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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 13 March 2008 11:02 pm |
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Come on everybody - chime in and tell me what you are doing to decrease your personal impact on the environment. I want to get some new ideas and pass along some of my own!
Some things I've started to do (or not do!) lately:
- limit disposable containers. I've got a permanent (nalgene??) water bottle for water instead of throwing away plastic every time I want a drink. And I carry a travel mug for coffee instead of getting a paper cup (and lid and insulated sleeve!).
- reuse paper or plastic grocery bags. I kept forgetting to grab some on my way to the store, so now I keep a stash in my car.
Baby steps applies to improving all kinds of habits! It's taken me a little bit of time to make these a part of my routine, but it is worth it!!
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morbidlemon
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 14 March 2008 11:40 pm |
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Hello :D
Now here's something I don't fail too miserably at ;)
- I walk almost everywhere.
- I have a permanent water bottle.
- I don't drive, so when I don't walk it's public transport for me.
- We recycle everything except plastic [which can't be recycled here :(]
- Useful plastic containers always get reused, and good jars with lids get reused too.
- Big cardboard boxes are always saved for when it comes to moving.
- Newspaper, flyers, etc get put in a box for future use in 'art'.
- I take a backpack and a really tough 'bag for life' when I go shopping.
- Stopped getting paper statements wherever possible.
I thought there would be more but I can't think of any right now. Unless refusing to use pesticides on my plants counts [especially since they're indoors]; I've been dealing with an infestation of aphids and dilute washing up liquid sprayed directly on to the plant does the trick. I'm sure washing up liquid is a chemical, but it must be far better than using pesticides.
I'm really big on recycling. I don't know if it's because for the last four years I have been constantly around art departments and I see so much paper and material that is perfectly useable just get thrown away. SO MUCH OF IT. I'm talking several of those black bins that are about two feet [maybe more] in diameter and four foot tall every day. Just because no one can be bothered to sort through it.
Things I should improve!:
- Shower for less time, mine are often 15 minutes, if not longer! [I've been known to have hour long showers  ]
- Have a duvet with me instead of using the fan heater under my desk so much. The problem is I get so ridiculously cold just sitting still and a duvet restricts my movement when doing work.
Last edited on 14 March 2008 11:41 pm by morbidlemon
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trimB
Moderator
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Posted: 15 March 2008 04:01 pm |
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morbidlemon wrote: - Stopped getting paper statements wherever possible.
That's a great idea! I have done this with some of my bills, but I could definitely improve. Family members keep buying my magazine subscriptions for gifts too... how can I delicately suggest something less wasteful? None of these magazines are that crucial to me.
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clarinetgurl
Moderator
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Posted: 16 March 2008 01:01 pm |
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Well, my family recycles coke cans and plastic bottles (milks jugs, 20 oz bottles, and 2 liters).
At school, we have big cardboard boxes in each classroom for recycling paper.
We recycle walmart bags into big bins at the store...
CG
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kalypso
Member
| Joined: | 3 March 2008 |
| Location: | Eh?, Canada |
| Posts: | 165 |
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Posted: 16 March 2008 03:06 pm |
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 recycle at home
walk/bike everywhere
re-use same water bottle, containers, bags for shopping, etc
take short showers, or baths so I'm not using up water unnecessarily
donate old things instead of creating more trash
try to always aim for buying my food locally
Last edited on 16 March 2008 03:08 pm by kalypso
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
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Posted: 18 March 2008 03:21 am |
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I rarely drive any one place. Well, maybe to the gym.
But any other place I need to go will be combined into that trip. I HATE to have to run to a store when I'm not already out.
This is partly because I'm such a homebody, and of course gas is getting expensive. But whatever the reason, it's helping the environment. (Or at least hurting it less!)
Peter
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morbidlemon
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 18 March 2008 11:22 am |
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My concern with my long showers was the gas used to heat it up. Energy is effectively lost into the atmosphere, water will keep cycling in one way or another.
Thought of another one I do, switching off plug sockets. I don't do it for the whole house, but doing it in my studio stops my peripherals being left on. Unplugging my phone charger is another - apparently [I read/heard this some years ago] leaving it plugged in and switched on constantly costs around £20/year in electricity.
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
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Posted: 18 March 2008 05:28 pm |
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morbidlemon,
I have my PC, screen, speakers, printer, modem... all plugged into one power strip. At the end of the day I switch it off, so there is no power going to anything.
I practically live in my front bedroom where my PC is, so in the winter I heat the little room with a space heater and leave the rest of the condo cold. I only heat it in the evenings.
Peter
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morbidlemon
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 18 March 2008 11:08 pm |
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Yeah, that's pretty much exactly what I've been doing :D All the stuff at my desk is plugged into an extension cable, and I just switch them all off. And I have a little electric fan heater to keep the studio warm and the rest of the flat stays cold!
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Melissa
Member
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Posted: 28 March 2008 07:35 pm |
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My father finally fulfilled his dream of building a solar power earth-sheltered home. He is all excited to have solar panels, energy efficient washer and dryer, and a windmill in the front yard.
Just going to visit him has been a learning experience! He has this meter on the wall that shows how much energy is being generated by the solar power-and, most fun-it shows how much energy is sucked up by normal things. You can see how much energy you save just by unplugging the toaster!
So, in my own apartment, we unplug nearly everything once we use it. The toaster, microwave, phone chargers, lamps are always unplugged after use. I have to get better at unplugging the tv and computer. It has helped tremendously with our electricity bill, and does save energy! Plus, I try never to leave a light on when I leave the room.
I havent found a recycling facility yet anywhere near my apartment complex--as soon as I find one, I will recycle again.
Great ideas everyone!
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
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Posted: 29 March 2008 12:12 am |
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Melissa,
I'm quite sure that a toaster or lamp is not using electricity when not in use, so you don't have to bother unplugging those.
Peter
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morbidlemon
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 29 March 2008 12:40 am |
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I partly like to unplug [well, not unplug necessary but switch off at the socket] things for simple fire risk. I've heard far too many stories of houses being burnt down because of an old/faulty hairdrier or other such thing!
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
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Posted: 29 March 2008 12:59 am |
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I got to know all the inspectors after going to house fires for the Red Cross these past six years, and asked if the little power converters we have all over our houses can start fires. Seems scary because they feel so warm (which means they ARE using electricity, a good reason unplug them off when not in use.)
The inspector I asked had never been to a fire caused by one, but warned me about cheap power strips. He said, for example, the cheap ones sold at Wal-Mart aren't always really UL approved like they say, and start fires.
Years ago you could buy a little plug that went into a wall socket, and it had a switch on it. Then you plugged your whatever into that.
I can't find them at the stores anymore, but went looking because I thought it would be easier to flick a switch than actually unplug something -- and wear out the plug in the process.
Hair driers go in bathroom drawers. They aren't decorator items. 
Peter
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morbidlemon
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 29 March 2008 10:57 am |
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Hang on... Your sockets don't have switches on them already? The only thing I physically pull the plug on is my heater because it was so cheap I don't trust it, and it's plugged into a extension cable that doesn't have it's own switch [need to do it at the wall]. I think the only things plugged into that are my lamp and possibly my Tardis USB Hub...
When I was on my last course, someone in the second year had lost their entire house because of an old hairdrier she left plugged in. Kinda stuck in my head. I don't generally use my hairdrier to dry hair, but to speed up the whole watching paint dry process  So I always make a point to unplug it.
There were plenty of Fire SOS type programmes on the TV when I was a kid and I guess I've been left slightly paranoid. I remember them giving me nightmares  My biggest worry was always getting my animals out, because the advice was always not to go out of your way to do so?!
Sorry, this has gone a bit off-topic
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cportwine
Member
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Posted: 31 March 2008 08:55 pm |
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Yea, I wouldn't mind getting some of those with the switch. If I am reading this right anyway. I was going to get power strips for all my outlets and then I could just switch them off when not in use. I have a friend who works for the utilities here and she said that even cell phone chargers drawl juice, when they are not charging. I was asking her cause my bill is always sky high.
Anyway, we recycle everything. Cans go to the junkyard, everything else the village picks up. We reuse class jars, plastic bags, etc.
I am currently trying to cut back on electricity and water usage in my home. I like long hot showers also. Like you morbidlemon...sometimes a half hour at a time. But, I have cut the dishwasher back to every two days, instead of one or two times a day. Every little bit counts. Even keep my printer shut off unless I am using it. And like peter, I am a homebody and hate going out more than once a day. Sometimes I don't leave the house for three or more days. lol, I know, I am weird..... 
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
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Posted: 1 April 2008 01:01 am |
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I'm sure those little chargers use electricity all the time, not just when they are charging something. I say this because they are always warm, and that means they are using electricity.
I battle against long hot showers too, but I feel a little better now. The condo I was in over the weekend didn't have any restriction on the shower head, and I'm sure it was sending out four or five times as much water as mine does.
Oh, and it bugs me when people leave the water running full blast while they are brushing their teeth!
Peter
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cportwine
Member
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Posted: 1 April 2008 10:56 am |
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Hey, at my house I have kids leave the facet on (trickling) and I don't notice until an hour later...  That and leaving the door open. Like I can heat and cool the great outdoors.......
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morbidlemon
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 1 April 2008 09:09 pm |
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I'm really big on switching those chargers off too when not in use, I heard they can suck £17/year out of you. Trying to 'train' Tom to switch his off, but he usually forgets and I end up doing it.
Leaving the tap on bothers me too Annoyingly our water pressure is hugely temperamental, so sometimes if you think you've turned it off it comes back on without you realising. Trickle trickle trickle... the sound is maddening.
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