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Old Mar 24, 2008, 07:31 PM
SweetSunshine SweetSunshine is offline
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I've been thinking about this for a long time. Seeing more and more things going on environmentally that is not very appealing to me. So I wanted to ask those of you who do the eco friendly things for some advice on how to get started. I would like advice/ hints/ websites that have helped you out. But also I need to take into consideration the financial end of things as I dont have alot of money to do a complete switch. So yeah doing this frugally would be helpful. Becoming Eco Friendly

Thanks so much!!
Beth
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  #2  
Old Mar 24, 2008, 07:36 PM
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katheryn katheryn is offline
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at the moment all we do is recycling
we save carboard, tins milk cartoons, and glass and paper seperate from everyday rubish

also most of our lights are energy saving, we also live in rented property and we have water saving toilet

we also put waste into a compost bin

good luck
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  #3  
Old Mar 24, 2008, 07:52 PM
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Perna Perna is offline
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I do trees: http://www.arborday.org/index.cfm

Use a "carbon footprint" calculator: http://www.conservationfund.org/gozero and figure how much damage you're doing and how you can fix some of that.
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  #4  
Old Mar 24, 2008, 07:55 PM
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Timgt5 Timgt5 is offline
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SS i am very proud of you! Here are a couple things:

Consider purchasing reusable cloth bags to shop for your groceries with instead of using the stores plastic bags, many grocery chains now sell them and they run about 3-4 dollars each. Plastic bag manufacturing consumes a lot of oil and causes a lot of pollution.

Make sure you keep the tires in your car properly inflated, it has been estimated that collectivly in the US we waste millions of gallons of gas and cause a lot of unecessary carbon emissions from underinflated tires

Take Care TJ
  #5  
Old Mar 26, 2008, 04:09 AM
SweetSunshine SweetSunshine is offline
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We kinda do some of that .. although we could do better. I think I am going to get some containers or tubs to put things in with a label on them and keep them handy in the kitchen. We've also started to switch to the new lightbulbs also. The spirally like ones. But we heard something on the news the other day that you dont dare break them because there is something in them..( i cant remember what right now) that is very toxic. And you have to have it professionaly removed from your home. And from what they said that can cost up to $2,000 . Not good at all. Our last toilet we bought is a water saving one too. So we are set there. And being that we have an old farmhouse, we have a cystern which collects the rainwater from the gutters. I still think that is the secret to my soft skin lol. We do need to get a compost container too... I'll have to read up on that some more.

Thanks for the tips!!! Becoming Eco Friendly
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  #6  
Old Mar 26, 2008, 04:11 AM
SweetSunshine SweetSunshine is offline
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Well I did that test and I am not doing good but not too bad either I guess. We have 7 trees around our house.. but according to that test I need about 5 more. So I guess its a start right? Course I do have a forest in the back field too.. does that cound? LOL Becoming Eco Friendly
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  #7  
Old Mar 26, 2008, 04:14 AM
SweetSunshine SweetSunshine is offline
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I've got some reusable insulated bags that I do use . But have not invested in the cloth ones. I will have to do that gradualy also.As long as they have some kind of handles I will be ok. And we do keep track of the tires. Guess I am doing some things already that I hadnt thought of!! YAYAYAY!!!! LOL

Thanks Tim tc!! Becoming Eco Friendly
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  #8  
Old Mar 26, 2008, 05:24 AM
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Yeah, the cloth grocery bags are a terrific idea (and really help out). They are stronger than the plastic ones (so actually easier to carry stuff in them) and they have handles, yeah. I actually prefer them to plastic bags - but you do need to remember to leave them in the car so they are there when you actually need them.

With respect to the energy saving lightbulbs - they really are pretty good. We have them installed in our hall of residence. I'm not sure about breaking them (I've never heard of anyone breaking them). But I'd imagine they must be pretty safe for them to be installed in a hall of residence?

Another thing is fuel consumption...
  #9  
Old Mar 26, 2008, 05:56 AM
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MyBestKids2 MyBestKids2 is offline
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Hey SS, I do the CFL bulbs too, they only use 13 watts of energy, pretty amazing. The bulbs contain a small amount of mercury, I found the warning on the bottom of the box. I saw that special, too. When the light bulb burns out, they aren't supposed to go out with regular trash. We are supposed to take them to our local trash dumping grounds to be disposed of with hazardous materials.
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  #10  
Old Mar 26, 2008, 06:49 AM
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katheryn katheryn is offline
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i forgot the shopping bags, we use a store called tescos who reward you for using your bags and not taking the free ones so we carry the bags in the car, we arte surrounded by trees as we are in the country
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No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.
  #11  
Old Mar 26, 2008, 07:52 AM
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Yeah. The Rudd government in Australia is talking about installing a $1 surcharge on plastic bags. In order to encourage people to use the cloth ones.
  #12  
Old Mar 27, 2008, 12:23 AM
SweetSunshine SweetSunshine is offline
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Right that is what I learned too from the news the other night. The only problem I have with them is that the light is not good to read by. Its very dim like? Do you notice that too or ?
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  #13  
Old Mar 27, 2008, 12:25 AM
SweetSunshine SweetSunshine is offline
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Hmmm I dont know if any of the grocery stores do that around here or not. I have noticed Walmart is selling those bags. But I didnt stop to check out how much they were. I will have to do that sometime soon here. Thanks for telling us about that Kathy!!
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  #14  
Old Mar 27, 2008, 02:01 AM
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recluse1 recluse1 is offline
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Here Food City is selling the cloth bags for $1. I have some that I keep in the vehicle. My problem is remembering them and taking them into the store. Old habits die hard as the saying goes. I need to work on a few things myself.

You might also sheck with your power provider. Here ours provide energy saving ideas and tips on going green. excellent resource!
  #15  
Old Mar 27, 2008, 01:00 PM
Anonymous091825
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I think this is a great thread ((sweet)))
  #16  
Old Mar 27, 2008, 01:58 PM
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jennie jennie is offline
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Click here 50 Simple Things You Can Do To Save The Earth

I think the most important thing is education. There's a non-judgmental way to teach others about the environment. Sometimes using a phrase like . . . "Did you know . . . " is a great way to spread the word about eco-friendly advice.
Also, place REMINDERS around the home and on your computer to keep up-to-date about the environment.

I don't try to do everything. Instead I add one positive behavior until it becomes a part of my lifestyle . . . then I add another when I'm ready. One day, I hope to be an environmental activist. But today I'm just doing baby steps to help the environment.
  #17  
Old Feb 17, 2014, 09:12 AM
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Abby Jackson Abby Jackson is offline
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Starting changing your personal habits likely eat more vegie and use less plastic bag and looking for energy saving stuff ...
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