Hurricane Green: Tips from a Floridian

Whether you believe the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence or not, one thing is for certain: the grass is always greener after a hurricane. In some respects, this is a good thing, especially if the area being hit has been under a dry spell. However, as Hurricane Issac barrels toward the general direction of Tampa Bay with the threat of high winds, the last thing residents and students are worried about is the grass being watered. Hurricane preparedness has already started, with the biggest fears being flooding, power loss, and how we are going to manage to get to our first round of classes next week. Not to mention the amount of money it can cost for the supplies needed in the effect of a power outage: money that the majority of us students don’t have on hand.

“Angry Storm” by Nathan O’Nions.

This draws the idea of how we can save money by adopting an Eco-friendly approach during hurricane preparation. Going “green” during this process is not only preserving the environment but also preserving the green in our bank accounts. If our brain matter were green instead of grey I’d also say these techniques would preserve our sanity during a hurricane, but that’s my imagination working overtime. On that note, here are a few gadgets to help you save your cash and preserve the environment during hurricane season:

1. Save with rechargeable batteries.

According to “Essential Green Living,” rechargeable batteries have  a “20% less negative impact on the environment than their disposable counterpart”. They can be found at your local CVS, Target, or Walmart and will save you from purchasing an overload of regular batteries. Sanyo produces one of the most efficient rechargeable batteries called Eneloop Batteries; they are sold pre-charged and use minimal battery life, making them ideal during power outages.

2. Stay connected.

Also by Sanyo is the Enloop Mobile Booster, which charges a range of compatible devices such as your cell phones and laptops. It provides 240 minutes of power and is an essential when you may need to make an emergency call or check the internet for news.

3. Get the weather with solar energy and wind-ups.

Although the Sun will hardly be visible during a hurricane, you can still draw from its energy. Look for AM-FM weatherband radios that harness solar energy or are able to be wound up: you will get the latest forecast and news while refraining from generator or battery usage. This radio is solar powered, and attached is a flashlight and cell phone charger.

4. See the light.

Along with solar powered and wind up radios, also look for the same in flashlights; again, you save on batteries and generator usage. In addition to these you can also find shake flashlights: give a little shake and voila! visibility.

The great thing about these tools is they are reusable: buy them once and charge them again for the next hurricane. This saves your wallet and also causes less of an impact on the environment due the fact that you are recycling these items for yourself instead of disposing of them. Take a tip from the impending rain and add some greenery to your hurricane preparation packs, and don’t forget these will help water your wallet over the long term.