All these tips are fine and certainly they would be good ideas to follow in one's life.
However, there are 300 million people in the U.S who are the biggest consumers and around 6 billion in the whole world many who live in countries where consumerism is growing like India and China. One person really can't make much of a difference.
Most of those tips really do nothing but make one feel good as in "look at me I'm so environmentally conscience."
Some of these are pretty silly. It concentrates on trivial things- like doing away with answering machines which consumes ten watts where as air conditioners and water heating consume many thousands of watts- so maybe we should turn off A/Cs and wear less clothes and take fewer showers if we really want to save energy!
But transportation is the biggest energy user- We really do need to lose our love for horsepower and speed. We do not need a 2½ ton SUV with a 280-HP engine to drive to corner store. Did you know the typical pre-1950 car had about 60-80 horsepower and people thought that was fine. Now people buy sports cars with 300-HP engines so they can peel rubber between one stop light and the next.
And in many cases environmentalists actually caused more harm than good- for example- because of them the US has not built a new nuclear power plant in 25 years while we continue to burn expensive and polluting oil and coal to generate electricity. Other countries have left us in the dust in this regard. And they prevent construction of new roads which would cut travel time and save gas and block the construction of wind turbines and solar panel farms for energy generation.
Boy you are right about the horsepower stuff.
a 1987 Nissian Sentra had about 80 hsp, now the same "economy" car has over 150!
Also, the much maligned 1959 caddy weighs about one half as the gluttonous Escalade!
The renewable energy sources, including, wind, solar and geothermal sound great. My concern with nuclear power is (per my understanding) the nuclear waste that results remains radioactive for hundreds of thousands of years. Right now, U.S. is storing nuclear waste in containers underground, and I don't think its wise to continue making more such waste: It looks to be a catastrophe waiting to happen.
I think the eventual solution to our environmental problems will be the realization that there are simply too many human beings on this planet. The more people, the more natural resources are used and pollutants created. We need a global population control strategy, so that the quality of life for future generations can be maintained given a manageable and stable human population. I think we also need to realize that the size of a manageable population will change, depending upon environmental conditions: Times of drought and famine reducing the numbers of people that can be accomodated, while times when rainfall is more aseequate and temperatures more temperate perhaps allowing a somewhat larger population.
Most scientists think we have a safe place to store nuclear waste deep underground in an abandon salt mine in Nevada. While there is always a small chance of an accident involving nuclear energy the fact that many hundreds of nuclear power plants are operating world wide year after year shows it is a very safe technology. And there are certainly proven health and environmental effects from the pollution given off by oil and coal fired plants.
But even more importantly- I think our continue reliance on foreign oil poses far more danger than any nuclear power plant. The middle-East is a powder keg which will bring forth the next world war and the sooner we get the hell out there the better off we will be.
Some I do already. I have all compact flouresents at home, and I have been using canvas bags for years.
Some I cannot buy. How can one brush your teeth without rinising. Toothpaste stuck in one's mouth ///yuck!!
Also, line drying clothes turns them into brillo pads. YIKES
The rest sound great!
I use the train to work, I recycle glass and cellphones, etc.
it can add up to a lot. I realize that not everyone bothers to conserve or recycle, and some of these tips might have trivial benefit. But (as I tell doubters of "global warming"), I think we would do well to conserve, recycle and care for our planet in any small ways we can.
Things I do and don't do: We recycle glass, metals, cardboard, plastic and paper -- I wish places like my work did so, as everything there gets thrown away. I usually take short showers (often twice a day -- pre-work and after exercising), but other family members are fond of long showers. I wear clothes (if nothing more than to do chores or exercise in) until they practically fall apart. We are gradually moving to the more energy efficient lights, and last year replaced an old furnace will a more efficient one (but only cause the old one quit). I should put a stop to all the junk mail -- we get a ton, and right now I just put it in paper recycle without even looking at it. I am traditional and still like bank statements and receipts on paper. I don't downlaod software, as I want to have the disk in case my computer screws up and needs to be re-done. I drink a full-size pick-up and a mid-sized car, neither of which gets over 20-25 mpg (I'll eventually go to a smaller, fuel-efficient car, but so long as I can avoid a car payment, I won't buy another car). I usually drive alone . . I would not be opposed to a car pool or mass transit, if it were not a hassle. I pre-rinse dishes and rinse my mouth, as "clean" is more important to me than saving a bit of water. I cannot work from home. We don't have any babies in family, so no diapers are used.
1. CHANGE YOUR LIGHT -- Good idea except in places where its very cold. I've been told that flourescent lights do not work when its below minus 40 (Celsius or Farenheit).
2. TURN OFF COMPUTERS AT NIGHT -- Does this really save energy or does it use more energy to reboot?
3. DON'T RINSE -- I've often wondered why people do this.
4. DO NOT PRE-HEAT THE OVEN -- Most baked goods require pre-heating. However one can use the microwave when it's simple heating.
5. RECYCLE GLASS -- of course
6. DIAPER WITH A CONSCIENCE -- Don't have kids
7. HANG DRY -- it usually smells better, too
8. GO VEGETARIAN ONCE A WEEK -- arghh. I eat meat not because I like it, but because I want to be kind to the vegetables <GRIN>.
9. WASH IN COLD OR WARM -- hope you mean the laundry. I hate cold showers.
10. USE ONE LESS PAPER NAPKIN -- ?? (use your shirt sleeve ???)
11. USE BOTH SIDES OF PAPER -- yeah. Kinda obvious.
12. RECYCLE NEWSPAPER -- required in many area of the US
13. WRAP CREATIVELY -- or don't wrap gifts at all.
14. RETHINK BOTTLED WATER -- in most areas of the US and possibly the "civilized" world tap water is safe. I never understood why people will spend good money to buy bottled water.
15. BAN BATHTIME! -- or shower with a friend. Be sure to turn the water off if "having fun" results.
16. BRUSH WITHOUT RUNNING -- yeah.
17. SHOWER WITH YOUR PARTNER -- see my comments on #15.
18. TAKE A SHORTER SHOWER -- or use the navy-type shower. Wet down and turn water off to soap up, and turn water on to rinse. This is a good idea for camping trips too.
19. PLANT A TREE
20. USE YOUR CRUISE CONTROL Yeah, but not in town or heavy traffic.
21. SECOND-HAND DOESN'T MEAN SECOND-BEST -- yeah and you save money too.
22. BUY LOCAL -- The food is fresher too.
23. ADJUST YOUR THERMOSTAT -- put on a sweater in winter and go naked in summer.
24. INVEST IN YOUR OWN COFFEE CUP -- why use paper or plastic cups at work. A mug looks nicer too.
25. BATCH ERRANDS -- saves gas and time too.
26. TURN OFF LIGHTS -- obvious
27. GREENER LAWN CARE -- sure and the grass grows better.
28. PICNIC WITH A MARKER -- better yet, use "real" dishes and mugs instead of disposable. Personalized mugs are nicer too.
29. RECYCLE OLD CELL PHONES -- many charities collect them for reuse for battered women, etc. Do remove your memory chip and erase all stored data.
30. MAINTAIN YOUR VEHICLE -- It lasts longer, looks nicer, and doesn't make smoke.
31. RECYCLE UNWANTED WIRE HANGERS -- yeah, and they make the clots hanging in the closet look malformed. Use plastic hangers with shaped shoulders even for shirts. Also, don't use drycleaner at all. If suit coats and dress pants are needed, they do make washable ones.
32. CHOOSE GLASS BOTTLES OVER ALUMINUM CANS -- not sure of this one particulary if the aluminum cans are recycled.
33. TELECOMMUTE -- would love too.
34. KEEP YOUR FIREPLACE DAMPER CLOSED -- yeah and don't use it for heat in the winter. It is much less efficient than a good quality furnace or boiler.
35. CUT DOWN ON JUNK MAIL -- how do you get the stuff to stop?
36. CHOOSE MATCHES OVER LIGHTERS -- Better yet, don't smoke.
37. LET YOUR FINGERS DO THE WALKING—ONLINE -- how do you stop the phone books? We get two different sets, one from the phone company, and one from a private directory service. We don't even have a land-line phone, but only cell-phones and still get the books.
38. GIVE IT AWAY -- if anyone will take it. Thrift shops sometimes will take donations. Many people won't even take used stuff though.
39. GO TO A CAR WASH -- Does a better job and is easier too. But its more fun to wash a car with a friend.
40. PLASTIC BAGS SUCK -- use reusable cloth or heavy plastic bags instead. But then what do you put your kitchen garbage into?
41. FLY WITH AN E-TICKET -- many airlines don't issue paper tickets or charge extra for them
42. DOWNLOAD YOUR SOFTWARE -- sure but then there is no back-up copy.
43. STOP YOUR ANSWERING MACHINE -- or use the voice mail option by your cell or phone company.
44. SKIP THE COFFEE STIRRER -- drink it black, like a "real" man. <GRIN>
45. FIND A BETTER WAY TO BREAK THE ICE -- hmm.
46. USE COTTON SWABS WITH A PAPERBOARD SPINDLE -- Q-Tips????
47. PAY BILLS ONLINE -- Easier, too.
48. STOP PAPER BANK STATEMENTS -- sure and faster
49. USE RECHARGABLE BATTERIES -- duh.
50. SHARE! yeah.
Additional ones.....
1. Sleep naked and avoid impact of pyjamas.
2. Stop wearing underwear for same reason.
3. Go barefoot as much as possible.
4. Be naked at home to save replacing clothing. Takes less air-conditioning in summer also.
5. Skinny-dip and avoid bathing suit manufacturing.
6. Ride bicycles and save gasolene. Its healthier, too.
7. Drink water and eat fruit rather than buyiong canned (or bottled) sodas. Better for your boday as well.
8. Don't wear ties in the summer and keep shirt collar unbuttened -- or go shirtless, if possible.
1. CHANGE YOUR LIGHT -- Currently in the process of changing, both for myself, and the building corridors.
2. TURN OFF COMPUTERS AT NIGHT -- I don't do it. Macs automatically perform system tasks at night when you sleep.
3. DON'T RINSE -- N/A: I don't have a dishwasher. Making a small washing up by hand if far more efficient, and less energy costly.
4. DO NOT PRE-HEAT THE OVEN -- I have an oven with "rotating heat", meaning there is little need for pre heating.
5. RECYCLE GLASS -- of course
6. DIAPER WITH A CONSCIENCE -- Don't have kids. Me neither.
7. HANG DRY -- Of course! Clothes are in a better condition this way. Easy as live in a dry climate.
8. GO VEGETARIAN ONCE A WEEK -- Eating less meat and more vegetables is betetr for one's health. I don't eat meat every day.
9. WASH IN COLD OR WARM -- Generally srt the temperature at 40 C (104F, for the metrically challenged)
10. USE ONE LESS PAPER NAPKIN -- One meal = one napkin.
11. USE BOTH SIDES OF PAPER -- yeah. Kinda obvious. - Indeed!
12. RECYCLE NEWSPAPER -- I always throw away paper in the dedicated bin where it is recycled.
13. WRAP CREATIVELY -- I don't make many gifts, but I like them nicely wrapped.
14. RETHINK BOTTLED WATER -- What bottled water???? I only drink bottled water in poor tropical countries where tap water is not safe. I drink tap water everywhere in Europe and North America.
15. BAN BATHTIME! -- Last bath I took was at least 3 years ago.....
16. BRUSH WITHOUT RUNNING -- True! I should do it.
17. SHOWER WITH YOUR PARTNER -- When a partner comes by, he is sure to share a shower. How good!
18. TAKE A SHORTER SHOWER -- Especially in the morning, when you're already late.
19. PLANT A TREE -- WHere? In the concrete of my apartment terrace?
20. USE YOUR CRUISE CONTROL -- Don't have cruise control on the car. I prefer to take trains!
21. SECOND-HAND DOESN'T MEAN SECOND-BEST -- No thanks.
22. BUY LOCAL -- The food is fresher too. - And generally better, less industrial.
23. ADJUST YOUR THERMOSTAT -- I live with windows open for at least four onth a year. No air conditioning here. And in winter, the heating is only on for a couple of hours morning and evenings.
24. INVEST IN YOUR OWN COFFEE CUP -- Of course. I usually have coffee at home, in a real cup, or in a cafe in a real cup too. It tastes better than in any disposable material.
25. BATCH ERRANDS -- saves gas and time too. - I use to keep lists....
26. TURN OFF LIGHTS -- My mother repeated me to do it when I was a kid. I guess it worked.
27. GREENER LAWN CARE -- No lawn. Only concrete and tiles.
28. PICNIC WITH A MARKER -- better yet, use "real" dishes and mugs instead of disposable. Personalized mugs are nicer too. -- Indeed!
29. RECYCLE OLD CELL PHONES -- In Europe, it is now mandatory for the supplier of any item to organize the recycling of old stuff. When you buy a new handset, the phone shop will recycle the old one.
30. MAINTAIN YOUR VEHICLE --Of course.
31. RECYCLE UNWANTED WIRE HANGERS -- They are hanging in the cabinet with clothes on.
32. CHOOSE GLASS BOTTLES OVER ALUMINUM CANS -- not sure of this one particulary if the aluminum cans are recycled. -- True.
33. TELECOMMUTE -- I mainly work from home. I have little commuting between the bed and the desk.
34. KEEP YOUR FIREPLACE DAMPER CLOSED -- No fireplace, no damper, ....
35. CUT DOWN ON JUNK MAIL -- Here, putting a label that says "No to junk mail" on your mailbox stops about 90% of the inflow.
36. CHOOSE MATCHES OVER LIGHTERS -- Better yet, don't smoke. -- Of course!
37. LET YOUR FINGERS DO THE WALKING—ONLINE -- I can't remember when was the last time I received a phonebook. I wonder how we could live without the internet.....
38. GIVE IT AWAY -- There are few opportunities to give away stuff..... I just give used clothes to the Red Cross.
39. GO TO A CAR WASH -- Or keep the car dirty. When I'm inside, I don't see how dirty the outside is. And I really don't care about what others may think of the look of my car.
40. PLASTIC BAGS SUCK -- Here, most supermarkets don't give bags anymore. The propose to sell recyclable bags. I go to the supermarket with my set of recyclable bags.
41. FLY WITH AN E-TICKET -- Except for a few exotic ones (domestic airlines in Indonesia for insect), every airline issues mainly etickets. Train companies still stick with paper though.
42. DOWNLOAD YOUR SOFTWARE -- The issue is the manual. When you buy s/w in a box, you're sometimes lucky enough to get a paper manual, which I find more convenient than an on line help.
43. STOP YOUR ANSWERING MACHINE -- Current answering machines use memory chips, and no longer cassettes of any kind. As there is no mechanical parts, they are very reliable and don't break. I'm not yet totally confident in the telco's voicemail. I prefer to manage my messages at home.
44. SKIP THE COFFEE STIRRER -- You don't have spoons? I mainly drink black sugarless coffee. Nothing to stir.
45. FIND A BETTER WAY TO BREAK THE ICE -- N/A. No snow, no ice here.
46. USE COTTON SWABS WITH A PAPERBOARD SPINDLE -- Q-Tips???? - Ditto.
47. PAY BILLS ONLINE -- I prefer to receive paper statements, and pile them in files. BUt payment by automatic bank transfer works ok for me.
48. STOP PAPER BANK STATEMENTS -- Just as for the utilities. I prefer paper statements.
49. USE RECHARGABLE BATTERIES -- Of course!!!! Just bought a quick charger that recharges all batteries in less than one hour.
50. SHARE! -- Isn't it what we're doing here?
And my comments on your additions:
1. Sleep naked and avoid impact of pyjamas. -- Always!
2. Stop wearing underwear for same reason. -- Most of the time!
3. Go barefoot as much as possible. -- Quite often
4. Be naked at home to save replacing clothing. Takes less air-conditioning in summer also. -- Yes, all summer! No air con at home, anyway.
5. Skinny-dip and avoid bathing suit manufacturing. -- Always!
6. Ride bicycles and save gasolene. Its healthier, too. -- No! Too many hills, and too strong winds here. I motorcycle, which is fare from being as environmentally friendly.
7. Drink water and eat fruit rather than buyiong canned (or bottled) sodas. Better for your boday as well.-- Indeed!
8. Don't wear ties in the summer and keep shirt collar unbuttened -- or go shirtless, if possible. -- I think I wear a tie less than 10 times a year now! I'm happy to work naked in summer.
Last but not least:
1)Drive as much You can with a bicycle instead of vehicle.
2)And give a sample about it to other people.
3)And impart to Critical Mass activities.
I was, day before. Police at that was making about dozen arrests, with a tactic - full speed drive on over to bicyclists, and if bicyclist falls, then arrest him. One bicyclist case police succeeded to pull through the police bus window by the shirt so he made a double salto and heavily planed in front of bus, yet stayed alive. Last arrest wos made of two press photographs (including API photographer with PRESS card over his neck) who innocently made a shots of those bloodworks. I`m ashamed I`m living in European democracy what permits such unbelievable hellworks be made un-punished.
Cant believe that Bruxells central structures will not want to give a well punishment for such government of a memberstate - just how to make them be informed?? Where to write??
Today all Latvian internet is boiling full with pictures and comments, especially at Delfi (sorry, its only Latvian language) - but police minister is laying in TV studio about, straight looking into eyes, and saying - `that all we shall do at next critical mass even harder, until last measures (guns or what??)`
I`m bit thinking to repost full story with pics to Reuters?? Or CNS?? May You give an advice?? TheTimes is unuseable because last year Londonians received the supreme court decision permitting police to use ANY methods to stop Critical Mass activities in London (according to article in the same tabloid TheTimes)- thus my article may only damage CritMass activities there instead of giving my Latvia well-earned portion of shame.
At interest, best pics are here, available for You:
www.tribine.lv/articles/4397/1/Kritiska_masa_un_tas_sekas_(foto