96 Ways to Go Green! (Part 2)

Rachel Offerdahl

Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

Here's the second installment in a series of tips for living “greener.” (Scroll down for Part 1!) This time, we take a greener look at food.

8. Compost your food scraps.

9. Learn where your food comes from. Buy organic and/or local food, especially from your local farmers’ market.

10. Use a pressure cooker (it’s healthier, too!).

11. Keep the freezer full to minimize air space.

12. Defrost food in the air or the fridge, not with water.

13. Minimize opening the oven door while cooking. Use the self-cleaning function while the oven is still hot.

14. Ignite charcoal with an electric probe, long match, or other alternative to lighter fluid.

15. Use reusable containers instead of baggies.

16. Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones.

17. Reduce your meat consumption and eat low on the food chain.

18. Buy fair-trade and shade-grown coffee and tea to reduce the amount of water needed to produce it.

19. Grow some food for yourself, instead of buying everything. Start with herbs or tomatoes, and you’ll be hooked!

20. Use the microwave to heat up leftovers instead of the stove.

21. Don’t leave the refrigerator or freezer door open.

Written By:

lcapone

As Deputy Director of DOER's Green Communities Division, Lisa helps lead a team devoted to working with Massachusetts cities and towns to realize environmental and cost benefits of municipal energy efficiency and renewable energy. Prior to joining DOER, Lisa worked in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs from 2007 to 2012, first as Press Secretary and then as Assistant Secretary for Communications and Public Affairs. Her previous communications and public relations experience includes both government and the private sector, where, as principal of upWrite Communications, she served clients such as The Trustees of Reservations, The Nature Conservancy, and Partners Health Care/North Shore Medical Center. She began her career as a journalist, covering Beacon Hill for the State House News Service, and later wrote for a variety of other publications including The Boston Globe, Teacher Magazine, Animals Magazine, and The Gulf of Maine Times. The author of two books, Lisa serves on the board of the Saugus River Watershed Council and resides with her family in Melrose.

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