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What do you do to help the environment?
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Written on: 12 January 2008 [20:55]
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ecoadmin
Administrator
Topic creator
registered since: 20.07.2007
Posts: 583
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Ok, you are driving a green car or you are not driving one at all - well done. But what else do you do to help our environment? I start with my own list: -riding a bicycle/walking when going shopping -recyclying of paper, plastic bottles, metal anything accepted by the recycling center -using energy saving light bulbs and turning them off when not in use -trying to avoid plastic bags whenever possible -buying local produce, if avail. organic -heating the house to not more than 20°C (has also has a health benefit!) I am curious what others do...? Twike 890
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Written on: 17 January 2008 [18:15]
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Franko30
Administrator
registered since: 08.09.2007
Posts: 88
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ecoadmin wrote: -recyclying of paper, plastic bottles, metal anything accepted by the recycling center -using energy saving light bulbs and turning them off when not in use -trying to avoid plastic bags whenever possible -heating the house to not more than 20°C (also has a health benefit!) Hi, I do that, too. In addition to that:
Cheers Franko30 [This article was edited 2 times, at last 17.01.2008 at 18:18.] Mitsubishi i-MiEV + Citysax 002, davor/formerly Twike 808 and 891
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Written on: 18 January 2008 [13:09]
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ecoadmin
Administrator
Topic creator
registered since: 20.07.2007
Posts: 583
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Hello Frank, That is an impressive list you have...I am sure your efforts will inspire others to follow. Keep it up. I like the completeness of it. One area I would like to know more is CO2 offsetting. I know CO2 offsetting is not the best solution to the problem, but should be considered. I will probably open up a new thread to discuss this seperately. It seems like there is only the two of us discussing at the moment. Well, I hope that will change soon. Our visitor numbers are on the rise from what I can see in the statistics. I've taken a few steps recently to also improve our page ranking on search engines. However, it will take some time until the measures will show a result. So guys and gals out there reading these posts, what is your contribution for a better future? You must be doing something, I hope!  Twike 890
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Written on: 01 March 2008 [00:27]
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jstack6
 registered since: 27.10.2007
Posts: 29
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I try to do many things to be GREENER bicycle to work, meetings and the store. Work is 20 miles each way. I have a gas hog 2005 Prius that I get 50-85 mpg now. I will make it a plug-in with the A123 hymotion option as soon as they are available this year, 2008, for 100-200 mpg. recycle everything use reusable bags shopping have solar grid tied system I installed myself before incentives and net-metering installed solar hot water installed solar screens and window inflextors on my home to save energy installed 2 solar tube light tubes on my home I buy renewable energy 7 blocks 700 KwH each month even though I never use more than 3 eat vegetarian, vegan , theis saves 10 times the energy and 100 times the water of other eating, and saves animals from suffering. We buy local produce. Never wear or buy leather or animal products, even shoes or sneakers. teach a class on Solar Energy at 3 local community colleges. on the board of national Electric Vehicle Association. on the board of my local solar grouops ASEA and member ASES. write blogs on EVworld and help on website write on fixingtheplanet.com give free talks at schools, and energy meetings. I speak up at rate hearing and energy meetings for utilites and comissions. I feel if we don't speak up we condone the poor practices and policies. |
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Written on: 14 May 2008 [21:49]
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ecoadmin
Administrator
Topic creator
registered since: 20.07.2007
Posts: 583
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Hello everyone, Its been a while since I've asked this question and I would like to use this opportunity to amend my list. I recently moved and changed jobs and used the opportunity to cut my emissions further. To be less car dependant, I chose my new home near my workplace. I now have the option to cycle to/from work or use a bus. I also sold my car and motorcycle. The car was not so hard to give a way, but the sale of my motorbike was a bit emotional  , because of the many memories connected to it. But i got over it. Not beeing dependant on those vehicles makes me actually feel quite good!  I now use the bicycle whenever possible and public transport (bus and train). If a car is needed I have the opportunity to use a car sharing network. You quickly realize how much freedom a car can give you...and that there is also a life without one. If I buy one again, it will be...? One with a plug. Twike 890
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Written on: 19 May 2008 [07:35]
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carmusk
registered since: 10.05.2008
Posts: 5
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Hi everyone! That would be a great help to our environment. I also used bike instead of using my motorcycle when go to the public market. I have also made a blog the title is Enviro Cars. It’s all about the vehicles that help preserve our green planet. |
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Written on: 31 May 2008 [01:11]
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jstack6
registered since: 27.10.2007
Posts: 29
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True freedom is not having or needing a car. When I bicycle to and from work I get my own bike lane and never have to wait for the toons of cars backed up at rush hour. I never have to stop to get gas or an oil change. Oh, I do have to carry a spare tube in case I get a flat. No insurnace, no registration, no deprciation , real freedom. I will also never lose control and run over someone. It's very safe for everyone. I don't even make pollution or us imported oil, we'll maybe olive oil on my pizza when I refuel. You can always rent or borrow a vehicle if you need one a few times a year. Share a car systems are also good freedom. |
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Written on: 17 September 2009 [14:22]
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solace
registered since: 17.09.2009
Posts: 1
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ecoadmin wrote:
Ok, you are driving a green car or you are not driving one at all - well done. But what else do you do to help our environment? I start with my own list: -riding a bicycle/walking when going shopping -recyclying of paper, plastic bottles, metal anything accepted by the recycling center -using energy saving light bulbs and turning them off when not in use -trying to avoid plastic bags whenever possible -buying local produce, if avail. organic -heating the house to not more than 20°C (has also has a health benefit!) I am curious what others do...? Good driving habits not only keep you safer on the road, but they can also save gas and emissions. With the high cost of gas these days driving “green” will also save you money. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, driving conservatively can save about 5 percent around town and even more at higher speeds where engines are less efficient. Bottom line: The cost of driving is something you can influence by the actions you take every day. Avoid quick starts and stops. More even accelerator pressure always results in better fuel economy. At highways speeds, consider using cruise control to automatically maintain an even speed with fewer variations in accelerator pedal pressure. If your car is equipped with an overdrive gear, be sure to use this at highway speeds. This allows your vehicle to maintain a certain speed with the engine operating at lower rpms than would be the case otherwise...which saves fuel. Take care of your windshield.Take a look at this site if you want to more about it. You may get places quicker at higher speeds, but there is a cost to this. According to the EPA, for every 5 miles per hour over 60 mph that you drive, the loss of efficiency means you're paying the equivalent of about 20 cents more per gallon of gas consumed. Carrying unnecessary weight around reduces fuel efficiency. If there's extra gear in your trunk and it isn't needed regularly, then consider storing it elsewhere. Wind and rolling resistance also affect fuel economy. Be sure to keep your tires aired up to the proper pressure and remove cargo racks and carriers when unneeded. Consider combining more errands into fewer trips. Cars create more emissions when the engine is cold, so you'll not only save fuel by taking fewer round-trips from your home, your car will also be generating fewer tailpipe emissions. |
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Written on: 19 September 2009 [01:46]
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iamian
 
registered since: 23.02.2009
Posts: 110
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Recycle where I can: Paper, Glass, Plastic, Metal, cardboard. Reusable bags for groceries and other shopping. I try to avoiding buying plastic containers where I can. If there is a metal, Glass, or paper option I prefer those type of packaging... I suppose if it were plant based bio-degradable plastics like Spudware it wouldn't be as bad... but I haven't seen that for packaging yet. I try to eat less meat, but I do occasionally enjoy a burger and such a couple times a year. Greener garbage bags ... mostly made from Recycled plastic , or sometimes the plant based bio-degradable garbage bags are nice to. Try to choose when possible to live closer to work and such to reduce transportation impacts... but Will have to move soon, and haven't had any luck finding a place as close to work and such as I am now ... So it might become a longer  Try to walk or bicycle when the trip will be near by like 2 or 3 miles each way. I recently donated my old ( ~9 year old ) PC to a local company that recycles / salvages them for basic computers for non-profits... so it gets reused. The old PC was replaced with a new sub-note book... which consumes less than 1/4 of the energy the old system did. Energy efficient light bulbs... currently CFL but have been thinking about trying out some efficient LED lights in the near future. Try to buy products locally where / when I can. Try to buy organic and other 'greener' foods. Only leave lights on in rooms I am in. Drive a Gen-I Honda Insight ( I1 ), which gets decent MPG for a gasoline powered car. Have plans to eventually upgrade my I1 to a PHEV, or a BEV. I have been working as a hobby for a few years with the battery pack from some of the HEVs... to help people to service the battery and when possible to reuse it before one recycles it... The dealers always send the whole pack off to get recycled if there is any issue... If the battery is tested first, sometimes it might turn out to be a serviceable issue instead... send the battery to get recycled when it is worn out... kind of like don't recycle a tire just because it needs inflated a bit but is otherwise fine. I worked with my employer so they now recycle some 80% of the office paper they used to throw away. I got them to recycle some 80% of all there waste, until the recycling company decided to raise their rates by 10x more from the previous months... so now they are only recycling the paper. Have been able to convince some of the people in the company to put out recycling containers for the items that pay more to recycle... they aren't trying to be green, but the back-door logic seems to have worked and they now collect and and recycle a couple garbage bags a week of aluminum cans and such. I share information with others about renewable energy options in order to feed that interest and let people know about the options. Put on a sweater / blanket first instead of turning up Heat in winter... usually leave the thermostat set for about 62F. Only time I run AC are when my wife needs to deliver a temperature sensitive wedding cake... or just in the bedroom if it gets too hot to sleep. I try and educate myself on RE and green technologies so I can try and answer accurately other people when they ask questions. RE & Efficiency enthusiast
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Written on: 21 September 2009 [12:02]
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ecoadmin
Administrator
Topic creator
registered since: 20.07.2007
Posts: 583
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Wow, thats a long list...thanks Ian for sharing this information. @work My own list is actually very similar, although I haven't done as much as you at my workplace. Most of our waste is separated/recycled, but there is still room for improvement. Recycling alone is not enough - and we still waste huge amounts of energy since lights and computers are sometimes on all night. I work in an aviation training center and since this is a 24/7 business, shutting things down at 6PM on Friday doesn't mean its not used until Monday...but I do it anyway  IT equipment I had to replace my PC this year after it was running reliably for 7 years. I gave it to friends of ours who will continue to use it. My new computer uses now only about 22 Watts and the screen too compared to the old one which used about 160 Watts. It's a MAC mini btw, and I can put it into stby with a click... Rearranged also cables under the desk in order to minimise use of powerbars (they use up to 20 Watts!). Food About a year ago I started to cut my meat consumption. At the beginning I often run out of ideas of what to cook, but over time I've found good alternatives. I still enjoy meat occasionally but it has to be of good quality, preferrably organic. Less meat means often also a healthier diet. 100% true in my case. Setting an example I am trying to convince - or shall I better say - make others think about alternatives by just doing it. Convincing others by talking about it is also a great way, but has to be used with lots of care as not to end up in an over-heated debate, which in my opinion has often a detrimental effect. Housing We are renting at the moment, but are looking for our own apartment/property. If we ever make the decision to buy and need to renovate, it wouldbe a great opportunity to turn a energy inefficient house into the opposite. At the same time money would be invested sustainably. Banking ...above topic brings me to the banking sector...I currently have invested some money into ordinary funds. Taking it out earlier as planned from there would mean losses. I have decided to wait for the next high on the stock market and then re-invest the assets and gains into etically and environmentally correct portfolios. Keeping up-to-date with the latest developments in the world of sustainability is important too. An area which I did not pay enough attention too is fashion. I would like to find out more about green fasion and change my choices accordingly. Living greener is sometimes a bit extra work, but overall it makes the environment and me happier and healthier. Its the way forward Twike 890
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