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We can live greener. Let us count the ways. We asked readers to send their suggestions for living greener—using fewer resources, especially fossil fuels, using less single-use plastic, and wasting less.
Two local readers, Camifb@gmail.com and Diane Hiniker did. My niece, Erin Aldrich did as well, and fellow columnist Ann Mershon wrote a timely column of her own on better toilet paper! Here is summarized what they offered to all of us as well as a few thoughts of my own.
Free or reduced cost things
Hang out laundry to reduce dryer use and get that fresh sunshine smell. Uses solar and wind power instead of electricity or natural gas.
Take those ubiquitous plastic bags to one of our three sellers of recycled goods: 1st & 2nd Thrift (next May), Oddz & Endz, and the County’s recycling store. (Note: The Grand Marais City Council has received a petition to impose a nickel or larger charge for single use paper and plastic bags.)
Do not run the vehicle or truck when not on the road. Modern cars no longer need a warmup to drive effectively. Wear another layer instead.
Use glass containers, including recycled ones, instead of plastic to store food and chocolate awaiting consumption, whether in pantry, refrigerator or freezer.
Use rags instead of paper towels where possible. Save virgin Canadian forests. Wash rags the same day in the sink with detergent and a little peroxide.
Ann Mershon’s 12/31/2022 Cook County News-Herald column addressed how to “Enjoy the Go” without tearing down virgin Canadian forests. Getting to the bottom of a touchy subject – Cook County News Herald (cookcountynewsherald.com)
My favorite, let the dishwasher sit idle except for populous dinners. Wash and dry yourself or split with your housemate. Build community and save energy.
Cleaning products.
Do like grandma did; use peroxide, vinegar, and baking soda for most things. Erin suggested Salsuds, a Dr. Bronner’s product, www.drbronner.com/products/sal-suds-biodegradable-cleaner and Marley’s Monsters www.marleysmonsters.com instead of paper towels. (More detail is needed here; there is much information on internet and YouTube, but someone needs to boil it down and evaluate it for us.)
Use bar soap instead of liquid instead of plastic enclosed hand soap and body wash. (What to do about shampoo for hair? Those bottles are so handy.)
Buy cat litter in recyclable boxes instead of plastic containers or bags.
Buy recycled paper products where possible including coffee filters.
If you don’t own a Keurig coffee maker already, don’t go that way. Those little plastic cups don’t recycle the news said recently. Maybe Keurig will change.
Buy local instead of Amazon, etc. Plan trips to stores to reduce travel and gas costs. Reduce clutter so we can find what we already have.
Cami wrote, “Grandma had most things right and the Amish still do. We’ve gotten lazy and privileged. Do more with less, and life will be more enjoyable.”
Everyone said to switch to powdered laundry detergents in recyclable cardboard boxes. One reported good results with Gain. We just ordered powdered TideHE. Another recommended Nellie’s. nelliesclean.com. One of you suggested dissolving the powder in shaken water to prevent streaks. (Consumer reports had bad reviews of concentrate products like Tru-Earth and Earth Breeze, although the latter was the best of the poor lot.)
Use compostable garbage bags. I found my first try to be too weak. Better results were obtained with a bag called HoldOn. (Note that an internet search warned that there is great variety in what is called recyclable and what actually happens in the earth.)
Peroxide instead of bleach was suggested for laundry and disinfecting. I do not have cost comparison or effectiveness data.
Composting to reduce trash bag and sewer use was suggested. The problem from a policy perspective is that it requires every home to learn how and be willing to compost unless there is a central composting facility. Cook County composts leaves and similar matter but rejects food waste. Could there be one or more central locations where people could take their food waste rather than trash it or run it down the disposal? To get widespread composting participation, we’d likely need drop offs in the Grand Marais, Grand Portage, and Tofte areas as well as 60 percent up the Gunflint Trail? And somebody would have to manage each site. Perhaps someone offers training. Here is a link for you to do it at home:: www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/how-to-compost.
Other
A recent law gives incentives for switching to cleaner energy. The most broadly useful is a tax credit to aid switching to heat pumps for heating and air conditioning. Arrowhead residents are handicapped by the many areas where hard rock is so close to the surface. Heat pumps require installation below the frost line. Digging up 3-billion-year-old rock is expensive, but those who live over enough dirt with big yards will take note.
That Inflation Reduction Act also has credits for buying electric vehicles and some hybrids. The tax credit for EVs is $7,500 if you have a tax obligation equal to or greater than that. You can search the internet easily for those incentives.
Perhaps some of our micro-economists can analyze the cost/benefit of all the foregoing, or some part of it? Send your calculations.
Those of us living off the grid use fewer resources; do they have alternatives to wood for heating? There are more efficient wood stoves that let out less CO2. 5 Most Efficient Wood Stoves [EPA Recommendations 2023] (tinyhousehugeideas.com) My college roommate had a wood stove in 1980 that burned two long logs to ashes and stayed warm overnight. Someone should research this issue for all of us.
Further Study. The Grand Marais UCC has a book study group in February and March this year. The book chosen is Inhabiting Eden: Christians, The Bible, and the Ecological Crisis. Paperback at Drury Lane is $22; E-book is $10 from Kindle and others. To join the group contact bruceRtyler@gmail.com.
Rob Perez would no doubt suggest closing all golf courses and playing pickleball only outside, if ever, thus using solar heating and wind power.
Caveat emptor: The author makes no guarantees of anything. You may complain, but do not bother to sue.
Steve Aldrich is a retired Hennepin County lawyer, judge, and mediator, serving as judge from 1997-2010. He and his wife moved here in 2016. Steve was once a Junior NRA member. He likes to remember that he was a Minnesota Super Family Lawyer before being elected to the bench. Steve writes this column to learn more about his new home area and to share his learnings with others—and to indulge his curiosities. Bouquets and brickbats to the editor or stevealdrich41@gmail.com. Copyright Stephen C. Aldrich and News Herald, 2022.
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