To be clear, this isn’t the actual newsletter. This is a post explaining why you should sign up for The Burn Off and what to expect when you inevitably do so using the form below. (Don’t worry, it will be there when you finish reading.) The first edition of The Burn Off will be sent out on Thursday, April 30.
With that said, let’s jump right in.
What is The Burn Off?
The Burn Off is a free weekly newsletter that brings Earth-friendly actions right to your inbox. More specifically, this is a newsletter for people that don’t necessarily have climate change or sustainability on the top of their list of sh*t to worry about. Maybe taking care of your kids, getting a promotion, or, I dunno, enjoying your weekend takes priority. That’s fine, in fact, that seems pretty normal to me.
Even so, I’m asking for 5 minutes a week to present the following:
- Products that are affordable, convenient and Earth-friendly. I get it, there’s a ton of greenwashing and false advertising that makes it hard to trust anything labelled “green” or “eco-friendly.” But like a pig sniffing for truffles, I root through the dirt to find products that genuinely contribute to a healthier planet and come at a reasonable cost. Why? Because I believe conscious consumerism is one of most powerful and easy-to-use tools we have. Oh, and I’m usually good for a discount code.
- Hopeful Headlines – Everyone’s wondering: What makes individual action worth doing? Each week I’ll share three news stories to answer that question and inspire further action.
- “Climate Bum of the Week” – Simply put, there are people and organizations sacrificing the health of planet for a quick buck, and then blaming individual consumers for climate change and pollution. Each week I’ll pick on one of these bums and let you know how to hold them accountable.
- A lighthearted approach to a heavy topic – Climate change is such a stuffy, divisive, awkward topic. I want to change. Let’s laugh at the insanity of individually wrapped garlic cloves and pick Disney characters that suit our climate change personalities. The more we talk about this stuff, the easier it gets.
Who should sign up?
If I had my way, everybody. But realistically, The Burn Off is tailored to people that are open to making lifestyle and consumer changes… when it’s easy and convenient. As I mentioned before, if climate change isn’t your top priority then this is the newsletter for you.
- Looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint AND save money? Hit subscribe.
- Already living a low-carbon lifestyle and looking to fill in some gaps? Hit subscribe.
- Willing to spend a little extra time and money to spend on sustainability? Hit subscribe.
- Just want to know what constitutes an Earth-friendly action? Come on aboard!
Climate change doesn’t have to be the Red Pill vs Blue Pill, Trump vs Hillary, or Joe Exotic vs Carol Baskin topic it’s often made out to be. For most actions and products there is a full spectrum of choices with various degrees of cost and Earth-friendliness. My goal is to gradually push the norm toward the Earth-friendly end of the spectrum and save you some time, money and effort in the process.
Why a newsletter?
If you’re here, you’re aware that Emeraldology is a website with articles, videos, and a small shop dedicated to making living Earth-friendly easier. I work hard to keep it populated with content that is genuine, helpful and approachable, and even harder blasting that content into the universe through Emeraldology’s social media channels.
But after running a few focus groups (my grade school and college buddies) it became clear that people aren’t all that willing to go searching for content. Exhibit A: Opting for streaming services over channel surfing on cable because streaming cuts out the riff-raff.
And I realized that I operate the same way. Sure, I find a few worthwhile articles and videos scrolling through Twitter, but the stuff I’m really interested in comes right to my inbox. Does it scare me that I read it in my bathrobe with a fresh cup of coffee like a basic sitcom dad? Absolutely, especially because I don’t have any kids. Is that fear going to change the way I consume media? Absolutely not.
What does The Burn Off Mean?
When I moved to Washington in 2017, one of the first things I noticed is that there is no prevailing accent in the Northwest. No twangs, drawls, or missing consonants. Not even the “ohhhhhh’s” and “opes” of my native Minnesota.
However, I did hear one phrase over and over: “That’ll burn off.” When I first heard it, I just nodded my head and agreed like a good Midwesterner. But I soon came to realize it referred to summer morning clouds evaporating on their journey from the sea to the mountains, giving way to green mountains and clear blue sky.
Romantic, right?
I was surprised to learn that waking up to clouds (at least in summer) wasn’t worth fretting over in the Pacific Northwest; whereas in the Midwest it often signals a dreadful day of 90 degree heat, 90 percent humidity and a good chance of violent thunderstorms.
What does this have to do with climate change and living Earth-friendly?
The Burn Off symbolizes that those summer clouds aren’t necessarily a sign of the dreadful, hot mess to come. With our actions, we can create conditions for those dark morning clouds to gently burn off, revealing a beautiful summer day.
Our actions now will determine which fate future generations live with. Are we going to burn off those morning clouds, or are we going to let them build into a hot, sticky mess?
If you’re interested at all, give it a shot! It’s free, it’s brief, and it ‘s designed to help you save money and reduce your environmental impact. If it’s not working out, you can unsubscribe at any time.
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