How do you help the environment?
Question:A lot of us can't put up solar panels, or buy a hybrid vehicle, and there isn't always public transit where we live. What are the little things you do to help the environment?
I always use public transit or walk, and I use GE energy smart light bulbs. Something I don't do is use the low flow toilets and shower heads, so that is my big environment sin.
Answers:
I use compact florescent in as many light fixtures as I can. I recycle as much as I can. I compost. I grow and make as much as I can by myself. I have a garden, I make my own bread, clothes, soap etc. I figure every time I cut out the factory it has to better for the environment.
I have a veritable forest on my 1/3 acre to offset my carbon footprint.
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Buying meat and crops locally is a very good thing. Saves a ton of energy put into all the things factories do.
Currently I have a PHEV, which is a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, similar to the Chevy Volt concept http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/... (check it out!), I am building a house using Engineered structure which cuts down on wood use and creates less waste, I am using Icynene Insulation which is energy efficient, saving energy and thus reducing pollutants caused by power plants. I use Vortex flushing Style toilets, which don't use a tank and use less water than a toilet with a tank, I am using specially designed solar panels to heat hot water which will heat my house as well as provide hot water and warm my pool water. My New shower is equipped with a computer control system that monitors water flow and shuts it off automatically, My new house is completely automated, from the washer and dryer, to the shades and oven, everything talks to each other, and is controlled by voice. It is programmed with Star Trek: Voyager sound effects and sliding doors similar to those on Star Trek: Voyager. The automation system saves energy by using daylight sensors, water sensors, timers, etc. I also use LED lighting in every room of my new home. JUST KIDDING! I ONLY USE energy smart light bulbs, that is about it. other than that and my Prius, I don't do anything to save the environment, except recycle as much as I can.
Buy canvas grocery bags and use them instead of paper or plastic.
Keep packaging in mind when you buy. Check for packaging that you can recycle, and try not to buy things you have to landfill.
Start a compost heap. They don't smell, take up only a small amount of room, and reduce the amount of garbage you send to the landfill as well as building the soil. Mother Earth News, or "Organic Gardening" by Rodale Press, have easy to use information on how to do this.
Use cloth napkins instead of paper. Most families need only two sets, which will cost under $20 for both, and you save trees and reduce landfill waste.
Reduce your driving as much as possible. Combine trips, plan ahead, walk or bicycle when you can. Consider instituting a "No-Drive Day" once a week. Keep your car tuned up and check your tire pressure frequently to reduce gas usage.
Plant trees where you can, and smaller plants too. They help to offset the carbon you do use.
Yay for you for helping our environment!!
I like Trevor's suggestion on the local food. You could also try to purchase organic groceries if you can afford it. I buy them when I can so I realize that they cost more but I believe it is important.
Use less chemicals when you clean. Use environmentally friendly products. Make sure you take all hazardous materials to be disposed of properly so that don't end up in our groundwater Use products that break down in the landfill.
Recycle and buy recycled items whenever possible.
One of the easiest and biggest impacts you can make is not to use plastic grocery bags, get reusable canvas bags and use them. Plastic grocery or store bags take up so much space in our landfills and do not breakdown in our lifetime.
Shut off lights when not in use. Install a electronic thermostat set it to use less energy during the times you are not at home.
Don't run small loads through the washing machine or dishwasher. Allow dishes to air dry rather than heat dry. When possible use a clothes line to dry your clothes.
Don't run to the store everyday, shoping for larger amounts more often will reduce your time in the car and your gas bill. Run errands together rather than seperate trips whenever possible.
Buy local products as much as possible, this reduces the amount of transport time the products you use had. This means less emmissions into the environment and is good for the local economy as well.
The new low flow toilet pack the same amount of power as the old ones, American Standard makes a great one and it can flush a dozen golf balls with no problem. They are only around 100 to install and worth the savings to the environment and your water bill. Water will grow increasingly more expensive as clean water becomes more of a commodity.
Don't run the shower for a long time before jumping in. Consider installing a instant hot water system that puts the hot water closer to where you use it, this way you don't run it for long to heat up the water.
I have switched out all my light bulbs for fluorescent.
I use a laptop computer because it more energy efficent.
I have window air conditioner in one room rather than cooling the whole house and it usually is only used in June- September as I open the doors and use a fan.
I have a timed thermostat that shut off while I'm out of the house and at night.
I walk to the store.
I have an electric lawn mower.
I have low flow toilets.
I bought a 92% efficent gas furnace.
My 1998 pickup has 30,000 miles.
My house is the smallest in my neighborhood.
I have a garden and can food.
I use towels rather than paper towels.
I put my outside lights on an electric eye so they are off at dawn.
There's a lot more I can do but my electric bill on average has been less than $60 per month so its a hard debate whether to invest in solar. I need to replace the windows and add a solar exhaust fan on the roof to keep the temperature down and will probably get that done this year.
Well, first I don't use cfl in my fixtures anymore. Mercury is a pollutant. I would not want to pollute my environment with mercury.
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/finan...
Next, I use as many Dow chemicals as I can on fire ants and mosquitos. Fire ants bite my son which causes him to have an allergic reaction. Mosquitos harbor disease and I would not want my environment to harbor disease. Same with cockroaches. Except we have an exterminator out once a month to spray our environment with very strong chemicals to stop the diseases from being spread in my environment.
http://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th2.htm...
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/list_...
We have a pest control guy that comes once a month. He puts out tons of chemcial poisons to keep the mouse and poisonous snakes at bay. This keeps mouse and snake disease out of my environment. I live on 5 acres so I need to keep these diseases out of my backyard environment.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta...
I drive a lot for work. This improves my environment by allowing my son to eat.
OKOKOK. I couldn't help it. I hate tree huggers, but.
http://bible.cc/genesis/1-28.htm...
I believe in caring for our world. I just hate it when tree huggers scream about how much they do or beleive when what they talk about is crud. Global warming is a farce and all of the cars in the world cannot add enough carbon to the environment than what volcanos add every day. Trees due not make the bulk of oxygen, algae does. You don't see anyone running around 'Algae hugging' though
God Bless
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