What have you done to help the planet lately?

[Horse with no Name]

When I used to teach CPR, one of the things that I stressed to laymen was not to get overly concerned with the number of compressions to ventilations to the point of freaking out and not doing anything.
Even if they didn't remember the exact number, doing something was always better than nothing.
As it is with helping to save our planet.
If we all do a little bit and encourage our friends and neighbors to do a little bit and we chip away at the problem. Instead of being overwhelmed because you cannot afford to go solar or insulate your home or any myriad of large projects, start small.
*Change your lightbulbs. We changed ours as they burnt out and now my entire house has CFL bulbs.
*I bought cloth napkins so we didn't use disposable paper napkins. Just rewash. In a pinch, washcloths double nicely.
*Put up a clothesline. Save the expense of running your dryer. A rope between two trees will work if you can't find a commercial line.

Those are simple things that require little to no effort to do. Of course, the expense of the lightbulbs is the most.

This is my next purchase:

I couldn't use it at my present location, however, I will be moving this summer to a smaller home and yard and it will do nicely.

*Plant a tree. You can get a tree for $20 and it helps.

I'm sure others have some frugal tips for helping our planet. These are just a few of the things I have done.

[illinoisprogressive]

1. with spring coming I do gardens and don't spray. My roses are shrub ones

rather than prima donas and I mulch and don't use bad chems on my gardens. I like to let nature be. I have a respect for it.

[NJCher]

2. I made the environment the theme

For a number of writing and public speaking projects in my classes.



Cher

[whistle]

3. Recycle glass, tin cans, paper, kept my heat to a maximum of 68 degrees

...and AC to a minimum of 80 degrees, turning lights out and fans off when rooms not occupied, setting hot water heater to 120 degrees, taking sponge baths and reducing showers with water restrictors, hand water lawn, reduced household water use to under 60 gallons per day, swap out light bulbs for lower wattage, driving half the miles I used to in my auto and keeping my gasoline use to under 35 gallons per month, eating less meat....

Now, what more can I do?

[Anywho6]

4. Made some environmentally sound purchases

My partner recently purchased some 12-gallon biodegradable and compost-able trash bags. They are made of corn starch and vegetable oil. We also got some doggy poopy bags of the same material!



My goal this week is to begin replacing all of our standard incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs.



We're trying our best to get there...

[orleans]

27. see you on the democratic underground group at onebillionbulbs

here's the link:
http://www.onebillionbulbs.com/Group/DU

:hi:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

5. drying clothes on the line and over the bath

I hang the clothes on hangers from the shower curtain rail so they drip into the bath after washing them in the sink. In good weather I hang them on a line in the yard. We have the thermostat on 60F in the house and wear more layers. We bought thick thermal curtains. We switch the furnace off at night and fill a hot water bottle and put it in the bed. If we have guests we switch it up a bit.

[Lex]

10. I have a clothes hanger like this and use it ALL the time:

Especially for heavy things like towels, jeans, etc. I use it inside over the heat vent in the winter or outside on the patio in the summer:

[Horse with no Name]

35. Where did you get that?

I would love to get my mother one of those.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

36. yes, we have something similar and also a retractable one that pulls across the room

The drying line that pulls across the room and hooks onto the wall and then when you're finished you can pull it back.


(this isn't an ad just an example)

[Chipper Chat]

6. This little thing always makes the checkout clerk's mouth drop:

I REFUSE the plastic bag and just carry small purchases in my hands.
They just stare at me like I am un-American (or UN-Walmart).

[PDJane]

13. Well..........

I don't drive. Period. Transportationa and trains.

I carry mesh bags in my purse so that I can refuse the plastic bags......and if it's a small purchase, will put it in my purse.

Recycle, recycle, recycle.

Use CFL bulbs everywhere. Take them to be recycled at Ikea. Take my inkjet cartridges back to Grand and Toy for recycling.

Haven't turned the heat on once this winter; I live in a murb, and if I do, it's too hot for me.

Don't have a/c, but do use fans in the summer.

Take short showers.

Wash sinkfuls of dishes.

Dry as much as I can in the apartment, over chairs and in the bath. I also have a wire wing thing.

Have energy saving baseboard heaters and appliances. Use an electric kettle, have an electric grill, a microwave and a toaster oven. Bake once a week.

Buy what I need. Don't use much in the way of cosmetics. Buy good handbags and clothing and keep them forever. Have bought two pairs of shoes this year, the first in six years.

If or when I replace furniture, will buy a wood frame sofa with cushions. No longer care for the overstuffed stuff.

If I were living outside of the city, I would be growing and preserving as much as possible.

If I do buy large things, tend to have them delivered. It's easier on the planet.

[Quantess]

7. I haven't reproduced.

No little pitter patter of carbon footprints.
:hide:

[Lex]

8. I just read an article about how much more American kids use

of the Earth's resources than other kids around the world. It was an eye-opener.

[Clark2008]

33. It's an eye-opener to just us American parents.

I have a 7-year-old son and am now expecting a daughter.

In those short years difference, the boon of baby products has exploded. While my son certainly had Exersaucers and swings to keep him occupied while I did housework (I stayed at home with him - a luxury I can't afford with the second, sadly, as products have risen while wages remain stagnent), the product line simply wasn't as explosive as it is now.

I can't imagine wanting or ever needing half the crap that's out there.

BTW, I did try cloth diapers with my son, but that was a waste of water. I was forever changing them and having to rewash nappies. Maybe the little girl on her way won't tinkle as much, but I doubt it. I wish there was a more recyclable diaper, but, alas, there's not - and, if there were, at this point, I highly doubt it would be affordable to the average working family - in much the same way hybrid cars are just out of the price range.

[MazeRat7]

9. Just about to post the same contribution, so I'll glob onto yours instead. -nt

[The Straight Story]

16. On the down side of that

The rethugs have, so if you do you might be able to produce a little one that helps make others aware in the years ahead ;)

[Quantess]

19. Too true!

It's a catch-22, isn't it. Progressives may slowly die out if they don't reproduce, LOL!

(BTW, "saving the earth" is not my main reason for being childless. I still have a few reproductive years left, so it's likely I will have a child eventually. Or not, who knows.)

[The Straight Story]

20. If ya need some help there....

:rofl:

Well, I am taken, but hey - I got geek friends looking for more in life ;)

[REP]

31. Politics Aren't Genetic

How many here grew up with Republican parents? Giving birth doesn't guarantee making anyone aware of anything.

[TahitiNut]

18. Ditto

Everybody out of the gene pool! :silly:

[REP]

32. Childfree as Well Plus Had Ex Sterilized

Well, it's not like I took him to the pound - he, too was CF and agreed to be sterilized. I had two different sterilizations myself!

[alittlelark]

11. Put 1400 watts of solar on our Jemez house,

Getting the foundations done on the greenhouse which will have 8 hot water panels lay ed in front of it (for the house etc....). We have planted 28 trees as well.



I'm soooo freakin' happy!!!!

[roody]

17. Me too!

I haven't paid for electricity for 5 years. Also bought a Diesel VW and run on recycled biodiesel. I can afford it because I never had kids.

[The Straight Story]

21. Awesome job

I am in between places as I prepare to move to CA to a rent house, but I plan on keeping my home here. If I am able I want to buy a place out there in a few years and kick in some wind and solar energy (I used to work in the wind energy business).

Good luck with all you are working on!

[silverweb]

12. Ongoing lifestyle adjustments.

ALL lightbulbs were replaced with CFLs years ago -- as soon as they became widely available -- and such CFLs as were practical were replaced with LEDs last year.

Power strips for computer modem and "vampire" appliances are shut off when not in use.

NO air conditioner, but I use a fan for hot weather; then, dress warmly and use a heating pad rather than turn on the heat in cold weather.

The hot water heater is left on the "pilot" setting except for 1/2 hour before my shower (warm water left over is plenty for laundry/dishes, etc).

Have worked from home via computer for more than 8 years now, so commuting is not necessary, and I consider myself very fortunate to have this option thanks to Al Gore's internet.

When my daughter started driving herself around, I gave her the car. (She has since bought herself a hybrid.) I walk almost everywhere, take public transit/taxi or rent a car (very rarely), when walking isn't practical.

When my daughter moved away two months ago, I moved to a small house that encourages a minimalist lifestyle.

I buy used as much as possible. When a new item is necessary, care is taken to buy organic as much as possible.

I carry two canvas shopping bags to minimize the need for any plastic bags in stores.

All clothes are washed in cold water and hung on a clothes line. Rinse water is diverted to a large trash barrel and saved for the garden.

Recycle everything as much as possible.

I'm in the process of converting the driveway to a patio garden for container growing and will also be starting a worm farm soon. This is a new life-phase project and will be ongoing.

Always looking for new ideas.

On edit: Oh, yeah... and this is important -- I use NO toxic chemicals of any kind. Vinegar, baking soda, and 7th Generation products accomplish everything I need without poisons.

[tinrobot]

14. Bought a hybrid...

Changed the lights to cfl, started shutting off computers rather than leaving them on...

[The Straight Story]

15. Not enough - but am moving and changing a lot of ways I do things

Kind of hard in the midst of things, but I am far more aware than ever.

I have been giving it all a lot of thought. Though one thing I did was secure my ability to work from home and not drive each day to work, which cut down my gas usage to a tank a month (if that) versus several tanks.

I have also started turning off the lights more in rooms I am not in. Mom was always darn good about that, I slack at it.

I have also bought hand crank radios, instead of using batteries or wall outlets (and I like em better, though I have went through 2 since last summer).

Nice thread, and thanks for posting it.

[EFerrari]

22. I contacted Friends of the Urban Forest and asked for a hook up

so we can plant in our hood. They're supposed to send me a packet.

And, I'm really working on recycling. That's my main thing right now.

The light bulbs, I've been hanging back from because of headache. But, I'm going to try it in just one room and see how it goes. :shrug: If it doesn't work, I can try something else. If it works, I can do more.

[athena]

23. Reusable stuff.

I bought several cloth bags about five years ago and have been using them for groceries ever since. They're unbelievably sturdy and easier to carry than those horrible plastic bags. I live about five blocks from the grocery store and can carry two bags on each shoulder, filled with heavy stuff like milk, juice and canned soup. Most people drive to the store, and the plastic bags the grocery stores are so eager to push on their customers usually travel no more than twenty feet; they then end up in in the oceans, killing marine life. The grocery store gives me back 3 cents for each bag (they pretend not to notice that each of my bags can hold as much as six of their flimsy bags). You can buy reusable bags at http://www.reusablebags.com . They also sell mugs with lids that you can use at many cafes for a 10-cent discount.

To those who claim they need those plastic grocery-store bags for garbage: you can buy garbage bags made of 100% recycled plastic. Seventh Generation makes them. They're hard to find, but if enough people buy them, they'll become more widely available.

For women: I highly recommend The Diva Cup or The Keeper. They're a great alternative to disposable pads and tampons.

[krispos42]

24. I took public transit on Saturday

And I burn all CFLs in my house.

Oh, and I got a nifty InfraWave toaster oven that I use religiously in place of the conventional one. Does a great job on food, only 10 minutes to make chicken fingers and potato wedges, with no pre-heating!

[Warren DeMontague]

25. 7-8 months a year I dry my clothes on a clothesline. Started during the CA Enron-Gy "Crisis".

Doesn't work too good with the towels, and my wife doesn't like her nicer stuff to go out there, but for my t-shirts and whatnot, it works fine. Saves serious electric $$$, too.

I also did the fluorescent bulb thing a long time ago. And I compost. What can I say, I'm a trend-setter.

[Sherman A1]

26. Switched all lights in the house to CFL's and

just took my 23 year old gas powered Snapper lawn-mower in for it's annual tune up (yes, it's old, looks like hell, but it still runs and see no need to replace it until the engine coughs and the wheels fall off) have been recycling paper, plastic, glass and metals the last few years at our Superb recycling center here in Florissant, MO. (cut my household trash by over 50%) Had a LTTE published in the Christian Science Monitor on 3/5 regarding a global warming article and as I write the employee newsletter for my workplace I have added a column on household money saving tips (as my little response to a corporate plan asking for suggestions to help the company save money, because the employees can use a few ideas as well for themselves - it isn't always about what's best for the boss) and have written about CFL's and the energy tax credits which apparently sunset this year.

This is a good post and one that should be done regularly to shake ideas loose..... :toast:

[symbolman]

28. Spent the last five years writing a book

about the two summers I spent in the late 70's flying around the face of Alaska in helicopters looking for Uranium for the Dept of Energy, amongst the many adventures in my story, I've included our sneaking into Prudhoe Bay and Deadhorse Oil Camps, and seeing the mistreatment of the animals and the environment First Hand during the Pipeline days up there.

I watched a Mother Caribou give birth to a baby, in a ditch full of crude oil, and both died before my eyes, while oil workers laughed, through a window, 55 gallon drums with dead foxes and chipmonks floating in them, the Permafrost SO SCARRED as to be DESTROYED for all time. You scratch the surface of that stuff and within years or months you have a gaping melting HOLE which will never heal.. All the roads BETWEEN the camps absorb sunlight and MELT the permafrost underneath, and the Oil Companies and right wingers that want to use only a 'small' portion of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge are LYING about HOW MUCH damage there will be, I know I was THERE.

As a matter of fact, Global Warming probably Saved my LIFE, when we crashed in a chopper in the ANWR section of Alaska.. the permafrost had Melted Underneath so when we HIT the ground in the chopper it was like smacking into a giant waterbed.. other wise my teeth would have rattled around in my skull like popcorn.

So I've weaved a tale together over these years, and it will include Global Warming viewed First Hand in Alaska in the Bush during the 1970's... and a lot of adventures as well. Some Spirituality is included, because you can't avoid having religious experiences in raw Nature..

Got some Hollywood interest in it and haven't even approached a publisher yet, so wish me luck, if all works as planned I'll be raising the conscienceness as far as that part of the world goes, and getting folks to FEEL for the Environment, become a part of it as the read.

I want to save that area from the Oil Barons, because, and a lot of people don't know this..

Nowhere on earth is wildlife more abundant than in the Arctic Tundra Slopes during the summers.

It's the best I can do with my limited resources, but we have changed the lights out too :)

[InvisibleTouch]

38. Almost wish I hadn't read that...

...about the mother caribou and baby. One of those horrifying scenes that I can imagine all too vividly. Now I'm trying to get it out of my head.

None the less, and I know I've said this to you before, please do get that book out. If you find yourself at a point where you need a proofreader, and you're so inclined, drop me a note. I'm very good at that kind of thing. Self-published a magazine for over 10 years, and I'm constantly finding typos, missing words, and other little editing mistakes in published books of all kinds (as well as in my own work, if I've let it sit for a while). My mind is just geared to pick them up, I suppose, though it doesn't hamper my interest or enjoyment of the text. But I've often wondered what on earth editors do at these big publishing houses to earn their keep. :)

Anyway, it does seem that the time is now for you to get this out to the world.

[orleans]

29. bought some canvas bags to use at the grocery store

switched out thirty bulbs with cfls

am looking around for led strings for christmas & halloween lighting

never use a dryer--indoor & outdoor clothesline (along with bathtub curtain pole)

seventh generation dishwasher soap & trash bags

try to keep appliances turned off when not using them

recycle tons of things

even got rid of my plug in air freshener (well, i'll probably use it again in the fall--i have a wonderful caramel scent left over from last year)

hot washes are now warm. more cold washes.

learning to clean with baking soda & vinegar.

[dddem]

30. I had an energy audit years ago, and switched to CFL's

In fact, Some of them are still in use. They cost more initially, but last much longer.
I also switched my brand of coffee to Cafe Solar. It tastes really good - I use french roast (freedom roast?), and it's really good, but more imporantly, they roast the beans (organic, free trade beans) using solar energy instead of the traditional wood fire roasting method. I get it at the grocery store here in Massachusetts, but you can purchase it online.

[tsuki]

34. Big news this year.

Bought a gas burner and am completing the outdoor kitchen. Will be canning outside this year, not fighting the AC. I hope to significantly reduce the electric bill this summer

Got a new, smaller pressure cooker for Christmas (Husband is so romantic, LOL.) Cook beans, soups, in 16 minutes; game in 25.

Changed light bulb to CFL, in home and shop.

Grow most of the vegetables. Make own sauerkraut, jams, jellies, salsa, pesto, sauces. Use hand devices for chopping (I love Mom's old blitzhacker,) mixing and whipping.

Buy organic.

Cut up old 100% cotton tees for rags.

Re-squared door frames and upgraded weatherstripping. Insulated around doors. Laid more insulation in attic.

Wash only full loads, but I do one wash a week in hot water and bleach (the rags.) Since I clean with rags, and use cloth napkins, dishtowels and dishrags, I want to make sure that I kill the bacteria that might grow in the machine.

Am looking into supplementing the hot water with a heat reclaim unit.

Recycle, recycle, recycle. Cut to one gift per person at Xmas. Kids, what do I have that you can't live without? Friends and co-workers got homemade liquers and home canned goods, peppers, sauerkraut, mincemeat, tomatoes. Oh, and unlit outdoor decorations. (If I could ween Husband off his bubble lights and fresh tree, I would be a happy camper. But when you live with someone that has STRONG feelings about such issues, you have to cave sometimes. I won about 75%.)

All WC's dual flush that WORK the first flush. Checked every six months to make sure the flappers are not leaking. I left the water restricters IN. Showers are turn on water, wet, turn off water, soap up, turn on water, rinse.

Start my own seeds. Compost.

[Javaman]

37. I gave it a ride to the airport this morning.

seriously. lol

no actually, I use florescent lights in the house, LED's under the cabinet lights. solar spots in the front of the house, water collection barrels, clothesline, cloth napkins, compost, only electric lawn torture devices, recycle everything, use canvas bags at the supermarket, open windows instead of using a/c, that's what I can think of off the top of my head.

Did I do my part? :)