How to Excel at Eco Math

$image: math$ There's math, new math, and now eco math. What is eco math? Super easy!

Eco math = the sum of small eco actions, repeated day in and day out.

Each day we are presented with opportunities to expand eco awareness and make informed choices. By making changes that are inspiring and manageable relative our current lives, the process of incorporating sustainability becomes much easier.

The question is, how good are you at eco math? It's all about taking as many eco actions you can in a day, every day, of every week, of every month multiplied by the number of people you inspire with eco awareness. Cumulatively, all the actions add up and contribute positively to addressing the complex issues our world faces today.

To help you do just that, following are ways to go green each day of the week. As a green living consultant, I suggest starting off with ideas in each area that are of most interest to you and build from there. Each week can be a new platform to launch new eco actions. Have fun with it and know that every eco action you take adds up and makes a difference.

Paperless Mondays:

Within our business sustainability consulting, we explain that when it comes to paper, producing paper from virgin fiber is both energy and water intensive. It releases significant amounts of greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. By choosing to use less paper and paper with recycled content you are making the choice to save wood, water and energy, and cut pollution and solid waste. The costs savings add up and the environmental impact goes down. Need ideas? Check out 19 Tips to go Paperless at Home.

Turn Tuesdays Green at Work:

Keep in mind, every job is a green job: it's all in how you do it. One approach is to increase your participation in the sustainability programs offered within your organization. This offers a broader perspective of potential green projects and areas of improvement. Another approach is to green your physical environment. If you work at home, check out Green your Home Office 101 for ideas or 10 Ways to Green Your Cubicle. Both offer ideas to embrace sustainability concepts in your work environment.

Water Wednesdays:

Clean, fresh water is no longer just an issue for developing countries. It has become more and more a global issue. Water is linked to every facet of life on our planet and directly interacts with a myriad of other sustainability concepts. Learn water wise habits to Reduce your Water Footprint.

Adventurous Thursdays:

Explore different modes of transportation . The benefits of alternative transportation include conserving energy, preserving resources, reduced commuter traffic, cost savings (gas and parking), and reduced carbon emissions. Fun ideas include: carpool, bus, train, cycling or telecommuting/ coworking options for work environments.

Friday Fun:
Slay Energy Vampires with energy efficiency practices: The U.S. Department of Energy tells us that not only do appliances continue to draw electricity while the products are turned off, but in the average home nearly 75% of all electricity used to power electronics is consumed by products that are switched off. Explore energy efficiency eco actions to use less energy.

Saturday Waste Management/ Recycling:

When you avoid making garbage in the first place, you eliminate the disposing of waste or recycling it later. It's the first component of the sustainability concept of the three R's: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Clues to how to reduce waste can be found by visiting what's in your garbage.

Sparkle Sunday with Green Cleaning:

Conventional cleaning supplies contain ingredients that are toxic or hazardous. By replacing them with eco-friendly products, you're providing improved indoor air quality, as well as reducing the 5 billion pounds of chemicals consumed by cleaning industry each year. Get started using non toxic products and breathe easier.

Eco math is just a fun way of looking at the different ways we as individuals can address the environmental concerns of carbon, water, and energy on a smaller scale: our lives. To be good at eco math, remember, every eco action adds up. Your eco actions matter. Together, we can all make positive change.