How about Automating Your Man?

Ok listen, this is pretty simple, men are difficult when it comes to remembering the minor details of life such as……grooming habits?  I know that’s silly but many men just grab what ever they can get their hands on first.  Others, are picky and have exact products but do not like to shop for them.

And, imagine getting this set up and then not worry about from month to month.  Especially if you are trying to get your Automated Man on a schedule.  This can help teach them that they need these grooming items at the same time basically all the time.  Then, as they get older, they might actually remember to take out the trash.

Ok listen, this is pretty simple, men are difficult when it comes to remembering the minor details of life such as……grooming habits?  I know that’s silly but many men just grab what ever they can get their hands on first.  Others, are picky and have exact products but do not like to shop for them.

And, imagine getting this set up and then not worry about from month to month.  Especially if you are trying to get your Automated Man on a schedule.  This can help teach them that they need these grooming items at the same time basically all the time.  Then, as they get older, they might actually remember to take out the trash.

One of the first changes that we made in our home was switching to the compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFL bulbs. The packages spout claims of longer lasting and using less energy. Having seen claims of light bulbs that would last for five years in the past, initially, I had doubts. Still, if it was possible, I had to test it.

The first purchase was for only one package. We went through the incandescent light bulbs like there was no tomorrow. It seemed like one was blowing somewhere in the house at least once per week. I actually thought that it was just our poor electrical habits. Some we left on all the time, and still others were turned off and on several times per day. Since these new bulbs were more expensive than the cheap $1 for 4 bulbs that I was used to paying, one package would have to do.

When the next bulb went out, we replaced it with one of the new bulbs. Time would tell. It did not take long before that pack of bulbs was all in use. While we kept replacing the older incandescent bulbs, these new ones just kept going. I should have taken notes, but I was not really that concerned with exact figures at the time. I was just thrilled to not have to beg my husband to keep changing the light bulbs.

As time went on, I began buying only the CFL bulbs. I was hooked. I loved the fact that we did not have to change the bulbs so often. The cost did not bother me because I figured it all balanced out. Again, I did not sit down and actually figure out the cost. This was just my impression. I did not know how or why the bulbs did what they did. Basically, I really did not even care at that point.

As the days turned into weeks and months, my interest began to be drawn to why these bulbs were so special. I loved them, but I wanted to know what it was that made them so different and last longer. I really did not delve too deeply into researching it. When I decided to share some of the stories of my journey online, I thought that maybe it was time that I quit just relying on what others told me and did some research. I needed to know more than just because I like how they last and do not end up costing me as much.

The bulbs work so efficient due to an average of 4 milligrams of mercury. One of the older thermometers contained the about the same amount of mercury as 125 CFLs. As long as the bulb is intact, no mercury is released. If the CFL breaks, then special procedures should be used in order to clean up the glass and powder safely. Recycling of CFLs is recommended but even if a CFL is sent to the landfill, it still results in a 4 milligram reduction in the amount of mercury released into the environment. A standard light bulb uses more electricity and to make that electricity, mercury is released into the environment.

Take a walk around your home and count how many light bulbs your house uses. Multiply that by 4 to get an approximate amount of the reduction in mercury released into the environment. Add to that the fact that you are reducing your electrical bill why not change to CFLs in your home. The EnergyStar.gov’s fact sheet on CFLs states that approximately 20% of your electrical bill is for lighting. If your usual bill is $100 per month, then $20 of that would be for lighting. If you can reduce that by 75%, then you would be saving $15 per month just in lighting. Personally, it has been a long time since I have seen an electric bill that was that low. I hope to in the future as I continue to make changes.

The statement that had the biggest “wow” factor in the fact sheet was that “if every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, in one year it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes.” Just imagine the difference if we all used only CFLs in our homes.

Changing a light bulb is not a major expense. It does not take a technical expert to come in and take care of the installation. As long as we hold it by the base and not by the glass, we can generally safely install these energy saving bulbs. Take a look at the reduction in mercury being released into the environment if you replaced every bulb in your home. Then try to imagine how many homes that would help provide energy to light. Remember that the CFL can last up to ten times as long as the incandescent bulb that you have been using. Which bulb are you going to use next time you replace one?

I live in a rural area of a county with only small towns. The closest decent size city is about an hour drive away. Recycling centers and whole food markets are not around every corner like they are in big cities. When we buy groceries, we are lucky to have a choice between paper and plastic. This area is not exactly what you would consider a “green” area. That does not mean that it has to stay that way. Even if you live in a similar area, you can still make some green changes of your own.

The environmental message for decades has been to “reduce, recycle, and reuse.” Now, the buzz word is “living green.” These two things are similar but yet far apart in their meanings. If we make the decision that we too are gonna be green, then we can start by following the old mantra. We can reduce the amount of items in landfills by recycling items or reusing them. If we decide to continue the process to living green, then we are not only trying to reduce our impact on the environment but we are also striving to live a healthier lifestyle at the same time.

Since I have been addicted to home improvement shows for ages, I started out by watching Renovation Nation on Planet Green. It would require some major changes and a lot of time to do what this show inspired me to want to do. It was interesting, but to be honest, the changes they showed were far out of our family budget. It would be wonderful to be able to take such a giant step at making our earth a better place for future generations, but I had to think that surely there were other ways that I could make a difference that did not require me to spend that much money.

Time may not be our planet’s best friend but even if we have to take a little longer to make the changes we want to make, they are still going to be beneficial. Setting short term goals that work towards a long term goal helps to keep the motivation level high and allows the same ending destination to be reached.

Do not let where you live or the difficulty of finding green resources stop you from doing what you can. Do not get side tracked by listening to those that declare their way is the only way. Unfortunately, we are not all living in exactly similar situations with the same amount and type of resources available. We have to do what we can with what we have as we look for ways of having more options made available. We can take this journey together. Step by step, you and I are both gonna be green.