Simple things we all can do.

Yes, I agree, and there are other threads that will even help you with that but this thread is for simple things that you can do everyday, that are under a 100 dollars.

 

Slay a vampire. Many electronic devices consume a lot of electricity when they're turned OFF. Plug them into a power strip that can be switched off (easier than unplugging them, although that works, too). Number one-your computer. It can consume as much electricity as 2 typical CFL bulbs when it's off. Turn off the power strip and save.

 

the grocery store i go to started selling bags. they're made of polypropylene. made in china. haha i guess they can help by stoppin use of plastic bags, but thats what polypropylene is... its a plastic, made in a chemical industry in china, but i guess its used everywhere though, clothes, rope, etc... the fabric feels cheap like if it gets a tear, feels like it would just rip open. their $1 a bag.

 

• Recycle
• Take shorter showers and maybe not everyday
• Turn off the lights when you leave the room
• Turn down the thermostat when you leave for the day
• Line dry your laundry
• Purchase items secondhand or dumpster-dive
• Shop at the farmer's market for your veggies
• Ride a bike or walk instead of driving your car to the corner store
• Stop using drive-thrus
• If you have to use a car, slow down. Stop accelerating to beat a red light
• Bring your own reusable bag(s) when you shop

 

Towel- or air-drying your hair instead of blow-drying is one thing. I read that blow-dryers can use as much power as toasters, and for more time.

 

Good thing I've always been too lazy to blow dry my hair!

 

I don’t mind keeping the thermostat down and maybe wearing an extra layer of clothes but find when I take a shower I can't wear that extra layer. So I’m tempted to turn that thermostat up, except that would heat the whole house. So I bought a small space heater and heat just the bathroom while showering.

 

That's exactly what I did. In less then five minutes my bathroom is all heated!

 

My place is usually pretty chilled, but I don't warm the bathroom for when I have a shower. I just jump in, if it's a hot shower it's fine, then a dressing gown when I get out - no problems! Especially in the morning, if I shower before work, I prefer colder showers so that I wake up (as it's usually about 6am) so if I heated the room, I would still be sleepy!

Oh, is a small space heater the same as the general electric heaters? Don't they use loads of energy?

 

Depends on the one you get. Plus in comparison to heating the whole house to warm the bathroom the energy used is minimal. Seeing as it's a small room and you only have the heater on for maybe 15 - 20 min. But still a good point, Thanx!

 

Eat less meat, esp beef. Cow farts are warming up the globe faster than anything else.

Take a shower not a bath.

Drink less soda water.

Use more candles.

 

Put a five gallon bucket in the shower with you, use the water from it to water plants, flush the toilet, etc...

Even better is, if you have a shelf in your shower, rotate your houseplants to it every week or so... they love the mist!

 

Hey..that's a pretty damn good idea

 

I totally agree that is the best idea I've read so far, I'm def getting a jug/bucket and having my plants take a tile slide sort of.

 

You come up with things like that out here in the desert

Rainwater collection is always a great idea too...

 

That just shows what a good idea this thread is. I'm surprised that everyone hasn't heard of using a bucket to collect shower water. In So Cal, we all did that back when we had a major drought in the late 80's/early 90's. It was so bad that in some areas, outside plants could only be watered by hand with a bucket-no hoses allowed.

 

COMPOST all your kitchen scraps! Just throw them in a heap in your backyard, or get fancier if you want. Compost your human waste too if you're feeling ambitous! Throwing all that organic matter into the landfill is such a waste of good dirt!

 

Quit smoking cigaretts. Saves you a massive investment (at least in NJ which cigs go for 6-7 dollars averagely) and cuts down smoke/butt polution. I find cigarett butts *everywhere*

About using fluorescent lightbulbs- They save power over course. After they are beat and you have to dispose of them, they contain a fair amount of mercury which is horrible for the environment. Most people see on the lable they are good for green and saves power but in the end they are really horrible for the environment. I've spoken to an environmentalist who cleans up toxic wastes and such. He said they are a big problem and he still sticks with standard bulbs.

 

The city of Santa Fe just started a massive fluorescent recycling program. They actually recycle the mercury into other industrial uses rather than poison the land.
I don't think it will be too long until most cities have such a program. I hope at least.

 

Fluorescent recycling programs are growing. In any case, the amount of mercury in a bulb is pretty small. It's a lot less than the amount of mercury emitted by a coal fired power plant to power a conventional bulb vs. a CFL.