8 Ways to Green Your Date Night
This story is part of Earth911’s “Green Eight” series, where we showcase eight ways to green your life in various areas.
You may be on a first date or a 25th anniversary, but “date night” still involves some creativity. One thing it doesn’t have to involve is a large environmental impact. Here’s eight ways to stir up some romance while keeping some green in your heart:
1. Compost Your Flowers
Flowers are a dating staple, but they aren’t going to last forever. There are plenty of options when flowers start to wilt, including adding them to your make potpourri and keep your home smelling fresh even longer.
2. Explore Green Drinks
Chances are your community has some variation of the Green Drinks program, which is a great place to meet your date or even a potential mate. These social gatherings, different in every city, bring people together who care about the environment. Potential highlights include:
- Learning the latest eco-fads from special guest speakers
- Finding a carpool buddy for your work commute
- Meeting another green-conscious couple for potential double-date nights
3. Search for an Organic Meal
Whether you decide to stay in or have dinner out, organic food is becoming more mainstream by the day. Eating pesticide-free produce and hormone-free meat and dairy will lessen your impact on the environment. It can also improve your health. You can find both organic restaurants and farmers markets at LocalHarvest.
4. Eat Outside
If given the choice on your date (weather permitting), sitting outside cuts down your energy use both in lighting and heating/cooling. Just remember: you don’t need overhead lighting to notice and compliment your date’s appearance.
5. Order Water . . . If You’ll Drink It
The average meal at a restaurant takes six to 29 gallons of water to prepare. By that logic, getting a glass of water with your meal seems trivial, but every drop counts. If you’d prefer wine or a soft drink with your meal, request that the waiter not serve you water (many restaurants now provide it only on request).
6. Go on an Art Walk
An evening stroll provides a chance for you and your date to talk and also lessens the need for cars or public transportation. You may also find that your community has an art gallery district that holds monthly openings in the evening. Ask around to see if there are Art Walks in your area.
7. Recycle Your Paper Trail
You may prefer the traditional date of dinner and a movie, show or sporting event. The common link for all this entertainment is paper souvenirs, such as tickets, programs and receipts. All of these are recyclable with the rest of your recycle paper in your area.
8. Dust Off Your Board Games
Board games are a great two-person activity with a low environmental footprint. You’ll use little energy or water, create no waste (except maybe some scoring sheets) and all the pieces can be reused for years. For those newer couples, board games also provide a sneak-peek at your date’s competitive side.
