- Barlow family Green Practices—“To reduce our impact on God’s Creation.”
Recycling and Reuse
- We recycle paper, cardboard, glass, cans, and plastics (#1 and #2) curbside.
- We recycle electronics (TVs, old stereos, batteries) at Town facilities or special collections.
- We use the plastic grocery bags for waste-basket liners. All other plastic bags we recycle by returning them to the grocery store.
Water and Energy Use
- Electricity usage: Over the past two years, we have reduced our monthly electricity usage by about 17 percent. We did this through several actions, some of which can be done at any time (such as switching to compact fluorescent lights and making sure lights are turned off when not in use) and some of which can be done at the time of a major new purchase when it is possible to replace inefficient with high-efficiency appliances (we purchased high-efficiency clothes washer, dryer, refrigerator, and dishwasher).
- We use cold water for nearly all of the clothes washes.
- We recently signed up for the 100% GreenStart service provided by People’s Power and Light through National Grid. The service allows National Grid to purchase energy from local renewable resources such as solar, wind, biomass, and small hydroelectric plants from New England. These renewable sources have lower pollutant levels than the standard mix of energy sources used by National Grid, not only carbon dioxide but other constituents that affect public health and the environment (mercury, particulates, nitrogen, sulfates, and so forth). The service currently costs 2.4 cents per kilowatt-hour (or about $9 per month for our family).
Yard, Compost, and Outdoors
- We use organic fertilizer (applied by a lawn-care business) and no pesticides.
- We rarely water the lawn, perhaps 5 times per summer (we do water the garden more often, though, as needed).
- We have a mulching mower and if we don’t use the mulcher, we compost the cuttings.
- We compost our kitchen vegetable waste matter (uncooked fruits and vegetables, coffee grounds and filters, and egg shells).
- We participate in the annual litter pickup in town (Cumberland).
Entry from the first annual, “Greening of Rhode Island” exhibit featuring local high-school artists, 2009
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