tough to navigate…unless you’ve got a Shedd Aquarium pro on your side. So let’s dive in (pun intended, per usual)! (more…)

EcoMyth: One Person Can’t Make a Difference

Was your New Year’s resolution to make the world a better place? Probably not, if a) you’re one of the many people who think that one person can’t make a difference or b) you’re not 12 years old. Yes, sad to say, there are a lot of skeptical grownups out there. And for good reason—the world is pretty big, and the problems we’ve got are hard to keep track of for even the most voracious news junkie. It’s no wonder that so many of us feel helpless when it comes to protecting the environment.

But in Chicagoland, each and every one of us really can make a difference. The idea that one person cannot make a difference is one of the most damaging of the untrue EcoMyths—because it discourages people from exploring any of the others.

Does that mean we all have to swap out our cars for roller skates made out of recycled tires or quit our jobs to go live in trees with food buckets conveyed via pulley? That’d be a big no—with an expletive if we weren’t trying to watch our manners.

Making one small change in your routine can in fact make a world of difference (cheesy? Yes. But it’s still true.). We decided to chat with some of our partner experts about simple ways one person can make a difference in the effort—whether it’s at home, at work, or out and about. Take your pick: You can make a difference anywhere and everywhere. (more…)

EcoMyths

Posts Tagged ‘lifestyle tips’