Buy Once - Quality Over Quantity (Minimalism)

Buying products is an integral part of life in the modern world.  We need products to provide various services and for various functions that make up our lives.  The bad part of this, is that the manufacture, sale, distribution, etc of these products can have a horrible impact on the environment.  My thesis is to buy something of high quality that will last an extremely long time, so that we can minimize the amount of purchases that need to be made.  A prime example of this is in clothing, which is something I think about constantly, but it also applies to furniture, cooking utensils, and really every product.  The one that can be most frustrating, is technology which goes through constant iteration, and products that were recently state of the art are almost entirely outdated in a few years.

Let's consider this through the furniture example.  Furniture at Ikea or other low cost makers is extremely affordable for any budget, however the expected life on many things is only several years.  In addition, the amount of travel and economic output that went into this product is extremely high.  Instead, you could contract with a local woodworker to have a piece custom made for your home with high quality materials.  Sure, the price would be much higher, but you would have a one of a kind piece, made by a local craftsman.

That may be a bit extreme, especially since the marginal price increase of artisan furniture is probably beyond the budgetary confines of most people.  Instead, you diligently research your options and find a piece that you know will last you a long time from a stylistic perspective, and also make sure that the item is sturdy and well built.  For example, check out the Herman Miller above.  This means you will not need to replace it nearly as soon.

If your piece of furniture begins to wobble in its legs, instead of just donating it to the Goodwill (or even worse throwing it in the garbage) try to repair it yourself.  Or if you are not able to, call in a favor with a handy friend.  It would even be preferable to consult with a carpenter who would possibly be able to repair it himself.

This applies to all things.  If your computer is slowing down, instead of simply replacing it, see if you can upgrade it.  Your car as well.  Clothing may become damaged or you may gain/lose a few pounds.  That's what tailors are for, especially if the garment is well made, it can be adjusted.  Shoes can be repaired.  Make sure to perform all regular maintenance to ensure that you can facilitate the longest possible life out of these assets.

20 Ways to Go Green That Make a Difference - COMPLETE!

On September 12, 2011, I penned a list of 20 Ways to Go Green that Make a Difference.  It took me more than half a year, but I am glad to say that I have finished.   I tried to write up tips that would not be huge investments of time or money, and would actually have a positive impact.  I think that I was successful.  Here is the full list, I have bolded the posts that I think are my best.

1) Drive less 
2) Drive at or below speed limit, saves gas and is safer

3) Eat local food, less resources used for transport and supports local farmers

4) Grow your own vegetables, even if its just herbs in your window

5) Bring your own bags to the grocery store, fully reuse paper/plastic bags if you forget

6) Drink from a reusable water bottle

7) Green garbage?
8) Turn off lights when you are not using them

9) Run full loads in the dishwasher/laundry
10) Conserve water in everyday situations
11) Make things yourself
12) Use rechargeable batteries

13) Buy clothes/furniture sensibly

14) Utilize libraries, and other green options for media

15) Give green gifts

16) Green Investing

17) Volunteer

18) Use natural light and "air conditioning"

19) Limit food packaging, buy food in bulk

20) Use rags or old clothing over paper towels

My next series will be on affordable ways to go green, I have still not developed the list, but I expect there will be more than 10.  Not everyone can afford to buy a Prius, but we can all find ways to go green!

20 Ways to Go Green that Make a Difference

You always see tips to go green that are very small and will not make a difference.  I have drawn up a list of 20 effective tips that will do the most overall good.  Please feel free to leave any posts in the comments that you think I missed, lets only include things that will really make an impact and is practical to implement.  I am going to also expand on each of these in a separate post, and will edit this page with the links each time.

1) Drive less 
2) Drive at or below speed limit, saves gas and is safer

3) Eat local food, less resources used for transport and supports local farmers

4) Grow your own vegetables, even if its just herbs in your window

5) Bring your own bags to the grocery store, fully reuse paper/plastic bags if you forget

6) Drink from a reusable water bottle

7) Green garbage?
8) Turn off lights when you are not using them

9) Run full loads in the dishwasher/laundry
10) Conserve water in everyday situations
11) Make things yourself
12) Use rechargeable batteries

13) Buy clothes/furniture sensibly

14) Utilize libraries, and other green options for media

15) Give green gifts

16) Green Investing

17) Volunteer

18) Use natural light and "air conditioning"

19) Limit food packaging, buy food in bulk

20) Use rags or old clothing over paper towels

Tips to Lower Environmental Impact of Clothing and Furniture Purchases

Shopping for clothing and furniture is one of the best opportunities to go green.  The first step is completely exhaust the items you already have, a penny saved is a penny earned.  However, once you have determined that you absolutely need a replacement, then it is time to consider your options.  Buying these items through the traditional channels can be extremely costly, both financially and in terms of environmental impact.  Many of these items are constructed overseas, and oftentimes the raw materials come from another overseas location, then the company that produced it will resell it to the retailer, and most of the time there are even more steps.  All of these intermediaries use energy to transport and build this product, and each step of the way, the end price increases.  Of course, this is good for the global economy, but it is not necessarily the best course of action.

There are a number of great alternatives though, if you want to save money and also lessen your environmental impact.  My favorite option is thrift stores.  These are pretty easy to find, and many of them are even run by charitable organizations, so the profit that these stores makes goes to a great cause.  All of the items in a thrift store come from donations.  People are allowed to donate items that are worn, but usually the items are in great condition and sometimes even brand new, for a FRACTION of the price.  Although, you are not going to be able to go to the mall and get the latest fashions, you can get great items for an affordable price.  So not only does this option benefit you financially, leaving you with more cash to spend on green products you might otherwise not be able to afford, but you are repurposing items, which means they do not go to waste.  Although they have probably already been produced overseas and gone through the whole process, they were donated locally, and the environmental effect was extremely minimal. 

Along the same lines, Craigslist is a great place to score all kinds of items.  There are a number of free items, such as used appliances or furniture, if you are patient and jump on a good deal quickly.  Another great tip is to look for people who are moving and are willing to sell things at even lower prices because they do not want the added cost of transporting it.  Buying goods here accomplishes the same environmental saving effects as shopping at a thrift store, except there is no energy needed to run and operate the store, all transactions are done from seller directly to customer.  Another similar option is Ebay, where a multitude of options exist, but the cost is oftentimes higher both financially and environmentally, as these items almost always are shipped from another part of the country or the world, much less energy is expended and wasted than on purchasing a new item.  

I am also a big fan or yard/tag sales.  Check your local newspapers for weekends during the summer or drive around ritzy neighborhoods, looking for signs.  THere will often be great deals, and once again lightly used/brand new items can be found at a fraction of their original cost, and with no additional negative impact to the environment.

Feel free to post a comment with any of your thoughts!