Anyone Going Green? Ideas please...

[Newfie2000]

Ceiling fans do not cool or heat the air. They only circulate the air. Hot air rises and cold air falls. The fan is set to push the hot air down and bring the cool air up.

That's what I always thought! But just this weekend I noticed a product at HD so I thought I would share it with you. I love the idea and am definitely going to look into it further. It is a ceiling fan that actually generates heat. My parents have a room in their house that is always cool in the winter and as they have gotten older they are more prone to being cold so the past few winters they have been using a heater in that room, which I know guzzles power - that is the reason this product caught my eye. I was in a hurry and did not take the time to look closely at it, but I did see that it uses less energy than a blow dryer. For them that would be a great help, as besides the standard house heat they use the heater and also the ceiling fan on low to circulate the warm air. If this thing actually does what it claims to, this would be great for them! Perhaps some of you would be interested in it also!

 

[budbeerlady]

Thanks, that is the point I was trying to make. All I know is that we can raise the thermostat on the AC when we've got the ceiling fans on.

So to me, that's kind of the same thing!

We do this too, if we turn the air on it is just to get the humidity out of the air so we can sleep better. We are doing pretty good, as we havent turned it on this summer yet. Otherwise we hit the ceiling fans to cool us down.

 

[minnie1928]

I've been using paper bags at the grocery store....I think it's better than the plastic confused3 ). Anyway, I keep about 10 of them flat in the back of my trunk. They take up virtually no space and on occasion they've come in handy as a trunk mat! Whenever I go to the store, I pop open the trunk and grab some bags before going inside. Although, my grocery store is going to stop their incentives for reusing bags, so that may be the final push to buy reusable cloth bags.

I've converted all my lights to CFLs, started using powerstrips or Smart Strips to shut things off when not in use. I try to organize my trips so that I'm not driving more than I have to. I also use LOTS of vinegar for cleaning, not only is it better...it's CHEAP!

I recently changed all potential bills/statements to e-billing or e-statements. Not only is less paper wasted...I have less filing to do! I also have all my bills set up to either autopay or pay them via website. Saves postage, paper and the energy related to transporting my paper check to some processing center across the country.

I'm also recycling as much as possible. My curbside recycling has more restrictions than my county waster management company. For example, county will take cereal boxes...curbside will not. So, I simply consolidate all the boxes and store them in some extra plastic bins I have in my basement. A few times a year I drive them to the county recycling center for drop off. My trash volume has dropped significantly from doing just this!

 

[rewok]

I'm using cloth bags for groceries, and other places. If I buy just a few items I hand carry them to the car (If I can carry them to the cash register, I can still carry them to the car!!)

I recycle, recycle, recycle!

I do not buy water in plastic bottles. Even if recycled, they consume energy and resources for production/recycling. I drink tap water or filtered, and fill reusable bottles to go.

I now have a hand reel lawnmower, instead of my old gas polluting noisy one.

I have an energy/water efficient dishwasher, and uses it as much as possible (hand washing actually consumes more water).

I try to buy less, not only for the money, but because we tend to buy too much. Do I really need this? I also like to buy local or closer to home. The item from China, often cheap, pollutes a lot just by transporting it here.

I use only organic fertilizers on my grass/plants. Since it decomposes slowly, the excess does not leech into the soil and rivers/lakes, where it would promote algae growth.


What I want to do:

Composting, it would reduce my garbage a lot.

Changing my washer for a front loader (however the old one works very well, so I have to ponder that)

 

[mjbaby]

Composting, it would reduce my garbage a lot.

Composting really does reduce garbage - we're down to a bag every ten days with composting, recycling and not wasting ANYTHING! Composting is particularly important because organic wastes that decompose anaerobically produce methane, a particularly dangerous greenhouse gas.

Even if you don't want to actually compost per se, making a garbage-wastes pile behind a shed or whatever would be great. You'll find that the pile doesn't really grow all that much as everything decomposes really quickly. But it's a simple matter to actually compost and your pile can take up shredded newspapers, grass clippings, eggshells and all kinds of things. It's amazing what a nice compost pile will be able to keep out of the trash!

 

[graygables]

Changing my washer for a front loader (however the old one works very well, so I have to ponder that)

Look into that carefully before you do it...I did and read too many horror stories of fabrics getting holes in them, even brand new from various brands. We opted to stay with our top loader for now.

A few more: we switched to a tankless water heater. It only heats water as we need it and our energy bill has dropped significantly as has my frustration with not being able to shower after DDs/DH "used up" all the hot water in the tank.

Set the dryer to dry for a set time (mine is 40 minutes for a heavy cotton load), then hang the damp clothes. Not only will you save energy, but your clothing will be less wrinkled. Just make sure to hang them where they have a little ventilation. Only wash towels once a week unless for some reason they are VERY dirty. If you think about it, towels are usually used to dry CLEAN hands/bodies, so really do not need to be washed that often.

 

[Tiggerish]

On June 1st I became a bus rider. I gave up my paid parking space close to my office and bought a bus pass. So I am saving money since parking was $139 plus the cost of gas to drive back and forth and the bus pass is $75 and saving energy. A win/win!

 

[MELSMICE]

I'm pouring my coffee grounds in my garden every morning (I'd like to start a compose pile...maybe that can be a new project!)

Do you just dump the used coffee grounds right into the garden on top of the soil or do you have to "mulch" it in? (is that a correct term? ).

I have a small garden in my backyard & if this will help it grow & also help me be a little more "green" then I'm all for trying it!

It's amazing what a nice compost pile will be able to keep out of the trash!

Unfortunately, in my neck of the woods, it would also keep my neighbors away from my house & I like my neighbors. I'm sure they wouldn't want to see a compost pile in my backyard for all to look at!

 

[mjbaby]

Unfortunately, in my neck of the woods, it would also keep my neighbors away from my house & I like my neighbors. I'm sure they wouldn't want to see a compost pile in my backyard for all to look at!

Dude! No problem - use a bin. I use a smaller, homemade variation of this and there are also lots of products like these at all kinds of price points to keep your compost tidy and organized. And, done properly, compost doesn't smell at all. Rather, it has a pleasing, earthy scent. Stinky compost is a sign that something has gone wrong - garbage smells because of that anaerobic decomposition.

 

[Cindi0511]

For those who clean with vinegar: white or apple cider? How much? Straight or diluted? What do you clean with it?

Thanks in advance for the info. I've been meaning to look into this for a while.

 

[andiepie]

I'm pretty big into the whole going green thing. My friends have started calling me the eco-geek since I'm a little more geek than hippy.

There's a website called www.idealbite.com. They send you a daily newsletter (really it's only Mon-Frid) through e-mail (of course) giving just basic hints and steps to going green. It's really great. I've gotten so many tips.

There's also another site called The Green Guide off of the National Geographic Society that has great tips. I do the cloth bags. One day, I'll decorate them using their recipie for homemade dyes that I found on the site. But that'll have to wait till I have time.

Definitely follow all those other posts. One other is to sign up for the opt-out notices at the bottom of those pre-screened credit card offers you get in the mail. Saves paper and helps against identity theft. The link to that and other identity theft notices/tips is www.privacyrights.org

Seventh Generation cleaning products can be found on amazon, but they're expensive.

If you're into composting check out www.gardeners.com. They have patio systems that are discreet. They also have indoor pails and bio-bags to "hide" it away (along with the smell).

 

[VanessasMom]

Ok, I'm pretty into it too. Here's some of the things I do off the top of my head:

-Use cloth diapers. They're not what you think. Velcro on just like a sposie diaper and wash right up in your washer. No toilet dunking either. PM me for more info on that.

-Cloth napkins

-Cloth grocery bags

-Family cloth (wipes for when you use the toilet)

-Cloth mama pads & the Diva Cup

-Reuseable cloth swiffer pads

-Cloth rags instead of paper towels

-CFL bulbs

-Composting

-Growing your own veggies/fruits in a garden mulched with your own compost and grass clippings and then canning food for winter

-recycling

-rainwater barrels for watering grass/plants

-unplugging appliances not in use

-closing blinds/windows in summer to keep house cool

-use a standing fan instead of a/c

-changing the temp on your thermostat warmer in summer/cooler in winter

-plan your trips for the week to make a large circle to stores/school to save gas

-put a half-gallon full of water in your toilet tank to use less water

-turn down your hot water heater

-use dryer balls to reduce drying time

-use basic cleaners: ammonia, bleach, baking soda, vinegar, fels naptha laundry soap, borax, dawn, washing soda & oxy clean are all I use

That's all I can think of right now, but there are so many ways to go green. Enjoy it and think of the gift you are giving to your children.

 

[MELSMICE]

-Family cloth (wipes for when you use the toilet)

I'm confused, but curious, about what these would be. Do you actually wash them?

 

[solgent]

Things we/I do...

Hang laundry to dry. We hang about half the laundry every week-- things that dry quickly because why use the dryer for that and things that take forever to dry because I don't want to run the dryer that long.

Turn off the oven 5-10 minutes before the time is up and complete cooking using residual heat.

Use a DivaCup. Not only is this cheaper and better for the earth, it is WAY more comfortable than disposable alternatives.

Buy secondhand clothes whenever possible. Kids have nearly all secondhand things and DH's Tshirts and polo shirts are mostly secondhand.

Borrow from the library instead of buying books & DVDs.

Cook from scratch rather than using food with lots of packaging and/or processing. Buy in bulk to minimize packaging.

Breastfeed.

Drive so that you're not using the brakes all the time. E.g., when you see a red light ahead, take your foot off the gas. Sometimes the light turns green before you get there, so you never had to brake. Of course, safety comes first.

 

[hiddenj]

Family cloth is cloth wipes that you use as toilet paper. Yes, you need to wash them. It really isn't as gross. There is no smell and everything comes clean. As I said before, I use cloth everything. I am also buying an energy star certified home and will have a front loader. I use cloth pads and have a diva cup, but don't use it much. I just ordered some sea pearls to try. I also use cloth grocery bags and CFL's.

 

[Tarheel Tink]

We recycle all plastics, glass, newspaper and aluminum.

Compost all yard clippings and whatever veggie/fruit leftovers our chickens don't eat first.

Free fertilizer from chickens (and eggs)

CFL lights everywhere possible (including outdoor spotlights).

Mulch and drip hoses (recycled material) in garden

Cloth and string bags for shopping. (keep in the car)

Can, pickle and freeze produce.

Pay additional on electric bill for developing more NC green options.(solar,wind,etc.)

Drive a Civic and seldom do 1 stop shopping- combine multiple stops.

Use nalgene reusable water bottles that say "refill not landfill" for work and home using our own filtered well water. The water tastes like water, not plastic at all- what a difference!

Use Shaklee products (for about 30 years)- the laundry booster rocks (instead of bleach). Also use vinegar and baking soda.

Stopped junk mail and opted out of credit card and insurance offers permanently. (save some trees and my postwoman's back)

Try to eat organic, local and in season. Except for salmon and tilapia eat local seafood only.

Do most laundry in cold water. Making an effort to hang more laundry. Use 1-2 towels in dryer to lessen drying time.

Recycle all plastic shopping bags that end up here despite cloth bag usage (can you say DH?) by using at work.

Trying to limit lights on and ac/heat temperatures.

Need to work on turning off/unplugging appliances more consistently.

 

[MELSMICE]

Family cloth is cloth wipes that you use as toilet paper. Yes, you need to wash them. It really isn't as gross. There is no smell and everything comes clean. As I said before, I use cloth everything. I am also buying an energy star certified home and will have a front loader. I use cloth pads and have a diva cup, but don't use it much. I just ordered some sea pearls to try. I also use cloth grocery bags and CFL's.

What are a diva cup, sea pearls & CFL'S?

 

[Zoesmama03]

What are a diva cup, sea pearls & CFL'S?

Diva Cups(also one called The keeper) are for women's menstral cycles the begining atleast. I use this but also a pad as backup especially on my heavy days when I'm apt to need it, but am looking into using cloth for that too. Hope I didn't gross out any our guys.



I really want to work on this.

Id LOVE to by an electric car. That won't happen for long time though.


I recycle(required actually), use diva cup, wash laundry in cold water only(well the occasional heavily soiled whites load might get a hot wash or when someone is sick I will wash in hot to kill germs).

We can't stand the tap water so we have a water cooler and use our regular home use cups to drink and use and reuse bottles for going out.


When I get a house(also long time from now the way things look now) I want energy saving appliances but I'm very interested in those solar electricity things were sometimes they even MAKE money That egothermal stuff sounds right up there too. Would love a garden and also might even give the compost a try.

I really need to get some cloth bags for shopping and I know just the local co-op organic produce I'd love to join the cost is what keeps me back mostly because I don't know if it would all get ate if I did buy it.



humm cloth wipes for the family something I had never though of. I totally wanted to cloth diaper only. Started to and did quite a bit during the daytime from the time dd was 3 months until about 9-10 months. In future if/when I have more children I'd definitely do full time cloth diapering.



Lots of great info here.

 

[formernyer]

Cloth diapers and menstrual pads...personally, I think they are disgusting now that we have the technology to avoid using them.

The Keeper is just plain weird (and gross IMO).

The "Family Cloth" tops it all though...that is just NAAAAAAAAAAAASTY!!!! What about your houseguests? Do you expect them to wipe with your dirty rags too?

There are some modern conveniences that are just worth the price to our wallets and the environment!

 

[Zoesmama03]

Cloth diapers and menstrual pads...personally, I think they are disgusting now that we have the technology to avoid using them.

The Keeper is just plain weird (and gross IMO).
!

Technology to avoid using cloth for diapers and pads. What such technology exists. Some form of piping technology developed called washers I suppose is what you mean but all that tells us is that we have something to never need to touch said disgusting(your words) diapers. Have you checked what chemicals they put in those disposable alternatives.

The Keeper and Diva Cup seem gross but really its not nearly as bad as it looks at first. I have to say I thought the same thing at first. But when someone sees how well it works most don't go back.