51 replies to this topic

[Shortpoet-GTD]

113-
Eliminate your lawn. Stop slaving over a hot lawn mower every weekend, gas/oil-emissions.
Plant a zero-scape yard or plants native to your area/ground-covers.
Heat resistant plants won't need as much water either.
114-
Collect rainwater (probably already mentioned) but use that rainwater to water the ground-covers or native plants
once you've gotten rid of the grass.
115- Spring cleaning?
http://www.altenergy...__fromsearch__1

http://www.altenergy...__fromsearch__1

[MyDigitalpoint]

Leave the car behind is not only a great principle to living green because it helps reducing pollution, but also contributes to health.

Going through the public transport let you exercise your muscles, and even best if you can substitute transportation by walking whenever possible.

[dkramarczyk]

This quite a nice list of ways to make the shift to living green. I found it to be very helpful and realized different ways that I had already gone green without even noticing. It's pretty neat.

[Pat]

Use vinagar as a weed killer instead of pesticides. You can also use vinagar to clean windows and in the laundry to help remove stubborn odors.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Pat, on 10 April 2012 - 12:49 PM, said:

Use vinagar as a weed killer instead of pesticides. You can also use vinagar to clean windows and in the laundry to help remove stubborn odors.

Final rinse-laundry. Removes soap buildup/residues.
Final rinse-for your hair while showering. Removes soaps/shampoos buildup.
Shower glass doors. Or shower curtain; launder with no soap-just vinegar to remove buildup.
Coffee maker clean-up. Run a full pot of vinegar through. Rinse. Save vinegar for another use later.
Anyone still using evaporative coolers? Pour 1/4 cup in. It's not an overwhelming odor and will help
eliminate hard water buildup on pads.
Same thing applies in winter time for humidifiers.
Ladies personal care product. Don't waste money or your health on man-made chemical personal cleaners.
Add 2-3 tablespoons of vinegar to hot tea and honey. Will help restore your levels/balance in your GI tract.

[dkramarczyk]

Pat, on 10 April 2012 - 12:49 PM, said:

Use vinagar as a weed killer instead of pesticides. You can also use vinagar to clean windows and in the laundry to help remove stubborn odors.

Will vinegar really kill weeds? That's pretty cool. It's probably a lot cheaper too. I have foodshare, so that would be nice using vinegar to kill the weeds.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

dkramarczyk, on 11 April 2012 - 05:34 AM, said:

Will vinegar really kill weeds? That's pretty cool. It's probably a lot cheaper too. I have foodshare, so that would be nice using vinegar to kill the weeds.

It does work, just takes patience-doesn't work too quickly. Mostly, I just weed the few I have by hand.
Also, be careful of the area you spray. You could kill off goodies you want to keep-throws the ph balance off.

[dkramarczyk]

Shortpoet-GTD, on 11 April 2012 - 04:42 PM, said:

It does work, just takes patience-doesn't work too quickly. Mostly, I just weed the few I have by hand.
Also, be careful of the area you spray. You could kill off goodies you want to keep-throws the ph balance off.

The only goodies in my yard that I want to keep is the grass. Other than that, I naturally have a black thumb, so I can't really have a garden or anything. I've tried multiple times and I just can't pull it off.

[clewand550]

Use you dishwasher instead of hand washing your dishes.
Only use the washing machine if you have a full load of laundry.
Open up the windows during the summer instead of using the air conditioner.
Car pool instead of driving.
Be sure to recycle all of your paper instead of throwing your paper in the garbage, this includes school papers and mail.

[MyDigitalpoint]

Learning to make our own sustainable products is a good way to make the shift because it's the only way to ensure your products meet your green living expectations.

[aspen]

Buy second hand clothes. Read books from libraries.Don't buy newspapers and magazines.

[Green Steve]

May I just comment on #17 - it must be said that we should only be using peat free compost - peat extraction and use is really bad for the environment as it contains sequestered carbon that is released when extraction occurs.

Making your own out of waste food is a great idea of course!