Whenever I tell her that we should stop using AC, unplug the comp during the day, or do anything, she just says, 'well, hon, believe it or not we are doing much more than the average american to save the environment. We recycle, we live in a small house...' Then she peters off. She just won't listen.
2007-08-29 02:02:56 · 9 answers · asked by Dinosaur 3 in Family & Relationships ➔ Marriage & Divorce
My husband doesn't care much about saving the environment, either. So I've started rephrasing things. Instead of saying "Washing our clothes in cold water helps save the environment" I tell him "Did you know that 80% of the electricity used to wash clothes in a washing machine is used to heat the water? If we only use cold water, imagine how much money we'll save on our electric bill!" (This is a true fact, by the way). Our washing machine has been set on cold ever since.
Not running electric appliances unneccesarily is good for the environment, but it's also good for lowering your electric bill. Not everyone cares about saving the environment, but most people care about saving money.
For great tips for saving the environment (and money!), try suggesting that your wife visit www.greenissexy.org. They have daily tips that are good for your home and the environment (like using used coffee grounds as plant fertilizer), and there's a list of all past tips, too. Plus, the organization was founded by Rachel McAdams (the actress from "The Notebook," "Wedding Crashers," and "Mean Girls") and two of her friends. Considering that most women are at least a little fascinated by the lives of beautiful celebreties, it can't hurt to let her know that if she "goes green," she'll be in great company!
2007-08-29 02:16:07 · answer #1 · answered by greeneyes_bjb 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
OK, I watched An Inconvenient Truth along with everyone else and felt I had to do more for the environment. Let's face it - Al Gore is a great motivational speaker and I wish he'd been our President instead of another fricking Bush screwing with our minds, lives and pocketbooks for almost eight years...but I diverse. I started to recycle religiously (whereas I hadn't before). I set the a/c to a higher setting, I reduced the time the pool pump ran and I bought an economy car. I also joined my local chapter of the Parrotheads and we do beach/street cleanup a few times a month. (That's about it though).
There is no way to "make" someone do something if they aren't comfortable with it. You stated - NO a/c? Do you really think that is acceptable? This is the year 2007 and last I checked it was 96 degrees outside. People can and have died without air conditioning in this kind of weather. And, do you think Al Gore lives in a house with a/c? When he is out on a speaking tour do you think he stays in air conditioned hotels? Darn right he does!!
I love the fact that you want to do more for the country and I truly wish more people were as willing as you, but ease off. Join a group that does some environmental work to fill your sense of purpose and desire to help. Give your wife a break though, please. Maybe she will join you in your environmental activities once you find a group and then the both of you will have been brought closer together in a worthwhile activity.
On a sidenote, I had a canned soda at a friend's house a few months back. After I finished it, I asked her where her recycle bin was. Her response was "I am Republican - I don't recycle!"(Sad, huh?)
2007-08-29 09:35:45 · answer #2 · answered by Ellen 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Tell her to save money by doing those things, then you get the benefit of both.
2007-08-29 10:04:55 · answer #3 · answered by Beatngu 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Give her some informative literature or movies to let her know about the gravity of her actions. There is a nice little booklet called "50 things you can do to save the planet" which is filled with nice suggestions that anyone can do.
2007-08-29 09:09:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Show her some pictures, statistics, effects of global warming. try to find the documentary film by Algore, THE INCONVENIENT TRUTH. Let her watch it. Probably she'll listen and pay some attention. It's not about what others are doing. It's what you do, it's your call. Do your best!
2007-08-29 09:14:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
does she have kids? Or ever plan to have kids? Tell her that doing more to save the environment will help her kids to live a better life and their kids to. Good luck, i wish we were all as thoughtful as you
2007-08-29 09:27:00 · answer #6 · answered by ~NIKKI~ 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I will not give up my AC, my car, my toilet paper, two seconds showers, I do enough all ready to help mother earth.
2007-08-29 10:18:59 · answer #7 · answered by kim t 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Tell her to stop smoking too
2007-08-29 09:07:23 · answer #8 · answered by deirdrefaith 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Maybe it's you who doesn't listen to her? Maybe she doesn't appreciate the way you try to control her behaviour?
2007-08-29 09:22:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋