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In recent issues of the News-Herald, intrepid columnist Steve Aldrich has published several of his ideas for living greener and has also challenged readers to submit their own ideas to share. Let me rise to the challenge with three ideas, from simple and free to … more than that.
Idea number one can reduce our use of plastics and save money as well. Many lotions and creams, such as arthritis treatments or moisturizing creams vital for health and well-being, are sold only in plastic containers which include pump mechanisms to extract the product. Since it is impossible to get everything out using these pumps, we may discard or recycle plastic containers with five to ten percent of the product unused. One simple way to get at the remaining stuff before discarding the container is to use a scissors to cut off the top for easy access. By doing this, we could reduce plastic use by purchasing fewer of these containers. If one buys, say, one such container every month, using this method would save six to ten bottles every decade. That’s not a big number for any one person, but it could be very significant if thousands or millions of people did it.
Idea number two may cost 25 cents to a dollar per year. Steve’s columns promoted the idea of eliminating clothes dryers in favor of outdoor line drying. This is a great idea, but not always practical. For example, apartment dwellers may not have access to a clothesline, and line drying is difficult in rain, snow, sleet, and cold weather, which happens once in a while here in Cook County. So, when we do need to use a dryer, we can eliminate the chemical waste associated with disposable dryer sheets by using wool dryer balls instead. These are highly effective, made from natural products, and cost $5 to $10 for a package of four that will typically remain effective for 1,000 or more uses. Fluffy tennis balls might conceivably work, but I’m not recommending that. (Rob Perez will be delighted–pickleballs would surely not be effective at all.)
Little things like these are simple to do, but also only have a small impact. How about something bigger? Replacing one’s gas guzzler with an electric vehicle (EV) may be the single biggest thing any of us can do to live greener. My wife and I have owned a Tesla Model Y for over two years now, and we absolutely love it (though we can’t say the same for Tesla’s CEO). If you want to learn more about cross-country travel with an EV, you can go to www.davesaari.com and look for a four-part series called “Pat and Dave’s Eclectic Electric Road Trip.”
More EV options are becoming available every year, many with modest purchase prices, such as the $27,000 Chevrolet Bolt. Pickup lovers can now buy excellent Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Ram, and Toyota EV trucks, among others (though the wait list may be long). Many of these vehicles also qualify for a federal tax credit, making them even more affordable. You’ll save money in the long run with an EV due to substantially reduced fuel and maintenance costs. Arrowhead Electric offers a rate of only $0.059 per kWh (including all taxes) when using a residential EV charger, as well as substantial discounts and credits for purchase and installation of the charger equipment. At this rate, the electricity cost for driving our Tesla in Cook County is about $1.85 per hundred miles, compared to about $9.00 per hundred miles for a 30-mpg gas-powered vehicle. You can also add a few miles to your EV for free while exploring Tettegouche or Gooseberry State Parks or at the Arrowhead office in Lutsen (if you’re an Arrowhead customer). Furthermore, other than purchasing new tires, we have yet to spend a nickel on maintenance for the Tesla after more than 30,000 miles. (Hail damage repair is another story, but that’s beyond what I’m talking about here.)
Best of all, if enough people were to switch to EVs quickly, we actually could save our planet. EVs are the wave of the future. Why wait?
Dave Saari is a local author of novels featuring mystery, romance, murder, and golf, including: Snowman, Slice, Lateral Hazard, Dog Leg Left, Albatross, and Watery Grave, at least some of which are available for purchase at Grand Marais book stores. He is also a self-confessed single malt scotch snob. Steve Aldrich has a cameo as a marrying judge in Watery Grave, which delights him. Complaints or compliments to the editor, ccnh@boreal.com, or stevealdrich41@gmail.com.
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