Finally a new post

It's been a while since I've last said anything on here. Consider my absence a result of playing Starcraft 2. Today's post is again about the environment and it focuses on two things: plastic bags and a company named Practecol (get it, practical).

First, plastic bags. They're everywhere, they're the poster child for why humans are bad for the earth, they're easy to use, and hard to reuse. Some cities have placed bans on them whereas others have opted for taxation. I like either method. My one curiosity with the bans is that they haven't become more popular. Obviously progressive cities in Europe and California (San Fransisco) have moved to phase out dispensable shopping bags, but I don't understand why this hasn't been a bigger national trend. I thought when I first heard of cities taking action against the bag that I would soon be charged a little extra as well for my visits to Kroger and Walmart. Oddly enough though there has been resistance to what is maybe one of the easiest ways to improve the environment, generate government revenue, and encourage responsible shopping habits.

Second on today's agenda is promoting Practecol - a very interesting green company. With a target audience of people who want to help the environment without necessarily being inconvenienced, Practecol makes products that are easy to use, generate revenue for the customer, and cut back on energy usage all at once. While I was shopping in Lowe's recently, I noticed a few of their products and was even compelled to buy two of them. The first is simply a 5 Minute Shower Timer. Hop into the shower, press the button, and hop out by the time the red light shows up. It's a neat way to cut back on water usage and save on the water bill. The second item I bought was the Perfect Flush Toilet Tank Displacement Bag. Again, the simplicity of the product is what stands out the most. Fill the bag with water, place in your toilet tank, and voila. I'm now saving upwards of 6000 gallons of water a year just by placing a bag in my toilet tank.

Could I have made these products at home instead of spending the $15 or so on them? Sure, but by the time I had found a timer lying around the house that was waterproof and a bag that I knew wouldn't burst, the cost savings would have been minimal. Besides, I'm all about supporting green companies, so that's always a bonus for me. The next step? Try and get the parents to join LGE's Demand Conservation program (which pays users $20 annually) and subsequently join the Green Energy Program which provides investment in local renewable projects.

Edit: tree bombs.