What have you personally done and not done to curb global warming?

[femmedem]

What have you been willing to do or give up? What are you considering doing? What are you not willing to give up?

Me? On the plus side, after feeling mounting guilt about a long commute, my honey and I decided to live within walking distance to where we work. We found a workspace downtown, and bought a fairly small house about a mile away (1200 sq. feet) so that we'd have less to heat. It has a good exposure for conversion to solar. And I went vegetarian, more for environmental reasons than for any other.

On the down side: The biggest thing I haven't given up, which I feel badly about, is air-conditioning the bedroom. We have two pet rabbits who would die in temperatures much over 80. We also aircondition our workshop, where we build musical instruments. It is more to control the humidity than the heat. We would lose the instruments if we didn't do it. Also on the down side: we have an old van, 300,000 miles, which gets crappy gas mileage. About 20/mpg. For our business we need a large vehicle to haul lumber and harpsichords. But we hope that when this one goes, we will find something diesel and make our own fuel.

Anyone else?

[IDemo]

1. Done: bike to work, garden, recycle, no central air

Not done: lower time on DU and PC in general.

[femmedem]

5. Maybe a dumb question:

Is spending a lot of time on the computer very bad environmentally? I'm guilty of leaving mine on a lot, but yet our electric bill, except for July and August, is only about $25/month.

[IDemo]

12. PC and monitor together do consume a fair amount of power

particularly if you have add-ons such as a high powered graphics card.

[JackRiddler]

14. No.

Power consumption by a home PC set-up is relatively low - less than the lighting.

Unfortunately, I believe the production of a PC and monitor is a humonguous environmental disaster, on the same order as the production of an automobile. You have to look at full product life cycles form extraction, manufacture, delivery to disposal and waste impacts...

[IDemo]

17. Depends on what 'relatively low' means

PC's vary widely in power usage, from 60 to 300 watts or more, depending on CRT vs LCD display, processor, memory, laserjet printer (or not), cooling fans, and even software. Anyone concerned enough with power usage to unplug appliances at night time should probably be 'hibernating' their PC or turning it off.

[femmedem]

21. I vow to start.

Even if it's just a little, it's something. I've just been lazy.

[JackRiddler]

22. well okay...

My point being, the total consumption of energy & raw materials consumed while this product is in use is a fraction of what goes into producing and disposing of it. You have to look at total product life cycle to understand true eco impacts.

[IDemo]

25. I agree on that point

and it applies equally to automobiles, hybrid or not, as well as wind towers and solar panels.

[sellitman]

2. We use only 100% recycled toilet paper....

and the same with computer printing paper. We own no SUV's and I don't buy Exxon or Mobil gas. We also recycle everything we can. I have replaced all our light bulbs with fluorescents.


We vote Democratic.

[IDemo]

3. recycled toilet paper....had to think about that one for a second

:hurts:

[sellitman]

29. It's called 7th Generation or something like that.

Most supermarkets sell some sort of paper made with recycled paper.

No we don't turn it over and use the other side...lol

[femmedem]

7. Viva Chavez!

We only buy Citgo. We spend about $15/week on gas. It's usually less, but these days we're driving the piddly mile to work because my hon tore his achilles tendon and is still on crutches.

[Ian David]

10. Recycle your toiletpaper-- dump your used toilet paper on a Republicker's front lawn. n/t

[tinfoilinfor2005]

4. Unplugged appliances when not in use.

In addition to some of the above.

[femmedem]

8. That's a good one.

I only started doing it recently.

[crispini]

6. Moi:

Work from home, trying to cut down my driving in general.
Changed everything to CFLs
Wash clothes only in cold water.
Cut down on my shipping habits - amazon.com, etc.
Compost
Recycle
Buy carbon offsets for all of my business travel
Working on starting a food co-op so we can do a group buy from a local farm
Buying less stuff new and more used (clothes from thrift store, etc.)

Have NOT:
Bought a hybrid yet. Too expensive.
Replaced the windows in the house, or insulated. My house is NOT as energy efficient as it could be.
Taken full advantage of my garden. I could be growing a LOT more of my own food, but I'm not very good at it. Things keep eating my crops. :rofl:

[femmedem]

9. We wrestle with how much to insulate.

The house already had good windows and decent insulation when we bought it last year. But there are some drafty places. We ask ourselves if we need the air circulation to cut down on allergies.

We just joined a food coop which will be opening in our town this spring. We're excited about it, but other than coughing up the money, we haven't done the work. I have a small soap-making business in addition to the musical instruments, and I'll be selling the soap there.

[Quakerfriend]

11. Well, you've done quite a lot! I'm very impressed!

;-)

Me, I bought a used Hybrid (Toyota Highlander)- not really all the efficient, but we've got kids and dogs. I also use only high efficiency light bulbs, recycle, grow much of my own organic food, compost, and that's about it for now. But, I am seriously looking into putting solar panels on the roof and using a windmill to power our well. But, I'm waiting to see whether or not the Dem controlled congress will be able to push Thur some good incentives. Too expensive right now.

[femmedem]

19. You know, it doesn't feel like much.

Everything I've done for environmental reasons has enhanced my life in other ways. We have many more friends now that we walk and work downtown. We love our little house. And the vegetarian diet is great. Last night: curried chickpeas and swiss chard over brown rice with pistachios. Mmmmmmm.

[pdxmom]

13. We have a full electric car. Hubby uses that for work

and for errands. I use public transportation. Also use an electric riding mower and push mower. Electricity here is hydroelectric, so that helps.

We do more than just recycle. I don't know when we last bought something "new" for our house, other than major appliances when needed. And the new appliances were more energy efficient than the old ones. My hubby is very handy, and we frequent yard sales, so we have lots of used items that he's repaired. People throw out the best stuff and I have a lot of things I wouldn't normally have because people are more willing to throw out and buy new rather than just fix.

We live in a very old farmhouse and have been working on making sure it's more energy efficient as we make improvements or can afford to make the changes.

What am I not willing to give up? We do have a pickup truck, which I'm not willing to give up. Our vacations almost always involve camping and we have a popup camper (not a trailer or RV). I also have big dogs and like having a truck to travel in, that tows more efficiently. We also have a diesel tractor, which I'm also not willing to give up, because we use it not just for ourselves, but to help out our neighbors. During our last storm, my hubby went around the neighborhood, helping people with their downed trees and chipping up the fallen branches.

[femmedem]

16. Full electric car!

Did you see the documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car?" It broke my heart. What kind of electric car do you have? Can it go fast enough to go on the highway?

[pdxmom]

27. Yes, we have a copy of it. Hubby met the producer at the premiere

here in Portland. He's very active in the Oregon Electric Vehicle Association.

We currently have a converted Sprint. He has taken it on the highway, but only for short distances, due to the hills. And it does the speed limit. Right now, he's converting a Ford Probe, which will have more powerful. These are definitely not good for distance, but he can get downtown, which is about 12 miles, where they have recharging areas, and then can get back home. If you live in an urban/suburban area, these things are great.

[IDemo]

20. Forgot the cordless electric mower and trimmer

My Epinions review: http://www.epinions.com/content_187044171396

[pdxmom]

28. We have the mower and the trimmer. Found them used. n/t

[cdnwannabe]

15. Taking transit to work AT LEAST 2 days a week.....

more in spring and summer. Drive on the weekends only when necessary. I live in the west end of downtown Portland so everything I need is within walking distance.

[SutaUvaca]

18. A bit, what we can for now.

Recycling,
Smaller house with really good insulation,closer to work for my fiance.
Changed all the incandescent bulbs to wattage saving little fluorescents.
Good little car, an Echo, 34mpg, in place of my old Benz (23 mpg.)
Grow some food or swap with other "home" gardeners.

[XemaSab]

23. I live in an apartment with no energy efficiency whatsoever

but it's in a really temperate area so I just deal with whatever temperature it is. No heating, no AC.

I drive a somewhat energy efficient car, a 1996 Toyota Corolla.

I eat low on the food chain. :)

On the other hand, I drive way more than I should. :P

[Skidmore]

24. We do what we can.

1. Garden and preserve the excess of what we grow in summer for use in winter.

2. Recycle as many materials as possible and compost.

3. Use a programmable thermostat, keeping it at 65 during the night and daytimes and 68 during times we are at home and awake. In summer we use the central air only at the hottest part of summer and keep the thermostat set to 78. We dress in layers in the winter time and I've been known to sleep in sweats with a pair of socks on.

4. Drive a 4 cylender car for a work car. We do have a pickup and a van but we use these for hauling since we live 20+ miles from the nearest available shopping and only go 3-4 times a month to pick up basics and periodically to buy drygoods in bulk. Hubby does maintenance on all vehicles regularly so they operate well. We buy ethanol and recycle used oil.

5. Hubby needs truck for his own recycling hobby/side job. He will dumpster dive and pick up TVs, small appliances, microwaves, vacuum cleaners, DVDs/VCRs, stereos, etc. and service or repair them and we donate these to local area charities. Sometimes he finds pieces of furniture that require just some cleaning up, tightening of a screw here or there, a new hinge or such, and a quick polish up with furniture oil. Periodically he sells something outright to recoup some of the costs of parts but mostly we just use the tax credit for charities. Keeps a lot of stuff out of the local landfills. Sometimes I'll snag an item he brings home and keep it--haven't bought a new vacuum cleaner in years.

6. We buy clothes in styles for utility and not for style. Basic styles that will last and made from good material. We wear them until they are not useful (e.g., new clothes for going out graduate to stuff to wear when gardening or doing chores). When they are torn, we repair them and replace buttons instead of buying something new. When they are worn out, the buttons get cut off for my button box and I rip out zippers for reuse (zippers are expensive). Sometimes a piece of clothing may get recycled into quilt pieces. Sheets get recycled into rags or quilt backs, or floor pillows. I sewed a couple of big sheets and stuffed them to make pallets for the grandkids to sleep on when they come to visit. They fold up to be stored under the bed in the guest room when they aren't here.

7. We eat leftovers. We don't need new food every meal. I don't get people who can't eat leftovers.

8. We don't wear our shoes in the house. They are taken off at the door. It saves wear and tear on the carpet and means that cleaning is easier.

9. We insulated the attic well. Insulated the water heater so it doesn't run as much. Before winter begins, my husband uses a silicone caulk on the windows that have been open in the summer to weather proof them. This stuff is like the goop they glue credit cards to letters with and peels off easily in the spring. The house has been thoroughly weatherproofed. Doors have threshold seals to keep out air. There is a windbreak down a the edgeof the field. We have 4 large trees not far from the house which break the wind in the winter and provide shade which cools the house in the summer.

10. Use compact fluorescent bulbs everywhere. I don't mind if my makeup is a little off because of the lighting. We rarely use overhead lighting and tend to use a single lamp in the room. If you leave the room, you turn off the light.

11. Use rechargable batteries. Saves money and keeps them out of landfills.

[LiberalEsto]

26. Compact fluorescent bulbs

recycle everything I can
donate items to Goodwill so they can be re-used
drive less
buy less
buy used items from garage sales
avoid pesticide use
clean with baking soda, vinegar, etc. where possible
plant trees in yard
compost
learn new gardening techniques
reduce meat consumption
LED Xmas lights
extra insulation in attic

[rman]

30. I gave up voting for candidates that don't take the issue seriously

And i tell everyone to watch "An Inconvenient Truth"