What have you already done to "go green"

Kim · **What have you already done to "go green"**

What have you already done to "go green?" What is next on your list of things you can do?

SuperSavinMommy · 09-23-2007, 06:02 PM

I've switched out some of my lightbulbs to the lower energy ones, turn off extra lights and keep my a/c set at 78 during the day to use less energy. I've also switched to seventh generation dish soap and dishwasher soap. I'll be going to their laundry soap when my current one is finished. For cleaning I bought a steamer but haven't tried using it yet with DS running around. I use rain water to water my plants (I put buckets out and/or put the plants outside) and am looking into getting a rain barrel. I'm also trying to switch all of my landscaping over to low-water/FL native plants so I don't need to use my sprinklers.

That's all I can think of atm

mommymarie · 09-23-2007, 06:31 PM

We recycle on a weekly basis. We try to use what we have instead of buying some new stuff. We got rid of our SUV. We switched the ligthbulbs. We bring our bags when we do grocery shopping and other errands.

Amber03 · 09-23-2007, 06:45 PM

I recycle and throw things like food and eggshells, and banana peels outside in a compost pile.

LuvMySoldier · 09-23-2007, 06:56 PM

The first thing I did was do away with ALL my cleaning supplies. Now, the strongest ingrediants I use to clean with are baking soda and vinegar - and I LOVE IT!! So much cheaper, and cleans just as good, if not better!!

I am also slowly changing out all my lightbulbs - as I can afford to - which I must admit I don't like very much...not quite bright enough for me at night really, but I guess it's just something I'll have to get used to. I find that I open the windows more often during the day for light too, so that saves electricity!!

I also try to arrange for all my errands to be done in one round-trip, rather than making several trips around town per day. Saves alot of gas, and time!!

I am also slowly cutting meats out of our diets, and trying to eat more veggies and fruits.
Wish I could say I've started a garden, but where I live right now I just don't have room outside. Guess that's no excuse, as some people have container gardens....

Let's see...I also try to not BUY so much! Especially things that are packaged in styrofoam, and I NEVER take home my fruits and veggies in plastic produce bags anymore. (Unless, of course, that's how they're packaged, like carrots or lettuce...) If I shopped for these items at farmer's markets though, I wouldn't have this problem at all!! Too bad the closest one to me is over 60 miles away...

One thing I REALLY need to stop doing is taking home the plastic grocery bags. I do reuse them for all my garbage now, but it's easy for them to accumulate, and I'm trying to reduce clutter. I'm really bad (or is it GOOD) about re-bagging my own groceries if I go to a check-out where the checker bags the groceries for you. I've found that sometimes they ignore me, though, even though I KNOW they heard me...and just put two or three items in one bag!! I don't have a problem taking things out and re-bagging them myself though, and I figure at the very least, maybe someone behind me will stop to think about using so many bags too - especially if I hold up the line for another few seconds.

I also wash everything in cold water too - even though I do my laundry at a laundry mat. Unless it's a rare load that I need to bleach with hot water, this is what I do now.

Oh, and I recycle aluminum...

There are more, but that's all I can think of right now...

melsb · 09-23-2007, 06:58 PM

I compost. I grow a garden. I have low energy lightbulbs. I also have a low energy washer and dryer. We just got a dishwasher. Eventually I'd like to switch it all out but one step at time.

I really need to get a better system for recycling which currently I don't. We don't have curb side service and I have to haul it to the county dump but I need to get it going.

I use cloth shopping bags. And I'm really starting to watch packaging on items we buy.

vioburn · 09-24-2007, 09:51 AM

I recycle everything I can, to the point where our recycle bin is usually more full than our trash. I don't compost yet, as I don't have a garden, but will be starting soon. A good friend has offered to help me start out with gardening next summer.

I use CF bulbs for most of our lights, except a couple.

I use cloth shopping bags.

I ride my bike when I can, including yesterday to the store for my "big" weekly grocery trip. I took my youngest DS in the trailer and was able to fit in all 10 or so bags. Lucky me, the store is only about a mile away!

I use mostly vinegar and baking soda for cleaning around the house and even use them for shampooing and rinsing myself.

I've gotten rid of just about everything in my house with toxic or polluting chemicals.

I go to the Farmer's Market, when I can. We have one that meets 2 days a week (and is about 1.5 miles from my house) and another that meets one day a week.

When I do small baking, I use the toaster oven, instead of heating up the big oven.

If I do have to use the car, I make sure I don't accelerate quickly. It saves gas and produces less emissions.

I make sure to open as many windows as I can for light, which usually works, except for a dark and rainy day like today.

lga0671 · 09-26-2007, 12:47 AM

I'm slowly switching my lightbulbs to CFLs.

Keep my thermostat at 78 or higher. Turn it off when not at home. Opening windows at night now that it is cooler.

Got a toaster oven and use it and the microwave more for cooking. (Instead of oven)

Switched to cloth napkins

Buy recycled tp and papertowls ( I use the paper towels only when absolutely necessary, like with pets. Otherwise I use microfiber clothes to clean)

Slowly using up my cleaning products and switching to baking soda and vinegar.

Only water my lawn every other day then it's only the part that my neighbor's sprinklers don't reach.

Had a solar water heater installed.

Unplug electronics etc that use power even when not in use.

Slowly switching to rechargable batteries.

We recycle, cans, plastic, and glass bottles.

Combine shopping trips to save on gas.

Sundowner2 · 09-26-2007, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuvMySoldier

I am also slowly changing out all my lightbulbs - as I can afford to - which I must admit I don't like very much...not quite bright enough for me at night really, but I guess it's just something I'll have to get used to. I find that I open the windows more often during the day for light too, so that saves electricity!!

I felt te same way the first month or so when we switched the lights in the living room to flourescent, but you do get used to it, and the longer the lights are on, the brighter they burn. I don't know if I'd use them for reading lamps, or something, but overhead lighting isn't bad after you take that bit to get used to it, and it does make a huge differnce in the bill!! Just remember if you turn them on, leave them on for a while, to much off and on can both weaken the bulb brightness and make it die faster.

brensmom · 09-26-2007, 09:52 AM

we have switched all light bullbs over to the cfl's it was costly but in the end is better.
we reclycle everything that is allowed i have usually two big bins out and 1 can for trash
we keep lights turned off and things unplugged
we use homemade cleaning solutions
we keep heat down and air up we bundle up in winter and keep lights off in summer and shades drawn.
hang out the laundry weather permitting.

so far thats about it but we are looking at different things we can change