Melissa Del Toro/Contributing Writer
Over the past couple of weeks, I have spoken to many people, including students at the University, who claim “going green” is too difficult.
I believe, though, that these people are simply ignorant to the simple ways of helping the environment and end up disregarding any eco-friendly effort as inconvenient. What many people do not know is “going green” is easier than they may think.
While many are aware of the high unemployment rate, as high as 11.7 percent as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not many people know of the money saving solutions “going green” provides.
The most commonly-known tip is changing to fluorescent light bulbs from traditional ones. Though compact fluorescent light bulbs initially cost more than traditional bulbs at the store, fluorescent bulbs use 1/4th less electricity, last 13 times longer, and cost $19.06 as compared to the $39.54 a traditional bulb would cost over a three-year period.
Eco-friendly habits can go a lot further to decrease unnecessary expenses. According to FPL.com, the average home spends $180 a year in heating costs alone.
Repairing leaky faucets or running the dishwasher only when it is full instead of hand-washing can decrease the water bill at the end of the month. In fact, it is estimated that the
United States could save 3 trillion gallons of water, about $18 million dollars a year if every household purchased water-saving appliances.
Helping the environment can also help keep you healthy. Walking short distances instead of driving can not only reduce your carbon footprint but provide active exercise.
Because not every distance is exactly walking-distance, bicycles are another healthy alternative. By riding a bicycle, you are receiving a great cardiovascular exercise while improving your balance and even avoiding the stress of having to drive in Miami traffic.
In contemporary society, many people are accustomed to buying things already done for them, hence McDonald’s multi-billion dollar corporation. I suggest an affordable and healthy food alternative is growing a garden.
Instead of paying a sometimes high price at grocery stores like Whole Foods, people can grow their own vegetables where they know exactly how and where their food is being grown. Growing a garden is also a great way to relieve stress, not to mention an excellent excuse to get the whole family together.
Many people I know have recycling bins provided by Miami-Dade County, but do not use them. As a result, most of their trash is being sent to landfills. These landfills are being created and maintained by our taxpayer dollars. The increasing use of landfills is not only coming out of our taxes but may lead to landfills being built closer to residential areas, negatively affecting the value of our homes.
By simply putting the appropriate recyclable materials into bins, Miami-Dade’s curbside recycling program can save up to 182,542 cubic yards of landfill space every year, using our taxpayer dollars more efficiently by keeping our backyards landfill-free and getting materials back into the market as post-consumer products. In fact, aluminum cans have the potential of being back on store shelves in as little as 60 days.
Becoming more eco-friendly doesn’t require a whole lifestyle change or a huge dent in your wallet. It can actually save you money, help improve your health and ensure taxpayer dollars aren’t being poured into landfill maintenance.
If some people could weigh the benefits of going green against traditional ways of consumption, they would see how convenient it really is.
I would suggest improvements in the efficiency of Public Transportation because quite frankly, it sucks. Why should I have to pay $2 per bus ride? To get 10 block down. With the right funding, we could build a railway between Broward and Miami Dade with absolutely no problem. It would definitely reduce traffic and help people, especially students, save money. But, unless people open their eyes, I’m afraid that this type of change is a long ways away.