What are your tips for living more environmentally conscious?

Question

Part of my new years resolution was to be a bit more "green" this year by taking care of the environment a bit. What are some tips for living a more environmentally conscious lifestyle?

Answer 1

What a great resolution for 2007!
Along with the energy saving ideas already mentioned...
I'll suggest what I have done and it's very easy...

Read books on environmentalism or pick up a magazine like "Mother Earth News" or "Vegetarian Times"..both have helpful practical tips, informative articles and lists of other sources.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/
If you have time to read... look up how thing you usually use are manufactured... some of it is horrible for humans and the environment... eg.PVC (vinyl)

There is so much one can do in our daily lives that won't alter the lifestyle so many of us are accustomed to.

Buy locally grown produce, if possible, organic would be great... eventually if enough people support these farmers the prices will go down.... just think of yourself, your loved ones' and the planet's health.
Buy fairtrade products where available.

If you have the space, plant native species to help butterflies, bees and birds have food and maybe shelter.
Compost kitchen scraps & yard waste.
Avoid using pesticides, herbacides, fungicides and look for organic alternatives to remedy any problems that occur.

Reduce the amount of waste by buying only what you need... and if you 'want' something make sure it's for long term use.
Buy timeless, classic clothes of quality... forget trendy trash.
Check out second hand stores... you'd be surprise how new items are there.

Reuse... avoid disposable products.
Recycle everything recycleable and buy things in recyclable containers...if enough people do that maybe companies would change their plastic packaging.

Reassign things that can't be reused or recycled.... I made a small satellite dish into a bird feeder.... Old t-shirts & towels? goes into the rag pile... old tooth brush? use to clean tile grout or tiny places when washing the car. You'll become creative.
Outgrown an nice top? Make it a handbag.

'Rethink' ;-)... or look at ads differently... don't be a blind consumer, see how ugly the materialism machine is... they just want profit (our money) we work hard, we should spend it on our well being. (Weird comment I know but I hope you get my intent)

Respect nature everyday, think of the wildlife and your surroundings... ideas will come to you too how to help.

Try not to use any chemicals in or around your house (or yourself.) Think... should a baby be near it?
Use phosphate free laundry detergent and dish soap.
Avoid bleach if you can. There's great environmentally friendly products available.
Look into a crystal deodorant... it'll last years and is very effective and won't make you or anyone ill. (I've used that product for nearly 10 years & I'm always told how good I smell)
Go natural with beauty products... less reactions to it.

I could go on but maybe you are overwhelmed by all of this... sorry.
Lastly... just do searches on being green, green people, tree huggers etc... you'll be glad to know there is alot out there and alot you can do simply everyday.

Good luck in your greening!!
Thanks for making an effort!
Peace

Answer 2

First thing you want to do is learn. There is a lot of popular misinformation out there and you can be sent off on wild goose chases.

Weather stripping your home is a good place to start. Low energy light bulbs and turning things off when not needed are good too. Recycle whatever you can and if you have a large yard you can create a compost pile. Grow flowers and plants, as many as possible but use ones native to your area to reduce water use while helping the environment. Never throw leaves and yard clippings away, either use a composting mower to chop them into the soil or create a compost pile. Walk whenever possible instead of driving. You really don't need to drive two blocks to buy a cup of coffee, the walk is good for you and the environment. Keep your car in good tune and use public transport whenever feasible.

Answer 3

The only difference I see between Americans hunting and the rest of the undensly populated world, is we have people like Sarah Palin who use a helicopter to snipe foxes. **** Cheney when he shot his friend was hunting in a fenced in farm. Those are both ridiculous and not even a sport. Sarah Palin is a marathon runner, so it's not even attributable to laziness. But they hunt fox in England, bear in Russia, elk, moose, whatever in Canada (including French Canada), so hunting isn't really specific to Americans. edit: If hunting is associated with the Royals in England, is it because hardly anyone else has a place to go hunting? Where would you hunt and what would you? Palin lives on the edge of the world, in a place with a few hundred thousand people. They are surrounded by animals and nothing. It's a difference from London, don't you think?

Answer 4

call ur local power company ask if they offer green power try not to fly and if u do they now have companys that when u book a flight with them they will plant a tree, unplug things when ur not using them even though there off they still use electricity, shutdown ur computer at night, good insulation, weather stripping, walk places, anything that u think will cut down on pollution probably will

Answer 5

Live in a tent, gather wood to heat and cook over, wash in streams and lakes and hunt/fish for your food.

Oh yes, become a sheep herder so that you can gather the wool and card/spin/weave your own clothes and use the hides for shoes and other leather goods.

Answer 6

Everytime we reduce our use of electricity or gasoline we are helping the environment.

Whenever we refrain from wasting resources like water, wood, metal, glass, plastics, packaging materials, etc. we conserve the supply.

Transportation: walk, ride a bike, rollerblade, skateboard,canoe, hike, etc. Use your body.