Energy fail: Sew for a change #2

This month, I did not even come close to meeting the Sew for a Change energy challenge. I fell down pretty much where I expected to: most of the time I remember to unplug the microwave and flick the internet switch, but not always. And my TV and DVD player are usually unplugged, but we watched a lot of movies this month and I often forgot to unplug them afterwards. I was really hoping to get into the habit of unplugging daily, but I failed too often. However I will keep trying. Also, I will get around to vacuuming behind the fridge soon, although I'm kind of afraid to see what's back there.

I did not too badly on the rest of the challenge. Although I rent and don't control my utilities, I learned a bit about Bullfrog Power, which you pay to put clean energy into the system. The DC and I are still working out our cohabitation budget, but this is something I'd like to look into more. My fridge runs a degree too cold, but it's old and wonky and any adjustment makes it too warm. And I've always been good about not letting the water run when I'm not using it, whether washing dishes, hands, or teeth. I realized, though, that I have to be careful when I wash my lunch dishes at school to turn off the tap when I'm not rinsing.

So no extra 10 points for me. Which is not good, because I went a little crazy with #sewDollyClacket fabric and jewellery supplies this month. So I'm down to 40 points, and that worries me because I know I'm going to have to buy new stockings in the fall (one of my favourite pairs developed a huge hole in the shin -- which is a look, I guess). And stockings are expensive, point-wise.

So here is the score card of shame.

(I've modified the points for jewellery supplies: 1 pt if it's for a single-use item (in this case, one pair of chandlier earring findings) and 3 pts for multi-use items (this month, 2 packages of 20 shoe clips).

Fortunately, I have no plans to buy anything else this month, and I'm pretty sure I'll pass this month's paper challenge. My job is pretty paper-intensive by nature, but I already save one-sided paper to print on and try to avoid creating unnecessary photocopies. In one of my classes, the assignments for the rest of the year will be paperless, which will be a huge savings. We already use paper towels as little as possible, and make sure to get the select-a-size -- and even then I'll tear the small ones in half. The trick is to fold the paper, as I learned from this TED talk:

It really works.

Most of my monthly bills and statements are already online, so I just need to deal with one. I sort of want to keep the last one as a paper bill because it's a visual reminder to me to pay my bills, but I'll probably change it. I put up a 'no flyers' sign a few years ago, but it recently fell off due to weather and age and I haven't gotten around to redoing it -- the problem with living three floors up is that I often forget stuff by the time I've climbed all those stairs -- but I'm going to put one back up this weekend. With duct tape.

As for magazines, I already save them for Arts Junktion, and I'm cancelling the one magazine that I not only don't really read anymore, but they insist on mailing to me swathed in plastic. Every. single. time.

Now excuse me while I go and unplug the microwave.