What have you done to help the Environment?

As we all know, whatever little effort we do is miniscule in the grand scheme of things, but some of us do anyway. So what did you do?

*I recycle most things. Scrap paper, receipts, newspapers, plastic bottles, used containers, and sometimes I try to wash the food containers and stick it in the recycling bin. It seemed fanatical at the beginning, but I got used to it and it makes me feel better!

*I also looove plants and have about 10 houseplants. sure, they steal my O2 at night, but in the day, they detoxify the living space and make the place so welcoming!

*Donate old stuff!

*I try not to take plastic bags from supermarket counters. Though those people look at me like I'm silly! No, I'm not trying to save their organization money!

*Try to use organic products and switch off the tap - I seldom waste water! Turn of appliances (ie comp, fan etc) when not in use! I know of people who leave their computers on 24/7 just because they're lazy to turn it on again!

BUTtttttt....

*I like the air-conditioning

*I like driving

...Soo, I guess this cancels out what I did before. But at least there is a bit of a balance.

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So what have you done to save the environment, however little? Or are you a gung-ho environmentalist? Do share some tips!

All above

Plus I got rid of my cars 12 years ago and start using bicycles to move around for almost everything and everyday 365/24 no matter weather conditions.

We use a pellet stove for heat. This makes our heat source 100% renewable.
Also do solar hot water.

Posted by Qbone
All above

Plus I got rid of my cars 12 years ago and start using bicycles to move around for almost everything and everyday 365/24 no matter weather conditions.

OMG *now* that's pushin' it!! No, just kidding, you are admirable, and deserve a medal for your effort to live simply and green!

Posted by dofacc
We use a pellet stove for heat. This makes our heat source 100% renewable.

Wow, haven't heard of that!

Posted by dofacc
Also do solar hot water.

click to expand

Kewl!

I also read that Solar panes are cheap and easy to fix up - been thinkin of fixing some too! But gotta read more on it first.

Yeah, they make the pellets that I burn out of such things as sawdust and waste wood. In times past this sort of stuff would go into landfills or be burned.

I live the the West/South West USA. We have millions of acres of dead/dying pine trees. They are dying of a particular type of beetle infection. What I am burning are pellets made of these dead trees. They are going to burn. Whether is be in the forest in which they grew, or in my stove, they are going to burn. May as well heat a house with them, don't you suppose.

And, as I like to point out, trees are 100% renewable. It is indeed a great way to heat that house. It isn't for everyone, but great for that house.

The solar hot water system cost about $ 3200 by the time we got it professionally installed, and all the tax breaks back. As I pointed out, I live in the West/South West of the USA, lots and lots and lots of free sunshine to be had around here.

As for the time element, I spent approximately 5 minutes a day filling and checking. Pretty basic and easy stuff. Once or twice a month I have to empty the ash pan. When you burn this way, you reduce the volume of wood to an ash volume of maybe 1% . This would be a very conservative number on my part.

I do have to clean my chimney/vent pipe about once a year. A couple of hours there.
I have an ash trap at the bottom of my chimney that takes maybe 5 minutes a month to empty.

My stove, as do all I believe, have fairly heavy metal plates in it. The hot air circulates behind these. Ash accumulates behind where the hot air circulates. You should pull these plates out once a year and clean behind them. A couple of hours easy on that project.

One of the real draw backs are the pellets. I burn 3-4 tons a year. I buy they by the "pallet" load, which is 60, 40 pound bags. I have dry place to store them. That is the problem, you need a fairly large, dry space to store these large numbers.
I did see more and more places locally that are selling the bags of pellets in singles, rather than in whole pallets this year, though. It is a bit more pricy that way.
Speaking of price, with the current cost of natural gas in my area, I would actually pay less if I were burning natural gas. I find enough reward in feeling pure about heating my house with pellets that I will pay the pellet premium.

My stove is set up on a thermostat, so it starts and stops just like your regular stove would.
It is "Zero clearance," which means it only needs something like 4 inches of clearance between it and say a bookcase or wall. I have people sit right on it when it is going full bore cause it is so toasty warm, you see. So, placement really isn't all that difficult to arrange.

As I say, a pellet stove isn't for everyone. If you are reasonably handy however, it shouldn't be a problem for you.

The cleaning and maintenance aspect isn't all that much more than you should be doing for say a natural gas furnace. Electric is way maintenance free, of course. Way expensive though.

The rest of it, storing bags of pellets for ready use, higher cost than natural gas, etc, are all draw backs.
Of course, the cost of natural gas will be increasing, so that factor may change in the not to distant future (futile optimism, it's an Aries thing you know).

I keep a brick in the back of the toilet tank, we don't take showers that go on for days, I garden and put up many things that really aren't necessary to buy from the store.

Oh, really, huh, you put the brick in the toilet tank, not in the back of your pants? Someone told me that was the way to do it, but I never really understood how it worked.

I also tend to buy my clothes at such high fashion places as Good Will. Reuse of all sorts of things is a really good idea. And for such a ragamuffin as I, it is in many cases a step up.

LOL Ahhhh no, not in the back of your trousers. I've always scoured garage sales and places like Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc. for clothing. It made zero sense to me to pay retail for something with 3 children growing so quickly. ( Hmmm, 20 -50 dollars or 50 cents? CHOICES CHOICES ). I'm usually in work duds or comfy. Have things for 'nice' when the occasion calls, but really don't spend scads on self. It makes me feel guilty. 😛

I don't travel with much guilt. I am just cheap.
But, your point is right on. I pay $ 5 for a pair of what for me are very dressy pants at Goodwill. Why would I/should I pay more? And as I say, reuse of just about anything is a good thing for our environment.

The guilt..it's a Mom thing. How dare I spend money when the children might need... ( need what? ).

Tasty...delicious animals.

lets be clear, corporations are saving money if you recycle, and if you dont recycle then factories in Honk Kong will polute the environment and chinese will make money.. so theres no way out, we are doomed, rather plant a tree that will help more

Posted by KingOfAries
lets be clear, corporations are saving money if you recycle, and if you dont recycle then factories in Honk Kong will polute the environment and chinese will make money.. so theres no way out, we are doomed, rather plant a tree that will help more

This is true "KoA" And don't forget all the ChemTrails that's flying through the sky
which is definitely bad for the Environment!!!

Well, I drive a honda civic half the time gets me good mpgs. But the other half of the time I drive my gas guzzling drag car. But overall im conserving gas with the civic 🙂

Here's what I do:

- refuse to use/buy bottled water. I use a stainless-steel bottle, I bring it everywhere with me.
- recycle.
- buy local/organic.
- bring in my own bags when I go shopping.
- use natural personal care products.
- use reusable glass tupperware

We don't throw out fruit and veg
instead we have those compost thingiess for plants and flowers😄

lets see

1. more than half of our furniture in the condo i refurbished, myself.
2. donate clothes and buy clothes from consignment shops, thrift stores, etc.
3. used to make my soap, shampoo and use an natural hair mask to condition my hair.
4. recycle, actually it is a requirement in our condo fee agreement.
5. traded my suv in for a hybrid version. i would love a solar powered car..im working on it.
6. use baking soda and vinegar (respectively) to clean my home.