Fight Climate Change, Improve Your Health
October 15, 2009 by Miranda Marquit
Filed under Finance
One of the most expensive things that we pay for is health care. One way you can save money is to live a healthier lifestyle. Interestingly, going green can actually help you with that. You can fight climate change (the theme of this year’s Blog Action Day), improve your health and save money. Here are some things that you can do improve your health, all the while saving money and the environment:
- Walk or bike to work: This one is pretty obvious. You’ll get good exercise, and reduce emissions. Plus, you’ll save money that you would have spent on gas. If getting all the way to work is not feasible, consider public transportation. Just walking to and from the stops can lead to an increase in health.
- Telecommute: You can save money and reduce pollution by working from home. It’ll reduce your stress level related to commuting (which can affect your health), as well as give you the chance to spend a few minutes each day in exercise, if you wish.
- Eat less red meat: I could never go completely meatless. But I have noticed a change in the way I feel now that we have reduced our red meat consumption to three or four times a month, and our consumption of white meat to four or five times a month. The raising and production (and transport) of meat contributes a great deal to pollution and climate change. Plus, meat costs more than other groceries. We have learned how to make vegetarian meals, and it’s easier on our budget, since we are spending less on food.
- Drink more water: Especially if you have it filtered at the tap. The types of beverages that come in cans and bottles are not particularly good for you, and they are more expensive than buying a reusable water bottle and using that. We have a water filter system, and I have an aluminum bottle (plastic is damaging to the environment, and has chemicals that could affect your health). I drink mainly water, helping me feel better, lose weight and save money.
Can you think of other ways to improve your health and save money, all while fighting global climate change?
Image source: Andy Armstrong via Wikimedia Commons
Global warming is one of the great hoaxes of all time. God bless Al Gore and his millions, he’s scammed everyone, even himself.
But I’m all for polluting less and exercising more. Cut off the PCs and TVs to save electricity, stop blogging, stop commenting, stop taking jets to the premiers of eco-friendly movies, shop only at the Goodwill store, get off the couch and go outside, walk around the block, play some tennis or basketball. Buy diesel and run your car on McDonalds deep fry oil, smell like a french fry as you drive through you neighborhood. Build your own set of solar panels (like me) and feed electricity back out onto the grid…. the list just goes on and on…
I think the global warming debate is a distraction. If we weren’t so distracted over whether or not climate change is “real”, we would have to focus on the public health issue that is pollution. And maybe do something about it. Sadly, though, politicians don’t want that, since that would mean losses in campaign contributions. So it’s all of their interests to keep on debating about climate change and global warming, and keep us wound up about something that isn’t as important as the immediate issue of pollution.
I think everyone supports polluting less, and things are certainly much better now than in the 1960s and 1970s when you could see chunks of chemical foam drifting down the Potomac River past the Jefferson and Lincoln memorials and rockfish floating belly up. The pollution situation will only continue to get better in the developed world as technology improves and public pressure influences companies to pollute less.
But I have to disagree with you on the global warming debate and cap & trade. This issue is critical, especially to the twenty-something crowd and those younger, because the government wants to lower the average family’s standard of living by thousands of dollars per year for questionable, if any benefits. Why give the politicians more patronage money out of our pockets, why give them the power to distribute more favors to their contributors, why allow them to enrich a favored few with these artificial creations?
Politicians selling themselves out for money? Say it ain’t so. :-) But why give people so untrustworthy more power and control over our lives?