Simple Machines. In my home?!?? Really? I guess so!

Hmmm... so the idea of simple machines has always sounded so foreign to me.
I get the simple...easy... not complex and I understand machine...a device. However, I have never really thought of how my own home was a house to so many of these simple machines.


Levers, inclined planes, pulleys, screws, wedges, wheels-n-axles, oh my! The possiblities are endless.


After doing a little investigating, I found the following simple machines in my home:


Lever

When used for yanking, erghh, I mean pulling a nail out from the wall... a hammer is much like a lever.
















Pulley

The mechanism used to open/close and raise/lower blinds makes blinds a type of pulley.


Screw

The ability for a light bulb to be secured in a fixture, makes it an example of a screw.














Wedges

Forks and knives are simple machines (wedges) that help us on the daily.

Wheel-n-axle

Lastly, a car, is a prime example of a simple machine that helps me and my family get around and enjoy places.








So as you can see, and as I have discovered, simple machines are everywhere. They vary in size and complexity but the purpose of these tools remains the same... to make work easier!
Nevermore will I overlook or devalue these items again.

Reuse.Reduce.Recycle.

The 3Rs... reuse, reduce and recycle.

What do they mean? Why are they so important? Can anyone reuse, reduce and recycle? Does it really help?

What would happen if we didn't partake in the 3 Rs?

All these are questions I first asked myself when the concept and its slogan first came about in the late 1990s. Although today I understand the importance and can answer these questions with some degree of certainty, I realize that there are still so many additional ways in which my family and I could do our part to preserve our planet.

In the meantime, here are some examples of how we currently participate in conservation efforts. 

Reduce:

We reduce our energy use by using energy-saving lightbulbs.

We reduce waste by using these reusable bags.



Recycle:

Currently my son's 4th grade class is holding an aluminum can drive, so we are doing our share by donating our cans to this good cause.

We also participate in other recycling efforts when we put our weekly trash on the curb.









Reuse: When we do accumulate plastic bags, we try to reuse them for other purposes.

It isn't difficult to do your share to preserve our planet. What I've discovered is that sometimes it just takes a little more conscious effort during our daily activities. Oh, and having two sons to remind me of when I'm being wasteful helps our effort tremendously!