11 replies to this topic

[zspuckl]

Does anyone have suggestions for someone who want to go green at their own pace.  I know that a lot of people want to know what are the biggest little things that can help in everyday life.  So what is everyone's thought?

[Hayden]

Lets start a list. I'll start...

Reduce energy and waste at home. (lightbulbs, recycle, shower with less water, don't leave taps running, only do laundry on a full load...

[Monkey Doctor]

I think it's important to think green. I know thats a total clich but if you think about your life on a day to day basis there are many things you can change to make a big difference in the long run. If you think green you will naturally start to see the areas of your life you can change to make a difference. Sorry if that sounds patronising I don't mean it to at all.

The obvious things are important like turning lights out when you don't need them, making sure your house is properly indulated, only using a car when it's absolutely necessary but there are a whole host of these little things that can add up to a big difference. Heres a few of my tips that are easy to assimilate with your life and help you to turn green at your own pace.

Reduce the packaging you buy.
Always choose products with minimal packaging. Market forces will reduce the packaging companies use if everybody does this.

Don'y buy bottled water.
If your tap water is not good use a water filter. This reduces packaging waste by a hugh amount. If you are making the switch keep hold of a few bottles so if you want to carry water around with you just use refill one of your old bottles.

Buy Eco cleaning materials and use them sparingly.
The amount of pollution that comes from domestic cleaning products is huge. Also the plastic bottles that they come in genrates alot of waste packaging so only use cleaning products if absolutely essential. There are some very effective biodegradable cleaning products on the market that are far less harmfull than the normal cleaning products. If you really want to push the boat out you can make your own with vinegar, baking soda and soap!

Waste less water with your toilets.
If your toilets don't have water saving devices in the cistern put half a brick in it. This reduces the amount of water you use each time you flush. Most cisterns are designed to give out more water than needed. Over time this save a huge amount of water, put less strain on the water purification process etc etc. It's a small change but if lots of people did it the affect would be huge.

Get a composter.
They can be small but they reduce your waste output significantly. they come in all shapes and sizes and can be very clean and self contained. Have a look on the internet there is load of information available on the diferent types. They take very little management and eat a huge amount of waste. Mine eats all my old bills and newspapers!

Buy your fruit and veg locally and grow some yourslef if you can.
This can be difficult in the city but we get an organic veg box delivered and we grow a few bits of veg in pots. All the veg in the veg box is from local farms and they do a van run every week to drop it of to the city folks. This reduces the "food miles" of my diet by a huge amount. I do like to have things like olive oil and coffee that has to be imported but I try to balance that as much as I can and treat those things as luxuries.

Take bags with you when you go to the shops and try not to use plastic carrier bags ever if you can.

Recycle everything possible.
Think before you put anything in the bin. Don't throw away things that can be used by somebody else & recycled everything that can be recycled.

Get a bike and use it for those small trips you might be tempted to jump in the car for.


I could go on all night.

[mariaandrea]

I would make a list with check boxes by each item and post it somewhere visible, like your refrigerator. Work on one item at a time and check it off as you accomplish it. It's a visible reminder and lets you feel like you've really accomplished something. Look around your house for easy things that add up over time to make a difference yet are easy to do.

Replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs. If there are some lights you just have to have incandescent bulbs in, lower the wattage. Replace 100 and 75 watt bulbs with 60 watt bulbs. You'll get used to the lower level really quickly and it's perfectly adequate light.

Install a low-flow shower head. They aren't expensive and they're easy to install yourself, with instructions on the packaging.

Don't buy window cleaner. Clean glass and mirrors with vinegar. I also wipe down my counters and appliances with vinegar. Buy a couple of inexpensive spray bottles and make your own household cleaning solution with common items like vinegar and lemon juice. Lots of "recipes" are on the internet for doing this.

While you're at it, don't use Swiffer mops or anything disposable. An old-fashioned mop works fine. I look on housecleaning as a workout so I don't need a gym.

[zararina]

These are some of my ways I usually do for a greener living.
- Turn off and unplug unused appliances and electronics gadgets.
- Reusing waste and rain water.
- Reusing grocery/shopping plastic bags.
- Separating waste that can still be recycle and sold it in a junk shop.
- Hand washing some clothes.

[jasserEnv]

There are two simple things that you can do which also save money. This can be encouraging and promote additional efforts to go green. The first is to reduce the amount of food you waste in the home. While it may sound simple, a lot of land area and energy goes into food that we simply throw out. By reducing food waste, you save money, energy and reduce the amount of land that must be turned into farm land.

The second is improve the efficiency of your home. While people think of light bulbs, that is only a small overemphasized part of the problem. Many home builders cut corners and this can include poor insulation and poor air flow. Both of these can affect cooling and heating costs from energy consumption. By making your home better insulated with better air flow, you can save a lot of energy. This means less nuclear power, coal fire and natural gas usage. This in turn reduces the amount of green house gases and particulate pollution that affect environmental and individual health.

[Mon-Jes]

jasserEnv has some good points. Those two are things people generally don't mention all that much, because they're not as visible as someone buying a light bulb or a bottle of water.

The biggest thing would really be to do what you're comfortable with first. Maybe you don't like the mercury content of CFLs. Okay, so, work on ensuring you turn out lights you don't need on. You still want to use bottled water because you prefer the taste (filters do *not* always work--there are areas of my city where even filtered water tastes and smells like sewage)? Okay--just recycle the bottles and don't waste the water. And so on.

Don't let guilt get to you that you're not doing enough or that oh, you're still doing something that everyone will look down on. You have to go at your own pace. Remember that *everything* you do helps. Don't get caught up in a race to see who's the most ecologically sound -- that can lead to burnout.

And before anyone gets on my case for advocating things typically seen as environmentally bad, nope. Better to have someone do a little than nothing at all because they just felt too uncomfortable with the changes.

Editing: Okay, I'm calmer. I have a thing about CFLs because too many people (not here, mind you) have tried to convince me they'll save the planet. They won't. I also have a thing about bottled water because too many people treat filters as invincible (plus I live in an area where more apartments are having tenants pay for water, so tap water is not free, at all--and some of the companies charge a lot). They're not. Everyone has to make the best decision for him- or herself, and not everyone will agree on the method.

(Maybe I should get some sleep now....)

[mariaandrea]

That's so true about CFLs. Yes, they do last a lot longer and use less energy than incandescent bulbs, but they are hazardous materials. We are not allowed to put them in the garbage here in my city but if you want to dispose of them you have to get in your car and drive them to a facility or store that takes them for recycling and those places charge you money to take the bulbs for recycling. That means, of course, that most people bury those bulbs in their garbage where they won't be found and they end up in our landfills, leaking mercury into the groundwater.

I believe the small things we do on a personal level add up to cumulatively with all the little things other people do. To really "save the planet" it's the big players that have to change. Energy producers, manufacturers, lawmakers... It's our small efforts seen in large numbers that gets them to change.

It's impossible to live an entirely "green" life. The vast majority of us don't have the means to live off the grid, use only human powered transportation, grow our our gardens... But, even changing just a few simple habits is the way to start. Especially on a personal level. Everyone doing what they can, when they can, how they can, matters. If that means changing just one thing about the way you live, then that's something you've changed and you should be applauded for doing it.

[Usty]

Monkey Doctor, on 28 October 2011 - 05:21 PM, said:

Reduce the packaging you buy.
Always choose products with minimal packaging. Market forces will reduce the packaging companies use if everybody does this.

Don't buy bottled water.
If your tap water is not good use a water filter. This reduces packaging waste by a huge amount. If you are making the switch keep hold of a few bottles so if you want to carry water around with you just use refill one of your old bottles.

Co-sign. All those plastic bottles are an unnecessary nuisance. Unless you don't have running water at home, bottle water is a scam. Even then, just buy gallon jugs of water instead of the bottled verity.

[Germs]

I find the most useful way to slowly start phasing yourself into living greener is simple house hold changes, using energy saving bulbs and recycling i find to be the most helpful.

I also agree with other posters, DO NOT buy bottled water, the plastic bottles will really mount up and make more of an impact that you could imagine.

[carol4]

I have to say after reading these posts there is not much to add.  I think taking baby steps will help your reach your goal realistically. Just think that about 40 years ago recycling was unknown because we did not have as much available.  Most things came in glass bottles and were naturally reused.  It is going to take many years to really "green" the planet.

[ConservativeGreen]

I have been on this road for a few years.  I found it helpful to break things into 2 categories.  Hardware and Habits.  CFLs and low flow aerators went in early, other changes cost more so have to be saved up for.  Habits are harder, I found it better to work on one element at a time to get the whole family on board before adding more.  It is a treat to see my son fuss at a guest if they try to put recyclables in the trash can! It is a journey, not a destination.