Going Green

In an attempt to save mother earth for my lil ones I am making an attempt to go green. I was hoping we can share ideas so that we can all do our part in saving our planet. I no longer buy bottled water, I use my brita and bought a sports bottle and carry that around. what do you do that i can incorporate into my efforts?

Re: Going Green

You can recycle old phones, batteries, chargers, etc. - many locations do this.

As for working in an office, like myself, we've learned many ways of being "green":
for documents you use to reference information, you can limit the amount of emails and such printed and save them to your desktop.
also most printers have the option to print double-sided

Re: Going Green

Use www.worldcentric.org for all your summer BBQ supplies.

Nothing is made from plastic. It is all made from corn starch and potato starch. Cups, forks, knives, spoons, plates...etc. EVERYTHING and it is all biodegradable!

We love the stuff. And a lot of it is actually cheaper than plastic.

Re: Going Green

You could use terry shop towels instead of paper towels. You can usually buy a huge package of them at your local wholesale club.

I have not done this, but some people will compost their table scraps and what have you to reduce their trash production.

Raise/lower your thermostat in accordance with the season to save electric and heating.

Use canvas grocery bags.

Edited to add: Start your own vegetable garden and/or buy from local growers.

Message edited 6/26/2008 2:06:10 PM.

Re: Going Green

I just bought two books to help me get a little greener

Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life

and

Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style

also, unplugging things like cell phone chargers and laptop chargers when not in use saves energy and replacing light bulbs w/ ones that are energy efficient. You could try reusable bags for when you do grocery shopping and when possible (if you can carry what you purchase) ask the clerk not to give you a bag at all. Ride your bike or walk when you can, or public transportation. Recycle plastics, papers, etc.

I know that's only a few things - that's why I can't wait to get these books! I'm eager for more tips as well.

Re: Going Green

I wish I did more, but I did buy 15 canvas bags and I take them shopping with me (i actually leave them in my trunk so I dont forget them)

Re: Going Green

Right now I clean green. I mean from laundry to floors. No harmful chemicals at all.

I need to get more into then I am.

Re: Going Green

Re: Going Green

Re: Going Green

If you are doing any sort of remodeling, Habitat for Humanity has a store in Ronkonkoma called ReStore: http://suffolkrestore.com/home They have used and new, excess stuff for the home. Windows, doors, tile, etc. I'm hoping to get a few things from there for my current remodel.

Re: Going Green

Clean with Green products exclusively - I no longer use any chemicals in the house.

Use the energy saver bulbs in lights

Compost

Recycle plastic, glass, metal and paper

Use public transportation if possible

Grow a garden - but keep it organic. There's not much point to a garden if you are going to use chemicals in it.

Don't use chemicals on the lawn
Don't bag the clippings - mulch them in.

This is what I've done

Re: Going Green

Re: Going Green

I make my own cleaners ( vinegar diluted with water). This is a great disinfectant and cleaner. Lemon juice to remove laundry stains, baking soda to scrub my tub.( all bought from the local dollar store)
I use earth friendly canvas bags for shopping
When we brush our teeth, we turn the water off.
Recycle
Use cat litter made of newspaper(yesterday's news),
Use earth friendly, and chemical free tolietries on myself, dh and son
clean with rags bought from the dollar store

Use cloth napkins with meals
put junk mail and used papers in my shredder and place it in the recycling closet in my bldg and give it to local animal shelters- makes great "litter" for pets that were just fixed and can't use regular litter.

Re: Going Green

Here's what I done in the last 8 months.

For Cleaning Products: Shaklee for everything..

Composting: Naturemill Automatic Composter..

Steam Clean Floors: Bissell Steam Mop.. No more swiffer..

Vacuum with bagless cleaner. No bags: Dyson DC25

Bring canvas grocery bags when shopping. No more plastic or paper bags.

Re: Going Green

Walk/ride bikes wherever possible, take public transportation if available

Reuse plastic and paper bags from stores as many times as possible, use reusable bags whenever possible to eliminate more waste

Eat a plant based diet

Compost

When it's time to upgrade, get energy efficient appliances and vehicles

Don't buy things you don't need

Use kitchen towels and washable sponges in place of paper towels

Use both sides of a piece of paper, then recycle it

Re: Going Green

Read

Gorgeously Green

And

Healthy Child, Healthy World (if you have children- GREAT BOOK)

Re: Going Green

My next step is to switch to Compostable Trash Bags.

Re: Going Green

I haven't read through the entire post but I've noticed that a lot of people are using the energy saving lightbulbs. I just wanted to let everyone know that they contain mercury and must be disposed of correctly. If they break, the mercury must be cleaned correctly. I plan on switching to regular light bulbs. We don't have lights on often and they are safer to dispose of.

Thanks for this thread I love all the ideas I'm getting! I'm going to pick up those books mentioned previously.

Re: Going Green

I've just bought the canvas shopping bags. If I do have aplastic bag, I never throw it away unless it has something in it. I use it to line the BR garbage and then empty the liter pan with the bags too.... I always find a way to reuse them!

Re: Going Green

my grocery store takes back the plastic bags so *if* I take plastic for things like meat or leaky items i bring them back.

I also take in all my MIL's plastic bags for her.

Re: Going Green

I use canvas bags for grocery shopping

We use energy saving lightbulbs

We use natural cleanign products

Shut off lights

Recycle

Don't buy useless crap that isn't needed

Donate

Use energy efficient appliances and for the a/c, use the energy saving mode

Re: Going Green

Re: Going Green

Message edited 6/29/2008 9:36:29 PM.

Re: Going Green

Re: Going Green

i also read gorgeously green and really liked it

i use canvas bags to grocery shop
switching to energy efficient bulbs when old ones go
have been using more enviro friendly cleaners
trying to find more natural skin care and makeup products
of course recycle
always organic milk, sometimes produce

thats all i can think of right now