To the Editor:

Two weeks ago Frank Gardner and I published our letter “It’s Here, It’s Now, It’s a Disaster” in The Newtown Bee. Today we want to follow up with some additional thoughts on two themes we hope you will find interesting, relevant and thought-provoking … and that may encourage you to take action.

Cars are close to many people’s hearts. They are also a major purchase item.

It takes a lot of thought before making a decision on what make of car/model to buy. What we’re not asking you to do is to exclude your existing preferences in the decision criteria. Buy the car you want and will enjoy. Of course you should. What we are suggesting is that you consider including environmental impact in the criteria…

EVs and Hybrids today are not the same as they were a year or two ago … The technology is moving at breath-taking speed and the infrastructure they need, eg charging stations, is catching up fast. They may still be more expensive to buy than their internal combustion counterparts, but there is a payback period and it may not be as long as you think.

Remember, many of us keep our cars for ten+ years! It’s worth checking out. If you are not ready for that big a jump, consider downsizing. Cheaper to buy and cheaper to insure. A Honda Pilot gets 20 mpg in town, a CRV 28 mpg. That’s a 40 percent improvement in mileage. Good for your wallet and good for the environment … just as reliable and easier to park!

The average American spends eight minutes in a shower (yes, someone went away and calculated that!).

Standard shower heads use 2.5 gallons per minute … so 20 gallons per shower. That means an average family could save almost 3000 gallons of water per year, just by installing a two-gallon-per-minute WaterSense shower head! Same shower experience … less environmental impact.

Take it a step further. Spend 6 minutes in the shower instead of 8… Or 8 instead of 10 and save 20-25% of your water volume used. Remember, it’s not just the cost of heating the water, it’s the cost of getting the water to your home and treating the waste water after it’s used.

All these impact your pocket book (either directly or indirectly) and of course the environment. Whilst we’re at it, why not cut back on the amount of shampoo, shower gel etc. per shower? Many of us way over index on these things. You’ll save money… and maybe prolong the life of your septic tank (if you have one).

These are just a couple of examples of what we in Newtown can do, starting today, without any significant negative impact on our lifestyle.

Who doesn’t want to save a bit of money… and help save the planet?

Let us know what you think!

It’s Up To You! Do It For Your Grandchildren

Neil P Randle

Sandy Hook