Column: "Cheap and Lazy" Shopping

I'm cheap and lazy when it comes to buying gifts. I hope you are, too.

Okay, maybe “cheap” is too strong a word. “Frugal,” perhaps. But I like to save money, and I look for useful gifts that people will appreciate. I hate wasting money on stuff people don't need or want.

And maybe instead of “lazy” I should promote myself as “efficient.” If I can save time shopping, I'm all for it.

Whatever you call it, it's a green way to shop. So here are my recommendations for the “frugal and efficient” (aka “cheap and lazy”) shopper:

1. Give gift certificates to your favorite local shops, restaurants and businesses. These are always appreciated if you choose interesting ones. You've never wasted your money—at the very least you've supported a place you want to keep in business!

2. Browse online and call ahead. In an afternoon, you can visit dozens of stores online without spending a dime on gas. If you come across a small, locally-owned store that looks interesting, give them a call. They can often recommend the perfect gift or refer you to another store that carries what you're looking for.

3. “Wrap” your gifts in reusable bags. Everyone likes to unwrap gifts, but who likes to get stuck with a bunch of garbage? Reusable gift wrap bags are easier and greener than wrapping paper. Drop in a short note with your present, pull the drawstring closed, and you're done!

4. Choose carefully. Pick just one gift per person, but make it special. If you can't find the perfect gift in a store, send something you can't buy: a note and a promise to spend time with the person you love. Or, if you do find the perfect gift but can't afford it, go in with others to share the cost.

5. Shop all year long. Keep an eye out for things you would want to give, and jot them down. A short shopping excursion on a lazy summer afternoon is a lot more fun than a holiday shopping marathon among the mob at the mall. Give yourself time to think; you'll find better deals and more meaningful gifts.

If you put a little thought into it, being “cheap and lazy” is a great way to avoid mindless consumerism and give green gifts people will really appreciate.

Save Money: November's Sustainable Living Tip

Save money while saving the planet. Personal thrift promotes planetary well being. But think carefully about every purchase. Don't save money at the expense of the planet--eating at a fast-food chain instead of an organic local restaurant, for example. Instead, find ways to balance your budget that bring global benefits.

Top 20 money and planet-saving tips

1. Turn down the heat. Whether by hand or with an automatic programmable thermostat, lowering your heating bill is one of the most effective ways you can save. With space heaters in rooms that need to stay warm, you can probably safely turn down your main thermostat to 50 degrees (check with a plumber to make sure).
2. Heat people, not possessions. Instead of turning your thermostat up and heating your entire house, use electric space heaters when and where you need them. It's an easy, affordable way to create warm comfort zones around the people you love.
   
3. Insulate. This is an investment with a great guaranteed return. Start with your attic, but don't forget to insulate around your basement, too.
4. Seal air leaks. Blocking those cold drafts not only keeps you more comfortable, but saves money. Remember, for every cold breeze blowing in, there is a warm breeze leaking out. Do your part to stop global warming!
5. Turn off the lights. If you're not vigilant about turning off the lights when you leave a room, I bet you're spending at least $50 per year unnecessarily. Not a big deal? If you don't need the extra money, turn off the lights anyway and donate the money to charity. If every household in Brunswick did that, we'd raise $407,500 annually!
6. Unplug unused appliances.The EPA estimates that appliances use more energy while turned off than on! Why is that? Because most appliances suck power surreptitiously for things like remote controls and clocks. Unplug them to stop the waste.
   
7. Switch to CFL light bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are four times more efficient than the old-fashioned incandescent bulbs. Get a dollar's worth of light for a quarter!
   
8. Install low-flow showerheads. If your showerhead is more than a few years old, chances are you are wasting warm water--and the dollars used to heat it.
   
9. Wash clothes in cold water. Modern detergents work just fine in cold water. Why spend extra money on hot water for no reason?
   
10. Air dry clothes. A little time hanging clothes adds up to dozens of dollars over the course of a year. Plus, hanging clothes indoors during the winter adds welcome humidity to dry indoor air.
    
11. Cover your windows. Windows let in light, but also let out heat. Insulating blinds are the most effective, but even a thin covering helps block heat loss.
12. Compost. This is something you can do that literally makes your part of the world a better place for all living things. Save on trash fees and synthetic fertilizer costs.
    
13. Walk and bike more. Every mile you walk or bike instead of drive your car puts more than 50 cents in your pocket, according to the IRS. Personally, I find a bike trailer allows me to do all my grocery shopping with ease--and keeps me in shape!
    
14. Recharge your batteries. Rechargeable batteries can be recharged up to 1,000 times. That's a whole lot of savings in disposable batteries you don't need to buy--or throw away!
15. Bottle your own water. It's nice to have a bottle of water at work or school, but why not fill your own? For less than a penny per gallon, you can filter tap water and bring it with you in a reusable stainless steel bottle.
    
16. Pack your own lunch. It's no secret that you can eat better for less money when you pack your own lunch. With washable sandwich wraps and reusable bottles, you can also eat better with less trash.
    
17. Buy in bulk. Dollar for dollar, you get more product and less packaging when you buy in bulk. Got limited space? Find a store that lets you refill from their bulk dispensers.
    
18. Preserve food. For every food there is a season, but you can enjoy preserved food any time of the year. If you have a freezer, you'll pay less to operate it if you keep it full.
    
19. Grow your own garden. Container plants are a good option if you don't have much space or time. Plan now to save a bundle on herbs and fresh veggies next year.
    
20. Get outside. Entertaining your family doesn't have to be an expensive proposition. Taking time for a family hike around your neighborhood is a free way to reconnect with each other and your community. Set out on foot from your home with an open mind for adventure, and you'll be surprised what you discover!

Environmental Happenings

What's Happening in the Local Environmental Scene and Beyond

In October the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission gave preliminary approval to Plum Creek Timber Company's controversial plan for resorts, homes and conservation affecting more than 400,000 acres around Moosehead Lake. A final vote on the zoning changes is expected in the next few months. Then each resort and subdivision will have to go through a separate permitting review. Construction is likely to be a year or more away. Nonprofit groups must now start raising $35 million before finalizing a deal to protect most of the conservation land.

Thursday, November 6 - Growing Up the Hard Way (Next to Swan Island), 7 pm, Merrymeeting Grange Hall, Bowdoinham. Presentation by Jake Bishop, local historian, sponsored by Friends of Merrymeeting Bay. For more information, visit www.FriendsOfMerrymeetingBay.org

Saturday, November 8 - Go Green Expo, 10 am - 4 pm, Mt. Ararat High School Gymnasium, Topsham. A free consumer expo open to the public, featuring keynote Kurt Adams who will will speak on "Green Energy in Maine: Fighting Climate Change and Growing Our Economy" at noon.

Thursday, November 13 - Preserving the Harvest, 7 - 8:30 pm, F.W. Horch, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick. Join us for our next Sustainable Living Talk featuring Jeff Burchstead of Buckwheat Blossom Farm. Free and open to the public. Space is limited, so please call 729-4050 to reserve your seat.

Thursday, November 13 - ecomaine's Green Symposium, 9 am - 2 pm, USM Sullivan Complex on 21 Falmouth Street in Portland. Learn insider tips from energy auditors, how to plan and fund wind and solar energy initiatives, best practices in green marketing, and much more. For more information, visit www.MaineGreenSymposium.com

Thursday, November 13 - The Kennebec Estuary: How does it contribute?, 7 pm, Maine Maritime Museum, Bath. How do the natural resources of the estuary contribute to our local economy and quality of life? Speaker: Michael LeVert, Economist Maine State Planning Office Panel: Trevor Hunt, Superintendent Bath Water District; Mike Fear, President Main Street Bath; Dick Lemont, Phippsburg Shellfish Commission Chair, Laura Sewall, Former Executive Director Kennebec Estuary Collaboration Moderator: Bruce Kidman, Director of Communications and Government Relations, The Nature Conservancy.

Thursday, December 4 - The Kennebec Estuary: Health and Sustainability, 7 pm, Long Reach Hall, Maine Maritime Museum, Bath. A presentation of The State of the Kennebec Estuary, a research project contracted by the Kennebec Estuary Collaboration. This report assesses current ecological conditions of the estuary and identifies key challenges and opportunities for conservation of this unique system. Speakers: Slade Moore, Director of Biological Conservation, Jaret Reblin, Biologist. For more information, visit www.kennebecestuary.eventbrite.com or call 442.8400.

News From ReVision Energy

ReVision Energy is promoting 1/2 price site evaluations from now until the New Year! Our $300 site evaluation fee has been reduced to $150. We are trying to help get energy efficient systems to all Maine homeowners. If you would like to talk about a site evaluation for your home, what that entails, or just talk to us about the potential of a solar hot water, solar electric, or high efficiency wood boiler system we would love to have that opportunity. Please call 221-6342 or email jen@revisionenergy.com

Events coming up~

The GoGreen Expo will be in Topsham, Saturday November 8^th from 10-4pm. The event will be held at the Mt. Ararat High School gymnasium. The event is free and open to the public. John Capron, one of our experienced solar technicians, will be presenting at 1 pm. He will be talking about renewable energy options for your home and business. For more information, please visit the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber: http://www.midcoastmaine.com/template.php?cID=90

Saturday, November 22 we are going to be at LL Bean in Freeport. LL Bean is gearing up for the holidays and is going to have many things going on, crafts for kids, ice carvings, gingerbread characters, and ReVision Energy will be there talking about efficient heating systems for your home from 10-4 pm that day. I will be there talking about solar hot water and solar electricity. Lee Landry, one of our wood boiler experts, from our Liberty shop will be there all day talking about wood boilers. He’ll be bringing a wood boiler with him to have on site. This is a great opportunity to learn about wood boilers, how efficient they are, and whether you are the right candidate to have one in your home.

Saturday, December 13^th at 9:30 am. The Shelter Institute will be hosting a free class called Intro to Active Solar. I will be presenting solar energy options for your home. The class is free but space is limited so they suggest you call or email to sign up. Please follow the link below for more info: http://www.shelterinstitute.com/ActiveSolar.htm.

Preserving the Harvest

F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods and Supplies, 56 Maine St., Brunswick, will host a talk by Amy and Jeff Burchstead of the horse-powered Buckwheat Blossom Farm titled "Preserving the Harvest," on Thursday, November 13, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. The talk is free and open to the public.

The Burchsteads will explain how to plan for winter by storing root crops, freezing and fermenting garden produce, and over wintering crops in the garden. For those considering buying a community supported agriculture (CSA) farm share, but scared off by the thought of what to do with too many fresh vegetables, the talk will suggest ways to spread out the bounty so it can be savored during colder months. Other topics that will be covered at the talk are the definitions of "local" and "organic", the importance of knowing your farmer, and the "dirty dozen" conventional crops to avoid.

Free informational handouts will be provided. Seating is limited, so those interested in attending are encouraged to call the store at 729-4050 to reserve a seat.

The talk is part of the F.W. Horch series on sustainable living. Each monthly talk is held at the F.W. Horch Sustainable Goods & Supplies store, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick on the second Thursday of the month. December's talk will discuss sustainable gift giving.

For more information, please call 729-4050 or visit www.FWHorch.com.