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Green shopping tips
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Save Money and the Enviorment
A family of four can save $3,000 a year simply by buying products in the largest size they can use and by buying long lasting reusable items. Think about the effect of your purchases on the environment when you shop. Items with excess packaging and products that need to be discarded after only a few uses cost more money, use up valuable resources and create more waste.
Buy Products in the Largest Size You Can Use; Avoid Excess Packaging
A family of four can save $2,000 a year in the supermarket by choosing large sizes instead of individual serving sizes. Remember, ten cents of every shopping dollar is used to pay for packaging. Small sizes use more packaging for each ounce of product than larger sizes. So, if you buy large sizes, you save money, reduce waste, and help the environment. That is a really good buy. Here are a few good examples, look for others the next time you shop.
- Buy cereal in a large box instead of in individual serving sizes.
- Buy juice in concentrates and use reuseable containers instead of single serving packages.
- Save money by buying bottled water in a large plastic jug instead of six packs of 16 ounce bottles. Reuse plastic water bottles.
- Buy large packages of sugar and flour.
- Avoid the small boxes of raisins and buy the same amount in the 24 ounce box.
Buy Products in Containers That You Know You Will Be Able to Recycle
It is important to familiarize yourself with your what types of containers and items can be recycled in your local recycling program. Once you know what you can recycle, look for products that come in the containers that you know you will be able to recycle when the products are all used up. Examples are products in commonly recycled containers made from aluminum, steel, #1 and #2 plastic, and glass. Check the Earth 911 Reuse and Recycling Services listings to see what types of containers/packaging you should look for in your community.
Buy Reusable and Long Lasting Items
Products that can be reused are cheaper in the long run than those you throw away and buy over and over again. Goods that are designed to last a long time are also cheaper in the long run than those that wear out quickly. A family can save $1,000 each year buy buying reusable and long lasting products.
- Use rechargeable batteries in toys, flashlights, radios. You can save $200 a year by using rechargeable batteries instead of disposables in one cd player used two hours a day.
- Use cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers. You’ll save $600 per child by using a laundry diaper service instead of disposable diapers.
- Use a real camera instead of disposable ones. If you take 24 pictures each month you will save $144 each year.
- Many families spend over $260 each year on paper towels and napkins. Switch to cloth napkins, sponges, and cloth towels or wipes.
- Use washable plates, cups, and silverware for parties and picnics instead of disposable products.
- Use an electric razor or hand razor with replaceable blades instead of disposable razors.
- Buy high quality/long life tires. They cost less per mile traveled and reduce the problem of disposing of used tires.
- Use a washable commuter mug for your morning coffee and eliminate a Styrofoam or plastic cup every day.
- Bring bags to the market, either cloth ones or your old paper and plastic ones. Many markets will credit your bill for using your own bags. When buying only a few items, don’t take a bag.
- Clean and service your appliances, computers, tools, and cars so that they will enjoy even longer lives. And, before you replace them, check to see if they are repairable. Consider sharing equipment that is used infrequently such as hedge clippers, pruners, fruit pickers, or chain saws.
Have fun
An Excuse to Celebrate
World Television Day
Okay, so this is technically a European holiday, but we Americans love TV too. Watch the tube as much as you want today in celebration. TV listings and more »
Best of Dayton
You Decide What's the Best
Best Barbecue Restaurant [poll]
Here's where you get to tell the world what you think. Every week you get to vote on the best that the Dayton area has to offer in entertainment, restaurants, recreation & and a few other bizarro categories.
Voting in this category ends on Nov. 24.
We have REVISED our official rules »
Colleges
Find Local College Events
University of Dayton
- Fourth annual Citizens of the World Exhibition at ArtStreet
- Friday Film Series at ArtStreet
- The Dan Rivers Acoustic Open Mic Show at Bargos Grill
Sinclair Community College
- The Elderly Brothers at J-Alans
- The Sailing, Russian Tombstones and The Audible Influence at Canal Street
- WROU 'Old Skool' dance party at Gilly's
Wright State University
Things to Do
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Check out the hottest fashions at Ebony Fashion Fair [things to do]
International fashion flair will rock Dayton a week earlier than usual. The Ebony Fashion Fair, a longtime day-after-Thanksgiving tradition, catwalks into the Dayton Convention Center on Friday, Nov. 21. Tickets are $25 to $30. The traveling fashion show is expected to raise $10,000 to $12,000 for National Council of Negro Women programs. More »
What's happening this week
- Mothergrove at Peach's Grill
- Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra with Violinist Vadim Gluzman at Schuster Performing
- Auntie Mame at Dayton Playhouse
- The Cover of Life at the Dayton
- Third Friday Fling in Yellow Springs
- 103.9 The X and Live Nation Present Staind, Seether and Papa Roach in Concert at Hara Arena
- Party Crashers at BW3s in Englewood for the OSU-Michigan game
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What's happening this week
- Mothergrove at Peach's Grill
- Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra with Violinist Vadim Gluzman at Schuster Performing
- Auntie Mame at Dayton Playhouse
- The Cover of Life at the Dayton
- Third Friday Fling in Yellow Springs
- 103.9 The X and Live Nation Present Staind, Seether and Papa Roach in Concert at Hara Arena
- Party Crashers at BW3s in Englewood for the OSU-Michigan game
Movies
Movies & Showtimes
'Twilight'[movies]
If Buffy the Vamipre Slayer has taught us nothing else, it's that teens, vampires and love affairs make for good entertainment. In "Twilight" new girl Bella is swept up in a passionate and dangerous romance with Edward, a mysterious teen vampire. More »
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Restaurants
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Random Top-Rated Restaurants
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Food & More
Local Dining
Amelia's Bistro, Bellbrook, restaurant review [review]
Call it comfort food, gourmet style. From crab raviolis with vanilla lobster sauce, to a hand-cut and brined pork chop served with a fig jam, to a simply "Big-Ass Cake" that's a chocolate lover's dream, Amelia's has the potential to become a destination restaurant — worth the drive to Bellbrook. More »
Random Top-Rated Restaurants
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