Meatless Monday: Good Health, Good Earth, Easy Dinner!

Mmmmm. Veggie Burger!

I did it. I signed the Meatless Monday pledge.

Being from the South, it’s not unusual for me to throw dried white beans in a pot with a little onion, garlic and onions, partner it with some cornbread, and call it dinner! Eating meatless is not something I’m a stranger to. But, like most southerners from my generation (remember, I’m a boomer), sometimes I just naturally start thinking “meat” when it’s time to figure out the dinner menu. Discovering “Meatless Monday” has made it easier for me to literally “forget” the meat. Now, if your household includes a bunch of burly guys, going meatless may be a little more challenging than it is for me and my daughters. But, consider this: a meatless dinner every now and then usually means less time bent over the stove on a weeknight, it’s good for the earth, good for your health and its almost always cheaper! Personally, I love anything that’s a little more budget-friendly right now.

Here’s the part where you get to turn up your nose: for dinner this Monday night we had a veggie burger and a fresh salad. I first became aquainted with veggie burgers several years back when I was trying to drop some pounds with Weight Watchers. The rest of the family would be chowing down on grilled burgers, and I would stoically munch my veggie burgers. Veggie burgers are not bad, folks! Paired with a fresh salad, or some roasted potatoes they go a long way toward satisfying my occasional thirst for fast food burgers.

Regardless of whether you decide to brave the world of veggie meat substitutes, Meatless Monday is still a practice worth cultivating. Going meatless just one day a week has all kinds of benefits to you and the earth. Consider this for starters:

• Going meatless just one day a week may keep your body healthier, lower your weight, and possibly lower your cholesterol to reduce your risk of heart disease

• Reduce your carbon footprint. According to World Watch magazine, “recent analysis by Goodland and Anhang finds that livestock and their byproducts actually account for at least 32.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year, or 51 percent of annual worldwide GHG emissions.” Hmm. That’s a mouthful.

Meatless Monday is a non-profit initiative in association with the John Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Health. Their goal is to reduce meat consumption by 15% for healthier population and a healthier earth. Check out the Meatless Monday website for more information on the impact that going meatless may have,  meatless recipes and related articles.

P. S. – The veggie burger made for a really QUICK meal, something I’m often in need of on a week-night. Next week perhaps I’ll be more creative with Meatless Monday. Stay tuned. Also, I had this idea brewing…. maybe a Meatless Monday supper group once a month? What do you think?

Leave a Comment November 23, 2009

Brrrrr. Stay Warm, Save Energy, Spend No Money. Idea #1.

Daisy loves our vintage fireplace

I turned on the fireplace this weekend. Yes, turned it on. It’s gas, vintage 1970′s. It’s so much fun, so cozy and oh, SO inefficient. However, I depend on it for heating one whole end of my house. And, it does warm things up eventually, but at what cost? I couldn’t even venture a guess, but I know when I open that flue, natural gas is being sucked right out the top of my house like Dorothy was sucked out of Kansas.

Winter Goals: Be Warm. Be Green. Do It Cheaply.
This is the first in a series I’ll be doing on small ways to heat up the house more efficiently. First of all, besides the fact that I depend on a 1970′s fireplace, you must understand that I am probably the coldest-natured person on earth. I should live in Florida, but I would miss the change of seasons too much to actually move there. And… not only is my fireplace from the 1970′s, my house was built in the 1960′s! That means single-paned windows, drafty doors and poor insulation. God, I do love my house though. This will be my 3rd winter in this house. This year, I’ve decided to stay warm, and this year, also, I’m on a very tight budget.

I am investigating alternative heating methods for the back end of my house. But, while I was mulling over heaters on the internet, the Alabama weather unexpectedly dropped to freezing in a single night! That sent me scuttling for some short-term, preventative solutions.

Idea #1. Insulating Film.
Sunday I was off to Lowes in search of an insulating film for my windows and doors. I’d  read about a clear window film you can apply to decrease the energy loss through your glass. I decided to swing past the space heater aisle, where I discovered that virtually every single space heater had been snatched from the shelves. OK, onward to the film.

I found the film stowed away in bins along with the weather stripping. Unlike the heater aisle, which was practically barren, the insulating film had NOT been picked over. I purchased a box that said it would cover a single interior patio door. Only about $8.00, I figure if this stuff works, it’ll be a bargain! When I got back home, I opened up the box and this is what I had: a roll of double-sided tape, and a sheet of clear plastic. Don’t you love marketing? But, wait, there’s more…

To apply this highly efficient piece of advanced technology, you simply put double-sided tape all the way around the door molding. Then, stick that plastic up there, as smooth as you can. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Then, the fun part. Get your hairdryer and apply heat about 1 inch away from the plastic. The plastic will start to shrink and stretch tight across your window or door. So cool. When you are finished, the plastic will look practically smooth and clear. Light still comes through the door, though hopefully, the cold does not.

When I stood back to look at my handiwork, my patio doors reminded me of old southern homes I’ve been in before. Usually, a place where some one’s grandparents lived. And, they would have their porch or windows all stapled over with milky-looking, plastic sheeting to keep out the cold. I realize this look will probably never make it into Dwell, but somehow, I found it familiar and weirdly comforting. And, I must say, MY plastic is pretty darn clear!

I think it’s worth going back to get another sheet of plastic to put over the other door, and see if it really helps to insulate my house. I’m telling you folks, it can get cold in here and new windows are not in the budget for this year! The packaging claims that the product reduces cold air drafts, and improves R-value up to 90%. We’ll see.

Got an idea for staying warm on the cheap, easy and green? Love to hear’ em!

1 Comment October 20, 2009

October is Energy Awareness Month… 5 Easy Ways to Conserve

October is Energy Awareness month. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy since 1991, the goal is to increase awareness of ways to decrease energy consumption, particularly in Federal agencies and buildings. This year the theme is A Sustainable Energy Future; Putting All the Pieces Together. The objective is to encourage everyone to see how they fit into the big picture. We all  make decisions daily that impact sustainability and a new energy economy. This really ties into Oh! Eco Me’s blog theme, “becoming greener one small step at a time”. It doesn’t take large changes to make an impact. You don’t have to eat granola everyday or give up life’s little comforts to make small changes that matter. So, here’s some small energy tips to try for the rest of October:

1. Change to compact flourescent bulbs.
Ok., I have to tell you this. I really detest the light that is given off by fluorescent bulbs. I have spent a small fortune buying these curly bulbs, putting them in my lamps, and taking them out again. However, I’ve discovered that I get more pleasing light if I replace just half of my lamps with fluorescent bulbs. That way I still get the soft light that I like in the room, but the comfort of knowing that I am being “half-way” energy efficient! Small changes, right?

2. Turn off the lights.
No matter what type of light bulbs you use, you can make a huge impact simply by turning out the lights (along with other electrical appliances when they are not being used). It’s amazing how easy it is to get into the habit of turning out lights when you leave a room. Even if it’s only for a few minutes, it counts. I used to be Mrs. Kilowatt, but now it is second nature to turn out lights that we aren’t using. So easy, and yet so meaningful.

3. Combine trips and share rides.
If you find it difficult to share a ride to work, maybe you could try combining trips for chores. For me, that is a much easier  goal to accomplish. I live in a very central location to Everything in town, so it’s easy to fall into the habit of running in and out to pick up this and that. I have friends who live a little further out of town, and I’ve noticed they are very good at planning chores so that they make trips “into town” count. I can do the same thing on a different level if I just add a little more planning into my lifestyle.

4. Take a train or a bus.
I would LOVE to do this. I live in a city where mass transit is simply not available. Just as the city seemed to be making strides in offering reliable mass transit, the economic downturn blasted into our world. Many of the routes and times have been discontinued. I am hopeful for the future! But, if you live in a city that is large enough, and fortunate enough, to have reliable mass transit, by all means, please take advantage of it this month.

5. Buying a new appliance? Check out the energy star ratings!
If you are in the market for new appliances, please try to purchase energy star appliances. It’s easy to learn to read the energy star labels to make informed decisions about how the appliances you are considering stack up energy-wise. Reading these labels and making informed decisions not only promotes making more sustainable purchases, but will also save you money in the long run. More efficient appliances mean less money spent on heating, cooling, electricity, etc.

3 Comments October 15, 2009

9.1.09 Tuesdays Tiny Green Tip

Get your vampires under control.
Typically, 20% of  the average American’s power bill is generated by the small appliances we own, such as computers, home audio systems, DVD players, all the good stuff. To save energy and money, unplug all of your appliances, even when they’re turned off. Televisions, microwaves and computers in particular suck up power even when you’re not tuned in. Appliances with internal clocks, LED displays or remote controls are culprits, but so are refrigerators and many other small appliances. (Even your phone charger is guilty). Known as Standby Power, Phantom Load or Vampire Power, these guys suck your power 24/7, even while your’re sleeping. Creepy, huh?. Imagine your appliances multiplied by millions of households. Yep, the small things matter.

To help you save some bucks, and get a little peace of mind about all of those carbon emissions, unplug at least your biggest culprit. It would be tough to go about plugging and unplugging, so instead of running around, install a power strip that connects your main offenders. Then one flip of the switch will be all that is needed to nip that Vampire guy. They actually make Smart strips that will cut power to computer peripherals when the computer is shut down, or some of them will detect when a device hasn’t been used for a certain amount of time, and kill the juice. Pretty smart, huh?

Leave a Comment September 1, 2009