Tips for being more green?

Question

I feel guilty when I use my car to go somewhere but I work two jobs, go to school, and I live in the country so its not like I can just walk to the store. I usually drive anywhere from 1,500-2,000 miles per month! What is a concerned person to do? What else can I do to maybe make up for the gas consumption as far as other green living ideas?

Answer 1

Do what you have to do in terms of work and school.  Provided these are fruitful for you in the long run, they're probably worth it.  On a more permanent basis, try to find a community where you can live, work and study.  When you do travel, kill as many birds with as few stones as possible- consolidate trips, plan your day to minimize the miles on side trips, etc.  You'll save wear and tear on your car, time and money.

On other fronts, the real key to being green is to do less.  I don't mean to have less fun or avoid things you enjoy, but you can take very simple steps to significantly reduce the amount of resources you use and cause to be used.  Entertainment with family and friends always trumps goods.  Instead of buying all those knick-knacks and toys, have experiences (which you'll remember better anyway).  You save money this way as well.

When you do buy something, buy the highest quality product that will last the longest possible time.  Use it until it wears out.  (it's way cheaper this way, anyway)  If you can find it used (in a condition you're comfortable), do that.  Lots of our resources go into things that are built and discarded with abandon, not to be recycled (until we begin mining landfills in desperation, which isn't particularly efficient)  This, of course also saves you money.

Find permanent replacements for things that are commonly disposable.  Many supermarkets credit you for bringing your own bag (any bag will do- don't specifically go out and buy a fancy grocery bag- that kind of defeats the purpose.  Though if you find one you really like, don't restrict yourself- just commit to it until it's utterly useless).  The same goes for water bottles (those new metal ones are really nifty), coffee cups, plates, napkins, etc.  Washing is cheaper and cleaner than throwing away.

Don't inconvenience yourself, but keep your eye out for waste.  Use your laptop instead of your desktop computer for day to day stuff, if you've got one.  Close off and don't heat unused rooms during the winter.  Turn lights off.  You don't have to go out and replace every light bulb in your house with CFL's, but if you do it as they burn out (and use them in appropriate applications- CFL's don't like can light fixtures, for instance) you won't really notice the upfront costs.

Many people complain that they're not rich enough to be green.  Rubbish.  The more frugal you are, the greener you are, and the more you have money left over to have things you really want.

Answer 2

Check out Terra Pass. You can buy carbon offsets:

Your money will fund the reduction of carbon emissions through clean energy and carbon reduction projects.

More at: http://www.terrapass.com

Tips from Terra Pass:

    * Check your tire pressure regularly. You’ll be safer and save gas at the same time.

    * Don’t idle for longer than 30 seconds. Turn the engine off instead.

    * Moderate your speed. You’ll save up to 30% of your gas.

    * Use cruise control on the highway to maintain a constant fuel-efficient speed. (Or drive 55 mph instead of higher speeds.)

    * A roof rack increases drag. Remove it when it’s not being used.

    * Replace your air filter once a year. You’ll get 10% more mileage.

Join The Better World Club instead of AAA. They support rather than detract from environmental initiatives. AAA is not supportive of progress:

http://www.betterworldclub.com

Answer 3

You can convert your car to use water instead of gas. If you email me you email adress, I will send tou complete plans on how to do this.

Answer 4

can you carpool or use public transportation? unplug electrical items when not in use (cell phone chargers are big), use lower wattage light bulbs, use the curly light bulbs, recycle, use candles, make a compost bin for your yard clippings (makes great fertile dirt).

Answer 5

How can you "make up" for this gasoline consumption?

Answer 6

SAVE OUR  EARTHQUAKE/TSUNAMI FREE

HELLO

I am S.Riya Subbu. I want to save our Earth with your help.

We are living under the control of Pancha Bhoot ( Water,Air,Fire,Earth, Universe).

Now frequently Earth Quake/Tsunami/Typhoon  is coming  all over World and destroying all Human beings/Livelihood/House/Building/Bridges... Stock  within a second. Also now days Global Warming is going on Alarmingly. Excess Rain/Flood destrying our Life.

Recently Canada  also face Earth Quake Problem. In Indonesia also facing Earth Quake Problem  frequently.

Please you all join with me to save our EARTH.

Do the following simple Systems in your House/Office/Working Place/Your Street/Your Society/Flat.

1.Are you saving  the following items in your House/Office/Work Place?

1. Current

2. Water

3.Petrol/Diesel/Kerosene

4.Gas ( LPG & CNG).

5.White Papper/News Paper

6. Wood

7. Cooking Oil

Note: the above all necessary for Day to Day Life. Please Try to Reduce the usage.

2. Are your Keeping your House free of the following items?

1.Plastic Free. Don’t Store Plastic Bags/Cups/Spoon( for example. Take Cotton Bag with you to market/Shopping)

2.Unutilised items like broken Cycle/Old TV Cover/broken Table/Chairs/Tyres/ Un Utilised/Non Repairable items like Bike/Car/Mixer/Washing Machine/Cooler/Utensils.

Note: Please Dispose this items which is not is use. Sent it for Re-Cycle.

3. What type of Conveyance are you using?

1.Car    2.Two Wheeler  3.Cycle 4.Using Public Transportation/Train

Note: Utilise Public Transportation/Sharing Auto/Car. You can avoid Traffic Jam/Parking Problem.Keep one two wheeler/One Car/One House for each family.( Don’t buy more than that). It will help us reduce Petrol Expenses/Pollution/Parking/Traffic Jam.

4. How many Children are you having

1. one  2. Two 3. More than Two 4. Unmarried

Note: Make one or Two Children only. Give them Good Food/Education/Shelter.

If population is more pollution is more.

5. Are Short out your Cub Board/Wardrobe?

1.Once in a Month  2. Once in 6 Months 3. Not at all doing  

Note: Short out Your Wardrobe/Cup Board/Working Table/House Kitchen free of unnecessary items. Give your Books/Old Pant/Saree/Shirt  to Poor/Needy.

6.What type of Gift are you giving to your Relatives & Friends?

1.Toys/Games 2. Greeting Card  3. Flower Bouque 4.Saplings like Rose/X- MasTree

Note: Please present Flowers/Anthorium Saplings/Rose/Seeds of Different type of Seeds as Gift to your Friends/Relatives.This will reduce the waste of Plastics Paper/Balloon/Wrapper/Cartoon Box.

AVOID

1. Avoid Smoking/Chewing Tobacco/pan and avoid Smoking/Spitting in Public Place. Smoking leads to Health disorder and it is leads to Cancer.

2. Avoid wasting Food in House/Function. If food is excess, please share the food with Poor. Take limited food in your Plate. Do not throw in dust Bin.

3. Avoid dumping Materials in House/Office. Be Plan before buying any Materials.

4. Avoid unnecessary Travels. Be plan before Travel.

5. Pray Rivers. But Do not throw Plastic Bags/Garbage on River. ( I have seen many people are throwing Garbage bag in river. Rivers are very Important for our Life.

6. Do not use Coluring Agent for Hair. It will make eye irritation/Stain in Shirt collar/Pillow Cover/Bed Sheets.

7. Do Simple Marriage. This will help us to save Money/Food/Transportation/ Reduce  arrangements etc.

Please Run Cycle (if your office/School is near to your Hose) for your Health/Wealth.

Running Cycle is keep your Body Fit. Also it helps us to reduce Petrol Bill/Pollution/Weight/Bulging Stomach/Obesity/Gas trouble in stomach and of course reduce your Petrol Bill/Medical Bill.

Please spread this Message to all your Family Members/Relation/Friends/Office Colleague/To  School /College/To your village/To your Society etc

S.RIYA  SUBBU

Please share your suggestion/Views with me thro  e.mail [e-mail]

Answer 7

Yes, this may be a lengthy response, but worth the read.

Many of us are in the same boat.  Here are some questions to ask yourself to see if you might at least be in the right direction, even with all the driving you do:

1.  How fuel efficient is your car?  If you aren't getting at least 30 mpg on the highway, then get a used car with better gas mileage.  In the end it will save on fuel and money.

2.  Living in the country, is flex-fuel or bio-diesel available?  If so, maybe converting your car or getting one that uses either of those fuels may be an option.

3.  When you do go places like the store, do you try to carpool with people you know (friends and relatives)?  Not only can it be fun to shop with others, but every little bit helps.  Even if you can only take 1 or 2 people, it's better than if all three of you went in separate cars.  Not only that, if it's a habit to carpool with the same people for shopping, be sure you take the most fuel efficient car and pay the driver gas money.  Even though you're giving money to someone else for gas, it's better for the environment.

Here are some other, basic things you can do to make your environment better:

1. turn off lights and other electronics if not in use, even computers.  Of course, if your computer is used multiple times a day by various people, get everyone into the habit of turning off the monitor when they are done with the computer - small but a good habit to get into.

2. Reduce the amount of garbage by opting to use reusable shopping bags over paper or plastic, no matter where you shop!  If you buy the spreadable margarine, rather than buying two small tubs, buy a larger tub of the same stuff.  If you need a light spread, Country Crock makes a great light spread and it's in a bigger container (1 container as opposed to two or four)

3. Reuse products as often as you can.  Clean out glass and plastic jars and use them to organize junk around the house, things like pens, rubber bands or paper clips.  Plastic jars are great for kids because they don't break easily and can be decorated with stickers and stuff.  Get creative.  Empty food cans can be used as planters.  If you can buy plants in cans, why not use the ones you've already got to grow some?  The larger margarine containers are great for storing food or using as bowls to eat popcorn.  Be careful about what you choose to reuse.  Call up a product's customer service number or email them if you can and ask them about reusing their container for something in your home.  For example, maybe you want to try to recycle an old laundry detergent bottle for something.  Be sure to contact the company before you do this to avoid any possible health hazards or dangers.  They might even be able to tell you how best to clean them or if it's safer to just put them in the trash.

4.  Recycle anything and everything you can.  What you can't recycle, try to reuse it.  If your area doesn't recycle, than make it your mission to try to get your area to recycle.

Yes, these tips take effort to make them work but the benefits to all are what's important to all!

Oh yes, if you have the land, try to plant plants, trees or other greenery that can help cut down on pollution!

I hope this helps you find what you seek!

Answer 8

There are many things you can do to live a greener life.

You can read about greening your work area here:

http://www.greenstudentu.com/Eco_Lifesty...

Recycling:

http://www.greenstudentu.com/recycling.a...

Energy Conservation:

http://www.greenstudentu.com/Energy_Cons...

Green Vehicles:

http://www.greenstudentu.com/green_vehic...

Carbon Footprint:

http://www.greenstudentu.com/carbon_foot...

Good luck!