Green Challenge 1
Do you remember there was a time when it seemed preposterous to buy water? If you were thirsty you went to the faucet. Well, sometime between then and now, we were convinced that tap water is for doing dishes and bottled water is for drinking. The irony is, the bottled water we are drinking is usually filtered tap water anyway. And worse, we are now paying money for a product that takes 1.5 million barrels of fossil fuels to manufacture and transport and wastes 3-5 liters of water for every liter bottled! And the bottles themselves, we have recently learned, leach chemicals into the water…the water that we are paying extra money for in order to be healthy. Where does the irony end? Well, not there.
The end result of bottled water- the empty bottle – ends up in landfills or incinerators, where the chemicals in the plastic get us again by leaching into our water supply and air. Only 20% of the 30 million disposable water bottles used every day are recycled- and the caps never are. Sometimes I ponder the waste of just the small cap, and how many of them are produced and tossed a day- and that alone is enough to make me run for the tap!
So that is your first challenge- to pledge to not buy bottled water again and instead drink filtered tap water and use a stainless steel bottle away from home. This may take some planning, but once you assess your water intake and get used to refilling your bottles before you head out, you will be a pro. And a sleek stainless steel water bottle is the hottest new accessory (that may just be my opinion, but I know I am not alone in thinking that).
Now, all filters are not created equal. Brands like Brita and Pur are two popular ones that remove chlorine and will make your water taste better, but if you want one that removes a wide range of contaminants we recommend a carbon filter system.
Our favorite is Multi-Pure water filters and they come in a variety of systems from counter top, under the counter, and whole house.
Ok- so let’s bring the good old days back and get reacquainted with your tap!
And if you already have implemented this green habit into your life, then your challenge for the next two weeks is to think of someone you can convince to join the tap movement with you!
Good news! I have two aluminum bottles one for home and one for the office. I was able to convince my office lunch buddy to purchase an aluminum bottle. She noticed I was carrying the aluminum bottle filled with New York tap water to lunch. I am sure over the next two weeks I can convert more of my office as they see me with my shiny blue bottle.
Seth is converted now as well. He too purchased one bottle for home use and one bottle for the office.
Alas we still have a stash of bottled Poland Spring in the house. We have promised to buy no more!
I’ve already got the tap water down, now I just need to remember to fill up my reusable bottle every morning. I’ve remembered it a few times already so I’m on my way.
da best. Keep it going! Thank you