LESS MEAT- The average American eats two-hundred pounds of meat each year. A family of four spends about $2,300 annually on meat ($192 a month), and that number is increasing. By skipping meat one day a week you could save between 300 and 450 dollars a year. The impact on the environment is even greater it takes 2500 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of meat. If the population of the US ate 1 lb less meat a year it would save 767,500,000,000 gallons of water! In 2006 FAO estimated that meat industry contributes 18% of all emissions of greenhouse gasses. This figure was challenged in 2009 by two World-Watch researchers who estimated a 51% minimum; this small thing will change your budget and the world!
Poultry - The price of ground meat compared to ground turkey or chicken is comparable, but Raising 1 pound of turkey or chicken requires 75% less energy from fossil fuels, 85% less water, and half the land required to produce than 1 pound of beef. Poultry farms are also less polluting to air and water.
Buy whole chickens instead of pre-cut you will save up to $600 per year if all chicken (4 pounds per week) is purchased whole instead of as boneless, skinless breasts. You reduce the energy, resources, and waste involved with processing, packaging, and transport.
Dairy - Buy block cheese instead of pre-sliced or shredded cheese. There can be a savings of up to $100 per year for a family of four that buys 4 pounds of cheese per month. Block cheeses involve less processing and less plastic packaging than shredded or sliced cheeses, which results in less energy use and less waste.
Block cheese gives you more flexibility in how it can be used for snacks, appetizers, or meals. Buy milk by the gallon instead of smaller packages. This could be a savings of up to $115 a year. A single large container uses less energy to produce and results in less waste than two small ones. Buying 1- gallon jugs of milk will reduce your waste by about 12 pounds per year compared with buying twice as many half- gallon plastic jugs.
BUY LOCAL- Produce and meats that are grown or raised locally. The Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.
Wendy Hall
[http://www.atchisonhall.com]
[http://www.atchisonhall.com]
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