With the majority of retail stores closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, I started thinking about the major shift to online shopping. It got me thinking about what resources it takes to get those packages to you.  So once you order something online, there are warehouses all over the country. You never know how near or far your item is.  Of course, online shopping takes … Continue reading Is online shopping more eco-friendly than taking a trip to the mall?

Did you know that the fashion industry emits more carbon than international flights and maritime shipping combined? This is according to Business Insider.  They report that as consumers worldwide buy more clothes, the growing market for cheap items and new styles is taking a toll on the environment. According to Business Insider, on average, people bought 60% more garments in 2014 than they did in … Continue reading A bad look for the fashion industry

The best definition that I could find to explain what sustainability is states that it is about the currently disruptive relationship between Earth’s two most complex systems, human culture and the living room.  Being sustainable or choosing to live sustainably is basically choosing a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual’s or society’s use of the Earth’s natural resources.  Here are some simple things that … Continue reading Every day ways to sustain a green lifestyle

While we are all stuck inside for another month, I’m sure many of us are doing a lot of movie watching.  Here is a list of my top five favorite movies that are about the environment.  Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest  Synopsis: Crysta is a fairy who lives in FernGully, a rainforest in Australia, and has never seen a human before. In fact, she is … Continue reading Environmental movie watch list

Being sustainable isn’t as easy as it seems.  It requires you to make conscious decisions. For most it may mean taking time to educate yourself. Making small changes but practicing them consistently can make a big difference. Here are some simple switches you can make to reduce your single use plastic waste.  One bamboo tooth brush is equal to four plastic toothbrushes Instead of buying … Continue reading Simple sustainable switches

Lately, I have been really interested in butterflies.  Not only are the beautiful, but they are also an important part of the ecosystem. It is finally springtime and gardening has really been on my mind.  I remember writing a story about a retired science teacher with a passion for butterflies. His name was Rob Bell.  The story I was working on was highlighting the man’s … Continue reading Butterfly gardens bring benefits

Although many students were already forced to move off campus and back home, there are still a number of students that are preparing to move out of their apartments in the coming weeks.  Being a senior, I decided to continue living in my off-campus housing. I am now getting ready to move out of a house that I have been living in since the summer. … Continue reading Moving with care: tips for an eco-friendly move out

There is so much beauty to this planet that we call home and Earth Day is an entire day dedicated to appreciating that beauty.  Every year Earth Day falls on April 22. We are in unusual circumstances this year as we have to spend Earth Day in quarantine.  Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world to demonstrate support for environmental protection.  It … Continue reading Every day is Earth Day

While some people may see wind mills as an eye sore, I find an odd beauty in them.  Wind mills play a major role in clean energy in the state of Illinois. Being in Bloomington-Normal, it is not uncommon to see wind mills.  And it’s no coincidence that Bloomington-Normal is a hub for wind power. In fact, there is a bit of history that comes … Continue reading Wind farms for the win

One of the things that I am most guilty of is wasting food. I tend to shop for groceries when I am really hungry, which makes for a deadly duo. And two weeks later half of my groceries end up going bad before I can eat them or they sit in my pantry or refrigerator for far too long that I enviably throw it away … Continue reading Stop wasting, start tasting