What are you doing to be more green?

Question

What are you doing to be more green?

Answer 1

My newest thing is my clothesline!!  I love it!!

Answer 2

Going green is easy, there are so many great resources about the subject. My personal favorite is "The Green Book" which has parts of its book online as well at www.readthegreenbook.com.

As I have been striving to "Go Green" I realize it is like stepping back in time without getting rid of my modern conveniences. I'm doing many things I learned as a child, like line drying my clothes, sweeping instead of vacuuming, opening the windows in the morning to catch the cool breeze, only buying what I need instead of everything that looks cool, growing some of my own food, and canning what I can't eat now.

To me "going Green" is a frame of mind. Do what fits your lifestyle and do the easy things first, it is a process and like dieting if you go to radical to soon, you are more likely to go back to bad habits. I also believe there are good, better, best choices in most things. If you aren't ready to start a home garden, then try finding a farmers market, until you locate one look for produce grown as close to home as possible and go organic when available.

Many people think "going green" is expensive, I disagree. Some changes may take an initial investment, but they usually have a short payoff time. Things like weatherstiping and insulation cost, but the energy savings will add up quickly. You may need to purchase reusable bags, but most stores give you a 5 or 10 cent credit, so you are paid back within a few months.

My top tips are make your home more energy efficient, that also means using natural light, cooling and heating.

Reduce your packaging, if you eat more fresh food you will generally reduce packaging, it's the same thing they tell dieters, shop the perimiter, that is where all the meat, dairy and produce are located. Only buy what you will use, many Americans throw away a lot of unused food. Buy in bulk, that doesn't just mean large packages, but that area with the bins that you buy only what you plan on using.

Replace disposable items with durable items, if you eat outside often and use disposable paper or plastic plates, it is a wise investment to purchase a set of reusable plastic plates. Replace disposable razors, diapers and cleaning products like swiffer. Avoid bottled water, get a home filter like Pur or Brita.

Recycle, www.earth911.org will help you locate the nearest recycle center. I try to only purchase plastics that are #1 or #2, they are more easily recycled. I also buy recycled products when available, that includes paper towels, napkings, toilet paper, tissue, school/office supplies and clothing.

Detox your cleaning, vinegar and baking soda clean almost anything, they can even losen a hair clog. Seventh Generation and Method are a couple mainstream brands that are very earth friendly.

Just start small and build from there, don't get overwhelmed.

Answer 3

There are many things I do to live green and some are very inexpensive too!

~Of course, I recycle everything you can! (Ex: cans, bottles, plastics, paper, ect.)

~Buy energy saving light bulbs

~Buy things like clothes, paper, ect that are made from recycled materials

~Use reusable batteries or recycle dead batteries properly

~Use reusable shopping bags

~ When I have plastic shopping bags, I use them instead of just tossing them. I use them to pick up dog poo, line small trash cans, ect.

~Try not to use paper napkins or paper towel as much as possible. Instead use cloth napkins that can be washed.

~Try to use fewer paper plates and more washable ones.

~Take shorter showers

~Turn off lights whenever possible

~Try to buy more organic foods and local foods (for example, at a farmer's market)

~Use regular silverware, not plastic

~Use eco friendly products in replace of regular dish washing liquids, house cleaners, ect. (Greenworks)

~Use cold water to wash clothes (Tide Cold water works great)

~On a nice day, I turn off the air/heat and open some windows. You save of the cost, get a nice fresh breeze, and help the environment.

~I plant trees around your house to shade and save on using more air conditioning

~I bought one stainless steel, reusable, water bottle instead of using regular plastic ones and then getting rid of them. This one you can clean and use over and over again!

~Changed the setting on my sprinklers to use less water

~Bought eco friendly

~Walk or ride a bike wherever possible

~Carpool if possible

These are just some of the things I can think of off the top of my head that I do to help the environment. :)

Answer 4

I ride a bike, use an electric scooter powered by solar photovoltaic panels, and raise worms in my kitchen, because they eat my food waste and create fertilizer for my garden... I teach people and businesses how to become green as a green consultant.

See the discussion group below for more specifics. The group is one thing I do to teach others about how to become more green..

To learn more about the details, along with videos, specific instructions and the ability to comment and discuss or ask questions; go to website below.

Answer 5

I ride a bike so I consume no oil.  

Answer 6

1. Reduce Traffic and Air Pollution: Carpool, take public transportation, and organize bike-to-school or walk-to-school groups

Driving alone creates more air pollution, carbon emissions and traffic congestion than using public transportation and carpooling. Some communities are organizing successful bike-to-school and walk-to-school groups, which besides being fun, help keep children and group leaders more fit.

2. Save Energy: Install a thermostat timer, use Energy Star appliances and compact florescent bulbs, and wash clothes in cool water.

Home energy use accounts for the largest percentage of the average American’s energy consumption. That’s why this is the best category for saving money. More info can be found at the US EPA’s website for Energy Star and the US Department of Energy’s site for saving energy at home.

3. Save Gas: Inflate car tires properly for improved gas mileage; get regular tune ups and avoid idling for more than 30 seconds.

Driving less is the best way to cut automotive expenses, but you can also drive smarter. By keeping tires inflated you can save 3-5 percent on regular fuel costs, while getting frequent engine tune-ups can save you even more on fuel in the long run. Unless you are warming up a car on cold days, don’t idle your car for more than 30 seconds, as this wastes gas compared to shutting off the engine and restarting it when you’re ready to go.

4. Save Resources, Reduce Pollution: Bring a travel mug to your local coffee shop or a shopping bag to the grocery store. Reuse plastic and paper bags.

Because producing paper and plastic bags or paper coffee cups takes significant energy and water, the answer to “Paper or Plastic?” is neither! Bring your own reusable bag for groceries, and use a reusable travel mug for coffee. Many coffee shops offer a discount for bring-your-owns, and supermarkets are doing the same for those that bring a canvas tote bag for groceries. Check out this recent book, which explains why “neither” is the best answer to “Paper or Plastic?”

5. Save Water: Use a dishwasher instead of hand washing; use large loads for dishwasher and clothes washers

Home water use has major impacts on energy use, and is becoming a residential expense in parts of the nation, particularly in the West and Southwest. No matter where you are, if your community does not meter your water use and charge by the amount you use, it might soon do so. Smart water usage can save money and precious natural resources. Using a dishwasher with large loads saves significant water and energy from hand-washing dishes, and so does using large loads in the washing machine instead of using many small loads. Drip irrigation systems on automatic timers are another way to save lots of water that is otherwise used unnecessarily for landscaping.

6. Use the Power of Your Green: Avoid over-packaged products and disposable goods, when possible, buy in-season food produced in your region, and buy in bulk.

Packaging and transportation use great amounts of energy. Reduced packaging means not only cutting down on pollution, but it means saving energy required to make and dispose of the packaging. Buying from farmers markets, farmstands, community supported agriculture and from local food producers cuts down on packaging and “food miles” while keeping your regional economy strong. Local Harvest provides information on where local food is available throughout the United States in stores, restaurants and markets.

7. Garden Green: Use drought-tolerant plants and avoid pesticides

Native and drought-tolerant plants not only save you water, they can save you time and the expense of using pesticides and insecticides. Native plants—including lawn varieties designed for your climate––are usually better adapted for local conditions and pests than so-called “exotics”.

8. Spare the Air: Reduce your peak time (1-6 p.m.) energy use during heat waves and drive less on high air pollution days.

Energy costs can be as much as four times as high during peak hours in the summer than they are during non-peak hours. Recent heat waves in the United States have put large regions in danger of black outs because of record electricity demand. Because of the need to conserve by time of day, some utilities are offering savings for those that cut back on energy usage during peak time, generally around 1 to 6 p.m., during summer heat waves. So try to wash dishes and do laundry after 9 or 10 p.m. on those peak demand days.

9. Get Local: Contact your local government leaders and find what is being done to ‘green’ your community.

Many communities, from large cities to small towns, have taken steps to get green in terms of local policies, projects and ways of operating. Contact your local leaders to find out if they have sustainability or environmental management offices. If your community does not have these positions, mayors and other local officials are now appointing people to supervise everything from climate change policies and green building standards to the use of biodiesel fuel in public buses and renewable energy. Do you want to find out about who’s leading the way in your community? Write SustainLane Government at [e-mail] and let us help you find out.

10. Learn Who's Green and Why: Find out what other communities have done to be green.

SustainLane Government is a knowledge base and newsletter for state and local government official best practices in sustainability. SustainLane Government also has an overview of the results of the SustainLane US City Rankings, covering the largest 50 cities in the US.

Answer 7

I wear shirts that say "Recycle".

I haven't quite picked it up myself, but I'm working on it!

:D

Answer 8

I drive a three cylinder Chevy Metro and get 50 MPG. I am on my second Metro and have been driving them for 20 years.

Answer 9

Recycle,and more things 2 help the earth and help globle warming.

Answer 10

Absolutely nothing.