It's EARTH WEEK! what are you...

What are you doing to go GREEN?

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Message edited 4/20/2009 7:20:04 AM.

Re: It's EARTH WEEK! what are you...

In my household:

We stopped using as many plastic grocery bags at the supermarket. I have re-usable bags I leave in my car.

When I purchase something small. I ask for no bag and throw it in with something else I already purchased or just in my pocket book.

I have been opening blinds and windows at home to let light in during the day, instead of using the bulbs.

The plastic bags we do have at home we re-use to clean up after Roxy in the yard. Or to transport lunches and such.

Re: It's EARTH WEEK! what are you...

We installed solar panels this year, so it looks like we may average out not using any power from the grid over the course of the year.

All paint in the house is 100% zero VOCs (event the colorant, so it's less VOCs than the big-name brand ones that claim zero VOC, but actually have a little bit).
All wood stain and sealant are soy-based and all natural, and no VOCs
Bamboo flooring in new office is bamboo from a sustainably harvest farm, and no VOCs in the glues.
Carpet throughout the house is corn-based.

Whole-house fan and fans in each room to minimize A/C usage (plus better window placement)

Switched to vinegar for glass cleaning and weed killer (now I can have DS do some of the manual labor.... )

Canvas shopping bags
CFLs throughout the house
Programmable thermostat
Recycle metal, glass, plastic, paper
Donated old windows and doors to
ReStore
Purchased several items from
ReStore to use in the house.
Monitor
CraigsList and
FreeCycle for stuff to reuse
Dual-flush toilet in new bathroom (uses .8 gallons for "#1", and the usual 1.6 gallons for "#2")
Installing water cisterns to store gutter runoff to water plants.

Teaching DC about "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle"

I would love to buy an electric vehicle, but right now, they don't have a car that is practical for me/in my price range.... Hopefully around 2010 or so, a lot of manufacturers will be coming out with alternative fuel (plug in electric, among others), and I can look into those.

Re: It's EARTH WEEK! what are you...

Re: It's EARTH WEEK! what are you...

we're trying to remember to recycle more often and cutting down on plastic bags. if we do get them, we resuse them for lunch bags, kitty litter...so on!

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Re: It's EARTH WEEK! what are you...

We use those reuseable bags, or reuse the plastic ones or if we have too many, we drop them in the recycle bins at the market.

We recycle everything!! We have the big town or oyster bay recycle bins and we could use an extra one come thurs. pickup.

We use brita water to save on the water bottles. I still use the water bottles for convenience, but refill them and recycle them.

My dad uses old fruit and veggies and lawn clippings for compost in the garden.

We use the spiral light bulbs (I forget the name)

Re: It's EARTH WEEK! what are you...

We are recycling a lot more. I like to keep our blinds and curtains open and use the natural light instead of turning on a light. I shut my computer off at work when I leave. I'm starting to use reusable shopping bags at the grocery store. If it's something I can throw in my other bag, I'll do that instead of getting a new bag. I donate/sell 99% of my clothes. I donate/sell or do a bookswap of my books. I donate all household items I don't use anymore (pots and pan, corningware, etc.)

Re: It's EARTH WEEK! what are you...

We stopped using plastic bags at the grocery store, Target, CVS....but I do take a couple to use for the bathroom garbage can.

BTW - Target is giving cloth bags this week instead of plastic!!!

Re: It's EARTH WEEK! what are you...

i'm actually going to pick up the reusable shopping bags.. they are SO cheap(i think .15cents each!) & i have no idea why i haven't yet! i mean, having plastic bags around the house do come in handy, but how many are continually used and wasted on a daily basis by the population just to bring groceries home is crazy! i think if we all just used the reusable ones it would make a HUGE difference! so yes. that will be my first imput to earth week!

Re: It's EARTH WEEK! what are you...

Recycle

Reusable bags at the store