Lise
Mrs. Guru
   
   
      
 
  
Since: 11.12.01
Since last post: 36 days
Last activity: 6 days
|  #1 Posted on 22.4.08 1305.42 | Instant Rating: 8.19 | I think we're a pretty average household Green-wise. We recycle bottles and cans (usually at charity drops) We recycle newspapers about 1/3rd of the time (sometimes they get trashed or burned) and we have CFL bulbs in most of our lights (including we found some dimable ones for our fixtures on dimmers). Our commutes are really quite short, and since we live in a semi-rural neighborhood we're hoping to have a pretty big garden this year to grow a good amount of our fresh produce. (If it stops flipping SNOWING!!!)
Because of Earth Day this week, I gathered up all the extra plastic bags around the house and dumped them off at a recycle drop and bought a bunch of re-usable grocery sacks. I'm not sure if I'll manage to use them consistantly (remembering to bring the sacks back out to the car might not work so well) but I'll give it a shot, because I'm sick of the clutter of plastic sacks, and even if I just reduce the number of plastic sacks that come into the house it will be worth it. We'll also be planting a couple trees this week that we've been meaning to get in the ground. | Promote this thread! |           | Leroy
Andouille
Since: 7.2.02
From: Queens, NY
Since last post: 4 days
Last activity: 7 hours
| #2 Posted on 22.4.08 1317.52 | Instant Rating: 6.99 | We carpool and take public transit as much as possible. Last year, I sold my SUV and we're down to our one car and a Vespa motorscooter (greatest purchase I've ever made). The Vespa gets 50+ MPH (and free downtown parking!) - although the weather is not cooperating, so I can't use it for a daily commute quite yet. Soon, though.
We are within walking distance of two major grocery stores and several decent restaurants, so walking is a big part of our time. We do all of the standard stuff - recycling, replacing light bulbs with CFLs, reusable grocery bags, etc. And my better-half is a vegan (not a stereotypical vegan, either), so she's infinitely more "environmentally friendly" than I on that point alone.
| samoflange
Lap cheong
Since: 22.2.04
From: Cambridge, MA
Since last post: 4 days
Last activity: 5 hours
| #3 Posted on 22.4.08 1542.27 | Instant Rating: 5.90 | I sold my car a year ago and bike to school/work every day (even when it's below 0ºC in the winter!) If it's very icy outside or raining too hard, I'll walk or take the subway.
Light bulbs are CFLs, and appliances/electronics are unplugged if not being used.
I'm vegetarian for all but maybe one or two meals per week. During the months when available, 100% of my food comes from the local farmers market.
I never take bags from stores, and haven't done so in so long that I can't remember when I started.
I buy cookware, utensils, furniture, etc at used/thift stores.
However, all this does little to offset the 4-5 times I travel by plane each year.
Lloyd: When I met Mary, I got that old fashioned romantic feeling, where I'd do anything to bone her.
Harry: That's a special feeling. | Torchslasher
Knackwurst
Since: 17.1.02
From: New F'n Jersey
Since last post: 44 days
Last activity: 42 days
| #4 Posted on 22.4.08 1626.27 | Instant Rating: 4.92 | Besides recycling, nothing.
Click Here (czwfans.com)
For all your CZW and Nickels Trivia information.
"Put on your helmets, we'll be reaching speeds of 3!"
"It was nice of you to give that dead woman another chance."
"All right, look alive everybody...oh sorry Susan."- MST3K: Space Mutiny
Click Here (myspace.com) | Oliver
Scrapple
Since: 20.6.02
From: Derkaderkastan
Since last post: 5 days
Last activity: 3 days
|  #5 Posted on 23.4.08 0603.27 | Instant Rating: 5.32 | I'm involved in a program called Freecycle: anything that I don't want in my apartment, I'll post on a message board, and if someone wants it, they can contact me for pick up. It's awesome and keeps things out of the landfills.
I walk where I can, and bus everywhere else. I don't own a car, either. Starting next month, I'll be cycling everywhere, too.
Lisa and I re-use shopping bags. We'll take a bunch when we go shopping, or use those we've accumulated for disposal.
We also have potted plants in almost every room of the house. I don't know if that really helps with anything, but it really brightens up the environment, and plants help filter the air.
We'd also like to start composting, but living in an apartment complex...it may not work out too well on our balcony.
Tenkuu Henshin!
| Mr Heel II
Bratwurst
Since: 25.2.02
Since last post: 4 days
Last activity: 4 hours
| #6 Posted on 23.4.08 0700.08 | Instant Rating: 5.12 | I used CFL's in my old place, but just moved last week into a new place that was outfitted with 100 percent incandescents. Kind of surprised me as it's a brand new build.
So while pondering replacing those, I decided to order a few of the (really really expensive) LED light bulbs C. Crane hawks. I'm interested in seeing how well they really work.
Still, I'll most likely be getting a batch of CFL's at Costco since there are about 30 bulbs to replace.
My current vehicle gets the EPA's "SmartWay" designation. | BoromirMark
Potato korv
Since: 8.5.02
From: Milan-Ann Arbor, MI
Since last post: 140 days
Last activity: 111 days
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| #7 Posted on 23.4.08 1215.11 | Instant Rating: 4.73 | Absolutely nothing.
Wait. I forgot to take out my recycling. Does that count?
Michigan against the SEC: 20-5-1 (7-3 in bowl games)
 | KJames199
Knackwurst
Moderator
Since: 10.12.01
Since last post: 5 hours
Last activity: 15 min.
| #8 Posted on 23.4.08 1745.35 | Instant Rating: 9.11 | Yesterday, I rode the escalator at the mall instead of taking the stairs in order to improve the escalator's operational efficiency.
JK: LJ, S&H, KMA, FB | Guru Zim
SQL Dejection
Administrator
Since: 9.12.01
From: Bay City, OR
Since last post: 3 days
Last activity: 6 hours
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| #9 Posted on 23.4.08 1800.36 | Instant Rating: 8.81 | I turned off Folding@Home on most of my PCs.  That may have been due to the power bill, though.
Sign up for Folding@Home and join our team. PM me for details.
Ignorance is bliss for you, hell for me. | Matt Tracker
Scrapple
Since: 8.5.03
From: North Carolina
Since last post: 16 hours
Last activity: 5 hours
| #10 Posted on 24.4.08 0911.37 | Instant Rating: 7.21 | We recycle and compost.
We filter tap water.
We use the initial cold shower water to fill the toilet tank.
My wife walks to work when the weather is clear.
We have timers on the thermostat.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker | MisterHenderson
Boerewors
Since: 3.5.06
From: New York
Since last post: 1311 days
Last activity: 1230 days
| #11 Posted on 28.4.08 2125.41 | Instant Rating: 2.00 | I started my Hummer and let it idle all day. ;)
"Gorbachev sings tractors. Turnips! Buttocks!" | SchippeWreck
Boudin blanc
Since: 26.3.03
From: Glendale, CA
Since last post: 1 day
Last activity: 2 hours
| #12 Posted on 29.4.08 0828.05 | Instant Rating: 8.86 | Originally posted by MisterHenderson
I started my Hummer and let it idle all day. ;)
Yeah, like a Hummer can idle all day without needing three trips to the gas station.
I'm not nearly as green as I should be. The biggest step we made was switching out to all CFLs about a year ago. Haven't had to change them yet!
"It's magic! We don't need to explain it!" | Mike Zeidler
Sujuk
Since: 27.6.02
From: Champaign, IL
Since last post: 9 hours
Last activity: 5 hours
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| #13 Posted on 29.4.08 1021.32 | Speaking of CFLs, I looked at prices for LED bulb replacements and was flabbergasted to find that a 60 replacement LED bulb costs $120.
"Tattoos are the mullets of the aughts." - Mike Naimark | Lise
Mrs. Guru
Since: 11.12.01
Since last post: 36 days
Last activity: 6 days
| #14 Posted on 29.4.08 1716.25 | Instant Rating: 8.19 | | $120 seems a bit high... especially since I can buy lots of battery powerd LED lamps and stick ups for really cheap. I've never had to change the batteries in my little reading lights. The LED stick up light in Aaron's closet needs its batteries replaced, but I think that's because it was left on for days and days at a time. | MisterHenderson
Boerewors
Since: 3.5.06
From: New York
Since last post: 1311 days
Last activity: 1230 days
| #15 Posted on 29.4.08 2318.06 | Instant Rating: 2.00 | We cut back on doing laundry to once a week. Which is tough to do with two kids. We recycle pretty hard core and we use those swirly light bulbs. I also have a righteous compost heap going on in the back yard.
"Gorbachev sings tractors. Turnips! Buttocks!" | othertim
Weisswurst
Since: 2.6.02
From: Somewhere In New York
Since last post: 1814 days
Last activity: 1813 days
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| #16 Posted on 2.6.08 2151.43 | | Bought a couple of canvas bags at the supermarket. They were only a couple bucks each, they hold a lot, and I take them everywhere I go now. The number of plastic bags I use now has become virtually zero. | Oliver
Scrapple
Since: 20.6.02
From: Derkaderkastan
Since last post: 5 days
Last activity: 3 days
| #17 Posted on 4.6.08 1145.17 | Instant Rating: 4.42 | Originally posted by othertim
Bought a couple of canvas bags at the supermarket. They were only a couple bucks each, they hold a lot, and I take them everywhere I go now. The number of plastic bags I use now has become virtually zero.
That's a pretty good idea; the only issue I have is that the permanant bags (for lack of a better term) that I've found at varied stores are pretty cheap and die easily.
You wouldn't like Ozu Makito when he's mad!
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Thread rated: 6.12
