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Help me be more green
DH and I are coming up with a list of 52 things we are going to do to be more green. Each week we will pick one and try it out. We expect some to stick and some not to. We are a busy family w/ two kids and we both work - so things that take too much time or cost too much may not work for us - anything that creates more family time gets bonus points : ) . Our goal is to slowly change some of our ways to make a better earth for our kids - can you help me brainstorm some ideas?
Right now we are a little green - DH works from home and I work 10 min away - so we don't use much gas. We replaced our heater (which broke and was unrepairable) w/ a more energy efficient one. Same w/ our fridge. We recycle.
Where I get caught up is which is more green - For example buying and energy effiecent appliance and creating trash or keeping the old one. Using cloth napkins instead of paper (but then you have to use water to wash them). I don't want to make an effort for things that won't help.
Here's what I'm thinking so far:
- Creating a compost pile
- Rain barrel
- Make our own dish detergent
- Make our own laundry detergent
- Make our own shampoo
-Shopping at our local produce stands in the summer and growing some of our own veggies.
- I'm not ready to go to the extreme of getting rid of my sanitary products or toilet paper : )
Let me know what you think. I can google the details once I have a list.
Re: Help me be more green
Other things we already do
- use our own shopping bags
- use organic cleaners (except I haven't found anything to replace the bleach for the tub - any ideas for this?)
-Switched all our light bulbs
- Keep the house cooler at night in the winter.
- I'm trying to stop using as many paper towels - buy using cleaning clothes that I can wash (The don't take up much room in the laundry and I'd be doing a load of wash anyways).
We do need a new roof and windows - we plan to switch them out when we have the $$.
I think buying the more energy-efficient is better. You can donate or recycle the old appliance.
And cloth napkins are definitely better! You don't have to wash them each time if you don't get them really dirty, and making paper kills trees, including old-growth trees, and uses water - and chemicals.
Some other ideas:
* Switch to recycled toilet paper -- this was a tough one for me because I love supersoft thick tp, but I finally changed after learning how much tp production comes from old-growth forests, and I hardly notice a difference.
* create a container garden for outside
* make a window herb garden
* put soda bottles full of water in your toilet tanks
No one wants you to get rid of sanitary products! lol...and what, just bleed on your clothes? But you could switch to a diva cup, although that's really not a family project.
There are a lot of great books with fun ideas at the library, and librarying is green too, so you could make that trip one of your things, especially if you take the bus, walk or ride bikes!
Thanks for the ideas! We love the library and go once a week : )
Did someone already mention make your own cleaners?
Read books or play games as a family instead of watching t.v.
Buy clothes from consignment, vintage, thrift stores, etc. especially for the kids.
Use no-VOC paint
Use craigslist and freecycle
This blog has some good ideas in general but here's something for raising eco-friendly kids. http://ecomama.squarespace.com/eco-articles/2009/3/13/raising-eco-conscious-children-conscious-adults.html
Tired after a long morning of hiking and swimming.
I use Borax to clean the tub. Just sprinkle some in and wipe it down with a wet rag. I have also used baking soda and vinager Vinager is a disinfectant, so it is a good replacement.
- window coverings to make sure you keep the heat in (winter) and heat out (summer)
- landscaping with native plants and one's that don't require as much water
- EF litter options (if you have cats)
- alternatives for ziplock bags, shrink wrap etc.
- low flow toilets