Neighbors can use this part of the blog to share tips and ideas about ways to become more environmentally friendly. These can be their own ideas or things they've seen or read. These tips are just ways to make small changes to our everyday lives, which can add up to have quite an impact.
The following are from 1001 Little Ways to Save Our Planet, by Esme Floyd; also see "Ten Ways to Reduce Your Impact" under Environmental Links as another example of the sort of tips to post here.
194. Change Your Bulbs
If every household in the USA replaced its next burned-out light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb, it would save the same amount of carbon dioxide as taking 1.2 million cars off the road for an entire year. Fluorescent bulbs last six to ten times longer than standard incandescent versions and use 75% less energy because they use less heat than standard bulbs.
264. Turn it Off
Many people keep the shower running even when they’re not actually underneath the water— often for as long as half their showering time. Instead of directing the water against the wall or stepping back, turn it off altogether while you wash or shampoo [or shave] and then turn the water back on to rinse.
354. Keep it Cool
Never put hot food or drinks into the fridge to cool as it will raise the internal fridge temperature and will use a lot of energy to bring it to the right temperature. Let it cool to room temperature naturally before putting it in the fridge.
540. Shut Down
Encourage your colleagues to shut down their computers when they’re not in use unless they’ve got a low-energy sleep option. This should be done before lunchtime breaks and in particular before going home at the end of the day.
706. Choose Your Chocolate
There are so many organic products to choose from nowadays that it’s often hard to know where to start and stop. The cocoa plant is one of the most heavily sprayed in the world, so keep chocolate on your organic list. Many good organic brands use cocoa sourced in Central and South America. Make sure, however, that the manufacturer certifies that all of the cocoa they purchase is produced without the use of forced labor.
856. Go Smooth
Buy a more aerodynamic car to save fuel. Boxy cars that are high off the ground and square in shape are less aerodynamic than smooth, rounder silhouettes.
1 comment:
interesting blog. if anyone is interested I would like to start a communication about what the residents of thye forest are doing in this vein. my motivation is primarily financial savings but if it makes everyone feel good , saves a polar bear and gets my kid extra credit at school, cool. i know there are at least 2 people with tankless water heaters. Is there value? Are there any hybrids in the hood. Are they really that cool and why. Who is composting and how much. Worm composting? What are the power, gas and water bills for x square foot houses with x family members? Rain barrels? Should we allow clothes lines to save on drying energy? Good contractors for this eco stuff? If there is interest I will throw out stuff we are doing.
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