Have you made any small changes to make your life greener that you would recommend to a friend?

Question

Have you made any small changes to make your life greener that you would recommend to a friend?

Answer 1

Get a taste for local food, where ever you are on the planet.

Only put on your plate what you are prepared to eat and no more.

Better to have a little and come back for some more, then to waste good food in a starving world.

Answer 2

I know this is simple, but I use my bicycle for everything I possibly can. It turns a basic errand into entertainment.  

Answer 3

My husband built us a solar hot water heating system that we've been using for about 25 years.  It's a passive, thermo-siphoning system that makes all our hot water for 9 months of the year and about half during the coldest 3 months.

We compost all organic garbage.  We've done this for years.  

I'm re-thinking how I garden.  I'm looking at what makes sense to grow in terms of water use and savings at the grocery store and what doesn't.  Growing a small herb garden makes sense.  Growing onions doesn't when I only use 1 to 3 a week.  Growing corn doesn't make sense sense because it uses a lot of water and fertilizer.  I only want  a few ears of fresh corn when it's in season anyway. I can pick them up at the farmers market.  A peach tree and strawberries make sense when I can freeze or can fruit that I don't use right away.  I'll appreciate it in December.  

Answer 4

Reduce, reuse, recycle. Its really simply but so effective. Don't get new plastic bags at the supermarket everytime you shop. Reuse them if you had to get them. Recycle them when they get broken.  

Answer 5

We had 4 solar panels installed on our house roof a couple of years ago, thinking that they would never pay for themselves in our lifetimes (we're both in our 70's), but with the way fuel costs have risen since, we may even make a profit!

It is very rewarding when for possibly 3/4 of the year we can see and hear the workings bubbling away and find that we have "free" hot water.  There is also a one-shot top up device, which means we don't actually turn on the boiler if the sky is black all day.  

Answer 6

Yes.  I recycle.

I never used to but now I do.

Twice a week as I pass the village recycle in I go with all the plastic and the papers and tins.

The difference it makes to refuse collection is amazing.  I used to have to put 4 dustbins out sometimes.  Now its half a wheely bin.

I am amazed at how much difference it has made, how little time it takes and how good I feel about me doing my little bit for the planet.

I have awarded myself a blue peter badge as a consequence!!

Answer 7

Recycle, and stop the use of motor cars

Answer 8

No. I do not make small changes in my life. Its on such a small scale compared to the devastating impact large compaines are having on earth. I understand the whole concept of working together and by all of society making small changes, I find it ridiculous that millions of people changing small things can be the equivalent to just one company cutting back.