Q. Fact is all of us are going to have a pathetic world to live in if we don't start making changes to our daily lives.
A. There are a gazillion things to do.
I've really been trying to cut electrical use over the last year. We've replaced every bulb in our house with Compact Fluorescent or regular fluorescent bulbs. We've planted trees near windows, installed room darkening shades, weatherstripping, and window tint to keep rooms from heating up so the AC doesn't run as often. We bought a 7 day programmable thermostat so we can have the AC adjust throughout the day automatically so we're not needlessly cooling when no one is home. We're diligent about turning off the computer every night, turning off lights, keeping doors and windows open during nice weather, and turning off fans when no one is in the room (fans don't make the room cooler, they just make it feel cooler - a sort of wind chill factor).
We bought a remote control power controller called Bye-Bye Standby from Amazon. With a click of the remote you can kill the phantom power used by your electronics. I can turn off all my electronics and then kill the power with this thing and hear the electronics really turn off. Of course this uses batteries, but our outlets are not reachable behind our freecycled entertainment center, but I guess you can't win 'em all.
Prior to doing all these things, our previous low on our electric bill was right about $100. We've since had electric bills in $60-$70 range, and once even hit $50 right on the head. So, obviously we're using less electricity. Most all these changes don't cost a whole lot and actually pay for themselves in the long run.
I mentioned Freecycle before. Search for a Freecycle group in your area. This is a recycle program in which people give away stuff to each other for free, no strings attached. Our local Freecycle is actually run through a Yahoo group. We've given away old pots/pans, clothes, baby stuff, a computer monitor, etc. and have gotten stuff like a lamp and a basketball hoop. So, instead of this stuff ending up in the landfill, it's still being used and it was all free.
Also, go to the library to get videos and books, rather than buying them or renting them online. Because you are borrowing from the local library fewer of the videos and books need to be produced so less paper or less plastic is used and it saves on transportation costs. Our library is about 2 miles away. Netflix, Amazon, etc. are several states away so to get something from them requires a lot more fuel to get the same thing to me. Best of all, the library is free.
Shop at a local fruit and vegetable stand if possible. We go to one that is about 6 miles round-trip out of my way. However, the prices are cheaper than the local grocery store and most of the produce is local, unlike the grocery store which is more international. So I'm saving money and it's better for the environment because the products don't have to be shipped as far prior to consumption.
Get out and enjoy the environment. Go camping! Visit state and national parks, national forests, wildlife refuges, etc - most are free to visit and cheap to camp in. The park services can't keep these places clean on their own because they are absolutely huge and understaffed. While there pick up a few pieces of trash and put it where it belongs. Also, getting into the wild has given me personally a greater desire to do something because I better appreciate nature. I hear nature more now. I hear the hawk in our neighborhood every morning as it screeches. I hear the blue jays, grackles and mockingbirds and I want to continue to hear them so I try to do more to make their environment a better place. Hearing the birds doesn't cost me a thing and it inspires me to do more and to be creative in doing it.
I've really been trying to cut electrical use over the last year. We've replaced every bulb in our house with Compact Fluorescent or regular fluorescent bulbs. We've planted trees near windows, installed room darkening shades, weatherstripping, and window tint to keep rooms from heating up so the AC doesn't run as often. We bought a 7 day programmable thermostat so we can have the AC adjust throughout the day automatically so we're not needlessly cooling when no one is home. We're diligent about turning off the computer every night, turning off lights, keeping doors and windows open during nice weather, and turning off fans when no one is in the room (fans don't make the room cooler, they just make it feel cooler - a sort of wind chill factor).
We bought a remote control power controller called Bye-Bye Standby from Amazon. With a click of the remote you can kill the phantom power used by your electronics. I can turn off all my electronics and then kill the power with this thing and hear the electronics really turn off. Of course this uses batteries, but our outlets are not reachable behind our freecycled entertainment center, but I guess you can't win 'em all.
Prior to doing all these things, our previous low on our electric bill was right about $100. We've since had electric bills in $60-$70 range, and once even hit $50 right on the head. So, obviously we're using less electricity. Most all these changes don't cost a whole lot and actually pay for themselves in the long run.
I mentioned Freecycle before. Search for a Freecycle group in your area. This is a recycle program in which people give away stuff to each other for free, no strings attached. Our local Freecycle is actually run through a Yahoo group. We've given away old pots/pans, clothes, baby stuff, a computer monitor, etc. and have gotten stuff like a lamp and a basketball hoop. So, instead of this stuff ending up in the landfill, it's still being used and it was all free.
Also, go to the library to get videos and books, rather than buying them or renting them online. Because you are borrowing from the local library fewer of the videos and books need to be produced so less paper or less plastic is used and it saves on transportation costs. Our library is about 2 miles away. Netflix, Amazon, etc. are several states away so to get something from them requires a lot more fuel to get the same thing to me. Best of all, the library is free.
Shop at a local fruit and vegetable stand if possible. We go to one that is about 6 miles round-trip out of my way. However, the prices are cheaper than the local grocery store and most of the produce is local, unlike the grocery store which is more international. So I'm saving money and it's better for the environment because the products don't have to be shipped as far prior to consumption.
Get out and enjoy the environment. Go camping! Visit state and national parks, national forests, wildlife refuges, etc - most are free to visit and cheap to camp in. The park services can't keep these places clean on their own because they are absolutely huge and understaffed. While there pick up a few pieces of trash and put it where it belongs. Also, getting into the wild has given me personally a greater desire to do something because I better appreciate nature. I hear nature more now. I hear the hawk in our neighborhood every morning as it screeches. I hear the blue jays, grackles and mockingbirds and I want to continue to hear them so I try to do more to make their environment a better place. Hearing the birds doesn't cost me a thing and it inspires me to do more and to be creative in doing it.
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