You might not have Tom Bergeron hosting your next dinner party but that doesn?t mean that the topic of conversation can't be the latest news and events in the green movement, and it doesn't mean that you can?t be an eco-friendly host or hostess yourself. Here are some conversation starters for your very own green gossip.
- Did you know that you can raise the value of your home 25% just with a few eco-friendly renovations? I found out that skylights, solar panels, dual-flush toilets and other improvements make homes more saleable, even in this horrific market! A solar electric system may increase home value by as much as $20,000 for every $1,000 in annual reduced operating costs. Have you considered "greenovating"?
- I used to be totally obsessed with bottled water, until I found out that not only does it cost up to 10,000 times more than tap, but it is just so terrible for the environment! Did you know 100,000 cars could be fueled for a year on the amount of oil it takes to make bottled water? And 90% of plastic water bottles aren't recycled! I've now switched over to a reusable bottle and a water pitcher with a filter. What do you prefer?
- We decided to make tonight's meal using the 100-Mile Diet, where you only consume locally grown, in-season food. Since strawberries won't be ripe in these parts until next month, I had to switch my pie to sweet potato, which is in season right now, but I was pleasantly surprised to see freshly roasted peanuts for sale from a farm only a few miles down the road... have any of you ever been to the farmer's market on Sundays?
- My girlfriend read that simply putting a plastic bottle filled with pennies in the tank can reduce monthly water bills by 16%! We don't have the budget to buy or the time to install a dual flush toilet, so this tip sounds worth trying. Have you heard of a unusual eco-friendly tip like that before?
- My drycleaner just started offering regular customers a reusable cloth bag for our freshly cleaned clothes, enabling us to forgo those annoying plastic bags that never decompose in the landfills. Also, if you ask, they'?ll give you a reusable cardboard hanger collector for the plethora of wire hangers that come with the clean clothes, to be returned when full! Did you know about this service? Do other convenience providers in this area offer similar eco-friendly options?
