What do you personally do to help make the planet "green"?

Question

I try to use less energy. as well as limiting my driving. i am trying to talk my parents into a hybrid car.

what are you doing?

Answer 1

i do everything i can. at home we have a low flow toilet, and a low impact shower head. we dont have a dryer we sun dry our clothes. we unplug everything we dont use. we also use low energy light bulbs. We all carpool at home, and we walk where ever we can. i dont own a car, so i usually walk, take the bus, or carpool. My family is very resourceful and are always trying to save, reuse, and reduce everything they can. It hasnt been hard for me we've been doing this for a long time, my family thought me well. I recycle everything i can. i reuse all the plastic bottles. Im a vegeterian as well.

Answer 2

Not enough, but I'm on my way.
I am a member of a provincial environment committee
I recycle everything I can recycle.
We have a compost bin in our back yard.
I try to reduce my use of gasoline as much as possible. (Sorry, there is just no way I can afford a hybrid car right now. In any case, there is some doubt as to the environmental viability of the batteries for those cars).
When I go to a place where they will be offering coffee in styrophone cups, I try and remember to bring my own cup with me, then I explain why.
I am working at reducing the amount of printing of documents I do - more and more I ask myself first: "Does this need to be printed? What will I lose, or what will anybody else lose, if I don't print this?" That makes a big difference.
I heat by electricity rather than oil.
Now if someone observed me day in and day out, they would find a lot of things I needed to improve - still a lot of waste. But I am working on it, and trying ot do my bit to make others conscious as well.

Answer 3

I will be the first in line to buy an electric car when they are produced again (in my price range). In the meantime, I drive efficiently and use less energy (which also helps my wallet stay full of "green").

For example, I have a guest bedroom in my house that does not get used regularly, so we put a vent cover over the vent to that room and shut the door, so I am using that much less energy to cool that room in 100+ degree Arizona heat! Another good example is using those draft dodgers near doors that go to the outside, again, using less energy to keep my home cool. And I have a programmable thermostat to allow the house to get warmer during the day, and cool it down only when I will be in the house. These are simple, inexpensive things that can reduce the use of energy. We also recycle, and I work from home sometimes so I don't have to make the commute. Of course, I plan to eventually purchase Energy Star appliances as well, but those are bigger investments.

Answer 4

Well, first I moved closer to public transportation, but found that a bus, two trains and a several-block walk simply took too long and I could never be sure when I'd get to work. So, I started driving my 90 mpg scooter to work. That worked for a year or so, until a big, giant SUV hit me, destroyed my scooter and broke both my legs. Geez. Can a girl get an eco-break, here? I'm still recuperating from my injuries, but once I can drive again I'm replacing my station wagon with a Toyota Highlander Hybrid. At 35 mpg, it has nothing on the 90 mpg scooter, but I'll be safer from crazy drivers (including myself), able to haul my four big dogs around, and use half as much fuel as the standard SUV. We do all the other good things at home like high-efficiency appliances and lightbulbs, recycling, and conserving water, but we can always do more. Everyone can.

Answer 5

I take public transit whenever I can. I shop at farmers markets for produce. I recycle. I compost my yard waste and food scraps at home. I try to eat low on the food chain whenever possible. I use reusable bags when I shop (for everything).

Your parents may be able to get a tax write off for the hybrid or be able to drive as a solo driver in the carpool lane.

Answer 6

To date this is what I have done: changed all the light bulbs in my house to energy efficient, I recycle all cans, plastic bottles, glass, newspaper and cardboard such as cereal boxes. I have replaced paper products such as napkin and toilet paper with Seventh Generation paper products, which are made of 100% recycled paper. I can't understand why any one would condone cutting our preious trees down for paper to wipe your a**. Junk mail and magazines, (ladies Victoria Secrect is really bad) which again wastes our preious trees, I have called or written to have my name removed from the mailing list. I am also very aware of the magazines I do choose to buy Shape is a good fitness magazine and printed on recycled paper. I use Method cleaning products, which are non-toxic, biodegradable and naturally derived. We use a clothes line instead of a tumble dryer. I take reuseable bags when I go shopping, so I never have to choose paper or plastic. I also have my very own garden in my backyard, which has bell peppers both red and green, strawberries, watermelon, peas, squash, peppers, tomatoes and cucumber. Home grown food just tastes so much better, all natural sun and soil. I also compost and usually pick one day a week to do all my errands and that cuts down on any driving I do.

Answer 7

Excellent Question by the way!

We Recycle!
- Glass bottles/jars
- Plastics!!! All jars, bottles to include shampoo/soda/ketchup etc.
- Paper like junk mail, cardboard boxes from packaging, cereal/ crackers etc.

We also try to re-use these items as much as we can before we put them in recycle where appropriate (Water bottles etc...)

We also planted an organic garden in the yard this year.

All lights/electronics not being used are off or unplugged. Plus we switched to CFL bulbs.

I keep large pots/barrels out in the garden to catch rain water, then use that to water the plants as much as possible.

If I think of more things we do, I'll add it. :)

Answer 8

I reuse everything. From the container that the butter comes in to any plastic bag I receive. I recycle everything and anything. Limiting my driving, walking whenever I can. Use the other side of the paper whenever possible.

Answer 9

Planning on getting a hybrid car someday. Recycle the aluminum cans, cut back on electricity use, no hair dryers or curling irons. Which mean they don't clogged up the landfill and end up emitting toxic stuff.

Answer 10

The Pacific Ocean currently has 6 parts plastic per one part biomass. The plastic content of the Ocean is expected to increase to 60 parts plastic per one part biomass in the next 10 years. Plastics are not "recycled" they are "downcycled". We have eliminated all plastics in our house. Everyone should stop using plastics. Don't use shopping bags from the store--bring your own. Don't purchase soda, milk, etc. in plastic containers--buy glass, cardboard, etc. Stop using platic water bottles. Tap water is cleaner and doesn't require a single use plastic bottle.