Sustainability Ideas

As follow up to our last post here's five key areas where we can focus on reducing our household impacts:

• Energy
• Electricity - Household consumption
  
• Fuels - Consumption and delivery, where does your fuel come from? Can you ride your bike instead of take a car?
  
• Life Cycle of Products - Energy to create, use, and dispose of an item
• Waste
• Disposable versus Recyclable versus Compostable
• Purchasing Behavior - Excess packaging, excess bags,
  
• Water
• Total Consumption
• Heating of water
• Toxins
• Cleaning Supplies
• Personal Hygiene Products
• Hazardous Chemicals - Paint, glues, office supplies, batteries
  
• Land Use
• Landscaping - Water consumption, energy consumption
  
• Chemical Application - Pesticides, synthetic fertilizers
  

These key areas were from the lecture presented at Oregon State University - Cascade Campus discussed in the previous post. If your looking for examples in these areas try our Green Jersey Tips at our website, www.wildheartcycling.com.

Here are a few changes we've made, both personally and as a company, toward being more sustainable:

• Replaced incandescent bulbs with compact flourescent bulbs
• Purchase power generated by the wind.
• Be wise on what we print.
• Turn lights off when not in the room.
• Encourage guides and customers to car pool. Last year we had one guide who didn't a car. This year we have three.
• For 2008 we're committed to using soy based inks and recycled paper in our marketing materials. We are also working towards minimizing paper oriented marketing materials.
• Let the air dry our washed cycling clothes instead of a clothes dryer.
• Use low VOC paint.
• Purchase locally. This includes goods and services

These are a few of the actions we've taken. As Dr. Shinderman discussed being sustainable is a continuum. As we get smarter and see more opportunities we will continue along that continuum.

Cheers, Ben

www.wildheartcycling.com
Bicycle Tours in Oregon, California and Vermont